July Kaatril Review - A modern day urban romance that is relevant!

PUBLISHED DATE : 16/Mar/2019

July Kaatril Review - A modern day urban romance that is relevant!

July Kaatril Review - A modern day urban romance that is relevant!

Bharath Vijayakumar


Debutant K.C. Sundaram's July Kaatril, much like its title is a very simple film. Revolving around 3 major characters (Rajiv, Shreya and Revathy) , the film explores the highly dynamic nature of modern day relationships and is a mature take on love. The most fascinating aspect of the film is how it completely stays away from judging its characters and has us empathizing with each of them. A glance at them and Rajiv, Shreya and Revathy would look like the quintessential modern day youngster who has his or her priorities very clear. But as they swim through the turbulence of love, they learn and unlearn a lot about themselves.

 

True to its caption, the film is about falling in love, breaking up and moving on and the cycle keeps repeating - sometimes with the same person and sometimes with a new entrant. The director treats these transitions in the most unassuming of ways. This becomes the USP of this film in which melodrama is an unknown commodity. The actors fit the milieu. The performances are not something that make you root for them but despite the rough edges we get the feel of watching the life of three real persons from up close.

 

The honesty of the characters in July Kaatril is refreshing and the complexities and conflicts of the relationships arise from within and not from man made factors like caste or creed. Possessiveness, insecurity, work- life balance, personal aspirations and compatibility are what decide the ups and downs of the relationships in the film and think of it, this is how an ideal world is supposed to be. These are what really matter. Right through the film, the director subtly keeps underscoring how the younger generation is more balanced and clear compared to their elder counterparts.For instance, the fragile ego of the teachers is exposed in a scene. Or for that matter Shreya herself takes relationship advices from her younger sister. The film keeps scoring brownie points for how it keeps correcting a whole set of wrong ideas that Tamil cinema has been propagating. When Rajiv travels all the way to Sri Lanka to patch up with Revathy without her knowledge , Revathy's friend feels it is scary. She almost feels this is stalking. This is not something we the audience have been used to. Erstwhile, this act would have been glorified and projected as a symbol for the magnitude of his love. K..C. Sundaram keeps breaking stereotypes. I even assume that the naming of Shreya and Revathy is intentional. The relatively traditional and often saree clad girl carries a more modern name in Shreya while the more flamboyant girl is called the more often heard Revathy.

 

Dubbing sync issues at few places, Sathish's hit or miss comedy and performances that are too low key at times are some of the issues I had. These kept giving a slightly amateurish feel to the film.

 

Bottom line


July Kaatril might not be a fascinating film. But it certainly is a worthy film that says a lot of important things about present day relationships in the most unassuming manner possible.

 

 

Rating: 2.75/5


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