Spoilers ahead…
Read the full review on Film Companion, here: https://www.filmcompanion.in/kolamavu-kokila-review-tamil-movie-baradwaj-rangan/
The archetypal premise of Kolamavu Kokila, directed by Nelson, is at least as old as K Balachander’s Arangetram (possibly even older): a woman from a respectable family is in need of money, which leads her into a disreputable profession. It was sex work there; here, it’s smuggling drugs. But the happy twist is that Kolamavu Kokila is no weepie, and neither is it, thankfully, a heart-in-the-right-place empowerment drama. (These seem to be the only two flavours of heroine-oriented films, though the fact that a heroine has been asked to carry a “nice girls usually don’t do things like this” narrative is certainly its own kind of empowerment.) I would have enjoyed it more if Kokila (Nayanthara) weren’t presented as such a wide-eyed victim, had she learnt to enjoy the headiness that comes from breaking the law, but… baby steps, baby steps!
There’s a lot to cheer in Kolamavu Kokila. As in Aramm, there’s no hero — instead, we get Yogi Babu as Sekar, a provisions shop owner who carries a torch for Kokila and gets a fun music video set to Anirudh’s super-catchy Kalyana vayasu. Frankly speaking, this is a looksist conceit that wants us to laugh at the mere fact that a guy who looks like Yogi Babu can dream of getting a girl who looks like Nayanthara. (Yogi Babu is a terrific comedian, and it would be a shame if he became the Usilai Mani of this generation, used for the same “joke” over and over.) But on the other hand, this, again, points to Nayanthara’s adventurousness in picking parts. I don’t see too many top heroines, today, saying yes to films where the answer to the “Who is your co-star?” question is “Yogi Babu!”
Continued at the link above.
Copyright ©2018 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
Srinivas R
August 17, 2018
Apparently Thailavi has arrived – https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/thalaivi-here-nayantharas-kolamaavu-kokila-gets-6-am-shows-paalabhishegams-86756
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HeyRam
August 17, 2018
@Srinivas – its quite refreshing and good to see a “thalaivi” getting star billing. Especially when she manages it without having to force-feed the masses mindless “mass” moments. Based on the revierw and like a lot of other recent films, looks like this one also comes close to delivering a great package but falls short in a few ways. But sounds like somewhat fun film – will have to give it a go despite the sub 3-star review from BR.
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Srinivas R
August 17, 2018
Actually BR’s review is one of the few less complimentary ones, other reviews are just short of a rave.
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Rahul
August 17, 2018
Good to see a Breaking Bad inspired movie.
“I would have enjoyed it more if Kokila (Nayanthara) weren’t presented as such a wide-eyed victim”
Her (lack of) acting chops may have inspired the story line.
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sherevelations
August 18, 2018
I completely agree with the line “But the happy twist is that Kolamavu Kokila is no weepie, and neither is it, thankfully, a heart-in-the-right-place empowerment drama.” It is about time Tamil cinema portray women as normal human beings, with their imperfections, rather than an epitome of goodness or someone who needs constant validation or a side chick to a hero.
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Dora
August 18, 2018
Just watched the movie. Extremely funny in many places, and great to see a mainstream Tamil movie running to a houseful show with no “hero” or love story or foreign duets. The movie to me would have been a perfect ten if Nayanthara had worked at least a little on her acting skills. Honestly, she had more or less the same expressions as what she did in Aram, with the same dialog delivery as what she did in naanum rowdy dhaan. I am still a fan girl, love her screen presence, more power to her, really looking forward to her Anurag Kashyap thriller.
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Anuja Chandramouli
August 19, 2018
Am I the only one bothered by the fact that the protagonist is a drug dealer even if she is a wide – eyed, ‘innocent’ who has chosen to peddle the foul stuff owing to dire familial circumstances? Would that make the loved ones of those who have been destroyed by addiction feel better? I could be wrong but drugs claim far more lives than stalking and in terms of sheer potential for causing damage and devastation only a world war or a nuclear Holocaust would be ranked higher. And yet, while there is so much outrage generated over certain films for political incorrectness or the negative influences they have on youngsters, when the female Superstar cutesifies the drug trade, it is considered an empowered move and celebrated as a major victory for women. I just don’t get it.
Somehow I liked the likes of Nayan and Jo a lot more when they were glamming it up or being bubbly and cute. It felt a lot more authentic than the faux feminist narrative they have shoehorned into their careers.
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sanjana
August 19, 2018
If not Kokila someone would have stepped into her shoes. By entering this drug trade, she could fulfill her responsibilites and thats ok from her point of view.
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Filistine
August 19, 2018
“drugs claim far more lives than stalking and in terms of sheer potential for causing damage and devastation only a world war or a nuclear Holocaust would be ranked higher”
I think there is a false equivalence here. Drugs harm the people who consume them,whereas stalking harms the innocents. Ditto with nuclear wars.
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shemz
August 19, 2018
“And yet, while there is so much outrage generated over certain films for political incorrectness or the negative influences they have on youngsters, when the female Superstar cutesifies the drug trade, it is considered an empowered move and celebrated as a major victory for women.”
The reason for the outrage is when it becomes the story line of a lot of their movies (repeat offenders). If i Say ‘Nayanthara is a drug peddler’ or ‘Vijay sethupathi is a kidnapper’ no one would have trouble spotting the movie, whereas if I go ‘Actor X relentlessly chases heroine until she gives in, using deceitful methods to get her to like him’ and you cannot zero in on the movie, then there is a problem.
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Pato
August 19, 2018
While drugs, nuclear weapons etc are dangerous and everyone has a broad idea about its consequences, relationship between 2 individual is abstract and tough to define.
A remo kind of movie is surely going to impact audience more than coco.
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jaga_jaga
August 25, 2018
So much to write about this! But I will just stop with one point for now. That Shobhie’s lover – he is named “LK”! Now, any self respecting, “Tamizh” male guy in the age group 15-45 let’s say knows that on the roads, in the schools, in collages, and across chat boxes and social media, “LK” means “loosu k**di”, i.e, “foolish c*nt”!
Older way of saying someone is a loosu – “avan loosu daa”
more contemporary way – “avan loosu k**di daa”
more contemporary way, when people are around – “seriyaana LK daa avan”
That LK guy in the movie is the best example of the LK people scream about on the roads!
Such a subtle way of using this in a mainstream movie! I am sure it was intentional. Lot more sub-culture in this movie! Will get back soon.
But this LK thing – brought out so audaciously in a mainstream movie, I will never stop laughing about it, until I breathe my last! hahahaha!
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KS
December 9, 2019
Saw this only recently.. The second half especially was terrific, after the family gets into the action.. After my wife pointed out, I realize that this movie is the same vein as the lovely yesteryear movie Arangetravelai..
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sanjana
August 1, 2022
Goodluck Jerry on hotstar. Any comparisons with KK?
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