Popular reviews

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  Review by Michael James ★★

  A tale of Good vs Evil, set in a Christian fisherman village in southern Tamil Nadu has got all the expected Manirathnam’s technical flair but fails with its narrative force though. There are a few brilliant moments and twists which work, it ain't enough to save the sinking ship. The nativity of the region get well exhibited through its dialogues. Songs & visuals are pure treats as always, MR trademark. But as a whole, it’s a disappointing watch.

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  Review by s/chin ★★½

  Undoubtedly a misfire, but I was genuinely so captivated by the first 40 or so minutes. This is Ratnam at his most risque — not often will you see a woman repeatedly be called a sinner, a whore in front of her own child in his oeuvre. But after that portion it just becomes increasingly awful and it all wraps up in a CGI-ridden, muddy action scene. The acting is frankly horrendous except for Arvind Swamy who delivers a career best performance. Beatrice may be Ratnam’s worst character ever and Thomas may be his worst protagonist ever. Just a total mess that works for a short while, and then burns and crashes.

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  Review by k8 ★★★★★

  he said “go ahead, take my life i’ve seen everything but christ,” then big bro just blacked out and all he seen was the light

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  Review by arshuuu ★★★ 3

  Did I like the movie? Meh.
  Will I rewatch it? Yes.
  Why? AR Rahman.

  From just being something I listened to on loop to becoming the go-to album whenever I feel scared or anxious, the impact this album has had on me is insane. Thank you Rahmanayya for existing 🙏🏼.

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  Review by jack ★★★½

  Great start and go. The climax's a total mess.

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  Review by Kris ★★★★★

  sorry everyone i see the light.

  There were so many moments I was in awe of the staging and camera work. Reminding me so much of Raavan/an, CCV, and Ponniyin Selvan. Mani really testing himself so much that I admire almost all the parts of this film.  

  I was generally invested in Thomas, Sam, Bea, and Bergman. Mani knows how to write and inject so many character moments. 

  Chithirai Nela…incredible.

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  Review by Maddy ★★

  This could've been a hilariously bad film. But since it was helmed by the great Mani Ratnam it's just plain bad :(

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  Review by Josh H ★★★½ 1

  Bad Mani Ratnam is better than most films. I loved the first half, but the second half really turned me off. Oh well. It's beautifully shot and the songs are wonderful.

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  Review by Shaurya Jha ★½

  So bad I refuse to accept this as a Mani Ratnam film.

  One star for ARR and half star for cinematography.

  P.S. - I watched half of this film years back and all these years i thought of this as a mid film but, this is plain bad by all means.

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  Review by Baradwaj Rangan Unofficial

  "Your tolerance for the inevitable rough edges, I suppose, will determine your response to the film. Put differently, and like Raavan(an), Kadal is less for those who want their films to be easily classifiable as good or bad, more for those who like their films interesting. I was riveted."

  Full Review

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  Review by VY_ ★★★★½

  A work of real beauty and grace, reaching towards redemption and transcendence while rooted in the muck of hunger, dirt, and sin.

  A strange film that feels a bit anomalous in MR's filmography, a real cypher at times. Unlike other MR films where there is an exploration of the moral grayness of a central figure (or a few), where good and bad are not easily apportioned between the 'villain' and the 'hero', here the central conceit is good vs evil in its starkest, most pared down form. Its morality-play like symbolic frame where archetypal personifications instead of well-defined characters take center stage both holds you at a distance without allowing easy emotional identification and pushes you towards reckoning with the…

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  Review by notgoodreviews ★★★½

  Kadal's protagonist, Thomas, is a wayward soul. His mother is a prostitute, he was born due to an affair- he has no real father, he is constantly pushed to the side, scolded at for little reason, he's the sin of a powerful individual, a source of embarrassment. The village displays nothing but contempt towards his very existence, but when the village gets a new priest, Sam (Arvind Swamy), there is finally someone who can understand him, who can lead him towards a brighter path.

  Kadal is kinda like its protagonist, it makes so many frustrating decisions, it's deeply flawed, messy, everyone seems to hate it, it's considered an embrassment to an illustrious career, but... beneath all that is a genuinely…