I Am Kathalan movie review: This Naslen, Girish AD film should have hit the screens before Premalu

Don’t Miss | Citadel Honey Bunny review: Samantha Ruth Prabhu explodes off the screen in Raj and DK’s clunky series

Originally intended as Naslen’s debut as a lead, I Am Kathalan’s production was completed in 2022, well before his blockbuster Premalu (2024), also directed by Girish, and even prior to Journey of Love 18+ (2023). Though released nearly two years after it was made, I Am Kathalan carries a sense of freshness, thanks to the way Girish and writer Sajin Cherukayil crafted its world, keeping it intimate and relatable. Unlike many techno-thrillers that rely heavily on eerie music, shadowy rooms and horror-like elements, I Am Kathalan approaches the genre differently, providing it a dramatic touch without pushing the thriller aspect too far, allowing viewers to experience tension without overwhelming them. “Your confidence scares me,” remarks Aneesh (Vineeth Vishwam) to Vishnu, and the film’s team successfully instils a similar feeling in the audience throughout, keeping them wondering when Vishnu might be caught. Sidhartha Pradeep’s background score enhances key moments, heightening suspense or staying subtle as needed.

“On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog,” I Am Kathalan begins showing this famous adage — originally the caption to a cartoon in a 1993 issue of The New Yorker magazine — and the movie explores this idea as well. In the virtual world, where physical attributes and other characteristics can be masked by choice, identity becomes arbitrary and this fluidity can serve both positive and negative ends, as shown through the characters of Simi and Vishnu, respectively. Online, even real-world underdogs can reinvent themselves and rise above those with real-life affluents. “Throughout my life, I have only faced mockery and ridicule. This is my first act of retaliation,” says Vishnu; and meanwhile, we see Chacko, who had once slapped and thrown Vishnu out while bragging about his influence, now declaring that the hacker is a “crooked criminal,” underscoring how cyberspace has upended their power dynamic.

Watch I Am Kathalan trailer here:

Although Girish’s decision to keep I Am Kathalan under 120 minutes is commendable — any longer might have made it feel dragged out — the film still struggles to keep viewers fully engaged due to the lack of depth in Sajin’s script. In contrast to Girish’s previous films — Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019), Super Sharanya (2022) and Premalu, all written by him — which stood out for their memorable, well-rounded moments and strong characterisations that gave the narratives rhythm, Kathalan lacks these qualities and even its lead character, Vishnu, feels inconsistently developed. One of Kathalan’s major issues is its romanticising of a protagonist who uses unethical hacking for personal vengeance, attacking a finance firm in a way that could jeopardise the lives of countless depositors. As a boyfriend, he is no less than a walking red flag who not only infiltrates his girlfriend’s social media but can’t also accept rejection and attempts to portray her as a villain for “dumping” him, despite being far from ready for a committed relationship. However, the underdeveloped nature of Shilpa’s character prevents viewers from sympathising with her, leaving them to wonder what she saw in him in the first place. Anishma’s performance, nonetheless, compensates for this to some extent.

Though Kathalan deserves praise for casting a woman (the superb Lijomol) as an ethical hacker, in contradiction to the industry’s common practices wherein such roles are reserved for men, Sajin’s writing falls short here too, as her character fails to evolve meaningfully. Simi reveals only limited insights into the hacker’s activities eventually, thus the script reduces her to a “talks big but acts little” type of character. Dileesh Pothan, meanwhile, shines as Chacko Periyadan, bringing humour and substance to an otherwise uneven film. Actor Zhinz Shan, playing the role of Vishnu’s father, also impresses. While Vineeth Vasudevan’s character Mathew Thomas, an employee at Chacko’s office, and Sajin’s Praveen Kumar, an IT expert, could have added more depth, they end up offering only sporadic humour.

Originally intended as Naslen’s debut as a lead, I Am Kathalan’s production was completed in 2022. (Image: Girish/Instagram)

Naslen, however, delivers an impressive and commanding performance as Vishnu, capturing his character’s layers with great precision. What makes his portrayal even more impressive is knowing that his journey to Premalu had been one of continuous refinement, reflecting his growth as an actor. Had I Am Kathalan been released soon after completion and marked his debut as a lead, it could have boosted further Naslen’s profile as a young actor capable of handling deeper roles, beyond characters that are essentially quirky, unemployed youths. Though Vishnu bears some resemblance to Sachin from Premalu, the range of emotions he navigates here is much broader and Naslen does a commendable job of bringing them to life.

Sharan Velayudhan’s cinematography is commendable overall, though all the exterior shots of the Periyadan office feel overly cartoonish and strangely coloured, likely due to an over-reliance on visual effects. Akash Joseph Varghese’s editing effectively maintains a steady pace throughout the film. While Sidhartha Pradeep’s background score adds support, keeping the film afloat, his songs fall short and lack memorability.

I Am Kathalan movie cast: Naslen K Gafoor, Anishma Anilkumar, Lijomol Jose, Dileesh Pothan
I Am Kathalan movie director: Girish AD
I Am Kathalan movie rating: 2.5 stars