Jeo Baby's Kaathal is all about recognizing past mistakes and moving on while being empathetic to everyone. As Omana's lawyer says to the court, she could only file the petition after section 377 was abolished so that Mathew wouldn't be branded a criminal. Mostly when Indian films have tried doing stories regarding LQBTQ, they will have many dramatic moments, a long speech that would change a lot of people's minds and mostly urban settings, of course, there are some exceptions like Aligarh. There's nothing like that here. The dialogues that are supposedly educating are mostly said by lawyers in a very straightforward fashion which doesn't feel preachy and fits perfectly in the situation. There are a lot of moments that could've been dramatic but the film chooses to be peaceful throughout, all the while acknowledging how tumultuous the characters' minds are. Both Mammootty's and Jyothika's characters don't talk too much but say a lot through their silences. It is for these silent moments that the movie reserves most of its powerful background music. So many seemingly peaceful lives would be much more peaceful and happy if there was no need to worry about what people would think. The first main scene of Mammootty itself is one that cements this idea in a more familiar way in Indian films than the rest of the film.
The ending shows the character who was filled with fear and hiding it finally showing a bit more confidence and the character that stayed strong in their decision turning anxious to show the progress they have left to make because of how the world works. But even with that, Jeo Baby envisions a world with a bright future with that final shot.
The film did feel like there were areas where it could have been more. There's so much that is not too open just as the characters' fears lead them to be. But maybe this is the right meter for a superstar like Mammootty to do such a role. Watching a film like this in a packed commercial theatre became possible because it stars him. The exposure and the empathy this movie is capable of creating is even more than that a preachy more commercial movie would have made if it didn't star someone like him.
The ending shows the character who was filled with fear and hiding it finally showing a bit more confidence and the character that stayed strong in their decision turning anxious to show the progress they have left to make because of how the world works. But even with that, Jeo Baby envisions a world with a bright future with that final shot.
The film did feel like there were areas where it could have been more. There's so much that is not too open just as the characters' fears lead them to be. But maybe this is the right meter for a superstar like Mammootty to do such a role. Watching a film like this in a packed commercial theatre became possible because it stars him. The exposure and the empathy this movie is capable of creating is even more than that a preachy more commercial movie would have made if it didn't star someone like him.