Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum

The director, Nalan Kumarasamy's second directional film. His First, 'Soodhu Kavvum' was a massive hit and now back with this retaining the same lead actor. I did not remember the original Korean film this one was based on, but while watching it, I remembered some of the parts. I think the directed did well, because it is not easy to keep up to the original standards. And as usual Vijay Sethupathi did not disappoint me.

The Madonna Sebatian's Tamil debut film and she was wonderful. This story was told from her perspective, well mostly, particularly in the first half. The story of an engineering graduate who comes to the regional capital, Chennai, seeking a job in an IT company. As she struggles to get one in this competitive world, meets her new neighbour, a thug who often bumps each other and needlessly have quarrels. But later everything softens between them, because the two are struggling in their life somewhat similarly. So one another, they comfort each other during tough times, till one day when things forever changes in their life.

For Kollywood and its fans, this is an extraordinary piece. But for the international viewers, I'm sure you would have seen such films, even though it is worth a watch. The young filmmaker changing the Kollywood landscape. Soon film like this will become mainstream films and the big actor films would turn into the parallel films. Simple story, yet many interesting stuff happens. Todays condition of IT professionals were highlighted quite factfully. It was more a friendship kind of film, but there are enough fun. So I definitely recommended it to everyone, especially if you know the language, don't miss it.

8/10

Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum stars Vijay Sethupathi and Madonna Sebastian in lead roles. Sethupathi is a superb actor and has proved once again with this film as a tough-acting thug with a tender heart. Madonna is a perfect fit for the role of a fresher looking for a job in IT industry, This film is a light hearted take on the issues they face in their daily lives and shows the friendship that blossoms between them over time into a beautiful romance. The action scenes, the lead chemistry, the comical portions and almost everything else in the movie is realistic for most parts.

Accompanied by an engaging screenplay, terrific musical score by Santosh Narayanan and pleasing songs, Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum is a winning light hearted love story and a must watch for any season.

I read somewhere that this movie was initially titled "Eskimo Kadhal" before the makers finally fixed on "Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum". And there is a scene where the heroine refers to the male protagonist as a dog that eskimos cuddle and hug to keep themselves warm during the biting cold weather. The guy responds by asking "Naaaya?" in the quirkiest way possible. It is precisely this sort of cleverly written dialogue that make Ka Ka Po worth a watch at the cinema hall. I just wish there were more people with me to appreciate or hoot or laugh their guts out when they were actually supposed to. Nalan (of Soodhu Kavvum fame) crafts his second film in a manner that completely overturns traditional rom-com clichés. We even have the typical hero-saves-heroine-from-the-horny-bad-guy scene. But all that is done with such elan and finesse that the viewer buys it without hesitation. Vijay Sethupathi has time n' again proved to be the go-to guy for roles like these. He is basically a thug, with some forced swag, but also one with a heart. We have seen countless number of masala flicks where the heroine instantly falls in love the hero when he merely flexes his muscles while beating up some twenty or thirty odd goons in a street ^vegetables and colored-powder fly in the air^. In this case, the fights are concise and shot judiciously. The funny moments are sprinkled throughout and at times, you need to be a real good observer to notice the hilarious puns. The ROFL moments happen during a bar fight and an interview respectively. I won't reveal how Nalan and Sethupathi pull it off because it NEEDS to be seen and cherished. Another aspect of the film that warrants admiration is the scintillating background score and music by Santhosh Narayanan. The pulsating "Pangaali" track is apt for the 'Sethupathi-goes-full- on-rogue' scenes while "Ka Ka Ka Po" hands out the kuthu song on a platter to the viewer. The BGM is generally breezy and gels well with the proceedings. It is definitely worth mentioning that Madonna has nailed her first full-blown character with consummate ease. Unlike 'Naanum RowdyDhaan' which was a black comedy full of hilarious characters apart from Sethupathi's and Nayantara's (such as RJ Balaji, the old man who plays 'Rahul', the interracial Pondy couple, Anandaraj, Parthiban and so on), Ka Ka Po rather revolves completely around the two leads. Credit should be given to Sethupathi and Madonna for completely holding our attention since they take up almost 95% of the movie's run-time. Nalan may not have attained the levels of Soodhu Kavvum in terms of hilarity, nonetheless pulls off his second venture quite eloquently by not playing to the galleries instead providing the intelligent cinema- goer with enough matter to chew on. Okay, maybe not two thumbs-up but most certainly deserving of 'one-and-a-half'. Keep up the good work Nalan and crew. Looking forward to your next!

The plot is so simple. Nalan style of Narration is different. He Executes his skills in writing. The dialogues arengood with humour touch. Vijay Sethupathi is always Good. But there is no scope for his range of performance. Madona looks beauty and childish. Her best Performance comes at Pre interval sequences. Climax is but lengthy but ok. Songs are good. Locations are apt. Watch it for humour .Neat Comedy.

Screenplay may be slow.. But interesting movie.. Mostly can related with real life story.. We also get into the movie easily..