Kulasami Movie Review

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Protagonist taking it upon himself to serve justice is a favorite trope of cinema. Story teller Saravana Sakthi picks this theme and blends it with a real-life incident to cook up Kulasami. The movie is about an autorickshaw driver who embarks on a vigilante mission to avenge the death of his sister. Actor Vimal who was last seen in the fantasy comedy drama Deiva Machan is back on screens with his action thriller movie Kulasami. Actress Tanya Hope has depicted the female lead part in the flick. Actor Vijay Sethupathi has penned dialogues for the entertainer. So, how has the action thriller drama Kulasami come out? Will it aid actor Vimal deliver a solid commercial success that he is craving for to retrieve his lost market value? To know that let us get into the movie review. 

Kulasami is set at the backdrop of Madurai where it follows the life of Soora Sangu (Vimal), an autorickshaw driver whose world revolves around his sister Kalaiarasi (Keerthana). The film opens to the gruesome demise of a college student who has been subjected to gang rape. Police officials apprehend one of the suspects and take him to court to produce him in front of a judge. But on their way to the court an anonymous person sprinkles a solution on him. The scent of the compound invites a ferocious dog towards the suspect which claws him to death right in the vicinity of the court. The cops begin to investigate the mysterious assailant. The scene cuts to the introduction to Soora Sangu who is traumatized by the loss of his sister who aspired to be a doctor. Soora Sangu comes under the radar of the cops as he wears a similar ornament that was worn by the assailant. 

After initial investigation, it comes to light that he has an alibi. Meanwhile, a few strange developments in a medical college draws the attention of cops. The college also happens to be a place where Soora Sangu parks his auto regularly to onboard his commuters. There is also another reason for his presence around the college. He has donated his sister’s body to the college which he often visits. Gayathri (Tanya Hope), one of the students mistakes him as an intruder only to be informed of the situation later. Things take a drastic turn when Gayathri and her friends fail an examination which they believe to have done well. They get the shock of their lives when one of their professors blatantly approaches them to extend sexual favors to an influential person in exchange for good marks. How the students respond, who is the assailant, is Soora Sangu involved in the murder, and who is the influential person behind this crime, is what makes the rest of the flick. 

The inclination to turn an infamous sensational incident that shook the masses into a film is in upward momentum. These events have an innate aptitude to pique the curiosity of the audience. If the writer deals them with due sensitivity nothing will be called into question. But even the slightest crossing of the sensitive stripe would dishearten people and draw a lot of flak. Kulasami does not bother about any sensitivity but has its attention only on delivering onscreen justice to the victim through the most possible heinous retribution on the offender cashing in some moolah while doing so. A storyline such as this needs a gripping treatment to hold the audience still and make them empathize with the characters. The narration suitably shifts from one point to another at the whims and fancies of the writer. To top it, there seems to be no amount of effort gone into constructing the characters. Even the lead characters are dull and one dimensional to resonate with us. 

A certain level of indulgence and lack of logicality is acceptable. But what would you do when this is the standard on which the entire drama is founded? Sample this, Soora Sangu in a tipsy state casually walks into an anatomy lab of a medical college with a session in progress to spend some time with the body of his dead sister. This manner of illogicalness percolates throughout the script. Also, the cruel intention of the antagonist is overdone to just milk emotions which only puts the audience in an uncomfortable spot. Given actor Vijay Sethupathi’s handling of dialogues of the film, it is only fair as a spectator to have some expectations. Even on that end Kulasami disappoints us to a great degree. 

Actor Vimal has a reputation for not only being an ideal budget hero but also a good performer. He cakewalks his part comfortably without shedding a sweat. Actress Tanya Hope in an emblematic Tamil cinema heroine filler role. Sadly, the actress grapples even in a part that demands so less of her. Actor Bose Venkat once again showcases what a topnotch performer he is. Actress Saravana Sakthi makes his presence felt even in a limited screen space. Actress Vinodhini Vaidyanathan lifts her badly shaped part. Actor S R Jankid does complete justice to his part. Actor Mahanadi Shankar is effective as usual. Actor Jananai Balu makes an impact. Actor Muthu Pandi lives up to the purpose for which he was brought on board. Actors Karnaaraja, Murugavel, Rishi, Hariharan, Vinoth, Jeya Sooriya, and Arun, have all chipped in and have played their part well. The rest of the cast has delivered what was asked of them. 

On the technical front, music director Zee Star Mahalingam’s music adds little value to the flick. His tracks are not so interesting. Even his background score is just jarring and deafening. Especially, in the build up to the mass moments. Cinematographer Wide Angle Ravi Chandran has done a fine job covering the drama. He has put his cameras in the best vantage points possible. Editor Gopi Krishnan has clipped and clubbed the clips to supplement the work of his colleague. 

On the whole, actor Vimal’s Kulasami sucks the life out of its audience with its reckless screenplay and shoddy staging.