'Ok Kanmani' – Let’s call it a review still

                                   

I watched ‘OK Kanmani’ the day before. For those of you who are going ‘whaaaat?’, well, it’s a Tamil romantic comedy film directed by none other than the great Mani Ratnam. The first trailer that was released a month back or so, became viral on social media. Courtesy which I chanced upon a glimpse of a young couple breezing and zooming through the roads of Mumbai on a bike, letting their hair down, not a care in the world, spirited and happy youngsters. Remember those days back in college? Only here the two are young professionals, independent, uninhibited and ambitious go-getter. Now that the foundation of the post has been laid, you would imagine this to be another well-thought-out film review that I so enjoy typing down right after I have watched something worthy of writing. Not this time though. This one is going to be just as cluttered and clumsy as my mind is at most hours of the day lately. Coupled with this is also the most depressing fact that Buffalo (my current city) screens only select Indie films, which leaves me with no option but to wait patiently while the whole world is done and dusted with them.

Anyway, the movie touched me in parts, and without showing undue reverence and not forgetting my crazy hormones, I came down pouring towards the end of this one. I did surprise myself as to how a simple story like this can get me all sloppy and weepy. But then it did. Ok, I will give Mr Ratnam credit where he deserves, but overall it was a rather simple fair which will get you all warm and fuzzy inside, but that’s about it really. If you are a Mani Ratnam film connoisseur, glimpses of some of his earlier films about young and restless lovers such as ‘Saathiya’ and ‘Yuva’ are difficult to ignore. This film too has that earthy breezy texture to compliment the free spirits who are either in love or are soon going to be under its effect. But you still play along fluff like that for its Mr Ratnam, and it therefore will never be a complete waste of your time.

The movie starts at a church wedding where Aadi and Tara, played impressively (with the help of succinct dialogues) by Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen respectively, exchange phone numbers and take it from there. They represent the modern, urban Indian couple that believes in live-in relationships and mostly have a warped view on marriage. But interestingly, while the girl still needs a back-up story to justify her doubts over marriage, the boy is exempted from any explaining to do, except for his career goals. Anyhow, moving on, soon the hero chasing the heroine deal is followed up for the umpteenth time, and till now the movie clearly lacks any substance to hook you to it. But you still give it a patient watch till the older couple, under whose shadow these young lovers bloom, offer some hope. The older couple, Ganapathi and Bhavani, ably played by Prakash Raj and Leela Samson (makes her cinematic debut), are lovable souls from a forgone era. They represent timeless love, the kind that dies with your death, for the lack of a better expression. The young couple is pitted against the older couple, and it is anybody’s guess where the film will lead to at this junction. But it is the raw and vulnerable side of the viewer that Ratnam manages to manipulate for the nth time that gets the movie its due credit. Leela Samson’s character, Bhavani, is seen to be scatter-brained; often forgetful of the present going-ons, but vividly remembers the past – a first stage Alzheimer’s patient. Her husband, Ganapati, a Banker by profession, is often found hovering around the kitchen, while catching up on his wife who diligently keeps cleaning her ‘taanpura’, an erstwhile classical singer who enjoyed some fame. And under them, as their tenants, blossom the love of Aadi and Tara, passionately, but steering clear of any commitment. Reason? Besides remaining true to their free spirits, they have their soaring careers to follow. Aadi, a Computer game developer wants to make a career in the US, and Tara, an ambitious architect, seeks to explore her talent in Paris. As they fall hard for each other, the predicament in their relationship, the tussle between the mind and the heart, is impressively expressed with scanty dialogues, and mostly through frustration that finds a voice by snapping at each other, yet not admitting it. The confusion in them is tastefully captured in the chaos that is created from Bhavani’s second stage Alzheimer, which made her forget her way back home on a rainy day, leading to panic and hinting at how vulnerable life is. As predicted, the younger couple learn a thing or two about unconditional love and devotion and Mr Ratnam pulls off a no compromising situation that still promises a happily ever after. Simple!

Ok Kanmani, just like its name, is light-hearted, and is easy on your palate. It doesn’t demand your steadfast attention like that of a spy-thriller, yet it is not a fluffy no-brainer either. The music by A R Rahman is catchy and melodious. My two favorite songs from the movie are – ‘Kaara Aattakaara’ and ‘Aye Sinamika’. The fact that my non-Tamil speaking tongue manages to mouth quite a few words while humming the songs goes to show how many times I must have played them over. However one regret that remains is that ‘Kaara Aattakaara’ was made into a song that plays in the background of a game that is being developed by the hero, which is kind of his launching pad. And here I was imagining some old-fashioned romance to bloom on screen! Never mind! The hopeless romantic in me needs to rest sometimes, I get it.