I Am Kathalan is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language techno crime thriller directed by Girish A. D. The film features Naslen K. Gafoor in the lead role, alongside Anishma Anilkumar, Lijomol Jose, and Dileesh Pothan. The screenplay was penned by Sajin Cherukayil, with music composed by Sidhartha Pradeep.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Girish A. D. |
| Written by | Sajin Cherukayil |
| Produced by | Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Paul Varghese, Krishnamoorthy |
| Starring | Naslen K. Gafoor, Anishma Anilkumar, Lijomol Jose, Dileesh Pothan |
| Cinematography | Sharan Velayudhan |
| Edited by | Akash Joseph Varghese |
| Music by | Sidhartha Pradeep |
| Production Companies | Dr. Pauls Entertainment, Sree Gokulam Movies, Hitmakers Entertainments |
| Distributed by | Dream Big Films (India), Phars Film (Overseas) |
| Release Date | 7 November 2024 |
| Running Time | 111 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Story/ Plot
The narrative centers on Vishnu, portrayed by Naslen K. Gafoor, an engineering graduate struggling with academic backlogs and unemployment. His romantic relationship with Shilpa (Anishma Anilkumar) deteriorates due to his lack of direction. Following a humiliating encounter with Shilpa’s father, Chacko Periyadan (Dileesh Pothan), Vishnu seeks revenge by exploiting his cyber skills to hack into Chacko’s chit-fund company under the alias “Kathalan.” The situation escalates when an ethical hacker becomes involved, adding complexity to Vishnu’s quest for vengeance.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Naslen K. Gafoor | Vishnu / Kathalan |
| Lijomol Jose | Simi |
| Dileesh Pothan | Chacko Periyadan |
| Anishma Anilkumar | Shilpa Periyadan |
| Vineeth Vasudevan | Mathew Thomas |
| Sajin Cherukayil | Praveen Kumar |
| Vineeth Vishwam | Aneesh |
| Arshad Ali | Udayan |
| Kiran Josey | Jills |
| Zhinz Shan | (Role not specified) |
| Saran Panicker | (Role not specified) |
| Arjun K. | (Role not specified) |
| Sanath Sivaraj | (Role not specified) |
| T. G. Ravi | Mathematics Professor |
OTT release
I Am Kathalan” was released on the OTT platform ManoramaMAX on January 17, 2025, following its theatrical release on November 7, 2024.
Critical Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Anjana George of The Times of India rated it 3 out of 5 stars, noting that while the film offers a fresh take on the genre with a focus on emotional depth, its slow pace may not engage all viewers.
Similarly, a review from Lensmen Reviews highlighted the film’s authenticity and engaging narrative but mentioned that it lacks the high-stakes tension typically expected in such thrillers.
Reviews
I Am Kathalan” has garnered a range of reviews from both critics and audiences:
- The Times of India: Anjana George awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars, noting that while it offers a fresh perspective on the genre, its slow pace and emphasis on emotional depth might not resonate with all viewers.
- The Indian Express: The film received a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, with the reviewer suggesting that it might have been more impactful if released before “Premalu.”
- IMDb: Users have given the film an average rating of 7.1 out of 10, based on 13 reviews, reflecting a generally positive audience reception.
