The plot revolves round a diligent, honest cop, a distressed father whose little daughter is in a critical condition at a hospital and a gangster who is responsible for the woes of both. How the cop uses his wits to get back at the thug and give him a taste of his own medicine forms the core of the plot.
The film lacks a coherent screenplay and a fresh narrative, and there’s a sense of deja vu prevailing throughout. The Kallaattam or the game played by the cop and his team to trick the villain comes almost at the end. Rookie director Ramesh, could have constructed the pay-back scenario in a better manner. The early scenes promise a lot of excitement. It opens with a little girl being hit by a speeding bike on her way to school. Her father Mahendran (Richard) takes her to the hospital, where she is in a critical condition. Needing a lot of money for her operation, he takes a loan from a Seth. But waylaid on his way and his money snatched away, he approaches the cops. The scenes here have a natural flow.
The cops at the police station (Ilavarasu), unlike the boorish cops shown in films, are affable and helpful. Thamizh the chief (Nandha) takes it on himself to investigate the case, even going the extra mile to track the culprits. His junior Palani (Ilavarasu) is kind and helpful. So far so good. The narration seems to be moving on the right track. The manner in which Thamizh and his team track the clues and expose the large chain-snatching network, has been fairly meticulously worked out.
But slowly and steadily the screenplay takes a downslide. The crucial portions leading to the climax at the hospital leaves much to be desired. Ezhumalai (former costumer of actor Mammootty), plays the crime lord with cool efficiency. Thamizh’s back-story – to explain why he took more than a cursory interest in the case – lacks conviction. All it does is help lend the mandatory personal vendetta touch to the cop’s animosity against the gangster. Also, with every card having been exposed in the beginning itself, there is not much by way of suspense and thrill.
The villain of the piece in Mahendran’s life turning out to be the villain in Thamizh’s too, is an age old formula re-played. An upright, honest, diligent cop need not be so serious and stiff all the time. Nandha has a pleasant screen presence and cuts a handsome figure. If only, he could have played Thamizh with more flexibility! Ilavarasu a natural, fits in suitably as Palani his junior. Richard’s character could have been better fleshed out. It was a knot with potential. There is no dearth of ideas; the problem is with the execution on screen.
What is appreciable is that the director has stayed focused on his plot. There is no forced-in romantic angle nor is there a mundane comic track. Another positive aspect of the film is its viewing time. It’s appreciable that the director has managed to limit his story-telling to just about 97 minutes.
Kallaattam is at the most a stepping stone for a debutant maker.