Kaduva

Kaduva (2022) : Brief Review -

An out-and-out Prithviraj Sukumaran mass in a traditional hero vs villain revenge drama. After a massy cameo in "Lucifer" (2019) and a full-fledged massy role in "Ayyappanum Koshiyum" (2020), Prithviraj is back in a heroic mass-action film, and it's a pleasure to see him as a true film-hero type protagonist who doesn't care about anything. Kaduva is a no-stress film and it doesn't have any B-grade or crap theories like most of the typical masala films from the South have. I liked that thing because after the first 15 minutes I was expecting it to be a complete mass-action entertainer, but I was hoping that it wouldn't follow those senseless narrative styles. I knew the limits, so I wasn't even expecting it to be intellectual like Ayyappanum Koshiyum. That mix bag was something I was looking for, and Kaduva has managed to go close to that level, if not surpassed. The film is set in the late 90s, revolving around the life of a young high-range rubber planter, Kuriyachan, from Mundakayam, and his rivalry with a high-ranking officer, Joseph Chandy, in the Kerala Police. There are two side villains too, but I won't reveal anything more here. The screenplay is a bit longer than necessary, and the songs make it lengthy. Thankfully, you have a fast forward button while watching the film on TV/Laptop/Mobile so those dragged moments can be skipped, which was not possible in theatre viewing. Prithviraj Sukumaran allows himself to be as rowdy as he could go with a perfect swag level. Vivek Oberoi makes a good villain, but it could have been better. The action is entertaining but a little old-fashioned. Shaji Kailas uses the supporting characters very well, with the proper humanly massy elements to keep you hooked on the story. Kaduva could've been a classy film, but it never wanted to do so. Hence, it makes a nice one-time-watch action flick.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.