Kadal

KADAL(2013)

This is the film that I am waiting (a completely uncompromised original film) since long time (after Amritha) from Mani Ratnam. I feel it is near to his own heart and have true literary values and philosophy of life. It is more deeper than it seems. We must surrender to its magic to know it. It is an experience which I never imagined. Total surprise. Totally unique. Totally revolutionary. The film touches the soul, inner cores of heart. What an unbelievable experience...

Mani Ratnam is auteur...we shouldn't expect same from him again and again. Sometimes he is beyond our imagination and ability of understanding. We should be preparing for a total surprise.

What I mostly liked in this film is music of life, sadness in life, divinity in life. Way of life is mysterious. Now we can believe one can be transformed; one can grow in a life time. The film gives that hope to humanity. The world needs love and forgiveness. The people talk about these things are rare. That is why we respect Mani Ratnam. He expressed these true values of life in this film. They are subtle and deep. Sometime difficult to grasp.

Boy fishing scene is beautiful and beautiful and climax fight is technically superior and fearful. He used highest technical values for this fight. And it is not only a fight; he incorporated in it philosophy, and positivity of life.

Man is far higher entity than what he imagined about him. There is greatness in him hidden. Life will bring it out, sometimes forcefully. It is the way of life. We compare this story with world's greatest writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy's short story "Saint Sargai", for its philosophy and literary standards. This kind of films are rare in India.

Great music, great visuals and sheer poetry…it is KADAL.

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.

Wow...was the expression when the movie ended. Had I taken all the negative reviews seriously I would have missed a great movie. Only a seasoned director like Mani Ratnam can give such a beautiful film. After watching Kadal one can see why Mani Ratnam is a huge name in Indian cinema. If you have come to a conclusion that I am a huge Mani fan you are absolutely wrong. But this movie has changed my opinion about him. I was really really disappointed about some of his previous outing. At the same time I have not forgotten some of his great works like Agni Nakshatram, Mouna Ragam, Keethangali and Alaipayuthey. I like this Mani a lot not the one who made movies like Ravanan. I am well aware that this movie is not well received by his fans. But if you go by their reaction you are certainly going to miss a fantastic work.

Everyone in his crew has given their best shot including the new comers Gowtham and Thulasi. And what a powerful comeback for Arvindsamy. For Arjun it s a very different role as he has never tried negative characters in his film career I guess. Ponvannan is amazing as always. I don't need to say much about the technicians as Mani Ratnam would hire only the best in the industry. Beautiful camera, beautiful locations and some beautiful songs. So drink Kadal sip by sip.

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

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 )