Kilometers and Kilometers

The title of this 2020 movie comes from Mohanlal's famous dialog in the 1980s film Mazha Peyyunnu Madhalam Kottunnu. It is his answer to the general knowledge test question posed by the U.S returnee character played by Sreenivasan, "how many kilometers from Washington DC to Miami beach?" Ans: "Kilometers and Kilometers"

The concept of Kilometers and Kilometers, I suspect, comes from an idea originally propagated by the former chief minister (of Kerala) E.K.Nayanar that rape is as common in the U.S of A as drinking a cup of tea. ROFL. Indians' general perception of the West is, it is a society with loose morals, non-existent familial relationships and wayward lifestyle. Indians consider themselves the polar opposite, the ultimate moral righteous and the defenders of family relationships. 

In the U.S we see a different flavor of this cultural superiority complex in God Bless USA and other populist takes on American exceptionalism. Either way if you have not traveled and been to other countries or exposed to their cultures, you end up thinking your culture is the gold standard.  Kms & Kms was created faithfully adhering to that standard.

The overwhelming theme of this road movie, where the lead pair (Josemon played by Tovino Thomas and the U.S tourist Cathy played by India Jarvis) travel on a motor-bike from Kerala in the south to Rajasthan in the north western part of India, is cultural chauvinism. 

The development of characters was easy-peasy for the story/script writers - Deepu Pradeep and Jeo Baby(who is also the director.) They just dipped into the brimming vat of stereotypes and pulled out a few - there's the unemployed do-gooder and the older son who carries the burden of his entire family Josemon (aka new-age Vatsalayam Mammootty), the clueless American tourist Cathy, the Malayali with a heart of gold who has been banished to a harsh northern territory, Veer bhai (aka Sunny Joseph) ready to help any Malayali with some Malayalam and a shoulder to lean on. And then there is Basil Joseph as Kuttan. Basil is a relief (to me, love his self-deprecating, comedic presence) although he is barely there after the first quarter of the movie.

Tovino and India are believable. While this is not a film that calls for hard hitting performances, it is easy to believe Tovino as Josemon, as someone with broken English trying to turn a quick dime chauffeuring the gullible tourist. It is a light watch, long as you have the remote in your hands, I would say, go for it - you can always fast forward the bits you don't like.