Kaithi (2019)

English translation: Prisoner

Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Story: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Cast: Karthi, Narain

Music: Sam CS

Time: 144 minutes

Bottom-line: A brilliant thriller – taut and addicting

First Maanagaram and now Kaithi – I think it’s safe to say that Lokesh Kanagaraj is in top form and has a terrific career ahead of him. This action thriller film is, in many ways, similar to his earlier film – the thrill, the tension, multiple storylines and so on. The film stars Karthi and Narain in the lead roles, with Dheena, George Maryan, Arjun Das and several others in supporting roles.

In an orphanage, a girl, Amutha, is told that someone important is going to visit her the next morning. Somewhere else, a bunch of cops led by Inspector Bejoy (Narain) seize nearly a tonne of cocaine. The cops have a party, but someone mixes a drug in the drinks and everyone except Bejoy is knocked out unconscious. Desperate to save all the cops, Bejoy blackmails a recently released prisoner, Dilli (Karthi) to drive a lorry to a hospital 80 kilometres away, carrying all the cops. The owner of the lorry, Kamatchi (Dheena) also goes with them. Meanwhile, a gang of thugs, who are also after the cocaine stash, follow and intercept the lorry. The drugs are actually in an underground chamber below a police station, where one newly-joined cop, Napoleon (Maryan), and five college students try their best to defend the building. There is also a police informant among the thugs and a mole among the cops. How do all these people and tales come together?

 

Karthi as Dilli

The layered story of Kaithi is one of the most impressive features. The above summary captures only a part of the complex narrative and intertwining of tales. Unlike Maanagaram, where the different storylines were connected by a series of coincidences, here, the various tracks are intended to be joined at different parts. The suspense is maintained at every step of the film, and a key factor is that you, as a viewer, know something is going to happen in the future but the characters don’t.

The father-daughter bond between Dilli and Amutha is another aspect that brings the film together. Various action sequences and tense moments are also interrupted by some sentimental bits involving Dilli and Amutha, and it all comes together in the climax. There is a variety of adrenaline-pumping action sequences, from fistfights, road chases (including my favourite, the bus-lorry-SUV chase) and a Terminator 2-esque shootout. Like Maanagaram, the background score and (especially) slow-motion have been put to good use to enhance the visuals.

 

Narain as Inspector Bejoy

It would seem that Kaithi is, in essence, about Karthi – it’s a one-man-show about a prisoner who has the guts and muscle power to do something none of us would normally even think of doing. Applying vibhuthi (in contrast to the other white powder involved: cocaine), tying his lungi, relishing a plate full of chicken biryani are just some of the scenes that show us his style, apart from the way he takes on the goons single-handedly (look out for the scene where, literally, a single hand of Dilli punches its way through the goons and towards the camera). Dilli beating up so many people is a bit exaggerated, but then again, you will find yourself cheering for him all the way. Moreover, Dilli himself says, “I was in prison for a reason.”

Kaithi is also about anyone who is willing to sacrifice a bit of their own comfort, time and even life, for someone else. We see the cops who flee the scene, shying away from responsibility, and in contrast, five college students who don’t have any business in the station, defend it and fight against murderous villains. Bejoy takes responsibility for an army of cops who partied carelessly in the first place. And of course, there’s Dilli, who puts his visit to the orphanage on hold to help out Bejoy, putting his own life on the line several times. A tale of characters from all walks of life, each with his own motivation and aspirations, each in a different form of danger… Kaithi brings all of them together over the events of one night, and it’s a tale you must witness.

My Rating: 4/5