Kadal

Upgrade version of Manirathnam

The thing to talk here is the story. Jayamohan did it once again much separated from Neerparavai. The story narrated by him was done in a single shot where a small child stands up on its own in Manirathnam style "wow".The next thing is the cinematography which makes us to think Hollywood is far behind from Indian film making.Editing and Vfx work makes the film too colourfull and falls apart from the movie.May it pushed the movie back.

ACTORS:

Arjun job looks amazing especially in climax where a Indian health ledger is seen. Aravindswamy with much more boost up carries the movie all over.I thought Mani sir took hero and heroine for a coincidence but he made them to adopt to their character.I am pretty amazed by both their performance. Gautham has his grand father and his father attitude. In a scene where he comes to the church after meeting the heroine"cool". Thulasi expression in mookil thotam was like a half sridevi.

I don't why do they expect a alaipayuthey in a fisherman's life do you think Manirathnam has only love Ideas.At last but not least the AR Rahman music carried all over the movie cleaning your ears We can hear a much more energy since it is a combo from the past.

The only thing that i am disappointed is the audience who are not patience to a slow movie like this.I went to 2 theater and couldn't tolerate those Intelligent genius thinking themselves as Aranofsky creating and giving tips to the director .So whats the fact is if you don't like the movie just shut the f---k up so that other illiterate like us can watch the movie.

So Kadal is a vast ocean for a deep dive or for a gentle swim that in your point of suggestion.on the way for Infinite awards.

KADAL ( 2013 )

Saw this on the release date itself. Normally it doesn't happen with Tamil movies as far as my movie watching habit is concerned.

KADAL is a pretty simple story. The life of a boy who grows up among the illiterate fishermen on sea shores. But that's not just about it. its also the story of good v/s evil fight. Good represented by the priest ( played by Aravind Sami ) and evil represented by rich bad guy (played by Arjun). That's not it about it its also about how love can change someone into good and bring them close to god. Now, that's it about the movie.

All clichéd plots, no unseen situations or anything. KADAL is a normal average movie. There is nothing mind blowing or supergood story wise. But in terms of making there are few things I really loved.

Songs of a movie play a huge role in pulling the audience to it. KADAL album is already a huge hit and there would be people coming in also to see those beautiful songs. I was also waiting for it to come on screen and I am totally surprised!! The sound track of the movie had different genres of songs and I was wondering what placement or picturisation they would have in a movie related to sea.

Right from the moment when my favorite track MAGUDI unfolded on screen, I realized that the experimentation begins then onwards. When you see the songs with the movie, I felt all of them doesn't blend well. But if the songs are viewed alone, they would look good and different. I liked the ' adiye.. enne enge ne' song picturisation very much for that was never what I had imagined that song would be like. MAGUDI also could have been better.

As always, Rajeev Menon's cinematography is beautiful and stunning in the climax scene. The climax scene in the sea reminded of Hollywood movies like Pirates of the Caribbean. I was so stunned to see that quality of vfx making it so real!!

Coming to the actors in this, KADAL marked the debut of two star-kids. KARTHIK's son GAUTAM and actress RADHA's second daughter TULSI. They could not have asked for a greater opening than this. Gautam has some allu arjun mannerisms but other than that he looks promising. Tulsi needs an acting workshop/course before she moves on . it was so delighting to see the wonderful actors ARAVIND SAMI and ARJUN on screen again.

KADAL has very few characters only and they were very limited in the script. It seemed as if they had not much to do in the story. Screenplay could have been much better and powerful. May be the Director Sir wanted to concentrate more on the emotion side of the story rather than the actual story.. who knows??

I am no one to talk about it.

Maniratnam movies always evoke a loud 'boo', from supposed mass-oriented audience,for the characters of his movies are usually upper middle class intelligentsia, who speak in measured tone and this pattern is fitted on to characters from other social classes as well.

