18 recensioni
When talking about authentic hacking in films, something like Mr. Robot or Blackhat might come up but even those are of a big scale with so much at stake where just the methodologies or tools are authentic and then it goes into the realm of cinematic liberties for the time and impact of it. But here, from the scale to the impact everything stays grounded along with stuff that has to do physically for the hacking to happen. Even though I haven't done things like that, I have used Kali Linux and done some mock workshops to identify almost everything that Vishnu does in this film, so that was really refreshing to watch.
Even though not as good as Girish AD's previous films, this also works greatly due to the small moments that add a lot to the film's soul. The main problem with this film is that it never really becomes a full-on thriller even when the story demands it to be. It's mostly a coming-of-age drama with some revenge angle that centers around hacking. Since this was shot before Premalu, some things that were more refined or effectively used in that film are not as good here. The subtle development and impact of minor characters with respect to the main characters without affecting the main story was done almost perfectly in Premalu but here, it needed a bit more work. The ending was a bit too early for the story since there were definitely possibilities left which usually would have had space for a climatic act. There were a few things that could've been done that would've made this more impactful overall.
But despite all that, this still has the relatability factor I found in Premalu, even if it is in smaller doses. There were a lot of places where I found myself relating hard with Vishnu, which also made me think about how different Girish's characters are from me, and yet they are still some of the most relatable characters I've seen in movies. He really showed me how much of the relatable heroes of the past were more like the perceived and normalized version of such characters in Malayalam cinema rather than actually feeling it.
Even though not as good as Girish AD's previous films, this also works greatly due to the small moments that add a lot to the film's soul. The main problem with this film is that it never really becomes a full-on thriller even when the story demands it to be. It's mostly a coming-of-age drama with some revenge angle that centers around hacking. Since this was shot before Premalu, some things that were more refined or effectively used in that film are not as good here. The subtle development and impact of minor characters with respect to the main characters without affecting the main story was done almost perfectly in Premalu but here, it needed a bit more work. The ending was a bit too early for the story since there were definitely possibilities left which usually would have had space for a climatic act. There were a few things that could've been done that would've made this more impactful overall.
But despite all that, this still has the relatability factor I found in Premalu, even if it is in smaller doses. There were a lot of places where I found myself relating hard with Vishnu, which also made me think about how different Girish's characters are from me, and yet they are still some of the most relatable characters I've seen in movies. He really showed me how much of the relatable heroes of the past were more like the perceived and normalized version of such characters in Malayalam cinema rather than actually feeling it.
- Jithindurden
- 10 nov 2024
- Permalink
This movie didn't get that much screening time in the theatre like 'Premalu' and was a box-office failure but I did enjoy this one and once again Girish has done a good job in executing a good flick.
I couldn't find a reason why this film failed in the box office. Many people who watched the film were saying that the actress was a miscast but I don't agree with that view. Anishma has indeed delivered a fine and natural performance.
The director also went for a unique ending and I always admire this part of Girish's direction. Many positive comments were also seen from the audience for accurately portraying the IT aspects in the film. Overall a great watch.
I couldn't find a reason why this film failed in the box office. Many people who watched the film were saying that the actress was a miscast but I don't agree with that view. Anishma has indeed delivered a fine and natural performance.
The director also went for a unique ending and I always admire this part of Girish's direction. Many positive comments were also seen from the audience for accurately portraying the IT aspects in the film. Overall a great watch.
- appusnikhil
- 31 gen 2025
- Permalink
Simple story, great execution
Wonderful acting by all, ni glamour required, smooth story telling, excellent direction, to the point, smart.
I had liked this director's other moovie Premalu too.
Naslen K. Gafoor is one of my favourite actors.
Best wishes to the team for future projects.
Casting is also great, they have made sure that importance is given to story than anything else.
Keep doing such great work on such a smart scripts which are precise.
I don't think this movie has any song.
The locations are also great, precise and simple.
I want to see more such movies.
Thank you to the team.
