Plot - With Kadugu, the multifaceted Vijay Milton sets out to make a message-oriented movie. 'Don't turn a blind eye towards injustice', 'Be proud of the person you see in the mirror' and 'Hero or Joker is decided by the way you respond to a wrong act' are some of the statements that he makes. From the pre-interval segment till the end, Kadugu maintains a high level, resulting in a good end result.
Highlights
- The film touches upon some valid themes such as the trauma faced by child abuse victims and the taboo associated with women trapped in the human trafficking racket. The related climax dialogues, delivered by Rajakumaran, elicit good response from the viewers.
- Rajakumaran's character is well-etched and you get used to seeing him onscreen. He really aces the climax action block (infused with the 'Puli' dance moves, expressions) and the emotions. His character is the pivot driving the film's theme. In the initial phases of the film, he may give the impression of being detached from the proceedings but it seems he warmed up to his role as the film progressed. A job well-done!
- Bharath looks superb on screen, with his sculpted physique and confident performance. His grayish character arc ends well, making the right choices. He portrays emotions like guilt and aggression very well.
- Radhika Prasidhha emotes well but she needs to watch out against being typecast in similar sympathy evoking roles.
- Among the large group of support actors, Bharath Seeni (Vijay Milton's brother) as Anirudh provides the film with fun moments. He also performs some key scenes with conviction.
- In addition to handling the direction and writing, cinematographer Vijay Milton has also captured the scenic coastal town Tharangambadi well.
- The run time of under 2 hours is a big plus while the background score by Anoop Seelin, particularly the main theme, is another value addition.
Drawbacks
- The initial part of the film is not too engaging, with establishment of the main characters, love tracks and social media references which may not work with the urban audiences. These scenes may still click with the rural masses.
- The film-making grammar is loud, in-your-face, preachy and melodramatic. This again looks like a deliberate move to pull in the masses. There is no place for subtleties in Kadugu.
Final Word - Like his earlier smash hit Goli Soda, Vijay Milton delivers another small film which has the potential to turn big. He touches the right chord and also succeeds in engaging the audience for the large part.
Rating - 3.25 / 5
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