“Kudumbasthan” Film Review

In a film industry where blood, gore, horror, skin shows  and deviant behaviour seem to dominate films, Kudumbasthan, a comedy family drama written and directed by newcomer, Rajeshwar Kalisamy, is like a deep breath of oxygen-rich air in a polluted city.

K. Manikandan plays the lead role opposite debutante Saanve Megghana. The impressive supporting cast includes Guru Somesundram (recently seen in the lead role of Bottle Radha), R Sunderrajan, Balaji Sakthivel, Nivedita Rajappan, Abilash, Matthew Vargese and TSR Srinivasan.

The strength of Kudumbasthan is the long line of credible characters and the relatability of what they undergo. The characters are all flawed, and this heightens the impact of the film. Making the whole experience sweetly palatable is the organic humour throughout the film, merging slapstick, wit, puns, satire and slapstick into a delicious mixture that softens the drama of the story, forcing the viewer to break out into laughter even in the midst of a very tense scene.

Manikandan plays Naveen who elopes with Vennila (debutante Saanve Megghana) because his parents (R Sundarrajan and Kudassanad Kanakam) refused to accept their inter-caste marriage. Naveen’s hope of a stable family comes crashing down when he takes a principled stand and he is now faced with spiralling debt and the subsequent strain on relationships. How everything is eventually resolved forms the rest of the story.

Manikandan is one of Tamil cinema’s most talented and versatile actors and it is sad that his performances thus far have not earned him higher accolades. This role is also played to intense perfection – whether it is the frustrations of a husband, son, worker and friend, or the gravity of life’s choices and how they balance with ideals and principles.

Saanve Megghana makes an outstanding debut, playing Naveen’s wife, Vennila. Guru Somasundaram as Rajendran, is an absolute delight while Nivedita, playing his largely hapless wife, Anitha, provides brilliant support.

Directors R Sundarrajan and Balaji Sakthivel both make significant and positive contributions in their respective roles.

The script by Rajeshwar Kalisamy and Prasanna Balachandran is brilliantly written, taking the drama to crisp highs and softening the blows with unforced comedy.

Sujith S Subramanian’s cinematography makes outstanding use of light and the constant switch with the position of the light source elevates the film.

It is a sound effort by music composer Vaisagh, who had earlier scored the music for Nanban Oruvan Vantha Piragu. His background score is excellent and all but one of the songs very melodious.

Kudumbasthan is a delightful, heart-warming, incredibly funny and thoroughly enjoyable entertainer suitable for the whole family – a sad rarity these days.

Kudumbasthan scores 9 points out of 10.