Wonderful acting by all, ni glamour required, smooth story telling, excellent direction, to the point, smart.
I had liked this director's other moovie Premalu too.
Naslen K. Gafoor is one of my favourite actors.
Best wishes to the team for future projects.
Casting is also great, they have made sure that importance is given to story than anything else.
Keep doing such great work on such a smart scripts which are precise.
I don't think this movie has any song.
The locations are also great, precise and simple.
I want to see more such movies.
Thank you to the team.
- sachinbhide
- 2 feb 2025
- Permalink
- mibinmammen-27074
- 13 feb 2025
- Permalink
I am Kathalan
A small fun to watch entertainer set on the backdrop of a potential hacking threat to a corporate entity.
The plot of the story revolves around a young hapless guy who sets out to take a small revenge over a personal ego hurt he underwent.
Good story narration by Girish through Sajin's debut writing and has provided the casts with platform for performing through their vivid mannerisms and light humour moments.
Naslen has effortlessly performed the character role portraying the frustration and emotions of a failed job aspirant. Impressive performances by Dileesh Pothen,Lijomol,Anishma & Vineeth Vasudevan. Vineeth Vishwam,ZhinzShan,Kiran Josey & Arshad Ali made notable performances.
Kudos to Akash Joseph Varghese for giving a crisp and short fun to watch entertainer.
A decent attempt by Girish & team that gives a laid back experience to the viewers.
Rating - 3.25/5.
A small fun to watch entertainer set on the backdrop of a potential hacking threat to a corporate entity.
The plot of the story revolves around a young hapless guy who sets out to take a small revenge over a personal ego hurt he underwent.
Good story narration by Girish through Sajin's debut writing and has provided the casts with platform for performing through their vivid mannerisms and light humour moments.
Naslen has effortlessly performed the character role portraying the frustration and emotions of a failed job aspirant. Impressive performances by Dileesh Pothen,Lijomol,Anishma & Vineeth Vasudevan. Vineeth Vishwam,ZhinzShan,Kiran Josey & Arshad Ali made notable performances.
Kudos to Akash Joseph Varghese for giving a crisp and short fun to watch entertainer.
A decent attempt by Girish & team that gives a laid back experience to the viewers.
Rating - 3.25/5.
- moviemonkreviews
- 6 nov 2024
- Permalink
- swarnameenaa-32074
- 1 feb 2025
- Permalink
I Am Kathalan (I Am Lover) is a cool film to spend an afternoon on. Naslen assumes the titular role as he gets on with his cyber shenanigans to get back at a person who wronged him. This is a typical anti-hero film where you'll naturally root for the guy but it's the small pockets of humour and believable tech happenings that elevate the film into an enjoyable watch. Naslen is in his calm demeanour here (as last seen in Premalu) but I also like the other actors who put up a good show. Dileesh Pothan is as good as he gets but I'm starting to feel Anishma Anilkumar plays the same role in every film.
In an era where Malayalam cinema has been consistently pushing boundaries, "I am Kathalan" emerges as a refreshing addition to the genre of techno-thrillers. This film, directed by the talented Girish A. D., offers a unique blend of suspense, romance, and a deep dive into the world of cybercrime. Naslen, the lead actor, delivers a stellar performance as Vishnu, an ordinary young man who finds himself embroiled in an extraordinary situation. Vishnu, a tech-savvy individual with a heart of gold, is portrayed with such authenticity that it's easy to empathize with his struggles and triumphs. His journey from an underachieving college student to a skilled hacker is both inspiring and thrilling.
The film entitled I Am Kathalan, can be classified as a cinematic work belonging to the technical thriller drama genres. The film was directed by Girish A. D.
