A psychological mystery wrapped in a crime investigation
‘Kitti’
– Review
‘Kitti’, written and directed by Nedumaran and headlined by Ashok, attempts to bring together several familiar ingredients — romance, murder, police investigation and courtroom drama — while placing a psychological mystery at the centre of the narrative. The result is a crime drama that keeps questioning the reliability of its protagonist and, consequently, the truth behind the crimes he claims to have committed.
The film opens on a startling note. Vijay (Ashok), an auto-rickshaw driver, walks into a police station and surrenders, claiming that he has murdered Siva and Pooja. Rather than immediately revealing what happened, the narrative moves backwards to reconstruct the events that led Vijay to make such a confession.
Vijay and Pooja are in love. Pooja is a North Indian woman, while Vijay is a Tamil-speaking auto driver, and their relationship develops despite the language barrier between them. Pooja begins learning Tamil, while Vijay makes an effort to learn Hindi. Their attempts to understand each other’s language become an important part of their relationship.
Their romance, however, becomes complicated when Siva enters the picture. Pooja’s father had apparently asked Siva to stay away from her, but his presence and the circumstances surrounding him begin to affect Vijay’s perception of his relationship with Pooja.
The case eventually reaches court, where Vijay maintains that he loved Pooja and that she betrayed him. But just when the film appears to be settling into the familiar territory of a murder investigation, it introduces its more intriguing psychological layer.
As the police begin digging into Vijay’s past and behaviour, a doctor reveals a crucial aspect of his psychological condition. Vijay has a disturbing vulnerability: when someone tells him that he has committed a particular act, he can begin to believe that the incident actually happened and that he was responsible for it.
This becomes the central mechanism driving the mystery. A real criminal exploits Vijay’s vulnerability and manipulates him into believing that he committed crimes he had nothing to do with. Vijay subsequently provides statements to the police based on these false memories and beliefs. The investigation therefore becomes increasingly complicated, with the authorities struggling to determine which parts of his account are factual and which ones have been implanted in his mind.
The screenplay introduces another intriguing turn through Maha. In court, she insists that she does not know Vijay and denies ever having been romantically involved with him. She also reveals that she is preparing to marry someone else.
Vijay, however, tells an entirely different story. According to him, he was in love with Maha, only for her to betray him and choose another man. He even claims that he killed her as a result.
Then comes the catch: Maha is alive. The revelation immediately casts further doubt on Vijay’s statements and forces the police to reconsider everything they think they know about the case.
The investigation eventually points towards another auto driver, Raja. Court proceedings gradually reveal his connection to the murders and expose how Vijay’s psychological vulnerability was allegedly exploited to make him take responsibility for crimes committed by someone else.
But even Raja’s arrest doesn’t bring the mystery to a straightforward conclusion. He continues to maintain that he is innocent, forcing the investigators to revisit Vijay’s psychological condition and the events surrounding the case.
The story then expands further through Deepti, the doctor’s daughter and Pooja’s college friend. A serious crime involving Deepti becomes connected to the larger investigation, adding another layer to an already tangled narrative.
As these seemingly unrelated incidents begin to converge, the central question becomes increasingly compelling: how much of what Vijay remembers did he actually experience, and how much has his mind constructed or accepted as reality?
That psychological uncertainty is easily the film’s most interesting aspect. Rather than limiting itself to the question of who committed the murders, ‘Kitti’ explores how a person’s psychological vulnerability can be manipulated by someone with criminal intent. The idea also creates an interesting dilemma for the investigators, because Vijay’s own confession cannot be taken at face value.
Ashok delivers a measured performance as Vijay. His portrayal of a man caught between reality, memory and suggestion is particularly effective in the quieter portions, where confusion and vulnerability have to be conveyed through expressions and body language rather than dialogue. He also handles the character’s contrasting emotional requirements, including the romantic portions, dramatic scenes and action sequences.
Nisha Ishmeet plays Pooja, while Sangavi Dharmaraj appears as Maha. Simu Advani also plays a part in the proceedings, while Arjoona Duraisamy brings another dimension to the investigation as Raja. Gee Mahindra, as the judge, features in courtroom portions that help move the narrative forward.
Kadhar’s music complements the investigative and courtroom sequences without overwhelming them, supporting the film’s suspense-oriented mood.
The screenplay’s biggest advantage is its willingness to move across different genres. Romance, murder, investigation, courtroom proceedings and psychological mystery are all woven into the narrative. The uncertainty surrounding Vijay’s statements keeps the audience questioning the truth along with the investigators.
At the same time, the film occasionally risks becoming overly complicated. In a psychological mystery built around shifting versions of reality, clarity is crucial, and the constant introduction of new information can leave the viewer struggling to keep track of what is established fact and what may be part of Vijay’s distorted perception. However, that uncertainty is also deliberately employed as a storytelling device.
Ultimately, ‘Kitti’ is more than a conventional murder mystery. Its central idea lies in examining how the mind of a vulnerable individual can become a tool in the hands of a manipulative criminal.
With romance, crime, courtroom drama and psychological suspense working alongside one another, ‘Kitti’ offers a different take on the investigation genre. Its most compelling element remains Vijay’s uncertain grip on reality — and the mystery surrounding whether his memories can be trusted.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
By Naveen
***
