Kaappaan movie review: too much! take guard

Kaappaan starring Mohanlal and Suriya is K V Anand's attempt to weave in many sub-plots. So there is biowarfare, corporate vested interests and even the political masters including none other than the nation's prime minister. And when the PM is in play, there should be a protective ring around the top executive of the country.

Accordingly, the special protection group (SPG) is thrown into the plot, to provide him the cover. No need to guess that Suriya is the protagonist who would give his life to protect the PM, who has been given meat and soul by none other than Mohanlal.

The plot unravels with various twists and turns which are supposedly recipe for box-office success. Unfortunately, it is formulaic, but so be it.

Suriya and Mohanlal are the pivots of Kaappaan, or guardian, with Suriya being the protective cover of the PM. Then there should be a plot to assassinate the PM and so we rope in corporate interests.

Boman Irani is our shady character in Kaappaan and so when our political masters are too principled, what can our poor friendly neighbourhood corporate honcho do? First he can befriend them, which he does but then after some drama the PM himself becomes an obstacle.

The long arm of the law will catch up with vested interests at some point or the other, and hence an assassin, who turns out to be a double agent, is also roped in. All legislators except the PM are “bought” by the corporate giant.

Does it ring a bell?

Kaappaan is an unruly mix of political developments. When too many factors are at play, it is only natural that plots and subplots go berserk. There are songs, dance and item numbers to cover up these jarring sequences, but then so be it.

Kaappaan isn't a spectacle, only Mohanlal's deft manoeuvers give it some sort of sanity. The filmmakers could have utilised the talent of Samuthirakani and Boman Irani only if the plot demanded. Unfortunately, it didn't. The stunts aren't exceptional either – we have seen this many times.

So Kaappaan fails to safeguard the interests of even the ordinary film buff. If we need just pure entertainment, that is not asking for too much. Isn't it? Some times, there is no particular recipe for even plain commercial success as many filmmakers have realised. It is time for a rethink on formula-based movies.

Nothing more nothing less.