Kuruthi : More about communalism - Less on thriller front

 

Prithiviraj deserves all pat for producing this film and  has literally stuck his neck out with a subject that is swept away under the carpet. As for acting , Prithiviraj character is villainish but then all the scenes that leave an impression are his. Kuruthi rides on two horses – show the communal divide with all its warts and moles and also be an engaging thriller. The film scores on the first point. It rips through the so called secularism which gives a cover to many murderous happenings. Director Manu Warrier took too many  cusines on her plate but somehow manages to give a clean plate with no leftovers.

A Hindu boy (who murdered a Muslim shopkeeper) and the Hindu cop who arrested him land at a house of Ibru in the night. Cop wants to stay over night with the boy as he was attacked by a gang who wants to kill the boy. Is he safe in the house of Ibru, a devout Muslim who stays with his father Mammukoya and brother  who has leanings towards Muslim fundamentalism.? Events unfold as the gang leader lands up in house and asks the cop to trade the boy for the lives of the constables who are in his custody. Cop refuses the deal and now the siege of the house physically and mentally begins.

The thriller portion recedes and comes the religious divide.

Some scenes are filmic. The dying Hindu cop asking the Muslim youth a promise with hand placed on Quran and handing over a blood soaked gun. It makes a good visual but just does not jell. The Hindu girl ( Srinaada) is shown as very grounded. She says that she is willing to convert in public and light lamp in privacy and pray to her Gods. The girl who pulls a gun on the guy she loved and accuses him of being totally subservient to his Muslim religion gets a chance to shoot a defenceless Muslim terrorist kingpin- she does not !!!

The protagonist ( Roshan) character is bundle of contradictions. Let him be. Why should Laiq ( Prithiviraj) who is one dimensional in approach trust him in crucial juncture ?. The back stabbing ( or stealthy knifing/ shooting) happens too often.

Mamookoya voices what every ordinary citizen of any religion would say. Hats off to the creation of this character that subtly and in dry humour voices the opinion of the aam aadmi not doctrine in any of these fundamentalism. The heroic touch to the role is justified as Mammukoya is shown to be lover of gangster films and boasts of having bumped off a few guys.

For the thriller part , I liked the table scene in the house where all the character sit around and tension builds up. Superb camerawork.

For the Hinduvata gang, Srinada dialogues that say that why is that Hindus cannot voice their opinion and justifies the killing by the boy.  For Muslim fundamental mentalists , there are umpteen dialogues  and scenes that will warm their cockle. For me the scene where Prithviraj gets stabbed in the stomach by Ibru says – After all you had to take the knife even if it was to save an infidel. The film gives some points that one can ruminate upon. Wonder how Gods Own Country’s theatre going public would have reacted ?. The situation of the State is best summed by Mamookoya – We are living from one flood to another. My query - Are we are not living from one Covid wave to another ?