Film Kadhal 2014
Director Suganthan
Cast Harish, Neha, Manikandan, Appukutty.
The film deals with the issue of gang rape and the mental trauma the victim undergoes. With increasing sexual crimes against women, it’s a theme relevant to the times. The screenplay could have been more coherent and focused, considering the seriousness of the issue.
It begins on a note of suspense, with a couple standing on the edge of a cliff, planning to commit suicide. The narration then goes back to the past, and shows what brought the lovers to the situation they were in.
It’s friendship-turned-love for Bhaskar and Ranjini whose fathers were close friends. Ranjini is a student of engineering, while Bhaskar is a jobless youngster spending time with his cronies. When their relationship comes to light, Ranjini’s father puts his foot down. Harish and Neha are adequate in their roles. The first part is flippant with Appukutty’s comic antics as Ranjini’s suitor failing to generate any fun moments. A couple of twists in the plot are interesting, like the happening at the cliff edge and the change in attitude of the families towards the love affair. The crucial element in the plot, the gang rape, could have been handled in a more mature, aesthetic way. A few shots are repeated quite a few times later in the narration. What follows is the decision Ranjini takes in the aftermath of her traumatic experience. There are too many songs intruding the narration when it is at a crucial stage. It peps up in the last half an hour when Ranjini makes her moves. A couple of lines are thought provoking. Boys Manikandan, as one of the rapists, leaves an impact. The finale is appreciable, hopeful and positive. Dealing with a crucial issue, what was needed was a more focused screenplay and mature handling.