The Times of India, Aug 3, 2025, 08.30 AM ISTCritic's Rating: 2.0By Susmita Sameera
Set in the rain-drenched, green landscapes of southern Coorg, Eltuu Muthaa follows the life of Muthaa (Shaurya Prathapa), a funeral dhol player, as narrated by his childhood friend Eltuu (Raa Surya) who collects flowers placed on dead bodies and resells them in the market. Though the film is named after two friends, it is not a story of friendship. It is about the harshness of life about discrimination, betrayal, crime, lust, brutality and about standing up for oneself amidst it all, not just surviving.
A major highlight of the film is the metaphorical comparison of Muthaa to a peacock. Not for its beauty or grace, but for its deceptive innocence, a bird that can kill a king cobra if needed. Muthaa, too, appears quiet and harmless but holds an inner strength that rises when pushed to the edge.
One day, during a casual conversation, Eltuu mentions that a conch shell could be worth crores in the market. Muthaa, hearing this, confesses that he has one. From that moment, the story shifts. News spreads, and soon everyone is after it. Muthaa doesn’t live for himself. He looks after his people and takes care of a child named Kunji, going from house to house collecting leftover food to feed her. A widow named Ponne (Priyanka Malali) also becomes part of his life, adding another emotional layer to his journey.
The threats are real and violent. One of them is Alex Chetwa (Cockroach Sudhir), a brutal man known for killing with a sharpened spatula. The film doesn’t hold back the depiction of hardship is raw and hard-hitting, often disturbing. The killings are brutal and difficult to watch.
Though the story unfolds in a setting surrounded by natural beauty, it contrasts sharply with the pain and violence faced by the characters. While there are emotional moments, the impact is more disturbing than moving. The idea of the deprived coming across something powerful and trying to hold on to it isn’t entirely new, but here, it’s told in a way that’s harsh and unfiltered.
The cinematography and music are strong, but this film is not for everyone. Only those who are willing to sit through a brutally raw and hard-hitting experience will be able to take it in fully.