The film's narrative is focused on the character of Vishnu, who is depicted as an engineering student. He possesses a high level of proficiency in the field of hacking and associated areas of IT. However, he has accumulated a significant amount of arrears in his college studies. Following the completion of their respective academic qualifications, his classmates secured employment. He is still struggling to complete the degree. He is romantically involved with Shilpa, who successfully completed the course and was recruited to her father's financial company as the head of the IT department. Consequently, the relationship deteriorated, ultimately leading to its dissolution. Following the incident with Shilpa's father, he sustained a blow. Vishnu harbours a desire for retribution against Shilpa's father. He opts for a course of action that centres on technical aspects as a means of achieving retribution. Vishnu obtained the MAC address of Shilpa's father's company's cloud infrastructure and subsequently compromised the entire system. This constitutes a substantial financial setback for the Periyadan Group, the company owned by Shilpa's father. Following the implementation of enhanced security measures, Vishnu successfully infiltrated the entire system once more. The company enlisted the services of an ethical hacker to identify the individual responsible for the hacking incident. The ethical hacker collected Vishnu's profile name. However, the system was subsequently breached on a further occasion, resulting in the entire server room being destroyed by overheating due to the devices being overloaded. In order to conceal his own address, Vishnu utilised the MAC address of Shilpa's fiancée. The scenes of the climax are of great interest.
The narrative was skilfully crafted and helmed, with a visually appealing quality to the delivery. The film has been meticulously compiled, incorporating all pertinent short references and technical terms with remarkable clarity. The performances are of a commendable standard, and the musical scores are effective in their use. The film is considered to be suitable for both watching and recommendation.
The film's narrative is focused on the character of Vishnu, who is depicted as an engineering student. He possesses a high level of proficiency in the field of hacking and associated areas of IT. However, he has accumulated a significant amount of arrears in his college studies. Following the completion of their respective academic qualifications, his classmates secured employment. He is still struggling to complete the degree. He is romantically involved with Shilpa, who successfully completed the course and was recruited to her father's financial company as the head of the IT department. Consequently, the relationship deteriorated, ultimately leading to its dissolution. Following the incident with Shilpa's father, he sustained a blow. Vishnu harbours a desire for retribution against Shilpa's father. He opts for a course of action that centres on technical aspects as a means of achieving retribution. Vishnu obtained the MAC address of Shilpa's father's company's cloud infrastructure and subsequently compromised the entire system. This constitutes a substantial financial setback for the Periyadan Group, the company owned by Shilpa's father. Following the implementation of enhanced security measures, Vishnu successfully infiltrated the entire system once more. The company enlisted the services of an ethical hacker to identify the individual responsible for the hacking incident. The ethical hacker collected Vishnu's profile name. However, the system was subsequently breached on a further occasion, resulting in the entire server room being destroyed by overheating due to the devices being overloaded. In order to conceal his own address, Vishnu utilised the MAC address of Shilpa's fiancée. The scenes of the climax are of great interest.
The narrative was skilfully crafted and helmed, with a visually appealing quality to the delivery. The film has been meticulously compiled, incorporating all pertinent short references and technical terms with remarkable clarity. The performances are of a commendable standard, and the musical scores are effective in their use. The film is considered to be suitable for both watching and recommendation.
The material feels apt for two 30-minute episodes of Karikku Fliq than a 1h 45m film. There aren't any highs or lows in the screenplay - just a matter-of-fact presentation of the plot. This makes it realistic from the hacking perspective, but simultaneously less thrilling from a cinematic standpoint. Naslen is once again a jobless youth with pending supplementary exams, but I shouldn't forget that the film was made before Premalu and lying unreleased for a long time. Anishma Anilkumar is okay; I'm not sure if this will open the doors to many future roles (2020s Sathyan Anthikad is probably taking notes). The rest of the cast (consisting of Dileesh Pothan, Lijomol Jose) is fairly decent. Also, to call this a techno-thriller-comedy would be a stretch. There are a few chuckle-worthy moments here and there, but the core remains the hacking bits. At least, Girish AD depicted it believably, subverting several cliches associated with hackers (both blackhat and ethical) while doing so. The music and cinematography are serviceable.
