Set in a quaint Indian town, “Kahatal” (2023) is a Hindi comedy-drama that revolves around an unusual investigation led by a persistent police inspector. When two prized jackfruits are stolen from a politician’s garden, what begins as a minor theft case evolves into a hilarious and insightful journey through the intricacies of small-town life. The film combines humor with social commentary, highlighting the absurdities of bureaucracy and the quirks of its colorful characters.
The story follows Inspector Mahima Basor, who is tasked with finding two missing jackfruits from a local politician’s garden. The jackfruits are crucial for the politician’s career. Mahima’s investigation reveals deeper societal issues and highlights the absurdities within the bureaucratic system. The film uses humor to explore topics like caste discrimination and the misuse of power.
Cast of “Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery”
Actor
Role
Sanya Malhotra
Inspector Mahima Basor
Anant V Joshi
Constable Saurabh Dwivedi
Vijay Raaz
MLA Munnalal Pateria
Rajpal Yadav
News Reporter Anuj Sanghvi
Raghubir Yadav
Gulab Seth
Neha Saraf
Kunti Parihar
Brijendra Kala
Srivastava
Apoorva Chaturvedi
Amiya
Gurpal Singh
SP Angrez Singh Randhawa
Sanjay Dadhich
Adv. Sunil Parihar
Govind Pandey
Constable Mishra
Shashi Ranjan
Pahad Singh
Additional Cast
Supporting Roles
Anshul Thakur
–
Apratim Mishra
Rinku Panwadi
Mayank Vishwakarma
News Reader
Vikram Pratap
Pankaj
Pawan Prem
Manish
Meghna Agarwal
Vimla
Ambrish Saxena
Birwa Mali
Vijay Kumar
Narottam Verma
Rahul Sahu
Bus Conductor
Aeklavya Tomer
Veer Singh alias Veeru
Songs from “Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery”
No.
Title
Singer(s)
Length
1
Radhe Radhe
Rituraj Mohanty
2:55
2
Nikar Chalo Re
Sona Mohapatra
3:44
3
Lalla Lalli
Sona Mohapatra, Amjad Bagadwa
2:58
Total Length:
9:37
Short story
In “Kathal” (2023), the serene life of a village woman named Priya is disrupted when she finds an unusual fruit, a kathal, in her backyard. This discovery brings an influx of curious neighbors and opportunists to her doorstep, each seeking to benefit from the fruit’s perceived magical properties. As Priya navigates through the comedy and confusion, she uncovers hidden truths about her family and community. The film blends humor and heart, illustrating how a simple fruit can become a catalyst for change and unity in a small village.