This cliché is broken, for the dialogues are written by acclaimed writer Jeyamohan and the screenplay is jointly sketched by Maniratnam and Jeyamohan. They bring out the raw energy through usage of slang that is prevalent in Christian fisherman villages of South Tamilnadu.

The initial scenes in Seminary and the dialogues sets the landscape for the story of 'Kadal', which is essentially a clash of ideologies between God seeking Aravindswamy (Sam) and self proclaimed son of Satan,Arjun Sarja (Bergmans). The dialogue of Arjun, wherein he says,he came to Seminary just to escape poverty does make the intent of the antagonist much clearer and also reflects the realism. The first 15 minutes of the movie essentially portrays what to expect from from the whole movie itself. The love affair of Maniratnam with Raavanan is not yet over for, Arjun is portrayed as a well learned biblical scholar who engages in wishful sins.

The Hero of the movie, Gautham Karthik (Thomas) is introduced as a bastard son and the social interactions push him towards becoming Anti-social. The scenes in village transport you there as an observer and makes you realize the effort, the director has put in artist selection for supporting and background roles. One of the background roles which get etched in your mind is a fisher-woman who hawks in the market and picks up a duel with Aravindswamy.

Religion itself has to play a major role in the movie and the reality of how the religious functions are commoditized is brought out. The tape recorder which Aravindswamy uses to connect the people with God travels along with the movie till the very end. For the first time, Maniratnam completely deals with people who live in the fringes of society and morality.

The immersive experience that the movie offers can be attributed to the picturesque cinematography of Rajiv Menon who has unobtrusively sewed vast unending landscape of ocean and ocean associated land and the haunting background score of AR.Rahman. 'Magudi' song by Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, a Sinhalese Rapper sets the tone for the movie in either halves of the movie, by showing how the character of Gautham Karthik develops itself from child to brash teen and his experiences with Sins.

The milestone scenes includes the scene were the young Gautham breaks down before the tape recorder, the first experience of Ocean by Gautham, the scene were Aravindswamy is implicated in the sin of flesh, When Arjun proclaims himself as Satan before Aravindswamy, When Gautam experiences the first blood of birth on his hands, The mental torment of Gautam when he tries to explain about what is Sin to Thulasi , the climax in mid of rough seas and of course the rousing song near the end credits.

One cannot stop admiring the energy in débutant Gautham Karthik and the comeback performances of Aravindswamy and Arjun Sarja. Thulasi (Beatrice) fits the limited scope offered by the story and Ponvannan as usual brings out a standout performance.

The story can be pushed aside by many as a classic "Truth Alone Triumph" formulaic film, but what makes it stand out is the layered treatment which the makers have brought in to make it more realistic. Though a fairy tale ending, it brings out the grey nature of human, wherein do- gooder saintly Father Sam is pushed to kill Bergmans, Proclaimed Son of Satan Bergman's inability to kill his estranged daughter Beatrice and the sinner Thomas insistence in saving Bergmans. The movie ends with the supposed Angel, Beatrice spending her time in a rehabilitation institution.

Overall, a truly immersive visual, aural experience and watch it for the wonderful acting performances of lead and supporting artists.

And Yes, Kadal is not a Romantic movie.

And with respect to the ad films that were played before movie titles, the news ads for National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), shows the desperate need for creativity among government based public relation offices. The syntax and the template of the ads are so shamelessly the same that I can recall the mid 90's ads for oral contraceptives in Doordarshan, which once monopolized the broadcasting industry in India.

