Kather Basha Endra Muthuramalingam Movie Review: Arya tries to shoulder a very average action drama

Kather Basha Endra Muthuramalingam Movie Synopsis: An arrogant yet righteous man decides to get married to a woman, who has been suffering at the hands of her relatives. Little does he realise that an enmity from his past is going to invite trouble in his personal life.

Kather Basha Endra Muthuramalingam Movie Review: In Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam, Muthaiah sets the stage for a rural action film right from the start, emphasising the theme of a war over land and women. The story unfolds accordingly, with the protagonist and the antagonists vying for a woman’s affection in the first half, leading to an excessive number of conflicts in the latter half. While the core idea is acceptable, the screenplay becomes convoluted as the film progresses and fails to captivate. It ends up being an average action film with nothing remarkable to offer.

The film introduces us to TamilSelvi (Sidhi Idnani), a young girl who visits Madurai jail in search of a man named Kathar Basha Engira Muthuramalingam (Arya). Kathar is depicted as an arrogant individual who fiercely upholds righteousness and truth. Having been relocated to various prisons due to his behaviour, Kather decides to obtain bail when he learns that Tamilselvi has traveled all the way to meet him, in order to understand her motives.

As the story unfolds, Kather discovers that Selvi is facing threats from her own relatives, who are forcing her into unwanted marriages. Simultaneously, we learn that Selvi and Kather share a past and are connected in some way.

Selvi’s relatives, who also happen to be gangsters in the village, become furious upon learning of Kathar’s decision to marry her. As they discuss eliminating Kather, we discover that another character, Vedigundu Veyilan (Thamizh), is also searching for him to seek revenge for a personal loss. The second half of the film delves into Kather Basha’s past and his enmity with Vedigundu Veyilan.

Can Kathar defy these powerful adversaries and emerge victorious?

Kathar Basha Engira Muthuramalingam starts off with promising sequences that pique our curiosity about the protagonist’s life. However, within 15 minutes, it becomes apparent that the narrative follows the well-worn template of rural action films, where individuals seek revenge for personal losses. While this is a common theme in many films, Muthaiah could have made the screenplay more engaging by presenting certain plot points in a more convincing manner. The abundance of flashbacks, stories, villains, and conflicts detracts from our ability to empathise with the losses endured by the virtuous characters in the film. There are a few decently written sequences in the second half, but they appear only in the final moments of the film.

The climax, unfortunately, is predictable, as the protagonist effortlessly defeats all the villains. In the latter half of the film, Muthaiah attempts to touch upon religious equality through Prabhu’s character, which is commendable. However, the execution lacks balance, subtly insinuating that individuals of other religions in the same town are converts. Additionally, Siddhi Idnani’s character is initially portrayed as a progressive and courageous woman within the village, but as the film progresses, those attributes become less visible. The writer misses an opportunity to further develop this aspect, which could have elevated the content.

Arya delivers his best effort to carry the film, and his performance is somewhat engaging. His portrayal of an arrogant youth is believable. Unfortunately, the technical aspects, including the music, fail to enhance the intensity of the sequences. Furthermore, a couple of songs hinder the pace of the film.

In the end, Kathar Basha Engira Muthuramalingam brings nothing new to the table and ultimately ends up as an average offering from Muthaiah.