Kakki Sattai Review: (Un)Making a Hero

A few minutes into Kakki Sattai, a jeep stylishly swerves onto the curb at a police station, and out walks Sivakarthikeyan (Mathimaran), squeaky clean cop shoes first. There’s a distinct swagger about him, and naked aggression. He engages in a fierce war of words with a criminal, and bellows for a ‘constable’. Prabhu – whose surprise guest appearances aren’t that much of a surprise, anymore – strolls out to fairly enthusiastic applause.

He quickly apologises to the ‘criminal’, and turns to Mathimaran.

Evlo tharava uniform la varadha nu solliruken?

Mathimaran, it transpires, is the constable.

Kakki Sattai begins with the right intent. To evoke laughter. And who better to do it than Sivakarthikeyan?

*****

But, no.

Kakki Sattai has a more noble intent up its sleeve. It hatches a grand plan, seeking to continue Maan Karate’s emerging hero streak; dressing up Sivakarthikeyan in a well-fitted uniform and an exaggerated introduction. He wars against the seemingly corrupt police system, speaks 30-second dialogues without pausing for breath (courtesy, Pattukottai Prabhakar), and tries to drive home the advantages of marrying an honest police officer (on a Royal Enfield, nonetheless) earning Rs 14k a month than an “engineer ” earning a couple of lakhs (sic).

To general applause and whistles, it has to be said.

This is nothing, though. Much before all of this could happen, Mathimaran validates himself with a skewed argument that goes, “ponnunga…”

One too many times.

As the movie progresses, Sivakarthikeyan, festooned in police colours, tries to induct himself into the league of cult cop stars. Alex Pandian – Durai Singham – Mathimaran; as sequentially oxymoronic as can be, but only half in jest.

There’s a general premise of organ theft (second this year, after Yennai Arindhaal) – to prove Mathimaran’s daring and cunning – rain-lashed stunt scenes, some extremely low angle shots, and later, a wet, wet Sivakarthikeyan standing over a couple of thugs writhing in pain.

*****

Some funny moments do occur, though – thanks to Imman Annachi as Samarasam, Mathimaran’s colleague, and Mathimaran himself – when he is not being crowd-pleasingly sexist.

*****

Vijay Raaz as Durai, the brain behind the organ trade is the sophisticate here. With a shaggy mane of grey hair and a matching sneer, he’s good to look at. But the director decides that isn’t enough. Durai needs a signature; worthy of a villain, nonetheless.

So, he punctuates every sentence with a malicious kiss.

[accordion title = “Spoiler”]And, is fittingly killed by Mathimaran – the traditionalist that he is.[/accordion]

*****

The Kakki Sattai Review is a Silverscreen original article. It was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the movie. Silverscreen.in and its writers do not have an advertising relationship with movies that are reviewed on the site.