Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira Movie Review: A Promising Setup That Falls Apart
Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira was expected to be one of 2025’s major Malayalam releases. With Althaf Salim returning as a director after his well-received Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela and Fahadh Faasil leading the cast, the expectations were sky-high. However, the film unfortunately turns into one of the year’s biggest cinematic disappointments. What starts as a quirky premise quickly loses direction, weighed down by weak writing, forced humour, and unconvincing character dynamics.
The story begins with Aby Mathew (Fahadh Faasil) and Nidhi Sudheesh (Kalyani Priyadarshan), a couple about to get married. Nidhi has a recurring dream of Aby arriving at their wedding on a white horse a strange but symbolic vision she interprets as fate. Aby, influenced by her belief, tries to fulfil the dream. But on the wedding day, the plan goes horribly wrong when the horse goes out of control, causing Aby to fall and slip into a coma.
A year later, Nidhi, pressured by her family, decides to move on with her life. Just moments after she says goodbye, Aby wakes up. Their lives take different directions, and while trying to rebuild himself, Aby meets Revathi (Revathi Pillai), a troubled kindergarten teacher. Believing he can “fix” her problems, Aby takes it upon himself to help but this choice complicates everything further, opening doors to deeper emotional chaos.
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Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira Struggles With Tone and Execution
Despite the film’s emotional premise, Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira suffers from a confused tone. Althaf Salim seems torn between making a dark comedy, a satirical romance, and a slice-of-life drama but ends up failing to deliver any of them convincingly. The humour, which was a strong point in his previous work, feels exaggerated and out of place here.
Fahadh Faasil, known for his natural comic timing, struggles with the unnatural dialogues and forced comedy sequences. His character’s exaggerated reactions and over-the-top gestures feel unconvincing. The banter between Aby and his colleagues, as well as his interactions with his eccentric father Mathew (Lal), lacks spontaneity and falls flat. Even the central relationship between Aby and Nidhi the emotional core of the story feels underdeveloped. Their chemistry never fully takes shape, making the audience indifferent to their journey.
Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira Misses Its Emotional Core
The film’s biggest flaw lies in its inability to connect emotionally. What could have been a heartfelt exploration of love, destiny, and second chances is buried under superficial writing and confused direction. The script often tries too hard to be clever, relying on extended dialogue scenes that fail to land.
References to classic Malayalam cinema and pop culture feel forced, while visual choices like dramatic camera angles and stylised dream sequences add little to the storytelling. Even the emotional moments meant to carry weight feel empty and unearned. The audience is left detached, watching a series of events unfold without ever feeling truly invested.
The performances, too, reflect this lack of emotional depth. Fahadh Faasil, usually brilliant in complex roles, seems out of sync with the tone of the film. Kalyani Priyadarshan’s character is underwritten, offering her little room to make an impact. Revathi Pillai’s subplot, which could have added layers to the narrative, instead drags the pace further and dilutes the main story.
Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira: A Disappointing Miss With Lost Potential
In the end, Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira is a film that had all the ingredients to succeed a talented cast, a respected director, and an emotionally charged premise but fails to bring them together. The humour is inconsistent, the narrative feels disjointed, and the characters lack depth. While a few one-liners and moments of situational comedy manage to raise a smile, they are not enough to rescue the film from mediocrity.
This is a rare misstep for both Fahadh Faasil and Althaf Salim, and a film that will likely be remembered more for its wasted potential than for anything it achieves. Also Read: JK Rowling Breaks Silence on Emma Watson’s Comments With a Strong Message
Conclusion
Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira aims to deliver a unique blend of comedy, romance, and emotional drama but ends up failing on almost all fronts. Despite moments of promise, the film struggles with weak writing, forced humour, and a lack of emotional depth. For a project that held so much potential, the result is an underwhelming cinematic experience that never quite finds its rhythm.
