Kilukkam (1991) :
Brief Review -
If Sadma was to be made as a Classic rom-com with a twist and family drama.. Kilukkam contains too much content for 90s Indian Dramas. Remember Kamal Haasan and Sridevi's stunning Classic Sadma? Just imagine the same story ending with a twist at the interval point followed by family drama in the second half. It would look very much like Kilukkam, if not exactly. 90s Indian Dramas used to contain only one content or sometimes two. Either it used to be a complete family-drama with emotional melodrama or a rom-com with the ending set in family zone. Kilukkam goes beyond that. It contains too many elements for 90s Indian Dramas like romance, comedy, drama, family segments, twists, blast from the past and then utterly philosophical burning climax just before the happy ending. There is something about Mohanlal films you know, his happy looking films suddenly turns extremely realistic and bitter in the end. Remember his Chithram? It ends with a bitter facts of life when audience were expecting a happy ending and something like that happens here too in Kilukkam in the ending portion. He does not open-up about his love, rather he lets her go for her and his own good referring to life circle by giving an allegorical example of station. Loved that. An instant recall to Hollywood Classic 'Grand Hotel' (1932). How many rom-coms in 90s would do that? The film is about Nandini, an illegitimate child who comes to Ooty in search of her father. She meets Joji, a tourist guide, and pretends to be mentally unstable in order to get shelter in his house. Mohanlal gives yet another fantastic performance and but this film is more about Revathi's memorable portrayal. Priyadarshan was some genius director to watch out for in 80s and 90s. This one is another sensibile mainstream entertainer from him and a Must Watch for his, Mohanalal's and Revathi's fans and for neutral Family Audience as well.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
