The story is unconvincing, the BGM is unsettling, and the dialogues lack punch in director Kutty Puli Shravana Shakti’s movie.
A poster of director Kutty Puli Shravana Shakti's 'Kulasami'. (Twitter)
Kulasami (Tamil)
Director Sharavana Shakthi’s Kulasami (Family Deity) is yet another film that tries to highlight the crimes being committed against women in society.
Although the movie bears the disclaimer that the events and characters are entirely fictitious, one cannot but draw a parallel between the incidents showcased in the film with a recent scandal that rocked the State of Tamil Nadu.
The scandal in question came to light after a group of college students released a recorded audio clip of their assistant professor, a woman, trying to lure them to extend favours to senior officials of the university in return for higher marks and money.
Though fictional, Kulasami‘s core plot seems to have been inspired by the scandal and the information that emanated during its investigation.
A poster of ‘Kulasami’ Tamil film. (Twitter)
The movie starts with the cops apprehending a man for the brutal rape and murder of a young medical college student.
As they take him into custody and make their way to court, an unknown assailant sprays a solution on the suspect which spurs a dog that’s been unleashed to kill him into action. He is brutally mauled to death on the court premises.
The cops begin to investigate the case and try to identify the assailant.
Initially, they suspect an auto driver named Soora Sangu (Vemal) as he is seen wearing a bracelet similar to the one worn by the assailant. However, they let him off after a piece of evidence proves that Soora Sangu wasn’t the assailant.
Even as the police continue to investigate the case, their focus shifts to the developments in the medical college opposite which Soora Sangu parks his auto.
Vemal and Tanya in ‘Kulasami’. (Twitter)
Gayathri (Tanya Hope), a student, initially mistakes Soora Sangu to be a trespasser in the college. However, she learns that he is accorded permission to enter the anatomy lab of the college to see his sister Kalai’s (Keerthana)’s body which he donates to the college.
Everything goes on fine until one day Gayathri and her friends fail an examination they hoped to clear with flying colours.
When they raise questions about their result, their professor tries to convince them to extend sexual favours to certain “philanthropists” in return for good marks and money.
What happens next is what Kulasami is all about.
Kulasami has several issues starting with casting. Vemal, who is good at comedy, looks out of place in this role. The character demands an actor who can showcase rage and not anger.
Tanya Hope, who plays the female lead, too seems out of place as a medical college student.
A poster of Vemal’s ‘Kulasami’. (Twitter)
The only best performances in Kulasami come from its antagonists.
Vinodhini delivers an excellent performance as the professor who lures the girls.
The same can be said of Janani Bala who plays the philanthropist.
Actor Vijay Sethupathi penned the dialogues for this film. However, nothing is outstanding about them. Indeed, they don’t pack a punch as they should.
The background score by VM Mahalingam is loud and really unsettling on several occasions.
The story is told in a highly unconvincing manner and leaves you exhausted, frustrated and annoyed by the time it ends.
Though Kulasami has noble intentions, it leaves you bored and annoyed.
(Views expressed are personal.)
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