Kaalaghatta Movie Review: Two Generations, Two Stories, One Heavy-Handed Message
The Times of India, Jun 20, 2026, 1:40 PM IST, by Susmita Sameera
Kaalaghatta begins with two men, Raja (Shobhraj) and Shivu (Nithil M), meeting at a temple and expressing frustration over how its atmosphere has changed. Once a place of devotion, it has become a hangout for young couples, a gambling spot, and a backdrop for social media seekers. While the younger and impulsive Shivu reacts with anger, chasing people away, the older Raja addresses issues with patience. Their conversation reveals they belong to neighboring villages, leading them to share a scooter ride home and recount their life stories.
The first half focuses on Raja’s past, taking the narrative back two decades. Raja (Abhi Das) is the pampered only son of Bheema (Ramesh Bhat), a man deeply rooted in the Goravana tradition. Bheema dreams of his son carrying forward this cultural legacy, but Raja spends his youth relying on his father’s earnings and avoiding responsibility. He loves his childhood sweetheart (Gahana Gowda), and both families expect marriage. However, disappointed by Raja’s lack of maturity, the girl’s father chooses another groom. Heartbroken, Raja eventually embraces his father’s wishes and commits to preserving the Goravana tradition.
This portion offers insight into Goravana culture while exploring Raja’s transformation. Though storytelling occasionally leans toward melodrama, it generates empathy for the character. Performances are grounded and sincere, effectively bringing out the simplicity and emotional weight of this chapter.
The second half shifts to Shivu’s story. His flashback revolves around a young man who falls in love with a girl (Kushi PS) he regularly sees at the temple, drawn to her kind and helpful nature. Determined to win her affection, he presents her with a rose daily and goes to great lengths to buy gifts, even secretly pawning his single mother’s jewelry. Frustrated by financial struggles and increasingly distant from his mother, Shivu invests all his emotions in this relationship. However, he discovers the girl is involved with multiple men and lives a lifestyle far from the image he built. The revelation forces him to confront reality and recognize his mother’s sacrifices and unconditional love.
While the second story carries emotional core, it does not leave the same impact as Raja’s journey. Performances remain competent, but the narrative lacks depth and emotional resonance that make the first half engaging.
Throughout, Kaalaghatta repeatedly reflects on society’s changing nature and questions the times people live in. Yet beneath observations about social change, Raja’s story highlights a father’s unwavering love, while Shivu’s journey underscores a mother’s sacrifice. The film argues that regardless of societal evolution, a parent’s love for their child remains constant and deserves recognition.
Although the message is heartfelt, Kaalaghatta struggles to leave a lasting impression. Its themes are communicated clearly, but the film often feels more like a vehicle for expressing frustration about societal changes than a fully immersive story. As a result, despite good intentions and sincere emotional foundation, the film comes across as preachy, limiting its overall impact.
