Kuttram Kuttrame movie review: Some earnest performances in this well-written whodunit thriller

3/5

Story: A series of murders take place in a village. Cops investigate them one by one, as the film unravels its many layers. 

Review: March 9, 2005. A girl jumps into a lake. You don't know how it happened. March 9, 2021. Another girl gets hit by a car when she goes to school. There's a pool of blood on the road. Her parents rush her to the hospital. The girl is, of course, critical. The camera is focused on the doctor, who tells, "If you are a believer, pray to God". You don't know who's on the other side. You can't see that person. But these two incidents are linked to each other. Cut to 2020, March. One more woman dies. It is not a natural death. 

She's Kokila and was married to Eashwara (Jai). From an audience point of view, you realise a foul play in Kokila's passing away. Sub-inspector Naatraya (Harish Uthaman) is furious. He laments and breaks down. Because Kokila was his niece. He's unable to digest what has happened to her. While others believe she died by suicide, Naatraya suspects Eashwara's involvement in Kokila's death and swears to send him behind bars. It is interesting how the story progresses further. Kokila's relatives and friends pay last respects to her body. We spot almost everyone with surgical masks in her funeral customs. I appreciate Susienthiran for capturing these scenes because it emphasises Coronavirus isn't gone yet. This is what it means to make a film, in a post-Pandemic world. Films need to reflect society. A lot of movies had released in the last two years, but how many characters seamlessly wear masks? I don't understand how directors make a film, and not show what's happening around us? 

Eashwara's family and friends grill him about Kokila's death; he remains silent. "If I say the truth, many will be punished. If I don't reveal it, only the criminal will get punished"— Eashwara mouths the same punch dialogue to everyone. This pretty much sums up what the film is all about. Each character becomes a victim of circumstance, their behaviour result from an essential need for survival. I like how everything comes together nicely at the end, and the title couldn't have been more apt! Jai proves that he's a natural actor, once again. I like how he performs on screen without fuss. Even Bharathiraja's character, seems casual, in Kuttram Kuttrame. It is refreshing to see the veteran director act, without any of his usual trademark quirks. He never oversells a moment. Smruthi Venkat makes a mark, and so does Harish Uthaman! There are twists aplenty. Though this Jai-starrer isn't a fine cinema, like Naan Mahaan Alla or Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai, I liked everything about Kuttram Kuttrame—the characters, staging of scenes and the way it has been written. After churning out duds like Genius, Kennedy Club, Champion and Veerapandiyapuram, I'd say Susienthiran is back in form with this one. The pivotal revelation scene is inserted into the narrative in a way you quite didn't anticipate. That's some clever writing. 

Verdict: The biggest flaw of Kuttrame Kuttram is its pace. It's slow in several places, but I think it's forgivable. 

(Kuttram Kuttrame is streaming on Amazon Prime Video)