Kaathal - the Core with Katherine of Polandine Patti

Discussion of the 2023 Malayalam film Kaathal - The Core with Melanie of Pardesi Reviews and Katherine of Polandine Patti Podcast.
polandinepatti...
Kaathal - The Core is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Jeo Baby and written by Adarsh Sukumaran and Paulson Skaria. Produced by Mammootty Kampany, the film stars Mammootty and Jyothika.
The film was officially announced in October 2022 and principal photography commenced in the same month and wrapped up in November 2022. The music was composed by Mathews Pulickan. Francies Louis handled the editing while the cinematography was done by Salu K. Thomas.
Kaathal - The Core was released on 23 November 2023 and opened to positive reviews from critics praising the performances of Jyothika and Mammootty. It was featured at the 54th IFFI Indian panorama section.
Kaathal the Core is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
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[@puffdaddy4920]

I mean kathy once said.. mohanlals performance is for the heart and Mammooty's is for the head. Its like Marlon Brando( for the heart) and Daniel Day Lewis ( for the head)... but i like Daniel Day lewis a tad more becos there is more intensity to his performance and he becimes the character. I see the same with Mammootty.

[@Bhagyum]

Some malayali guys send messages 😂in some fake identity 😂who is a hard-core fan of mammotty from malappuram😂

[@puffdaddy4920]

@@Bhagyum get a life .....

[@abhinavrgtdp9240]

​@@Bhagyumok maradona... How is heaven...????

[@abin_des]

In the movie Kaathal, it was like there was no Mammootty, there was only Mathew.

[@sujithkumar2041]

Here is an interesting fact: Mammootty acted in the year 1983, 1984 and 1985, 34 films each; and in the year 1986, he acted in 35 films. Isn’t that unbelievable 😮 Many of them are critically acclaimed at that time. He always says he’s a greedy actor.

[@Krishnapriya_7082]

What a detailed review! I'm so amazed at how much of the nuances you caught. I completely missed the camera panning to the kitchen that is not occupied by Omana. The heart this movie has ❤ Love from a fellow movie enthusiast 🥰

[@lakshmilakshmi6359]

It was released in select places in the U.S. almost after a month of its India release, I watched it in New Jersey. Watched it again on Prime, want to watch it again! Watched “ Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam” in theater here in NJ and also watched it couple of times on Netflix. No one to beat Mammukka in versatility, that too choosing great roles❤️ “Puzhu”, “Unda”, “ Kannur Squad” - just to mention few of his recent movies worth watching multiple times!

[@TotallyFilmi]

Thanks, I honestly wasn't sure about the US, but I know a few American friends who didn't have access to it in theatres. I had a Very Long Drive, but it was worth it, I was just so excited for the film. And yes! Puzhu, Unda, Kannur Squad are definitely worth re-watching. I've seen Puzhu and Unda several times, Kannur Squad only once, in the theatre, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again now it's on streaming :-)

[@CinemondoPodcast]

Sooooo goood! Loved your discussion with Katherine!

[@avalokitesvara1989]

Wow . I'm beyond suprised and amazed at the level of knowledge and appreciation of cinema and real life stuff around it😮 and more so about cinema of Malayalam language which is rhe most difficult of Indian languages. Kudos to u both😊

[@TotallyFilmi]

Thank you, that means a lot -- I've been watching Malayalam movies since 2008, and it's been a very long but very enjoyable (and yes, sometimes challenging) learning curve. But I get so much joy out of it all, and I'm also grateful to the people who have guided me towards films, explained things when I was confused, helped out with the nuances of language -- they have been rock stars!

[@avalokitesvara1989]

@@TotallyFilmi Thank u and may you continue to enjoy our cinema And this discussion is insightful. considering how reviews and discussions in Indian KZbin space is marred by politics and greed for views , it's refreshing to watch a conversation that is unbiased and honest

[@stanleyibkiss-vo2cl]

Its so amazing to see an american and canadian doing the mohanlal and mammooty conversation 😊 at 12:20

[@vishnu.bharadwaj]

Talking about representation, the actor who plays their daughter Anagha has come out as bisexual. (In the movie they don't address that) . But when Mammootty speaks with his daughter near the basket ball court, the conversation was so mature. One can read as if a bisexual daughter could understand her gay father slightly better. (You don't have to read it like that, but you also can)

[@kevin88fern]

In her real life?

