Every now and then, Netflix India decides to go goofy and presents us with a crazy satire that is not only funny but one that actually sticks with you. Kathal starts off with the same idea, but it midway wanders away to a more preachy approach that kinda kills the vibe it began with. The trailer is more sort of a misdirection for what’s to come and tbh it depends upon how you view it. You might feel that they killed the fun of a dumb satire or you might just like the shift in story because of its unpredictability.
Plot
Set in Uttar Pradesh, this quirky satire is about police inspector Mahima Basor (Sanya Malhotra) and her band of subordinates (cue ‘Pols aagayi pols’) who have a very important mission at hand: to track down two stolen hybrid jackfruits from the home of the local MLA, Munnalal Pateria (Vijay Raaz). But waittt cuz trailer ne sabko catfish kar diya, as there’s so much more to the story, from politics to crimes, ki ekdum se waqt, jazbaat, zindagi (aur movie) badal jaati hai. This elongation has led to polarizing responses from the audience, and I’m slightly on the negative side.
Performances
The stand-out aspect of this movie is definitely the cast’s performances. Sanya Malhotra is such a bright sunflower in the movie, bringing the much-needed charm as Mahima. Her cutu love story with Anant Joshi, a constable who keeps making a mess, adds an extra layer of goofiness, always making you smile. Vijay Raaz follows his daily routine- utho, quirky character ka role ace karo, aur so jao. And thank you for FINALLY utilizing Rajpal Yadav’s caliber properly, instead of saving him for cringe dialogues. Overall, the entire cast understands the assignment and delivers a stellar performance.
Screenplay
However, it is the screenplay that messes up the game. The movie gave off a ‘relaxing goofy satire’ vibezz from the trailer. But idk why they took a preachy approach in the movie. No hate to the theme they touched upon, but zaroorat kya thi? They could’ve just stuck to the chaotic jackfruit plot, making for a quirky experience. Plus, even after going through the additional plotlines, this two-hour movie feels very stretchy. Yes, you find yourself giggling every now and then, but after a point, it all feels tiring. It starts taking unnecessarily long routes that feel pointless. Cutting it short by twenty minutes could have made this a better watch tbh.
Writing
Yashowardhan Mishra tries his best to deliver a script that blends humor, social commentary, and also preachy stuff. But the preachy stuff overweighs the impact of the other two aspects. The dialogues don’t feel cringe and the comedy feels organic. It tackles caste prejudices, gender bias, and corruption, while finding the kathals but also takes away the carelessness of a dumb-witted satire. So keep your expectations in check.
In the end, “Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery” is a decent watch overall. Stolen jackfruits become the catalyst for a crazy adventure filled with laughs, twists, and a dash of social commentary, but the dumb fun is missing from the movie. You leave with a smile on your face but also feel adhoora chor diya movie ko in the end. Not your ideal watch with friends, but yes mummy and papa enjoy karenge.
