Katle Movie Review: A Chaotic Narrative That Lacks Cohesion
Katle, released on February 6, 2026, is a Kannada-language film that ambitiously tries to merge comedy, thriller, and horror elements. With a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes, it features debutant Kempegowda Magadi in the lead role, directed by Sanmitha Puttaraju. The film also stars Amrutha V Raj, Tabla Nani, and Srii Vidhaa Abhinandan in supporting roles.
A Grand Opening That Quickly Unravels
The movie begins with a philosophical exploration of birth, the cosmos, and the universe, setting a tone of profundity. However, this ambitious start is abruptly undercut as the plot shifts to Chandu, played by Kempegowda, who discovers an abandoned newborn near a hospital dump. After finding a woman to care for the infant, Chandu rests in a park, where he is approached by a middle-aged man suggesting the incident could be cinematic material. Chandu insists his own life story is far more compelling, a claim the film repeatedly emphasizes but fails to substantiate.
Disconnected Episodes and Weak Character Development
From this point, the narrative becomes a patchwork of unrelated episodes. Chandu recounts rescuing a woman from assailants, followed by the introduction of his girlfriend, portrayed by Amrutha Raj. Her constant disappointment with Chandu's behavior is reiterated multiple times, particularly after his unexplained attention toward a colleague played by Harshika Poonacha in a special appearance that adds little to the plot.
The film introduces a yogi who cryptically tells Chandu, "Your shadow is waiting for your sacrifice," a line intended to be ominous but ending up vague. Chandu then experiences possession-like episodes, attacking those around him, before the timeline jumps again to show how he met his girlfriend. These constant shifts continue with the introduction of a ghost-tracking app, visions of a mysterious pregnant woman, and a phone that inexplicably refuses to leave Chandu's possession.
Seeking Answers and a Directionless Plot
In search of solutions, Chandu consults a guru who offers no real guidance, leading the group to decide on a vacation to Goa. They end up in a random house, which becomes their holiday spot. Predictably, this is where Chandu begins to have flashbacks involving the pregnant woman, with scattered clues conveniently appearing around the house. Unraveling the identity of this woman and why she haunts him forms the supposed core of Katle.
Technical and Performative Shortcomings
The film suffers from a lack of narrative logic and emotional buildup, with scenes changing every few minutes without meaningful connections. The production quality is strictly average, featuring amateur graphics that undermine the horror elements. Dialogues are consistently cringe-inducing, and except for senior comedians, most performances feel stiff and one-note, with actors adhering to a single, amateur style throughout.
Genre Confusion and Overall Verdict
Most confusingly, Katle never commits to a single genre, flirting with horror, thriller, and comedy but failing to excel in any. This results in a directionless and exhausting experience rather than an intriguing one. What could have been an engaging psychological or supernatural story instead devolves into a chaotic narrative that mistakes randomness for depth.
With a critic's rating of 2.0 and a similar user rating, Katle is a film that struggles to find its footing, ultimately delivering a disjointed and unsatisfying cinematic experience.
