So the history of I am Kathalan, the first movie of Naslen as a hero, is that it was shot before Premalu, and due to production delays, the release got pushed. So, coming to the content of this cyber-thriller, the on-screen authenticity that stages this film in a very simplistic way makes the movie pretty engaging for its brisk runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. Similar to his other comedy films, Girish A D has opted for a setting with introverted characters and relatable emotions. The only issue was that the cat and mouse game in the whole movie is not getting that high one would love to see as it approaches a morally correct conclusion.
The basic conflict in the film is shown in the trailer. But talking about this movie without revealing what led to that is somewhat difficult. So, SPOILER ALERT! Vishnu, an engineering student who finished the course with many back papers, is our hero. He is someone who is good with practical stuff in coding but does not have the skill to clear the exams. His relationship with his classmate Shilpa ended due to his indecisiveness about his career, and at one point, it led to a situation where Shilpa’s father, Chacko, humiliated Vishnu. The decision of Vishnu to give it back to Chacko from his capacity and what all happens in that revenge tactic is what we see in I am Kathalan.
Apart from the usual Girish AD elements, there are certain aspects that need to be appreciated because they keep the film in a plausible zone. And the major thing is the way hacking is shown in this movie. At the very beginning of the film, we are introduced to Vishnu when a friend of his asks him to get into the Instagram of that guy’s lover. Rather than showing some fancy hacker website where the hero types something fast and magically reveals the details, Sajin Cherukayil, the writer, and Girish AD give us a basic idea about the fishing method of hacking. After that, when the major hackings are happening, there is clarity on the method he is applying, and even the ones who know hacking won’t feel like saying it’s absolutely unreal.
The script written by Sajin Cherukayil is not a complicated one. It is actually a basic revenge story, and the tool they have used to execute the revenge is hacking. In comparison to the other films Girish has done, I am Kathalan is different largely because it does not depend on a thin plot. One of the things I admire about Girish’s way of constructing a scene is how he looks at it from an audience perspective. When his friend sends a fishing link to that guy’s girlfriend, the response is practical and hilarious. And when Shilpa senses the involvement of Vishnu in the whole fiasco, it is sensibly addressed in the script. And even when an ethical hacker comes into the picture, the cat-and-mouse game between the two is not shown in an over-the-top way.
I loved Chekhov’s gun usage with that Enter Pillow. Even though it was kind of obvious, the placement of it at multiple places was funny. To make the whole thing look possible, Sajin is giving us details about how the whole operation of the finance institution is handled carelessly. Newer details of hacking are revealed to the audience through each hacking sequence. The overall simplicity is what eventually causes issues in this movie. Because he is doing all this as an impulsive reaction to humiliation, there is a limitation for the film to do bigger stuff. So once he does a major thing, the movie is forced to make him a good guy, and that happens in a swift way. It’s almost like how a DJ teased the people with a major drop and suddenly concluded the party because time was up.
Naslen is in his usual zone in terms of slang, and he is yet again playing this introverted person. But compared to other roles, the introverted nature of the character is slightly more high. And the minimalism in his expressions and emotions actually makes the character a lot more relatable. Anishma Anilkumar, who made a memorable debut in Poovan, played the part of Shilpa. It was in a totally different zone compared to her character in Poovan, and it sort of shows her range and talent. I hope she gets more opportunities.
Dileesh Pothan was convincing as the main negative character, and his switching between being a bad guy and a panicked businessman was pretty seamless. The Karukutti universe permanent members Vineeth Vishwam, Vineeth Vasudevan, and the writer Sajin Cherukayil are there in funny and effective roles along with Premalu co-writer Kiran Josey. Lijomol Jose, as the ethical hacker, was also good, and it was actually nice to see a married woman who has taken a break from her job to raise her kid being portrayed as an ethical hacker.
One of the hilarious scenes in the movie is where the character Jills, played by Kiran Josey, shows the picture of Rooney Mara from The Girl With Dragon Tatoo to show other employees what a hacker looks like. From a filmmaking point of view, like how Action Hero Biju made a significant change in how Police stations are shown in Malayalam cinema, I am hoping I am Kathalan would make filmmakers from Malayalam write and present hacking stuff in a more sensible way.
In comparison to the other films Girish has done, I am Kathalan is different largely because it does not depend on a thin plot.
Green: Recommended Content
Orange: The In-Between Ones
Red: Not Recommended
