For a movie buff the yearning for a film which is a laugh riot never goes away. Most films miss the mark with crude humour or trying to be too funny. But Kudimahaan is a refreshing diversion from such mess ups. The movie hits the sweet spot right from the very first scene. Our protagonist is a middle-class employee whose job is to put money in the ATM. Unfortunately, he is struck with a Dad who is a drunkard. His family relies on him for financial support, and he does his best to be the perfect family man. But a peculiar medical condition and a job mess up leads to a role reversal of sorts. Now we have a sober Dad and a drunk son. The consequences of this role reversal are what the film is all about.
More than being a hero, Vijay Sivan blends in as one of the characters in a unique storyline. His woes as the one trying to be the breadwinner of the family is very relatable. He steps aside to let the other actors shine in a particular scene that will be liked by many.
Suresh Chakravarthy has a blast on screen as the drunk Dad. A character without any inhibitions. Even when things look bleak, he is free and lives as he wants. Not really the ideal person to have in the family, but Suresh Chakravarthy's relentless humour makes us forget all the flaws of the character.
Chandini is endearing as the dutiful wife. She matches Vijay Sivan's sincerity with a neat performance. It is a small role in an all-boys outing, but she manages to make a mark.
The second half requires a quirky person who can amplify the hero's chaos. There can't be a better actor than Namo Narayanan who fits the bill perfectly. He has his two very unreliable sidekicks, Honest Raj and GR Kathiravan. The three combine to make us laugh in the weirdest of situations.
Kudimahaan is a wonderful example of great teamwork. Most of the cast is filled with new faces. But almost everyone hits the ball out of the park when given a chance. Even the characters with very little screen time get their shot at glory.
Kudos to Prakash N for trusting an entirely new cast for an unconventional story. There have been so many films glorifying drinking, but the film cleverly uses humour to highlight the downside of drinking whenever possible. Prakash N is definitely one of the finds of the year. There is a lot of finesse in the way he directs the film.
The cinematography by Meyyandiran and the editing by Shibu Neel elevate the film even more. On the flip side, the music by Tanuj Menon could have been better, and the mandatory drinking song could have been avoided.
Another minor blemish in an otherwise fine film is the long stretched out climax. A quicker end would have been the perfect icing on the cake.
Kudimahaan is one of those rare film which ticks all the right boxes in its genuine attempt to make us laugh and deserve more support from the audience.