Kutty Story is an anthology comprising of 4 films, each 30 mins long written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, Vijay, Venkat Prabhu, and Nalan Kumarasamy respectively and produced by Ishari K Ganesh under the banner Vels Film International. The film has a plethora of top actors associated with it, like Vijay Sethupathi, Aditi Balan, Amala Paul, Varun, Megha Akash and more.
The anthology starts off with Gautham Menon's film. It has Gautham Menon himself playing the lead while Amala Paul plays the female lead. Vinoth Kishen and Robo Shankar play crucial supporting roles in this romantic drama that explores the thin line between platonic and intimate relationships. GVM plays the role of Aadhi, an engineering graduate who is close friends with Mrinalini (Amala Paul), or a platonic relationship with her as Aadhi calls it. How this relationship progresses and where it leads them forms the rest of the plot.
This untitled film operates in the GVM zone for most of its duration. There are plenty of voice overs, There is the 'Kaapu' in the hero's hand, the bullet bike is back and so are the stylish shots. On one side this film is a treat for GVM fans, and on the other side the plot is extremely predictable. But this film is more about the mood than the story, and on that scale, the film does work well. With strong technical aspects as well, the film not only works individually, but also sets tone for the whole anthology.
The next film is by director Vijay, starring Amitash and Megha Akash in the lead roles. Among the four films, this has a completely predictable story and that results in a less engaging screenplay. The film deals with the sensitive issue of abortion. With around 30 mins of runtime in hand, almost 90% of the film is drenched in melodrama. Vijay is a director known for handling drama in his films very well, but here he misses a trick or two.
The cinematography and music worked well. With the politics of the topic chosen also being debatable, this could have been a lot better compared to other films.
The third film is directed by Venkat Prabhu who surprises us with a genre that's nowhere close to his usual zone. As someone who can deliver a solid commercial entertainer on any given day, Venkat Prabhu must be lauded for this effort. While the climax of this one is also very predictable like the previous two films of the anthology, the rest of the film is refreshingly cool. Varun plays the role of Adam, a top gamer and he falls in love with his co-player Eve (played by Sangeetha). Whether he gets to meet her in person and they unite forms the plot.
Premgi Amaren's music is one of the biggest strengths of this film. It not just complements the proceedings well, but is also highly experimental. Imagine this, the protagonist is knocked down in the video game, and then when he rises up, an Amman themed Kolavai background music plays and it does satisfy us. With the flaws and positives weighing out equally, this passes off as a middling film that's enjoyable in parts.
There's a popular adage that says "Save your best for the last". It was indeed a wise decision to place Nalan Kumarasamy's "Aadalum Paadalum" at the end, which is a typical Dhoni sixer. Starring Aditi Balan and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles, the film sets up its own universe, has plenty of solid twists that aren't placed for the sake of it, has brilliant, quirky music and beautiful visuals.
Aadalum Paadalum is a film that deals with the dynamics of a couple where the husband is having an extramarital affair. Aditi Balan and Vijay Sethupathi ace their roles really well, and Aditi proves why she's easily one of the most natural actors around with her organic acting.
Music director Edwin Louis' background separately gives you a high, mainly because of the unique instruments and sounds used. The placement of Kaber Vasuki's independent song 'Nee Vekkam Kori' deserves high appreciation. Most importantly, you don't feel time passing by, and the engagement is high (The short duration helps this as well). Nalan's film easily ends up as the best of the lot. The only thing you can predict about this short is that it's going to be unpredictable in Nalan's own way.
Overall, the anthology is evenly balanced out with a good start from Gautham Menon and a outstanding finish from Nalan Kumarasamy. Venkat Prabhu and Vijay's films could have been dealt with better, had they been more nuanced. But both of them are indeed watchable at least once. Except for a few places all 4 films are technically strong and that makes them all look far better.