Kaathal The Core movie review: Mammootty and Jyotika outdo themselves in Jeo Baby’s landmark film

Jeo Baby’s Kaathal – The Core, starring Mammootty and Jyotika in the lead roles, embarks on a journey to comprehend, address and present answers to these questions.

As Mammootty aptly expressed during one of the pre-release promotional events for the film, Kaathal is indeed a revolutionary film, even in a cinematic landscape where several movies have explicitly addressed homosexuality. One key factor contributing to its revolutionary nature is its setting. The narrative unfolds in Teekoy, a quaint village near Pala town in the Kottayam district of Kerala, centring around a middle-aged couple, Mathew Devassy (Mammootty) and Omana (Jyotika). Their seemingly peaceful life transpires in Mathew’s ancestral house, where they live with his father. Femi (Anagha Maya Ravi), their daughter pursuing a college degree and residing in a hostel, completes the family.

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Mathew, an adherent of a Leftist party, decides to contest a byelection for one of the wards in their gram panchayat following the party’s instructions. However, as the campaign kicks off, the revelation that Omana has filed for divorce leaves Mathew and others in shock. What adds to their concern is Omana’s assertion in her filing that she seeks divorce because Mathew is exclusively attracted to his own gender and is a homosexual man. Notably, she does not request alimony, and her case does not cite instances of domestic violence; she simply desires an end to the marriage. This deeply affects Mathew, who denies any knowledge of her claims when questioned. However, as the film progresses, it becomes evident that Omana’s statements are true. Yet, Mathew’s concern about societal judgment and other ‘consequences’ compels him to keep his sexual orientation hidden. The remainder of the film explores how both Mathew and Omana navigate their respective circumstances.

Another element contributing to its significant status is the skilful presentation by writers Adarsh Sukumaran and Paulson Skaria. Despite the rural backdrop, the writers avoid portraying the locals as overly deceitful or excessively innocent. They take a realistic approach, ensuring a portrayal of a diverse society with people reacting to the incident in varied ways based on their understanding of such matters. There are both homophobes and compassionate people there. More importantly, the writers refrain from trying to impose anything on the viewers. Instead, they focus on narrating the story in the most genuine manner possible, allowing the audiences to form their own takeaways.

Jeo Baby’s Kaathal – The Core embarks on a journey to comprehend, address and present answers to some tough questions.

Although homosexuality has been decriminalised by striking off Section 377, and while same-sex marriages are yet to be legalised, societal prejudices persist, leading several people to remain closeted and unable to openly embrace their true selves. Many are also coerced by their families into heterosexual marriages, resulting in the disruption of numerous lives. The film bravely addresses this issue too in a powerful manner, deserving praise for its portrayal.

However, the screenplay falters in the depiction of Mathew’s lover (Sudhi Kozhikode), whose character is somewhat poorly written. While the film intermittently shows him, providing glimpses of the turmoil he undergoes amidst the challenges, he seldom receives the on-screen justice that his character merits, unlike Mathew. He only gets such a moment in the climax. A more in-depth exploration of the relationship between Mathew and his partner was undoubtedly needed. Simultaneously, while Omana’s character is notably robust, some of her dialogues come across as contrived, especially during her interaction with her father-in-law.

Kaathal – The Core is ultimately a Mammootty spectacle, not just as an actor but also as a producer.

Jeo Baby, who sent shock waves across the nation with his The Great Indian Kitchen, continues to impress in Kaathal too by skillfully capturing the nuances of the theme and characters. The film also masterfully portrays the platonic love shared by Mathew and Omana. It beautifully illustrates that, at no point, do they harbour any hatred towards each other; but just that they are different from each other, which necessitated the decisions they made. However, it’s undeniable that Kaathal doesn’t emanate the technical perfection seen in The Great Indian Kitchen. The film lacks a seamless flow, especially in certain instances during the first half, with many adjacent scenes not always appearing harmonious.

While Mammootty and Jyotika deliver standout performances, bringing out the best in their characters with subtlety, avoiding any exaggeration or loudness, their on-screen chemistry is also noteworthy, deserving praise for the well-crafted depiction of their characters. Omana, after over two decades of marriage, no longer feels betrayed by Mathew. Instead, she empathises with the challenges he faced leading a closeted life. Her decision to seek divorce is not just for her own benefit but also for his. Mammootty and Jyotika infuse warmth into their on-screen connection, maintaining it consistently.

As a powerful performer, Jyotika surpasses herself in Kaathal.

As a powerful performer, Jyotika surpasses herself in Kaathal. Without heavily emotional scenes, she effectively communicates the intensity of the battle she is fighting. However, while the dubbing artist chosen for Jyotika does a decent job, the voice doesn’t quite suit her well.

All that being said, Kaathal – The Core is ultimately a Mammootty spectacle, not just as an actor but also as a producer. Undertaking such a sensitive theme, laden with risk, especially considering the potential backlash if the film had presented problematic representations, is no small feat. Additionally, for a superstar of his stature to take on such a role requires a bravery that many of his counterparts in Indian cinema may not possess at this point.

He masterfully unveils the ethos and subtleties of the character with remarkable precision. Mammootty’s portrayal of Mathew’s helplessness — from his avoidance of eye contact with the locals to the nuanced modulation of his voice in alignment with the emotions — is likely to evoke tears on many occasions. Despite his extensive filmography, there’s a distinct absence of similarity between this performance and any of his previous works, highlighting his versatility. His strategic restraint in certain moments effectively conveys the emotional turmoil faced by the character. The fact that a 72-year-old superstar can convincingly embody a role still associated with social taboos is truly deserving of a standing ovation, period.

While Mathews Pulickan’s music significantly elevates the moments, Shajie Naduvil’s art direction deserves commendation for maintaining the simplicity and subtleties of the setting. The expertise of Sameera Saneesh in costumes and Amal Chandran’s skill in makeup also play crucial roles in enhancing the overall presentation.

In short, Kaathal – The Core is a groundbreaking film that should be watched by all, particularly those in the film industry who continue to present recycled age-old narratives, expecting unquestioning acceptance from the audiences.

Kaathal – The Core cast: Mammootty, Jyotika
Kaathal – The Core director: Jeo Baby
Kaathal – The Core rating: 4 stars