Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira (2025) Movie Review: A Quirky Misfire That Struggles to Find Its FootingReleased on August 29, 2025, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira (translated humorously as “Who Let the Horse Out?”), directed by Althaf Salim, is a Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama that aims for bold, eccentric humor but stumbles into chaotic territory. Starring Fahadh Faasil as Aby, alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan, Revathi Pillai, Lal, Vinay Forrt, and Suresh Krishna, this 2-hour-30-minute film explores love, mental health, and personal growth through an absurdist lens. Produced by Ashiq Usman Productions and distributed by Central Films and AP International, it hit theaters during the Onam season, competing with films like Hridayapoorvam. Despite high expectations from Salim’s debut Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela and Fahadh’s star power, the film has drawn polarized reactions, with critics like The Indian Express calling it “2025’s most disappointing Malayalam film.”
Introduction: A Chaotic Ride with Ambitious IntentOdum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira arrives with the promise of a quirky, light-hearted take on serious themes, following the success of director Althaf Salim’s Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, which blended dark humor with emotional depth. The film centers on Aby, a furniture showroom worker jilted at his wedding due to a bizarre request from his fiancée, Nidhi (Kalyani Priyadarshan), to arrive on a white horse. A coma, a misunderstanding, and a journey to Bengaluru later, Aby encounters Revathy (Revathi Pillai), a reserved woman whose struggles mirror his own. The film aims to weave comedy, romance, and mental health commentary, but its erratic narrative and lack of cohesion have split audiences, with IMDb ratings at 7.1/10 from limited votes and critics like The Times of India giving it a scathing 1.5/5. Released in Malayalam across cities like Kochi and Mumbai, it’s a bold experiment that doesn’t quite land.
Plot and Themes: A Muddled Mix of Humor and HeartThe story begins with Aby preparing for his wedding to Nidhi, whose whimsical demand for a white horse sets off a chain of absurd events. A coma-inducing mishap derails their engagement, and after waking a year later, a misunderstanding sends Aby to Bengaluru, where he meets Revathy, a woman grappling with her own emotional turmoil. As they bond, Nidhi’s return complicates matters, revealing hidden truths that lead Aby toward peace. The film tackles themes of depression, heartbreak, and self-discovery, using dark humor to lighten heavy topics, much like Salim’s debut. A notable scene, highlighted by Onmanorama, features Aby’s father (Lal) casually contemplating suicide, handled with an odd tenderness that encapsulates the film’s tone.However, the narrative’s chaotic structure undermines its potential. The Times of India criticizes its “incohesive” storytelling, noting that every character seems to have an unexplained mental disorder, creating a disjointed universe. The Indian Express calls it an “empty vessel,” with dream sequences and metaphors feeling shallow and unconvincing. The film’s attempt to blend Wes Anderson-esque quirkiness with Priyadarshan-style slapstick, as The Week suggests, falls flat, with too many subplots—like Aby’s brother’s arc—feeling extraneous. The third act, despite aiming for emotional resolution, lacks the depth to tie the story together, leaving viewers confused rather than moved.
Performances: A Stellar Cast Can’t Save the ScriptFahadh Faasil, known for nuanced roles, struggles as Aby, a character critics argue suits Nivin Pauly’s mid-2010s persona better. The Indian Express notes Fahadh’s difficulty with the “doggerel dialogues” and exaggerated tone, making his performance feel forced, though Lensmen Reviews praises his trauma portrayal in Bengaluru scenes. Kalyani Priyadarshan, fresh off Lokah, plays Nidhi with bubbly charm but lacks challenge, with her role criticized as underdeveloped by Koimoi. Revathi Pillai’s Revathy is a highlight, her understated performance adding emotional weight to the film’s brighter moments, as Hollywood Reporter India observes.Lal and Suresh Krishna steal the show with their comedic timing, delivering laugh-out-loud one-liners, as IMDb and Onmanorama note. Lal’s boomer energy, reminiscent of his One Man Show role, revives the film’s sagging energy, though not consistently. Vinay Forrt and Dhyan Sreenivasan add quirks but can’t elevate the weak script. The lack of chemistry between Fahadh and Kalyani, as The Times of India points out, weakens the romantic core, making the film feel more like a series of sketches than a cohesive story.
