O Kadhal Kanmani

My review: O Kadhal Kanmani

Mani Ratnam, a man not shy of courting controversy by dealing with subjects that are considered contentious in the Indian society is at it again with his latest movie, "O Kadhal Kanmani" (OKK). The movie touted as a modern day romance deals with a subject which is almost a taboo in the current India especially post May, 2014, "live-in relationship". I am quiet surprised at the lack of noise by the saffron brigade who seem to be busy protecting the relevance of yellow sacred thread that sanctifies marriage, "Thaali" in the streets of Vepery, Chennai.  

Politics aside, OKK is a movie that offers a glimpse of what Mani is capable of to the current generation whose understanding of the auteur stems from the half-backed movies like "Raavanan" and "Kadal". For the others it is a throwback to the days of "Alaipayuthey" and "Mouna Ragam", two movie which are milestones when one think about modern-urban romance. Movie feels fresh, unpretentious, and to the point without undue digressing, even the routine Mani Ratnam's artistically picturized duet is missing here. All we have here are few montages with the background songs that carry the story forward. 

The auteur in Mani rears his head in the form of economical use of spoken words, liberal use of montages, signature lighting with maximal use of darkness (though OKK is surely the most colourful  of Mani Ratnam movies with the liberal use of bright colours), fetish for locomotives be it trains, buses, jeeps, bikes. At the same time in spite of his usual trappings, movie looks and feels contemporary. The light-hearted manner of handling the even most trickiest of situations which the young crop of directors are becoming adept with has also rubbed onto Mani Ratnam. Here we have Bhavani, (terrific Leela Samson) wife of the lead pair's landlord who suffer from Alzheimer's coming out with her innocent retorts which leaves the audience in splits. 

Mani has kept a lively pace in the first half. Movie just breezes past you, but it does get tend to meander a little in the second half towards the end before finally picking up moment in the climatic portions. Dulquer Salman is just adorable as the protagonist Adi who like all the Mani Ratnam heroes of the past enthrall the female audience. His Tamil diction is one of the best from a non-native actor, especially from the god's own country, bereft of any accent. But the movie is wholly Nitya Menen's. Without someone like her, the character of Thara would have become undone. It is she who lights up the screen and it would be difficult for any one take one's eye out of her, in spite of terrific performances all around. Like I had mentioned earlier, Leela Samson is just terrific. Credit should also goes to the writer who has conceived this character without the usual melodrama associated with it. Prakash Raj is as usual reliable in his portrayal. 

Movie gets its strength from one of A.R.Rahman's best background score in recent years. The background score is just top notch that is of international class. Songs are chart-busters. P.C.Sriram's cinematography exudes the youthful exuberance of the overall superstructure of the movie. 

I thought Mani Ratnam has just compromised a bit in the end with his conforming climax. Why could a couple can't be in love irrespective of the distance and time without marring ? Why is that it is only  marriage that offers security for a long distance relationship ?  Nonetheless he deserves plaudits for bringing such an issue into the mainstream. 

Overall, "O Kadhal Kanmani" may not be as deep or layered as Mani Ratnam's earlier movies, but certainly it is one of the most entertaining of his. 

Bottomline: Hip and happy

3.5/5