Kalvan is a film that creates the impression that a lot is going on while also making you believe that nothing is happening onscreen. A deeper look reveals that this seemingly basic animation covers a wide range of topics, from human psychology to animals. However, throughout its length, Kalvan simply passes by without making a sound. This is not a film that will make you want to pause, marvel, and watch it again.
The problem with Kalvan is that it is simple and primarily a low-risk activity. Of course, we can't condemn a film because it's simple and straightforward. However, given what Kalvan discusses, the film's ease of viewing is problematic. This PV Shankar-directed picture is intended to be high-stakes but instead ends up being low-stakes.
On a positive side, Kalvan's cast performances and main portrayal are effective. Kemban (GV Prakash Kumar) is a long cry from our films' pious leads, who have always served as torchbearers and models of rectitude. His character is far from ideal and can even be considered sad. However, one could argue that Kemban's eventual character development required far more complexity and refinement. However, for the most part, the film does a fantastic job of not making us understand Kemban's motivations.
For the most part, Kalvan follows an archetype tale with all of the expected conditions. For example, there is a mandatory song that plays to establish Kemban's personality. Another song plays as Kemban falls in love with Balamani (Ivana). There's another song about Balamani falling in love with Kemban. The picture also falters when, in a pivotal scene, the CGI animal appears phony and blatantly fake.
The introduction of a Malayali character who is a mahout may be the film's weakest link. In what planet did the creators believe that repeatedly having him say, 'I am not a nair but a namboothiri' would be funny? The entire sequence is terribly startling, and it pulls you out of a film that could otherwise be described as an insignificant but harmless movie.
Director P V Shankar's Kalvan works for two reasons. For starters, all of the key actors—Bharathiraja, G V Prakash, Ivana, and Dheena—deliver outstanding and immensely engaging performances. The second is the message that the film aims to convey.
The film has some flaws, the most notable of which is the bad CG employed in certain moments. For example, the film has an important sequence involving a tiger. It is clear that the tiger was made using CG, which diminishes the authenticity of the story and takes away some of the film's attractiveness.