Technical Craft: Visual Flair Amid Narrative ChaosJustin Varghese’s music is a standout, with a vibrant score that enhances the film’s colorful vibe, as Mathrubhumi notes. The cinematography, with its Dutch angle shots and fast cuts, aims for an eccentric aesthetic but feels overdone, as Lensmen Reviews critiques. The visuals, shot in Ernakulam, Chennai, and Bengaluru, capture a lively yet chaotic world, though some scenes, like a song in the second half, drag unnecessarily, per Koimoi. Editing struggles to balance the frenetic pace, contributing to the narrative’s disjointed feel. The production design and costumes align with the quirky tone, but the overt references to past films, as The Week notes, feel forced rather than clever.
Direction and Execution: A Bold but Flawed ExperimentAlthaf Salim’s sophomore effort aims high, blending dark humor with mental health themes, but lacks the subtlety of his debut. Onmanorama praises his playful approach, noting the film’s peculiar characters, but The Hindu calls it an “aimless narrative” that fails to sustain its absurdist humor. Salim’s attempt to craft a Jason Reitman-inspired comedy, as Hollywood Reporter India mentions, is ambitious but erratic, with the mix of slapstick and somber themes feeling jarring. The film’s risky structure, narrated from Aby’s perspective, as Lensmen Reviews points out, makes it feel overly eccentric, alienating audiences who crave coherence.
Audience Appeal and ImpactWith a UA certificate and a 2-hour-30-minute runtime, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira targets fans of quirky comedies and Fahadh Faasil enthusiasts. Its Onam release, alongside Lokah and Hridayapoorvam, sparked buzz, with Mathrubhumi and Bollywood Life noting positive audience reactions for its humor and visuals. However, critical pans—1.5/5 from The Times of India and The Indian Express—highlight its divisive nature, with some viewers walking out, per IMDb. Its Netflix OTT release will likely attract curious viewers, but its niche appeal may limit its reach. The film’s 7.1/10 IMDb rating reflects a polarized reception, with fans on Reddit praising its “neurodivergent” energy.
Conclusion: A Quirky Experiment That Doesn’t Quite GallopOdum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is a bold, chaotic attempt to blend dark humor with romantic comedy, elevated by Lal’s hilarity and vibrant visuals but weighed down by an incohesive script and lackluster chemistry. Fahadh Faasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan try to navigate the eccentric world, but the film’s erratic structure and shallow emotional depth make it a frustrating watch. For fans of unconventional comedies, it offers moments of brilliance, but mainstream audiences may find it perplexing. Catch it in theaters or await its Netflix release for a quirky, flawed ride.
Rating: 2/5
Introduction: A Chaotic Ride with Ambitious IntentOdum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira arrives with the promise of a quirky, light-hearted take on serious themes, following the success of director Althaf Salim’s Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, which blended dark humor with emotional depth. The film centers on Aby, a furniture showroom worker jilted at his wedding due to a bizarre request from his fiancée, Nidhi (Kalyani Priyadarshan), to arrive on a white horse. A coma, a misunderstanding, and a journey to Bengaluru later, Aby encounters Revathy (Revathi Pillai), a reserved woman whose struggles mirror his own. The film aims to weave comedy, romance, and mental health commentary, but its erratic narrative and lack of cohesion have split audiences, with IMDb ratings at 7.1/10 from limited votes and critics like The Times of India giving it a scathing 1.5/5. Released in Malayalam across cities like Kochi and Mumbai, it’s a bold experiment that doesn’t quite land.
Plot and Themes: A Muddled Mix of Humor and HeartThe story begins with Aby preparing for his wedding to Nidhi, whose whimsical demand for a white horse sets off a chain of absurd events. A coma-inducing mishap derails their engagement, and after waking a year later, a misunderstanding sends Aby to Bengaluru, where he meets Revathy, a woman grappling with her own emotional turmoil. As they bond, Nidhi’s return complicates matters, revealing hidden truths that lead Aby toward peace. The film tackles themes of depression, heartbreak, and self-discovery, using dark humor to lighten heavy topics, much like Salim’s debut. A notable scene, highlighted by Onmanorama, features Aby’s father (Lal) casually contemplating suicide, handled with an odd tenderness that encapsulates the film’s tone.However, the narrative’s chaotic structure undermines its potential. The Times of India criticizes its “incohesive” storytelling, noting that every character seems to have an unexplained mental disorder, creating a disjointed universe. The Indian Express calls it an “empty vessel,” with dream sequences and metaphors feeling shallow and unconvincing. The film’s attempt to blend Wes Anderson-esque quirkiness with Priyadarshan-style slapstick, as The Week suggests, falls flat, with too many subplots—like Aby’s brother’s arc—feeling extraneous. The third act, despite aiming for emotional resolution, lacks the depth to tie the story together, leaving viewers confused rather than moved.
