O KADHAL KANMANI MOVIE REVIEW

 

***********************  No Spoilers in this Review !  *********************
 

Revered director Mani Ratnam returns with A R Rahman and PC Sreeram to tell a feel good story of contemporary urban relationships in an endearingly titled O Kadhal Kanmani (OKK) with Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen enlivening his vision.    

 

OKK is about the change in perspective of urban youth towards marriage as an institution and also about relationships as such. The director has set his story in Mumbai and there could not be a better alternative than the most happening city to reflect the episodes of contemporary urban society. In fact Mumbai is almost a character in the film and the audiences are sure to fall in love with it. 

 

Aadhi (Dulquer Salmaan) and Tara (Nithya Menen) are commitment phobic, live for the 'moment' and belong to a generation that follows Carpe diem’s principle of ‘seize the day’. Mani Ratnam balances his story very well with them on one hand and with the much matured Ganapathy (Prakash Raj) and Bhavani (Leela Samson) on the other hand. It’s just not frivolity all the way but there is restrained wisdom too on life’s take. The effect that the elder couple has on the younger duo is showcased with astute subtlety that only a maker like Ratnam is capable of.  

 

Dulquer has a boyish charm with a high instant-likeability quotient which comes in handy for his character portrayal. It’s just not fun and frolic all the way but in heavy duty scenes too, he sashays with élan. Nithya on the other hand projects the intelligent, free-willed, independent women of today who are clear in what they want but with a heart of their own. 

 

While Dulquer Salmaan is now officially a nice breezy addition to the list of actors in Tamil, Nithya Menon is 2015's answer to Mouna Raagam Revathi.

 

Need we say anything more on Prakash Raj? The seasoned actor that he is, brings on the finer nuances of his character with a lot of dignity and understatedness. Leela Samson, dancer and former director of Kalakshetra is in a different creative medium now and has quite a substantial role to play with, which she delivers well. If casting Prakash Raj was a brilliant move, then casting Leela Samson was a masterstroke. 

 

Songs of OKK are already a hit and they seamlessly move the narrative forward. Each one is a gem and not once does a song protrude unnecessarily. 

 

Dialogues score major brownie points in OKK with their mischief laden essence and are sure to be a hit with the youth. Ratnam seems to know the exact feel of the younger populace. Makes one wonder about the age of the director! Humor glides through the film effortlessly albeit without a full-fledged comedian’s assistance. Ratnam’s characteristic tropes, rain and train, are there in OKK too and they sure energize the narrative.    
  

Brindha shines in 'Parandhu Sella Vaa' song, while the art director, Sharmishta Roy, is very consistent in portraying Mumbai through out. Sreekar Prasad challenges all current generation editors if they can be as contemporary as him in the cuts, PC Sreeram challenges all young cinematographers if they can be as imaginatively fresh as him in the colors and frames, Mani Ratnam challenges all new age directors out there if they can be as romantic as him, and A.R.Rahman, forget it, is there anything else left for him to challenge? The great technical team of Mani was sure about making a mainstream movie, but with what elegance did they make it ?!

 

Mani seems to be clear in one thing from the word go in OK Kanmani - to tease his audience by setting up scenes of possible cliches and then to surprise them with something else. This has worked big time for the movie.