O Kadal Kanmani – Ode to the young!

I have a clear policy on when I write about movies. “Unless it impresses you, keep it to yourself”. It’s not a review; so I hope Mrs. Suhasini Maniratnam can ignore it.

I had big expectations ever since the teaser hit the social media. That was one of the best trailers I have seen off lat.Am not a one rush to the theaters on the first day but the positive reviews made me get a midnight show on Friday.

Once you watch enough movies, your expectation about them naturally become high even if it’s against your wish. However, I kept my expectations at bay and just wanted to relax for few hours watching the masters at work. I wouldn’t say everyone was mindblowing individually, but the combined efforts were nothing less than a treat to the feelings and yes its mind blowing.

Story

It’s gentle like a breeze. Till the end. You start to travel with them up close right from the first scene. You jump whenever they jump in joy, your face changes into just 2 modes. One with a grin and the other is even bigger grin and it goes till 3/4th of the movie until your heart start teases you to shut it. There are no such things called interval-breaks anywhere other than India which makes it a grin-marathon. Is it a refresher to your good old days? Hell no. It’s clearly a no non-sense flow where two individuals believe marriage is not the answer. Don’t let your thoughts question the very basic equation of love, everything will be alright – after all its a movie! It’s fresh, no gimmicks, they won’t even try to make you laugh but there are some heartfelt laughing out loud moments. It weaves through a couple of love stories and can’t say it can get any more poetic than it is.

Maniratnam

No wonder why Gautam vasudev menon said, He will run anytime to Maniratnam if he is given a chance as an assistant director in any of his movies. I was bit surprised a master stroke at this time after series of not-so-hit movies. I respected him until now but now its another level. There are hardly any lag while you sitting throughout the movie. There is no question of – if this scene is necessary. Even though, it’s about live-in relationship – no lines were breached. You could watch it with your family and there would be no regrets. Unlike any dramatic train or flight chasing climaxes, this slowly moves you there and make you anticipate it and delivers gently. Its practical than magical but all to make you a strong believer of so-called life. Quick wits, simple but powerful dialogs, a movie that’s free from smoking and drinking scenes that deliver an emotional feel-good story. Would you want anything else from the master? No!

AR Rehman

If Mani is the master, ARR is the Jedi of the Music. There are no folk songs like “Dangamaari” but the songs and the background score is something that will give you a hard time to distinguish which helps the other – the rest or the music. It so engaging and gives you enough – just enough adrenaline at right levels all the way. The music pushes you right into the screen and makes you a real character to feel the ambiance. You would want to really jump when the characters jump – score is that good.

PC Sriram

Its something quite different yet delivers exactly what it has to deliver. The Movie is mostly shot at closeups and doesn’t give you mind-blowing sceneries or anything but exactly how it should be for this genre. People look more than beautiful. Am sure both the lead characters will earn enough credits.

Dulquer Salmaan & Nithya Menen

This wouldn’t have impressed you without these people at all. Any other character with a six pack abs who is the heart-throb of youngsters and a beautiful heroine who is insanely beautiful would have failed to let you enjoy this film. But these guys, Dulquer for his innocent look and Nithya for her expressions with her eyes (that speaks more than her mouth) will keep you glued. You want them to be happy, full of life, forever. Those characters are well defined and make you love them every second. You don’t see them as Human but as care-free birds. You will fly with them, you will smile at them, you would want to save them (mentally). Is this how your heart wishes people to be? Gentle, careless, non-dramatic, non-over-emotional, non-restricting? These characters gave this generation an example of how to let someone as they are to be their’s forever.

Prakash raj never misses to be the best and this is no exception.

Go to this movie with no expectations and come back with the feeling that the 2.5 hours was well-spent that’s good to your heart.