Kathal Review: An Entertaining, Light-hearted Comedy with a Social Message

Director - Yashowardhan Mishra

Cast- Sanya Malhotra, Anant V Joshi, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Brijendra Kala, Neha Saraf, Raghubir Yadav

Rating – 3

Kathal unfolds in semi-rural Uttar Pradesh, where an efficient female police inspector, Mahima Basor (Sanya Malhotra), and her team embark on a bizarre mission to hunt down two stolen hybrid jackfruits from the local MLA's home. The ridiculous hunt takes unexpected turns, revealing a more significant crime against women. Mahima must navigate the local political power play to save a young girl's future.

The film ventures into the unusual terrain of comedy and satire surrounding everyday corruption and the manipulation of the police force by local politicians. Balaji Films and Sikhya Entertainment collaborate on this project, bringing an uncommon blend of humor and social commentary to the screen. The film successfully entertains without becoming preachy, offering a unique take on crime and corruption in a semi-rural setting.

The central story revolves around Mahima Basor, a dedicated young police officer in a fictional spot in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh. The film employs humor and satire, drawing inspiration from Emir Kusturica's filmmaking style, portraying both cops and criminals as goofy characters. The local MLA, Munnalal Pateria (Vijay Raaz), controls the police force, unintentionally adding humor to the narrative.

Mahima's mission to find two stolen jackfruits, initially deemed absurd, evolves into a larger investigation when a young girl goes missing. The film navigates through caste prejudices, gender bias, and the normalization of corruption with humor and colloquial situations. While addressing relevant social issues, "Kathal" maintains a light-hearted tone, making it a breezy ensemble comedy.

Yashowardhan Mishra's writing successfully infuses authenticity and local flavor into the narrative. Sanya Malhotra shines in her role as Mahima, delivering a pitch-perfect performance with a naturalistic accent. The ensemble cast, including Rajpal Yadav, Gurpal Singh, Anant Joshi, Neha Saraf, and Govind Pandey, contributes to the film's comedy with witty repartee and conversational dialogues.

The film strikes a balance between entertainment and a social message, addressing how the stretched police force is deployed and highlighting real issues plaguing Indian society. "Kathal" delivers a simple yet impactful story that makes for an entertaining, light-hearted weekend watch, showcasing the talents of its cast and capturing the essence of rural India with humor and charm.