Kalvan Movie Review

Cinematographer PV Shankar embarks on his directorial venture with ‘Kalvan’, featuring GV Prakash Kumar, Ivana, Bharathiraja and Dheena in the lead roles.

Residents of Irutti Palayam village at the foothills of the Western Ghats in Sathyamangalam of Erode district face casualties and material losses due to wild elephants. On the other hand, Kembaraj (GV Prakash Kumar) and Suri (KPY Deena) live in tResidents of Irutti Palayam village in Sathyamangalam, Erode district, are facing significant challenges and losses due to the presence of wild elephants. Meanwhile, Kembaraj and Suri, who reside in the same village, engage in petty thefts. Kemba, who aspires to join the forest guard service, takes in Bharathiraja, an elderly resident of an old age home, and brings him into his own home.

In his debut as a director and cinematographer, B.V. Shankar attempts to address various questions, such as the reasons behind adopting a grandfather in such poverty, the impact of wild elephants on the villagers’ lives, and whether Kemba achieves his goal of joining the forest guard service. However, the screenplay falls somewhat short of expectations.

GV Prakash portrays a cheerful young man who engages in housebreaking, follows his girlfriend, and entertains the villagers with his friend. However, he struggles to fully incorporate the other dimensions of his character, such as sentiment, deceit, and guilt. On the other hand, KPY Deena, known for his one line comedies, only manages to hit the mark with half of his comedic attempts. Nevertheless, his comedic moments provide some relief in otherwise dull moments. However, the excessive use of metaphors in the name of comedy could have been avoided.

Bharathiraja, who takes on the role of the protagonist in the second half, showcases his experience and manages to make us laugh with his jokes and imitations. Additionally, his emotional performance and body language bring depth to a character that could have easily been overshadowed.

The character of Kembaraj’s love interest, Ivana, makes an interesting debut initially but quickly transforms into a conventional heroine. Nonetheless, she executes her role perfectly.

Director PV Shankar’s cinematography effectively captures the essence of a foothill village and the lush greenery of the gardens, providing a realistic backdrop for the story. GV Prakash’s composition, ‘Adi Katazhagu Karuvachi’, stands out as the sole song that truly captivates. The remaining songs merely serve as minor interruptions to the flow of the storyline. Reva’s background music effectively permeates the entire film, particularly shining during the intense climax scene.

In general, Kalvan possesses several intriguing moments, and with further refinement in its screenplay, it had the potential to excel even more.