Kaantha

“The film knows it's trafficking in archetypes and classical mechanics, and instead of trying to subvert them, it just plays them straight with enough craft to make the old moves land. Sometimes commitment beats cleverness.”

“'Kaantha' is an all-round show that clearly wins, delivering a well-crafted narrative with strong performances across the cast.”

“Kaantha glitters for a while, even if it isn't gold — a film that captures the allure of cinema and fame but ultimately falls short of delivering substantial value.”

“Kaantha boasts an impressive ensemble cast with standout performances, but the film suffers primarily from inconsistent execution—while the first half progresses smoothly, once it shifts into the investigative thriller genre, the film loses direction and momentum weakens.”

“Although Kaantha opens strongly by throwing us into the middle of the duel of towering egos between TKM and Ayya, while also offering an exquisite overview of 1950s Tamil Nadu and its cinema, it doesn't take long for the movie's obvious flaws to become evident. Despite each scene carrying a certain degree of tension and drama, which is amplified by strong performances and even stronger technical aspects, the script's lack of cohesion leaves many moments in Kaantha disjointed from one another, which is palpable and impossible to overlook.”

“Powerful performances and excellent making see the film soar, and then plummet when it becomes an investigation drama.”

“Well-begun, they say, is half-done, and so my rating too will be halfway, as the second half really could have been as fresh as the earlier one! Dulquer's showy yet intense attitude, the sheer magnetism of Samuthirakani, and the powerful performance of Rana add to the film's cinematic value. But the second half turns into a routine thriller with the entry of Rana Daggubati and the investigations.”

“A visually rich period drama where Dulquer Salmaan shines as a self-absorbed star, but a genre shift in the second half undermines the film's appeal.”

“Kaantha is sincere and compelling in parts, which helps balance the portions that feel less fully realised. Dulquer Salmaan moves between a more theatrical, lyrical performance on the film set and the controlled charm of a star who knows how to tilt a narrative in his favour with tact, while the film builds its world and characters without hurry, allowing the central trio to take shape.”

“Kaantha goes creatively meta in the most satisfying manner while unveiling the making of a film within a film. Unfortunately, Kaantha doesn't seem to reach its full potential, much like some of the characters in the film.”