BOTTOM LINE
Partly Baked Predictable Thriller
OUR RATING
1.5/5
CENSOR
‘UA’ Certified
1 hrs 57 mins
What Is the Film About?
Anu (Anasuya) is a wannabe director who moves from producer to producer to get her story locked. Finally, after many struggles, she is given a chance. However, things take a drastic turn when one by one different individual is killed in real life as she has written in her story. Is it mere coincidence, or is there anything more to it is the basic plot of the movie?
How Is Anasuya Bharadwaj’s Performance?
Kathanam is a screenplay based movie where the focus is mainly on the narrative with twists and turns rather than acting. It makes the acting take a backseat, and one doesn’t mind even if it’s passable. It is what we get in Kathanam where Anasuya’s act is serviceable at best.
The actress just goes through the struggling director part with no real emotion. It is just basic level stuff. There is another part of the movie done by Anasuya, and she looks a little better in that space compared to the wannabe director act.
Direction by Rajesh Nadendla?
Kathanam is a very predictable story when seen as a whole. The complete picture will give it a very routine and predictable vibe. However, it scores in the screenplay department temporarily. The narration of the movie is different, and it is the biggest asset if one keeps the logics aside for a short time.
The movie opens excitingly, but soon it becomes stagnant with the struggling routine of a wannabe director. It continues that way until the pre-interval mark where the “story” on paper starts to happen in real life. The interval also keeps one guessing.
The momentum is continued in the second half as well for a brief moment. Once again, the logics need to be kept out, and we have to go with the flow. The entire investigation process is fast-paced and keeps one hooked.
It is only when we get into the flashback mode that the routineness of the whole thing hits us. The core flashback is as predictable as it gets with even the issue also getting repeated recently. The director goes ahead in an un-flinched manner which kind of help to get things done with quickly.
The climax is a significant fall in quality in every way possible. It is routine, clichéd and unimpressive. The surprise element too is not there that was present during the interval portions.
Overall, barring the engaging screenplay in the first half during the pre-interval and interval portions, there is nothing exciting or engaging happening elsewhere. That small block is not enough for a theatre viewing of over two hours.
Other Artist Performance:
Dhanraj and Randhir Gattla playing the role of the police investigating the case are the parallel leads in the movie besides Anasuya. The former is alright and represents his usual self. The latter hasn’t got a role this big in the past, and we know why watching his act here. He lacks the screen presence despite getting a central part.
Apart from them, Vennela Kishore and Srinivas Avasarala play other notable roles. In a broader sense, they are wasted even though special blocks are designed for them individually. The villain gang has nothing memorable to do.
Vennela Kishore and Others?
Dhanraj and Randhir Gattla playing the role of the police investigating the case are the parallel leads in the movie besides Anasuya. The former is alright and represents his usual self. The latter hasn’t got a role this big in the past, and we know why watching his act here. He lacks the screen presence despite getting a central part.
Apart from them, Vennela Kishore and Srinivas Avasarala play other notable roles. In a broader sense, they are wasted even though special blocks are designed for them individually. The villain gang has nothing memorable to do.
Music and Other Departments?
Sunil Kashyap has focused primarily on the background score. It is alright compared to the rest of the technical work, which is poor. The cinematography is terrible, giving most of the movie a short film look. The editing is okay. The writing is ordinary and lacks the grip required for a thriller.
Highlights?
Pre-interval and Interval
Screenplay
BGM
Drawbacks?
Predictable Story
Second Half
Climax
Alternative Take
Recently another film came with a similar backdrop and belonging to the fantasy genre in parts. Hint, it had a comedy hero in the lead. The movie was a mess, so Kathanam is already an improvement. Maybe someone could do much better on the same lines removing the utterly predictable and boring parts.
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
Kathanam Review by Siddartha Toleti