Kammatti Paadam

This is my first movie review for a website. Being a movie buff, I have always wanted to watch out for good and critically acclaimed movies (masala and non-masala), irrespective of the language (as long as there are sub-titles). Usually, Malayalam movies are known for their realism. Kammatti Paadam is no exception. Added to it, it has rawness. As I watched the movie, it took me a while to get involved in it. But, once I got used to the characters, it was quite tough to move away from them. The exotic locales, the houses, the dresses -- all theese make you feel, as if the incidents are happening near you. Coincidentally, i visited Cochin last year during my holidays. It added to my love for this movie. Agreed, the story line can be found similar to many such gangster movies. But, Kammatti Paadam has definitely something for it. It may not be an interesting watch for many viewers, but for movie buffs like, it is a great watch. The casting is pitch perfect !!

Rajeev Ravi's third feature film tells the story of a bunch of boys from an area in Ernakulam called Kammatti Paadam. They grew up to be what is colloquially called as members of a 'Quotation Team', a euphemism for the low rung enforcers of local mafia. The story follows them from their childhood to teenage years and then to mid- twenties and finally to when they are in their 40s.

The title, Kammatti Paadam, refers to an area of Ernakulam which lies to the back of KSRTC Bus Stand. It is basically a tale of the growth of the city told from the perspective of its main protagonists, characters played by Dulquer and Vinayakan. Film begins in the present with Dulquer struggling to stay alive in a bus to Ernakulam with a stab wound. The backstory is told using a well- known concept of 'Life flashes before your eyes just about when you are about to die' and the recent Malayalam film, James & Alice, is another one which employed the same. The basic concept of the film can be summed up as a representation of 'Gentrification' of Ernakulam city told through a bunch of characters who get gentrified in their life due to it. They were part of it both as people who helped in displacing the original people to make way for high-rise buildings and also as victims who got nowhere in their lives even as they were just used up by their paymasters.

A title of 'Once upon a time in Kammatti Paadam' would have been quite fitting for this film as it shares a lot with Sergio Leone's 'Once upon a time in America' in both its characterization and the way the story is told. It is also another film which begins its back-story through its main protagonist's memories as he lies in his deathbed. Only difference is that in Rajeev Ravi's film, the characters remain slumdogs. Another film that one would be reminded of is the Brazilian one- 'City of God' in terms of its rawness and the characters played by both Vinayakan and Manikandan, who revels in his role as the eldest gangster among them, would remind you of couple of characters from it.

It is overall a great watch even though the strength of the central relationship between Krishnan (Dulquer Salman) and Ganga (Vinayakan) is not quite convincing. I also had issue with some of the lazy narration in it, especially during scenes where some of the characters in the present tell Krishnan about when they had last seen Ganga. These are some things you would never expect from a Rajeev Ravi film who is quite known for his aversion to traditional narrative techniques. I also felt the light-weightiness of Dulquer's acting in many occasions. Rajeev Ravi is known for his tremendous casting of supporting characters and this one is no different with plenty of excellent new actors in it. One doesn't need to wax lyrical about cinematography in his films as it is quite understood how it is gonna be. Both his previous films, Annayum Rasoolum and Njan Steve Lopez, had quotation teams as characters and their influence in the films grew as he moved from former to latter. In his third film, they occupy almost the entire story. It is the least Rajeev Ravisque film out of the three and his weakest effort but it is still a great watch.

PS: It is quite ironic to see Dulquer Salman occupying almost all the space in its posters when it can be argued that Vinayakan is its central character. Maybe that is quite apt since the film is mainly about people who fall by the wayside.

Worth watching...Kammatipadam- a lesson of life.. I have watched this movie very recently and i wonder y i havent seen this earlier.. Excelent performance by everyone especially Dulquer and his his friend character..and Balan character too had class.. The story revolves around kochi and its ealrier days.describing 2 types of people and their families and their problems. Director has given a piece of cake in this movie ..excellent photography bringing Ealrier days of Kochi...and main thing was the screenplay..gives us a pleasing experience and edge of the seat till last of the scenes ...Friends and their consequences and unimaginable sequence of life that makes them and ultimately wat is life ..cleverly screeplayed ..and additionally music was one big support to the movie...Eventhough nearly 3 hrs a little lengthy yet didn't disappoint us

Kammattipadam is a Malayalam gangster movie. Many poor people lost their houses and land in Kammattipadam as part of the development of Kochi. The land mafia took over their land using gooms in Kammathippadam. The film tells the story of life and loss surrounding this incident. All the characters in this movie were really alive in this movie. The script of this film is very in-depth as well as the live music of the film. Director Rajeev Ravi and cinematographer Madhu Neelakanthan made a film beautiful. I recommend this is a must watch movie .My rating is 9/10.

Some films just entertain. Some films move you and then there are films which entertain you, move you and makes you think and ponder over it. Kammatipaadam is one such film.

Brilliant Script, Excellent narrative style, Beautiful shots, Great Background Score, Superb Acting. Iam sure many will complain about its length but I don't see any other way the director could have done justice to this film.

Iam amazed at the craft and inspired by it. Iam an aspiring filmmaker myself and I truly thank everybody associated with this film for having made this film.