[@vishnu.bharadwaj]

@@kevin88fern Yup

[@PardesiReviews]

I got that vibe from the daughter without knowing about the actress

[@KK-tx2cm]

Wow !! Amazing discussion. I loved the movie but I understand it in a whole another level after listening to the details you dig into.

[@vkuttus]

Kadhal has the potential to be a case study/part of curriculum in film institutions.

[@abin_des]

Mammootty is like a person with a greedy wish to live the lives of many people. The characters he portrays sometimes - It's like he is not Mammootty anymore. And the fact that he is very hardworking actor. 😁

[@TheFilmFatale]

Fantastic analysis…thank you! Loved Katherine’s unpacking of the definition of Kaathal as heartwood. Supposedly in Tamil, Kaathal means love…more nuance. Also appreciated knowing that Thankan posters over a gay slur…very thankful for that detail i completely missed. Truly loved this movie yet I don’t think it quite hits the high of Great Indian Kitchen as I agree with @D54pod comment that the film erred in telling more than showing (e.g. the major plot points revealed in exposition in the courtroom scenes). One other issue I had with the film was the topic of economic class. I felt even if everything would have gone wrong for Matthew (i.e. he loses the election, he becomes estranged from his family) he would have still been “fine” given his well-to-do job and beautiful home. However that would not be the case for his lover Thankan. In fact initially I thought that would be the focus of the film: watching Matthew survive at the expense of throwing his lover under the bus. On one level I’m glad it didn’t go down this cynical path…but honestly I think that scenario plays out in real life. I could see the village come to acceptance of Matthew being gay but condemn him for coupling with a man of a lower class. Instead we are given a happy ending… Speaking of which, what a frustrating ending that continues with the restraint. I needed no explicit intimacy between the two of them but a hug…shoot even just the two of them looking at each other at the end. Instead we get a glance through a side view mirror… no catharsis, no release. All that said, i would still highly recommend this film as it wonderfully (finally) provides a positive portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community, a watershed moment in Indian cinema.

[@TotallyFilmi]

I wish we’d had a little more time because the economic/class divide is important, as you’ve noted. And it’s mentioned explicitly in the film (the man laying cement says something along those lines to Thankan), and you can see the contrast with Thankan’s smaller, shabbier house, and even his phone screen that’s all cracked. Yet another layer in an already layered film.

[@DSds..]

I think the 'Kaathal' they meant was the Malayalam one, which means Unsurprisingly 'The Core' Edit: actually when I think about the title, Kaathal as in love also makes sense Because Mathew and Omana's Love for eachother was the thing which ended up saving them both

[@TotallyFilmi]

@@DSds.. i actually had a conversation about this where some folks where I asked if we could take the Tamil meaning into consideration, and that’s where we got into more about the Malayalam meaning and then the heartwood lightbulb went off. Mel and I talked before we started recording and then I got so excited about the heartwood I forgot everything else (yes, how trees work is exciting for me :-)

[@PardesiReviews]

I also would have liked the catharsis of a hug!!

[@TheFilmFatale]

@@TotallyFilmi oh! So enjoyed your and Melanie’s analysis of this and Nanpakal (which I need to review and comment upon). I see you have a channel…do you do film analysis videos as well?

[@vishnu.bharadwaj]

I'm 35 minutes into the discussion..!! @Mel Did you cry by the end of the movie ??!

[@PardesiReviews]

I didn’t cry but omg that scene when Mathew breaks down with his dad!!

[@anupama2620]

I hv felt there has been a play on the meaning of the word Kathal… the core as in that is what it means in Malayalam. But in Tamil it means love and Jyothika is Tamilian actress. So from Mammooty’s point of view it’s the core and from Jyothika’s it’s love?

