Kaada Movie Review: An Interesting Premise That Stays Simple

By Susmita Sameera Kaada opens with a reference to John Wayne Gacy — a successful businessman, husband, and seemingly ordinary man who was also a psychopathic serial killer. The film uses this idea to introduce the concept of dangerous individuals who appear normal in everyday life, blending into society as neighbours, co-workers, or familiar faces. Kaada is built around this unsettling idea of a person who is outwardly ordinary but internally driven by violent impulses. The film explores the notion of serial killers who are not shaped by trauma or a specific life event, but are instead born with deeply disturbing tendencies. Kaada is portrayed as someone with extreme aggression, anger, and an unexplained urge to kill. As a child, his father (Achyuth Kumar) notices troubling behaviour and takes him to a doctor. He is informed that his son suffers from a personality disorder that cannot be cured, only managed through medical supervision and a stable environment. Despite this warning, the father, who deeply loves his family, believes he can control the situation. Being a lawyer, he also makes a chilling observation — if his son ever commits a crime, the absence of evidence would mean the absence of punishment. As an adult, Kaada (Jayaram Karthik), works as an IT professional and appears no different from anyone else around him. Pallavi (Kavya Shetty), is deeply attracted to him and repeatedly seeks his attention, only to be rejected. For a brief period, Kaada’s life appears normal, but the film soon reveals his psychopathic side. He kills not out of revenge or necessity, but out of desire and fascination. The story takes a darker turn when Pallavi discovers this side of Kaada and, driven by blind love and obsession, becomes involved in his violent acts. Running alongside this plot is another storyline involving a group of robbers (Ugram Manju, Roopa Rayappa, Raanav Gowda), who plan to rob a wealthy estate farmhouse. The film becomes more engaging when these two worlds collide, leading to a tense final stretch that sustains interest. One of the strengths of Kaada is that it establishes its premise clearly from the beginning. The narrative remains straightforward and easy to follow, with no major confusion in its storytelling. Although the film revolves around murder and psychopathic behaviour, it avoids excessive violence and gore, relying more on drama than graphic bloodshed. However, while the film initially appears interested in the psychological aspects of Kaada’s condition, it gradually shifts towards a more conventional dramatic treatment. There is little exploration of whether Kaada ever tried to resist or overcome his darker impulses. By adulthood, he is fully accepting of his violent nature, and the film largely focuses on his actions rather than his internal conflict. Technically, the film is decent without being particularly remarkable. It remains watchable throughout, even if it does not attempt anything especially ambitious. The performances are consistently good, with Jayaram Karthik convincingly portraying both Kaada’s ordinary exterior and his darker personality. His transition between the two sides of the character is handled effectively. Kaada has an interesting premise and enough material to become a stronger psychological thriller, but it settles for a simpler and more straightforward dramatic approach. Even so, viewers who enjoy serial killer dramas may still find it worth watching.