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Kadaisi Ulaga Por Movie Review: The mass entertainers of Tamil cinema are so focussed on delivering utopia through their larger-than-life heroes, that they don’t often deal with the idea of dystopia. But they say truth is stranger than fiction, right? Probably why, in Hiphop Tamizha Adhi’s latest film, Kadaisi Ulaga Por, even the most exaggerated and outlandish of thoughts don’t really feel that far away from reality. The premise of the film is simple. What if there is a new world order, and the famed neutrality of India acts against the country? What if India is left defenceless against a brutal campaign that completely overwhelms us? What if the petrol price goes up to Rs 500? Of course, our day-to-day lives are based on the hope that the first two scenarios might not happen, but are we really sure about the third? This is where the writer in Hiphop Adhi shines through because he adds in these nuggets of reality checks even when he is making the characters go through outrageous scenes.
Anyway, the film starts with Chennai being relentlessly bombed, and through a voiceover we are introduced to the primary players of Kadaisi Ulaga Por. In yet another writing brownie point, the film is mounted on the shoulders of an efficient Natty aka Natraj, who prides in being the kingmaker in Indian politics. It is through his machinations that the entire first half unfolds as we understand how he has built a political empire. Through an interesting and rapid progression of events, we are introduced to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Nasser), his daughter Keerthana (Anagha), his political opponents, Natty’s set of faithful people, a bunch of police officers (Singampuli and Munishkanth), a motley group of army officers, including Prabhjot Singh (Harish Uthaman), reel hero Rishikanth (Sha Ra) and the ‘hero’ of the story, Tamizh (Hiphop Adhi).
ALSO READ: Hiphop Tamizha Adhi on ‘Kadaisi Ulaga Por’: ‘I write high moments for the film, not for the actors’
While the barrage of characters can get a bit overwhelming, for sure, the ride is exhilarating with a lot of ideas getting thrown in one after the other, and ensuring we are intrigued even if not always engaged. However, when the film enters the realm of preachiness and people turning over new leaves, we are in for a rude jolt that is assuaged by the final act where Adhi decides to go all ‘boombastic’ on us and treats us to gunfire, bomb blasts, bullet rain, knife slashes, and of course, the hand-to-hand combats.
What really works in favour of Kadaisi Ulaga Por is the action set pieces, and the conviction to tell a story that has soaring ambition without compromising on the need to remain faithful to the rules of that world. For every possible question that might creep up in our minds regarding the takeover of Tamil Nadu by the “Republic,” Adhi and Co have answers ready. Of course, some of them force us to willingly suspend our disbelief by a few extra notches. But it is okay because the film has both the heart and art in the right place. It is impressive that the film doesn’t resort to clichés to propel the story even when the pieces were in place to do so. Take, for instance, the romance between Tamizh and Keerthana. It serves as a solid narrative device rather than just a distraction. Of course, here too, you tend to overlook certain aspects, because Adhi doesn’t really dwell too much on this equation. What could have been the core of the film, is sidestepped to allow the more broader realisation that the world is not for the ‘taking’ but for ‘co-exisiting.’ It is also impressive how Adhi sidesteps from the narrative for extended periods of time allowing the other characters to take centrestage. However, this aspect too delivers mixed results because the writer and director Adhi take over the scene leaving with actor Adhi to manage with breadcrumbs, and it doesn’t bode well for a role that is elevated to a saviour, and even a “God.”
Here’s the trailer:
Barring one elaborate riot scene, the makers ensure the film never looks like it didn’t have the budget usually accorded to films of this magnitude. In fact, the smartness really comes through in the way the film is designed. Since it is dystopian, anything could be designed as something, and we would have to believe it because we don’t know how the future would look, right? It also allows the makers to show a bunch of grey buildings, calling it as headquarters, and blowing it all up during the war, and we don’t really stop to think. But what goes missing in all of these is the strong emotional core required in such films. Apart from the shocking death of Tamizh’s friend, none of the other deaths really rattle us. Even when there are visuals of people being tortured, and the wounds of the war faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka are opened up, we aren’t really emotionally connected with the film. These portions are also treated with a certain sense of hurry and an underlaying layer of comedy that we aren’t sure where to laugh, smile, or tear up. This dissonance becomes commonplace in many portions of the second half that only serve as a buildup to the final hurrah.
It is also ironic that the hurried pace of the first half that acted as a positive to Kadaisi Ulaga Por becomes the biggest negative of the second half. Once again, the curious case of two halves plagues Tamil cinema. It is also disappointing that the rather serious undertone of the first half is sacrificed for simple laughs in the second. If Kadaisi Ulaga Por was a satirical anti-war film that questions the very idea of boundaries and differences, these tonal shifts would have been par for the course. However, despite having caricaturish villains, which is a wonderful idea, the film oscillates between wanting to be a serious film about the futilities of war, and a gag-a-minute satire. In between all this clutter and cacophony, I believe there is a strong case to be made about Adhi’s vision and his ability to marshal his resources. Kadaisi Ulaga Por might certainly not be the best possible output, but it is definitely a reflection of what could happen if he irons a few kinks, crosses a few t’s, and dots a few more i’s.
Kadaisi Ulaga Por Cast: Hiphop Tamizha Adhi, Natty, Anagha, Nasser
Kadaisi Ulaga Por Director: Hiphop Tamizha Adhi
Kadaisi Ulaga Por Rating: 2.5
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