Mughizh review: a little movie with a big heart!

Streaming on Netflix, Mughizh, the Tamil film starring Vijay Sethupathi, Regina Cassandra and Sreeja Vijay Sethupathi is an hour-long poetic plunge into love, loss, and grief. The title, Mughizh, refers to one of the nine stages of blooming of a flower, the one where it gets its fragrance. The flower in the short film is Kavya who as the movie opens is afraid of dogs and hides whenever her father plays with the dogs on the road. Determined to cure her cynophobia, the father brings home Scooby, a Beagle puppy (just like Daisy in John Wick) and through him, she’d discover true love and the eventual loss.

Mughizh review

The movie explores grief from a child’s eyes but also widens the viewfinder to include the parents, and how pain passes through the triad. While Kavya is laden with guilt, the parents are hurting through the loss of the pet and their child’s indifference. Reiterating how every loss is a personal journey and seeks its own time to come to terms with it. The believable characters, brought to life effortlessly by the cast, brim with moments that could have been playing in an apartment right next to you. Moments which in isolation may be mundane but once collated, are life itself.

What is Mughizh (Mugizh) about?

Mughizh is a small Tamil film with a big, aching heart. A father, worried that his young daughter is terrified of dogs, brings home a Beagle puppy named Scooby. What starts as a cure for her fear becomes the great love of her childhood — until tragedy arrives and the whole family has to learn how to grieve together. In the gentlest way possible, Mugizh is a film about loving a dog and losing one.

Mughizh cast and crew

Mughizh is directed by Karthik Swaminathan and produced by Vijay Sethupathi under Vijay Sethupathi Productions. Sethupathi himself plays the father, opposite Regina Cassandra as the mother. The film also marks the debut of his daughter, Shreeja Vijay Sethupathi, as the little girl at its centre — and much of the film’s warmth comes from that real father-daughter chemistry.

Mughizh release date, runtime and where to watch

Mughizh released in theatres on 8 October 2021. At roughly 62 minutes it is one of the shortest Tamil films ever given a theatrical release, which is part of its charm — it says exactly what it needs to and gets out. You can stream Mughizh (Mugizh) on Netflix.

Why dog lovers should watch Mughizh

Most dog films chase spectacle. Mughizh just sits with the ordinary, enormous business of loving an animal who will not be here as long as you are. If you have ever brought a puppy home and watched a nervous child fall completely in love, this one will find you. Fair warning: it is a tearjerker, and it deals honestly with the death of a beloved pet, so keep the tissues close.

Mughizh movie: FAQ

Where can I watch Mughizh? Mughizh (Mugizh) streams on Netflix.

Who is in the Mughizh cast? Vijay Sethupathi and Regina Cassandra, with his daughter Shreeja Vijay Sethupathi making her debut. It is directed by Karthik Swaminathan.

How long is Mughizh? About 62 minutes, making it one of the shortest Tamil films ever released in theatres.

Does the dog die in Mughizh? The film is built around loss and grief, so yes — it is an emotional watch about losing a beloved family dog. Go in prepared.

Also see movies for animal lovers, Bollywood movies featuring dogs and movies inspired by real-life dogs.

Animal characters in movies often astray into plot traps or are reduced to a prop to evoke emotions but this is where director Karthik Swaminathan shines; the scenes flow with a mundane rhythm that places viewers as onlookers to a next-door family they may know instead of superstars from South. The background score by Revaa compliments the minimalist colour palette that the screenplay unfolds as we see the family undergo a collective yet personal grief. Regina Cassandra, the highlight of the film, shines through every scene.Initially released on theatre screens, Mughizh is now streaming on Netflix, watch it while it is there! Connect with Dog with Blog on Facebook Instagram Twitter