Jyothika, in her second innings, is keen on working with women-centric themes. And Kaatrin Mozhi is one more from her kitty that speaks about the need to allow married women pursue what they are passionate about. Stuck between their dream and domestic demands, many housewives end up sacrificing their dream.
A remake of Tumhari Sulu, the Tamil version stands tall thanks to honest and sincere filmmaking by Radha Mohan. With Jyothika at her best, the team has managed to render an engaging entertainer. Unlike movies on such themes which tend to go preachy in places, Kaatrin Mozhi sticks to its core theme and Radha Mohan has made it watchable, adding comedy elements at appropriate places. And emotions too work out well.
Vijayalakshmi (Jyothika) is a typical housewife for whom life revolves around her husband (Balakrishnan) and her school-going son. But there is in her a passion to achieve something in life. Often ridiculed by her father and sisters for not aspiring to take up a decent job, her life changes one day when she visits am FM radio station.
The station head (Lakshmi Manchu), inspired by her innocence, offers her an RJ job. She hosts a ‘late night’ show. Life changes. But it leads to trouble on the domestic front. What happens then in her life forms the rest of the story.
Jyothika is expressive. It is a understatement in Kaatrin Mozhi. She has come up trumps playing a desperate woman trying to prove to the world that she can achieve what she dreamt to become and that age is no bar. With innocence written all over her character, she pulls it off with style. Onscreen, she is like Virat Kohli batting in sublime form
Vidaarth, as her husband, proves that he had till now been an under-utilised actor. Their onscreen chemistry is wonderful. He has brought out well the emotions of a doting husband, who could not celebrate his wife’s overnight fame because it takes a toll on their privacy.
Lakshmi Manchu as station head is apt for the role. Her style and charm add value to it.
And as in any Radha Mohan’s movie, the way the characters have been written for Kumaravel and M S Baskar is praiseworthy. Mayilsamy’s one-liners, Manobala and Uma Padmanabhan’s roles are enjoyable. Of course, there is an interesting cameo by Simbu.
A R Rahman’s nephew A H Kaashif has done a decent job in the music section. His BGM for a family entertainer is good.
Mahesh Muthusamy’s cinematography is bright and beautiful. Praveen K L’s crisp editing and Kadhirr’s art direction add strength to the film.
Cheers to producer Dhananjayan for gathering guts to bankroll such ventures. A must-watch for family audience amidst mindless mass masala movies.