[@stanleyibkiss-vo2cl]

I know malayalam and I was thinking the title meant love until i was corrected recently thay it actually meant the core of the wood. Good to touched upon it both of you

[@goodboygaming2393]

she has a malayalam poster in the background🥰😍

[@MASTER78678]

Watch this movies:- Rorschach_puzhu_mrigaya_ponthanmada_thaniyaavarthanam_sooryamaanasam_pappayude swantham appoos_vidheyan_valsalyam_amaram_mathilukal_dr ambethkar

[@vishnu.bharadwaj]

Other movies in Malayalam include "MY LIFE PARTNER" in which the lead actor Sudev Nair won a Kerala state film award for best actor. Also you can include Mumbai Police when Prithviraj shocked everyone. But for today's day and age Prithvi himself mentioned that the movie will not work but for the time it was released it was excellent.

[@bornofmind]

My life partner was really homophobic though.

[@cineenthusiast1234]

Mumbai police too​@@bornofmind

[@vishnu.bharadwaj]

@@cineenthusiast1234 Yes..!!

[@bornofmind]

@@cineenthusiast1234 yes. My life partner is not well known, so mentioned.

[@londonglow5513]

That was a lovely in depth discussion about Kathal the core . I can't wait to watch this movie tomorrow. Thanks again

[@sureshbangalore426]

Kathal in Malayalam means Trunk- The main stem of the plant that connects the roots to the limbs (branches) which supports the crown of the tree.

[@aaronaugustine8116]

A very beautiful analysis..love you both❤

[@D54pod]

Such an amazing and in-depth conversation, amazing!!

[@puffdaddy4920]

Padmarajan film on the subject was a gem, along with Moothoon and Kaathal. Apart from Mammootty snd Jyothika a shout out to Sudhi Kozhikode who acted as mathews lover. His performance was great.

[@TotallyFilmi]

He was terrific, there was such a lovely sweetness to his character.

[@ajluvzlondon4214]

Have you reviewed "Nayattu" yet? Would love to see you both review that...thanks for this.

[@sujithkumar2041]

Another angle why Omana chose legal way because she was convinced Mathew don’t have the courage to come out himself. And she want him also set free just like her because she knows it was not his choice to begin with. In the initial scenes you can observe Mathew was shifty and even he try to excuse by saying I am an introvert and don’t talk that much( which is not factual considering he’s a known face in the society). He also confessed later he was always scared to come out. In one seen Omana asks ‘do you think i did all this only for myself’?

[@TotallyFilmi]

Agreed, but there has been some discussion about outing Mathew (as a general rule, you just do not out people), so I do think the film gave some nuance to that as well. Nothing Omana did was for pure selfish reasons. Yes, she wanted a life where she felt fulfilled, and the divorce was the only way to get it. But yes, as you've said, she knows it will be important for Mathew, just as it is for her. She believes they *both* deserve lives where they get to live as their true selves.

[@p.mGeorgevarghese-vs7um]

gud one...subscribed..

[@PardesiReviews]

Thanks and welcome

[@sujithkumar2041]

One of the most poignant scene was when the opposition party was getting personal with Mathew’s candidature during a campaign, then suddenly it rains that force them to retreat. Then Thankan emerges, looks at Mathew and walks into the rain - as if the love is akin to rain and natural.

[@PardesiReviews]

Oh I love the way you said that!!

[@ajithknair5]

Mam though the title refer to the core of wood with 'kathal ' this word has meaning love romance in Tamil and Malayalam speakers also understand in that way too my feeling is that here filmmakers used a wordplay As for Mohanlal film neru (truth) you dont need to wait for OTT release your curiosity can be quenched by watching the movie 'sketch artist'

[@malayalamstatus5977]

great film..

[@stanleyibkiss-vo2cl]

Was waiting for a long time for your combo 😊

[@puffdaddy4920]

Guyz as for his choice of films in this stage of the career, both the Ms have taken up diverse roles in every decade of thier career. Its not new .