Performances: A Stellar Cast Can’t Save the ScriptFahadh Faasil, known for nuanced roles, struggles as Aby, a character critics argue suits Nivin Pauly’s mid-2010s persona better. The Indian Express notes Fahadh’s difficulty with the “doggerel dialogues” and exaggerated tone, making his performance feel forced, though Lensmen Reviews praises his trauma portrayal in Bengaluru scenes. Kalyani Priyadarshan, fresh off Lokah, plays Nidhi with bubbly charm but lacks challenge, with her role criticized as underdeveloped by Koimoi. Revathi Pillai’s Revathy is a highlight, her understated performance adding emotional weight to the film’s brighter moments, as Hollywood Reporter India observes.Lal and Suresh Krishna steal the show with their comedic timing, delivering laugh-out-loud one-liners, as IMDb and Onmanorama note. Lal’s boomer energy, reminiscent of his One Man Show role, revives the film’s sagging energy, though not consistently. Vinay Forrt and Dhyan Sreenivasan add quirks but can’t elevate the weak script. The lack of chemistry between Fahadh and Kalyani, as The Times of India points out, weakens the romantic core, making the film feel more like a series of sketches than a cohesive story.
Technical Craft: Visual Flair Amid Narrative ChaosJustin Varghese’s music is a standout, with a vibrant score that enhances the film’s colorful vibe, as Mathrubhumi notes. The cinematography, with its Dutch angle shots and fast cuts, aims for an eccentric aesthetic but feels overdone, as Lensmen Reviews critiques. The visuals, shot in Ernakulam, Chennai, and Bengaluru, capture a lively yet chaotic world, though some scenes, like a song in the second half, drag unnecessarily, per Koimoi. Editing struggles to balance the frenetic pace, contributing to the narrative’s disjointed feel. The production design and costumes align with the quirky tone, but the overt references to past films, as The Week notes, feel forced rather than clever.
Direction and Execution: A Bold but Flawed ExperimentAlthaf Salim’s sophomore effort aims high, blending dark humor with mental health themes, but lacks the subtlety of his debut. Onmanorama praises his playful approach, noting the film’s peculiar characters, but The Hindu calls it an “aimless narrative” that fails to sustain its absurdist humor. Salim’s attempt to craft a Jason Reitman-inspired comedy, as Hollywood Reporter India mentions, is ambitious but erratic, with the mix of slapstick and somber themes feeling jarring. The film’s risky structure, narrated from Aby’s perspective, as Lensmen Reviews points out, makes it feel overly eccentric, alienating audiences who crave coherence.
Audience Appeal and ImpactWith a UA certificate and a 2-hour-30-minute runtime, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira targets fans of quirky comedies and Fahadh Faasil enthusiasts. Its Onam release, alongside Lokah and Hridayapoorvam, sparked buzz, with Mathrubhumi and Bollywood Life noting positive audience reactions for its humor and visuals. However, critical pans—1.5/5 from The Times of India and The Indian Express—highlight its divisive nature, with some viewers walking out, per IMDb. Its Netflix OTT release will likely attract curious viewers, but its niche appeal may limit its reach. The film’s 7.1/10 IMDb rating reflects a polarized reception, with fans on Reddit praising its “neurodivergent” energy.
Conclusion: A Quirky Experiment That Doesn’t Quite GallopOdum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is a bold, chaotic attempt to blend dark humor with romantic comedy, elevated by Lal’s hilarity and vibrant visuals but weighed down by an incohesive script and lackluster chemistry. Fahadh Faasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan try to navigate the eccentric world, but the film’s erratic structure and shallow emotional depth make it a frustrating watch. For fans of unconventional comedies, it offers moments of brilliance, but mainstream audiences may find it perplexing. Catch it in theaters or await its Netflix release for a quirky, flawed ride.
Rating: 2/5
