Kolai review: Artificiality and slow pace dampens this investigative thriller

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By Manigandan KR

21/07/2023

Director Balaji K Kumar, who earlier impressed us with Vidiyum Munn (2013), attempts to present his latest film in an innovative manner. Sadly though, his attempt doesn’t work.

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Kolai begins on a slow and drab note. The director, in his endeavour to make the movie internationally appealing, seems to have alienated it from local audiences.

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There is also a sense of exaggeration and artificiality in several sequences, especially those involving the police force.

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Vijay Antony is his usual measured self, but his performance is not enough to make up for the loss of interest caused by a weak plot and an insipid narration.

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Ritika Singh is completely at sea as the police officer investigating the case. She has a frown on her face on most occasions in hopes that it portrays a focused and sharp officer. It doesn't.

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Murali Sharma, who plays a shady model agent looking to exploit vulnerable models, is absolutely fabulous, delivering a peach of a performance.

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On the technical front, Girishh Gopalakrishnan’s background score is just perfect and plays a significant role in accentuating the mood of the sequences as they begin to unfold.

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Director Balaji K Kumar’s Kolai has sparks of brilliance to offer occasionally. However, for an audience that is hungry, this might come across as only a tasty snack at best!

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