‘Muthu Engira Kaattaan’: Rustic slow burn keeps intrigue alive

Before Tamil superstar Vijay Sethupathi, who is also the producer of the Tamil series ‘Muthu Engira Kaattaan’, appears in his titular part, we see his smiling head.

To begin with, the thriller set in a Tamil village and in a forest area rests on the dilemma of three policemen. The outsider wants the station to be shut because it is visited by creatures like snakes. Constable Kaali Pandiyan (Vaidivel Murugan), who happens to be the son of an affluent goat herder from the village, is so besotted with his wife that the thought of leaving the village for an outstation posting is outright unpalatable to him.

Soon enough, a body-less head is discovered in the village. Hereafter, investigation into the smiling visage begins. Episode by episode, the mystery deepens and we get snippets of who the dead man was. As the mystique builds around him, we are made to wonder whether he was a Good Samaritan who helped the hapless with wads of cash or a goon with ill-gotten money?

In this non-linear storytelling, we see many shades of this man, Muthu, in different time zones — from the early 2000s to mid-2010. From a watch repair guy to an orphanage manager to one who can control an elephant, he appears to be master of all. A couple of love stories are packed in what is quintessentially a revenge drama laced with loads of action.

In this series created by National Award-winning Tamil director M Manikandan, though most central actors are from the South, there is Milind Soman as Shivettan Desai for that North-South alchemy. Mystique surrounds his character, too; he is introduced in a suspenseful fashion. Is he Muthu’s friend or foe, the air is thick with anticipation to begin with but is cleared later. The question that hangs heavy is, who killed Muthu and why; and why was he smiling when his head was severed?

A slow burn to begin with, the series picks pace somewhere in the middle in the 10-episode drama, but is never in a hurry to reveal all its cards.

Rooted in the rural Tamil ethos, not all humour is likely to land for North Indian audiences. Yet all is not lost either, and both chucklesome moments and dark humour permeate the story. The short episodes, which begin well, end with a twist in the tale. The series meanders off in many directions to finally come together in a cohesive whole. While the love angle is integral to the plot, the depiction of its lead romantic heroine, Meena (Risha Jacob), as a girl who dances at rural festivals does not break any new ground.

There is a mix of progressive thought: a love affair between the hero and a dancing girl. But regressive elements evident in lecherous remarks, not just of villains but others too, are not only predictable but also a downer.

Those of us who have watched Sethupathi’s simmering talent and swag in Sriram Raghavan’s ‘Merry Christmas’, Raj and DK’s ‘Farzi’ and Atlee’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Jawaan’, and expect a phenomenal performance from a show headlined by him, are not likely to be disappointed. Who can deny Sethupathi’s sublimated intensity and his ability to combine superhero traits with everyday man qualities; attired like a regular commoner too and retaining his charisma?

Not once does he play it over the top, even though kaattaan means a force of nature — someone who can’t be tamed.

As the narrative shifts from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, the atmospherics too live up to the title, which also means wilderness. Cinematographer Madhu Neelakandan captures the rustic thread of the series, especially the goat-herding ways, rather well. Among supporting actors, all three playing the policemen, especially Muthukumar as Sidharthan, who finally unravel the curious case of the severed head, get enough screen-time and do credible justice to their parts.

Wish Milind, whose ab-toned body is spotlighted in a shirtless scene, had a lengthier arc; nevertheless, he is impressive.

The Tamil series, also available in Hindi, may not instantly straddle the North-South audience gap, but if you are a Sethupathi fan and are ready for a thriller with a difference, ‘Muthu Engira Kaattaan’ should suffice. The series, though propelled primarily by Sethupathi, is not unabashed fan service alone.

It keeps the intrigue factor alive for most of its runtime.