[@TotallyFilmi]

You’re right, but I think what we’re feeling is kind of how many of them there are in such concentration over the last couple of years for Mammootty. And I’m very curious for Mohanlal and LJP together, that’s working outside the comfort zone for him in terms of the crew, so I hope we get something that also makes us excited to talk about. :-)

[@niyask8235]

Katherine 😊

[@stanleyibkiss-vo2cl]

At 9:40, did you say Joemol, Katherine . I didnt catch it not sure

[@mallucanuck]

22:34 because they filed it on the grounds of cruelty, as opposed to infidelity.

[@Worldwide505]

Mam try to putting English subtitles

[@Worldwide505]

*mam please start reacting full movies also.*

[@rageshvk9583]

Great review.. noticing all the details and nuances..! But would like to point out one thing.. that this is nothing new to Mammootty, he is doing his usual stuff.. :) He has done different kinds of roles all his acting life - Good, bad and ugly characters, even after he became the Megastar.. I saw someone here commented.. He is a greedy actor.. so true..! Mammootty himself mentioned it in an interview. :) Waiting for even better 2024 from Mammukka!

[@imyself5216]

Mohanlal is a great actor, but mammootty as a person is genuine. The issue with parvathy; when everyone went against her, mammootty chose to do a negative role in a film with her. And he had said he may make mistakes but realizing it and rectifying is nothing to be ashamed of. You are wrong about mammootty being silent on the parvathy issue. Mammootty is a private man, who doesn’t disclose anything that’s happening in his mind. You can sense that from the way he responds to any questions about his family. He evades questions about matters concerning people in his family and also avoids introspective questions where someone is trying to understand the kind of character mammootty is. He had so many charitable activities that he kept hidden for very long until recently it got revealed that he has been involved with some charity organization for the past 20+ years. Whereas mohanlal, when he does something like that, he advertises it or somehow it comes out in the public.

[@parakramdivya6949]

Since India's Independence no one has been charged with 377.

[@TotallyFilmi]

The case the film uses as precedent involved bringing charges under Section 377. That was in 2009, iirc. Yes, the court decided the section didn't apply, but the fact that it existed and there was potential for it to be used and abused is important for the film. And, if you're a westerner, like me, like many people who might come to the film and not know the fine details here, it's important to at least understand why the film brings it up. That's all I was trying to get at, trying to make a bridge of information for people who might not know this.

[@unnipaul8944]

I totally understood what Katherine told about the film Kasaba and her opinion on that. I am from Kerala, but I am not anyone's fan. I admire Mammootty and Mohanlal equally. What I felt about the whole Parvathy Mammootty incident is when Parvathy commented on Mammootty it didn't went nice with me. Not bcoz he is a superstar and Parvathy is a woman. What I felt was when she was commenting on that she had just started her career as an actress compared to Mammootty who was a considered as a Master in his own rights. Anyone from audience could have criticised Mammootty for doing Kasaba. No issue. But what I felt was it is not respectful on her part to comment about his work. If she was not acting that was okay. I would have said the same if her comment was not about Mammooty, it was about KPSC Lalitha. It was like Kylian Mbappe commenting on Lionel Messi's game. The thing was not what Mammootty did was right or wrong. U understood what I mean? Let me make one thing very clear. Even I didn't like the movie Kasaba. Truth is I haven't watched it fully.

[@TotallyFilmi]

We'll have to agree to disagree about Parvathy (though your point about being respectful towards seniors in your industry is fair), but we also know that critics and reviewers, especially female ones, also had the trolls descend on them for daring to see the film as misogynistic. We can have these discussions without resorting to that, they're important!

[@TotallyFilmi]

(I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective, though -- it's important to hear these things.)

[@unnipaul8944]

@@TotallyFilmi I am also so happy to see your response. Like you said everyone have their own perspectives. Like, recently someone in an interview asked Parvathy to name 3 super actors of Malayalam film industry and she named Fahad( may be everyone agree on that), Asif Ali and Rima Kallingal. That's her perspective and we should respect that.