Actors: Arjun Sarja, Aravindswamy, Gautham Karthik, Thulasi Nair, Ponvannan

Directed by: Maniratnam

Editing: A.Sreekar Prasad

Cinematography: Rajiv Menon

Produced by: Madras Talkies

Music Composer: AR Rahman

Released languages: Tamil (as Kadal), Telugu (as Kadali )

After Raavanan, Mani Ratnam has returned behind the camera and has delivered us Kadal (English: The Sea), a drama film which revolves the story of the life of Indian-Tamil Christian fishermen. It features an ensemble cast that includes Aravinth Swamy, Arjun Sarja, Ponnvannan, Lakshmi Manchu and débutantes Gautham Karthik (son of actor Karthik Muthuraman) and Thulasi Nair (daughter of actress Radha). The film's score and soundtrack were composed by the two time Academy Award winner A.R Rahman and the voices were lent by A.R Rahman, Vijay Yesudas, Sid Sriram, Abhay Jodhpurkar, Harini, Shakri Sri Gopalan, Haricharan, Chinmayi, Tanvi Shah and rapper Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam. The lyrics were penned by Kaviperarasu Vairamuthu, his son Madhan Karky and rapper Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam. The film was written by Jeyamohan while Rajiv Menon and A. Sreekar Prasad handled the cinematography and editing. It was produced by A. Manohar Prasad and Mani Ratnam.

The film has two story lines that become one. The one features Father Samuel Fernando aka Sam (Swamy) and Bergmans aka Meesaikaaran (Sarja) while the other one features Thomas aka Tom (Karthik) and Beatrice aka Bea (Nair). The film marks a comeback for Swamy. He was last seen in Mani Ratnam's Alaipayuthey which was released 13 years ago. We can say that Aravinth Swamy owns the film even if the main actor is Gautham Karthik. The film's strongest point is the screenplay which was handled by Jeyamohan. The screenplay was simply amazing, specially the childhood scenes of Thomas. Both the child and the teenager who portrayed the younger Thomas have done a fabulous job. Both Karthik Muthuraman and Radha can be proud of their children. They have delivered a wonderful and neat performance. Specially Gautham Karthik. His acting skills, dance skills and action are pretty impressive. Thulasi Nair is natural, but I didn't feel that Beatrice was a suitable role for her. Aravinth Swamy was at his strongest performance after Bombay (1995). He was simply the perfect choice to portray Father Samuel Fernando. Arjun Sarja, the action king who has delivered a bunch of successful action- packed films in the 90's has portrayed Bergmans, the main antagonist. Sarja has played a role with negative shades and has shown us another side of his acting skills. Ponvannan who portrayed Thomas's unknown father has also done a good job.

Rajiv Menon, the cinematographer has pictured the whole film beautifully, specially the songs Elay Keechan, Moongil Tottham and Adiye. You will still have the shots of Thomas as a teenager when he surfs in the ocean in your mind even when you leave the cinema. A. Sreekar Prasad, the editor, deserves to be praised for his work as well.

A.R Rahman, who has been Mani Ratnam's usual composer since Roja (1992) has given the film a soundtrack with different genres. Chittirai Nila describes the difference between life and death, Elay Keechan has a farmer-humpback tune, Adiye has a jazz feel, Nenjukkulle, a romantic touch, Anbin Vaasale, a religious song, Moongil Tottham, a slow tune of Nenjukkulle and Magudi Magudi, a Hip-Hop track which gives energy in the action scenes. Kadal is the third best album of the Mani Ratnam - A.R Rahman combination.

Overall Kadal is a beautiful journey you never want to miss. It is a story that tells us about the good versus the evil. It has emotions, action, love, heart melting music, extraordinary shots of jumping waves, a good message and a small piece of comedy. It may not be a usual Mani Ratnam flick, but if you want to look and experience something different, then Kadal is definitely the right choice.

Strongly recommended for everyone. Specially non-Mani Ratnam fans.

I do not understand some critics do not like this movie. This movie was prefect. The cast in this movie was amazing. Even a small role was realistic. I never seen Arjun act this realistic. He really acts like a real devil. The ending visual effects was amazing. It was a experience like the actors were there. The music was once brought back by A.R Rahman. His music always bring us happiness and it does it again in this movie. The background music was again amazing. The Cinematography was good. The camera starts in a very amazing angle. The story was one of the amazing story ever. The story looks like a real man's life. Overall, Kadal is a realistic movie. The story,Cinematography, the cast and the music are amazing.

Final verdict:10/10