En Kadhale Movie Review: A flawed yet heartfelt tale of human connections

Director Jayalakshmi’s En Kadhale starts as a story of territorial conflicts between bigwigs among fisherfolk in a harbour area. The film spends considerable time setting up the key figures in the harbour and their underlying tensions. However, it takes an abrupt turn when Dheena (Lingesh) encounters a foreigner named Helen (Leya), who is visiting the village for cultural exploration, shifting the narrative focus considerably. Dheena essentially becomes a cultural guide for Helen and her fellow tourists, and their interactions revolve heavily around discussions about the village, its lifestyle and culture. It is only towards the intermission do we even realise why the film has a completely different beginning. It is forced into the narrative. As Dheena guides Helen and her group, the film begins to connect the harbour conflicts with their interactions in a contrived way. This eventually leads to unforeseen circumstances that draw Dheena and Helen closer.

Director: Jayalakshmi

Cast: Lingesh, Divya Thomas, Leya

The film that emerges is quite different from its initial premise thanks to the contrivance, yet it manages to be engaging for the most part. We get an elaborate flashback explaining Dheena’s solitary existence in the beachside place and his dynamics with his uncle and cousin Dhanam, who considers Dheena her prospective groom. Now, does Dheena consider her as a platonic, familial figure? Or has he fostered a romantic interest in her over the years?

It is intriguing how the film explores the complex intersection of these familial-like bonds and the ensuing romantic desires. Dheena has deep-seated emotional needs stemming from the loss of his mother during the 2004 tsunami. He subconsciously seeks a nurturing, maternal presence in his life. The film is at its most interesting when it subtly comments on the traditional roles of women in his community. It effectively delves into the psychological complexities of the protagonist's evolving feelings for them. For example, it handles the complexities of Dheena's relationship with his cousin with some amount of subtlety. The ties to his tragic past fundamentally alters their dynamic. Also impressive is how the filmmaker juxtaposes the pledge of Dheena's uncle to a young, orphaned Dheena with Dhanam's plea to her father to not interfere with and instead respect his romantic boundaries. For a film set on a beachside, it feels appropriate that En Kadhale has a lot to say about humans and the physical and emotional boundaries that separate them. The sea, with its ebbs and flows, mirrors the changing dynamics in relationships.

The occasionally subtle handling of its themes feels refreshing, especially considering how easily it could have become downright melodramatic. For a good part, however, it does deal in excessive sentimentality and even some puerile humour. A comedy track involving the potential infidelity by a man (Karuppu Raja) to his suspecting wife feels out of place in the film. Despite these commercial compromises, you might find En Kadhale a reasonably engaging watch thanks to the emotional depth in its central premise.

When it comes to performances, Lingesh strives to make Dheena’s complex feelings palpable. Often, the performance turns into soapy melodrama, although the actor puts in an earnest effort to flesh out his character. As the foreigner, Leya is saddled with a one-note role, and her portions with Dheena are comparatively weaker. However, Divya Thomas is a revelation as Dheena’s cousin. The actor delivers a searing portrayal of her character, essaying her emotional complexity with gravitas and sometimes even carrying scenes that verge on heightened drama.

Ultimately, En Kadhale presents a sprawling narrative with both moments of insightful storytelling and stretches of conventional melodrama. While not entirely consistent in its execution, the film offers some compelling ideas and a standout performance from Divya to make it worthwhile for fans of serious, considerate cinema.