- arungeorge13
- 17 gen 2025
- Permalink
"I Am Kathalan" is a brilliant blend of emotions, technology, and moral dilemmas. Naslen delivers a career-best performance, portraying a relatable yet complex protagonist. The film's tight screenplay keeps you on edge, with its hacking-based revenge plot offering a fresh perspective. Director Girish A. D. skillfully balances suspense and drama, while the ethical hacker subplot adds an unexpected twist. The visuals, background score, and crisp editing elevate the narrative. It's not just a film but a commentary on ambition, love, and the digital age. A cinematic triumph that stays with you long after it ends!
- StanlyHentry
- 17 gen 2025
- Permalink
I am sad that this movie has not been appreciated for its unique, niche story tellng..
our society and public needs full romantic dramatic ending or full throttle war.. as this kind of movies are still not up-to their dramatic mind standards to digest
maybe this movie might be a cult in the next generations
Kudoos to actors and the director for their excellent sxecution of story telling.
This movie is excellent for those who appreciate intelligent story telling in humble manner ,,.. as the movie takes you slowly into the their world and executes the ending with a brave attempt ....!!!!!!!..
our society and public needs full romantic dramatic ending or full throttle war.. as this kind of movies are still not up-to their dramatic mind standards to digest
maybe this movie might be a cult in the next generations
Kudoos to actors and the director for their excellent sxecution of story telling.
This movie is excellent for those who appreciate intelligent story telling in humble manner ,,.. as the movie takes you slowly into the their world and executes the ending with a brave attempt ....!!!!!!!..
I Am Kathalan left quite a few people divided. It's one of those movies where the buildup was strong, but the payoff didn't hit the mark for some.
The initial setup is compelling, and you can sense the potential for a gripping story. The pacing is steady, building anticipation and drawing the audience into the protagonist's world. However, as the plot unravels, the story begins to lose its focus. The second half feels rushed, with several plot points left underexplored. The climax, in particular, is underwhelming and leaves more questions than answers, making the overall experience feel incomplete.
The initial setup is compelling, and you can sense the potential for a gripping story. The pacing is steady, building anticipation and drawing the audience into the protagonist's world. However, as the plot unravels, the story begins to lose its focus. The second half feels rushed, with several plot points left underexplored. The climax, in particular, is underwhelming and leaves more questions than answers, making the overall experience feel incomplete.
- smeesheady
- 22 gen 2025
- Permalink
This is a movie about a amateur hacker who plots revenge and how he tackles setbacks. The scenes are done well without overdone graphics and the hacking methods seem realistic instead of sci-fi. Quite refreshing in this era (and the previous) where hacking is seen as some king of magic with flashy computer graphics instead of a lot of boring text.
The acting itself is nothing to write about, but as a simple time-pass movie it is very good. The movie does not bore you, even though the climax could have been made better, the movie is entertaining and engaging. Please do not expect to be thought provoking. This does not seem to be meant to be one. This is just another take one the proverb 'Do not judge a book by its cover'.
The acting itself is nothing to write about, but as a simple time-pass movie it is very good. The movie does not bore you, even though the climax could have been made better, the movie is entertaining and engaging. Please do not expect to be thought provoking. This does not seem to be meant to be one. This is just another take one the proverb 'Do not judge a book by its cover'.
- mailrenjithis
- 22 mar 2025
- Permalink
- Danuka_Prasantha
- 7 feb 2025
- Permalink
Felt like it happened yesterday in my life although it happened 2 decades ago,
The rest of the review is written by GROK so feel free to skip it...
