Mr Zoo Keeper Movie Review: A promising premise dulled by inconsistent tone and weak writing.

Mr Zoo Keeper introduces us to Pugazh, a simple-minded worker in a Nilgiris village who stumbles upon a tiger cub and mistakes it for a kitten. His childlike innocence forms the emotional core of the film, but the writing treats his condition with frustrating vagueness, using labels like “naive” or “different” instead of offering real depth. Worse, it resorts to tone-deaf humour that undercuts the empathy it seeks to build.

The central plot kicks off when Pugazh and his wife, played by Shirine Kanchwala, decide to secretly raise the cub at home. What should have been a charming and chaotic premise is weakened by its uneven tone and sluggish pacing. Despite positioning the tiger as the film’s unique hook, the animal is barely visible in the first half, and when it does appear, poor framing and choppy editing limit its impact.

There are brief sparks of intent during the forest sequences, especially as the film takes aim at eco-tourism and commercial threats to the environment. Singampuli brings some much-needed energy here, but the messaging feels repetitive and overly simplistic, spelled out in spoon-fed dialogues that drag the momentum.

Performances don’t do the film any favors either. Pugazh’s attempt at emotional range feels repetitive, and Shirine never quite fits the rural setting. The supporting cast, particularly the forest officials, struggle with one-note characters and underwhelming delivery.

At its heart, Mr Zoo Keeper wants to deliver a message about animal rights and conservation, but its execution is scattered and bloated. With tighter writing and better handling of tone, this could have been a heartfelt fable. Instead, it ends up as a muddled tale, neither wild enough to thrill nor deep enough to move.

Mr Zoo Keeper Movie Rating: 2/5