[@thesarasohrabi]

I think Parvathy wasn't like a beginner when she said that.... She had a few hits.... Anyways her criticism had nothing to do with Mammootty s acting skills ( where he is undoubtedly senior and better ) But .... other things.... None of the so called senior actresses had any guts to criticize so someone should do it and it was her.... But I actually liked that movie 😲.... Mammookkas swag is on another level....Movie overall had a few flaws but I you are able to move aside the misogyny aspect you'd be able to enjoy .... The movie has a dubbed version in Kannada in YT.... should see the positive comments it's getting from males n females alike....

[@niyask8235]

Oscar❤

[@SDR0505]

I personally didn't see the big issue with Kasaba... Movies represent slices of reality. You gotta be true to your character. An actors job is not to be politically correct but to play the character as written. The people in that world in the film have different range of negative shades, nobody was perfect and thats the whole point. Been true to art is not good when you are trying to be politically correct, one of the reason why Hollywood movies are flopping now a days. Male chauvinism or realities that women face in real life don't go away just because you don't show that in the movie. If anything else you are hiding the truth from the public by just showing a perfect character. What matters in movies especially in Indian cinema is the conclusion and the final message. They are able to close down the brothal house, arrest all the bad guys and even Mammootys character has some positive changes. Also him and the girl ended up as a couple. So its a positive ending that is what matters giving ppl an insight into that world and showing good winning over evil. Parvathy is a fairly good actress but at the time she was honestly riding the high horse of what little success she had and the newly refreshed and trendy Feminism train. Thats all it was, just Publicity.

[@TotallyFilmi]

I don't disagree with you at all that we need to look at imperfections and negative shades, but it's how you do that, and *for me* Kasaba erred on the side of making my skin crawl in how some of these things were portrayed. I'm glad you could find a positive take-away from it. (Just now Irattu came to mind, where we definitely have a grey to black character whose actions I hated, but the way everything was framed and the way the story was told, I could be uncomfortable with the character AND understand why the story had to be told that way. AND, I could see some redeeming qualities in him, because the way the character was written and played manage to balance that. Just an example if it helps see how I view things :-) )

[@davidbilla3345]

💯💯💯💯

[@thesarasohrabi]

Yes...what people are nicely ignoring is the WHOLE of the movie .... as if that ONE scene takes away from it all.... doesn't matter any good things he do... In ONE scene he bosses over a woman.... and that's it... Can't watch any more of it... Oh no where is the society going.... How dare a man put a woman in her place...nooooooo 😂

[@TotallyFilmi]

@@thesarasohrabi I watched the whole movie, and that particular line and scene is, yes, just one part of it. But there's a lot more misogyny at play, and the film relishes it, from my perspective. It was interesting that when I went to watch the film again, that scene was edited out, so more people than just me must have found it troublesome (I don't think it should have been edited out. I think we can have reasonable discussions about things in a civil manner, even if we disagree on the fundamentals. I didn't like the film, great. Someone else loves the film, good for them. Leave the scene there and talk about it, and yes, in the context of the whole film.)

[@kevin88fern]

It would be wrong to say Section 377 will be back. There's a common consensus across the Indian political spectrum on this. That this is a he thing that is dead and better not be exhumed. Also even through all this years since when the British raj had wrote down this section 377 to till 2018 when it finally got struck down there's been only a handful of cases where someone was tried for it. It was more of a tool in the hands of corrupt police men to enlist bribes from gay men. But rarely used legally.

[@TotallyFilmi]

I very much hope you’re right - I was only speculating based both on what I’ve read about the section, but also because right now, In many places in the world (including here in Canada) LGBTQ+ rights are under attack, and I’m concerned about this happening, where we strip people of fundamental human rights . And homosexuality was only decriminalized in Canada in 1969, which is in my lifetime. We now have recently legalized same sex marriage, and there are lots of people who want that repealed. So my general outlook tends to be pessimistic on this subject, though I would totally fight to protect those rights and protect people’s rights and dignity. I dearly hope things everywhere do not revert to the past.

[@anoopchalil9539]

I hate this movie

[@davidbilla3345]

In kasaba mammootty's character is not a good one. He done various types of movies keeping his politics away. He done villain role, villain type hero role,...etc. Don't watch any movie with your biased political ideology.