Watched "I Am Kathalan" last night, and wow, what a ride! Naslen K. Gafoor is an absolute star in this-he's got this chill, everyman vibe that makes you root for him, but then he flips the switch and you're like, "This guy's a genius!" The whole hacking angle felt so fresh for a Malayalam movie, and I was glued to the screen trying to keep up with the twists. Girish A. D. (that dude from Premalu) totally delivers again, mixing some real edge-of-your-seat moments with laughs that sneak up on you. The tech stuff was super cool-those scenes where they're breaking into systems had my heart racing, and it didn't feel fake or overdone like some Hollywood stuff. The cast is solid too; Anishma and Lijomol bring a lot to the table, and the banter between everyone felt so natural. Visually, it's slick-loved the moody lighting and the way they shot the computer screens. Music was on point too, kept the tension up without being annoying. Only tiny gripe is the ending felt a bit rushed, like they could've stretched it out a little more. But honestly, that's me nitpicking because I didn't want it to end! It's not a perfect 10, but it's a darn good 9 for me-smart, fun, and something I'd totally rewatch. If you're into thrillers or just want to see Naslen kill it, check this one out. Malayalam cinema's on fire lately.
Watched "I Am Kathalan" last night, and wow, what a ride! Naslen K. Gafoor is an absolute star in this-he's got this chill, everyman vibe that makes you root for him, but then he flips the switch and you're like, "This guy's a genius!" The whole hacking angle felt so fresh for a Malayalam movie, and I was glued to the screen trying to keep up with the twists. Girish A. D. (that dude from Premalu) totally delivers again, mixing some real edge-of-your-seat moments with laughs that sneak up on you. The tech stuff was super cool-those scenes where they're breaking into systems had my heart racing, and it didn't feel fake or overdone like some Hollywood stuff. The cast is solid too; Anishma and Lijomol bring a lot to the table, and the banter between everyone felt so natural. Visually, it's slick-loved the moody lighting and the way they shot the computer screens. Music was on point too, kept the tension up without being annoying. Only tiny gripe is the ending felt a bit rushed, like they could've stretched it out a little more. But honestly, that's me nitpicking because I didn't want it to end! It's not a perfect 10, but it's a darn good 9 for me-smart, fun, and something I'd totally rewatch. If you're into thrillers or just want to see Naslen kill it, check this one out. Malayalam cinema's on fire lately.
- mailsk-manoj
- 27 mar 2025
- Permalink
Nasleen gave a wonderful performance as the workshop boy next door, and also portrayed the break up pain very convincingly.
On the other hand, Dileesh Pothan gave a very convincing performance as the local entrepreneur. The girl also gave a convincing performance as the young and confused student just getting into career and life.
A reasonable script - brings out convincingly the technical aspects with easy enough terminology. The portion where the dad says do whatever you want with this but do only good was the scene of the movie for me.
Tech is usually seen in the backdrop of heavy million dollar heist movies. This was a refreshing change in how it can play into a script as grass roots as this.
Takes the pomp out of tech. Nice watch. A Nasleen movie.
On the other hand, Dileesh Pothan gave a very convincing performance as the local entrepreneur. The girl also gave a convincing performance as the young and confused student just getting into career and life.
A reasonable script - brings out convincingly the technical aspects with easy enough terminology. The portion where the dad says do whatever you want with this but do only good was the scene of the movie for me.
Tech is usually seen in the backdrop of heavy million dollar heist movies. This was a refreshing change in how it can play into a script as grass roots as this.
Takes the pomp out of tech. Nice watch. A Nasleen movie.
Have watched this movie on my trip to india, It is available in prime video in india but not in UAE. But anyways, solid film. It should have a better ending though... anyone who likes tech and those stuff will definitely like this film but whereas none techies.... NO, but maybe, guess we'll never know...
EXTRA: No need to read below
I don't know why but it says that this review is too, short but I countainted as much info possible, the thing is, I don't like to leave long reviews so this is just an extra, do not care about this ting, like literally, why 600, 300 is more than enough so I'm just typing this thing lol.
EXTRA: No need to read below
I don't know why but it says that this review is too, short but I countainted as much info possible, the thing is, I don't like to leave long reviews so this is just an extra, do not care about this ting, like literally, why 600, 300 is more than enough so I'm just typing this thing lol.
- MuhammedZ-31
- 8 apr 2025
- Permalink