Kuttram Purindhavan: The Guilty One Review - A Gripping Crime Drama Held Together By Pasupathy’s Towering Simplicity
Kuttram Purindhavan: The Guilty One – A Strong Pasupathy Anchors a Gritty Crime Drama With an Icky, Imperfect Twist
✨ Story
Kuttram Purindhavan opens with the quietly burdened life of Bhaskaran (Pasupathy), a retiring hospital staff member who lives with his anxious wife (Lizzie Antony) and their gravely ill grandson awaiting a life-saving operation. The family hangs by a financial thread — his retirement money — making Bhaskaran’s record, reputation, and peace legally fragile.
But when Mercy, the young daughter of neighbour Esther (Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli), goes missing, Bhaskaran becomes the unwilling witness to a truth he cannot reveal. His silence isn’t just guilt — it’s a trap, a moral battlefield that could cost his grandson’s life if he steps wrongly.
Parallel to this is sidelined cop Gowtham (Vidharth), a man unfairly punished for a past on-duty incident, now clinging to Mercy’s case as his shot at redemption. As the series unfolds over seven sharp, economical episodes, the story crawls through suspicion, misdirection, and character-driven tension, constantly circling guilt — the guilt of knowing, the guilt of hiding, the guilt of surviving.
The final reveal, however, turns the series into trickier territory. The twist comes loaded but not layered, powerful on paper yet slightly patchy in execution.
🎭 Performances
Pasupathy as Bhaskaran
He is the show’s moral backbone and emotional engine. Pasupathy doesn’t act — he absorbs the character. The trembling restraint, the helplessness, the unspoken fear… he elevates every frame he’s in.
Lizzie Antony as the Wife
Quiet but forceful, she brings warmth and authenticity. Her chemistry with Pasupathy isn’t performative — it breathes. Her payoff in the finale is one of the show’s strongest emotional punches.
Vidharth as Gowtham
Understated and believable, he never tries to overshadow the narrative. His character arc is driven by dignity, frustration, and a subtle thirst for justice.
Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli as Esther
She delivers a grounded performance that adds emotional resonance to the disappearance. Her scenes carry quiet devastation.
Together, the ensemble feels lived-in, textured, and organic.
🎬 Technicalities
Direction
Steady, atmospheric, and grounded. The decision to lean into character tension instead of shock gore gives the series a restrained but effective tone.
Writing
Strong in setup, emotional in progression, and slightly inconsistent in the resolution. The twist works thematically but falters logically.
Cinematography
Muted, moody frames reflect the guilt-stricken world of Bhaskaran. Nothing flashy — but solid.
Editing
Episodes glide smoothly between suspects, emotional beats, and clues. Taut pacing for the most part.
Music
Subtle background score that enhances dread without overwhelming it.
🔍 Analysis
The show chooses a familiar crime-thriller template — missing child, guilty witness, misleads, underdog cop — but approaches it with a surprisingly humane touch. Instead of sensationalism, Kuttram Purindhavan focuses on repercussions, silence, and moral cost.
The first six episodes create an engaging psychological and emotional grid where every character feels real, and every choice feels heavy. But the last-act twist is where cracks appear. The reveal arrives suddenly, the reasoning feels stretched, and the tone momentarily slips into melodrama. Had the writers deepened the antagonist’s backstory or woven hints earlier, the climax might have landed with greater force.
Yet, the series never collapses — because Pasupathy refuses to let it.
✅ What Works
• Pasupathy’s phenomenal, grounded performance
• Strong emotional core
• First six episodes are engaging with natural tension
• Solid character-driven writing
• Realistic portrayal of guilt and helplessness
• Effective chemistry between the elderly couple
• Good pacing and runtime
❌ What Doesn’t Work
• Forced, underdeveloped final twist
• Villain’s backstory delivered too abruptly
• Slight tonal mismatch in the ending
• Familiar plot beats with limited novelty in the central crime
⭐ Final Verdict
Kuttram Purindhavan is a well-acted, well-intended, and emotionally engaging crime drama that elevates its familiar premise through sharp performances and sincere writing. The series almost sticks the landing — but a slightly inconsistent final twist holds it back from greatness. Yet, Pasupathy’s presence alone makes this journey compelling and absolutely binge-worthy.