Mani Ratnam | Dulquer Salman, Nithya Menen, Prakash Raj, Leela Samson | 2015 | Romance
It’s all about love; Mani Ratnam’s one of the most iconic films which talks about live-in relationship and the life of two beautiful couples Adi – Tara and Ganapathi – Bhavani. The love in OK Kanmani extends from the young couple to the old and that’s what makes the film admirable and makes your watch over and over again. Set in the backdrop of Mumbai, Adi, an upper middle-class game developer who wants to go to America and get rich falls in love with Tara, an Architect and a victim of separated parents who wants to fly to Paris for higher studies. Their commonality in the perspective over marriage and unconditional love towards each other right from the moment they met at the railway station, blends into an amazing love story journey.
OK Kanmani is really special and fresh even after six years of release for its dialogues and the mature handling of the bond between the characters. A known fact: Director Mani Ratnam is a maestro in handling love. Mani Ratnam’s love is like wine; gets better and better with the passage of time. In fact, the film was way ahead of its time when it got released. The modern approach and the blissfully pure portrayal of the live-in relationship makes it nothing less than spesh. While 80s gave us Mouna Raagam, 20s Alaipayudhey, it’s OK Kanmani for now. It’s the love between Ganapathy and Bhavani that stood as pillar for the construct of love that Adi and Tara could show us. Adi and Tara broke all the conservative ideologies of marriage to be together. The film maker’s female characters have always shown us different perspectives of what the society thinks and their dignified portrayal is always admirable. Tara is one such a creation when she questions Adi’s sister-in-law “Oru Kalyana certificate mattum irundha ellam seri ah? – But does a marriage document makes everything all right?” It is not only Adi’s sister-in-law, but the entire construct of society that stands answerable to Tara.
On the other hand, Ganapathy shows what a man could do for the one he loves. The way he takes care of his wife who’s in the fourth stage of Alzheimer, who even forgets the way back to her house one day. He never grows tired of this, his love for her never lets him do so. His replies to Adi are subtle advices that moulds Adi into a better boyfriend and a human. This new transition of Adi gives Tara a new perspective. She questions everything she has ever thought and believed, about commitments, marriage. Her new perspective brings along a ray of light, a ray that lightens everything. “Aana Kalaila Endhirchathum Ganapati nu neeti kopdumbothu ellam seri ayirum” | “Life la adikkadi second chance kedaikathu, vandha odane pudichikranum” | Romba Sandhoshama irundhalum thookam varathu, dhukkam vandhalum apdi thaan” are all evergreen moments and non-preachy life lessons. The climax dialogue, “Ennavittutu pogathenu soldren, enna kalyanam panniko nu soldren, enga venumnalum po Paris po Keris po aana enna kalyanam pannitu po”, will forever stay as an iconic moment in the industry.
Every character plays its part well and makes a notable mark in Mani Ratnam’s movie, be it Adi’s boss, the curious colleagues of Tara, Adi’s niece or Ganapathi’s security guard. Everyone does their role perfectly. However, the tailor-made roles for the prominent actors in the movie adds to its assets. The chemistry between Nithya Menon as Tara and Dulquer Salman as Adi was one of the best of on-screen pairs in Kollywood. The portrayal of maturity in understanding and handling of emotions and dialogues by Prakash Raj as Ganapathy and Leela Samson as Bhavani stole the limelight from the main duo in many scenes. Ok Kanmani is absolutely a delight to watch and definitely a multiple watch movie. Adi’s brother and sister in law showed the conservative side of an Indian family, Ramya and Prabhu as his friends Ananya and Buddy showing how cool and open-minded friends are and Tara’s mother Chandrika showing us the parental feeling towards live-in relationship. The film is just for the ones who are in love, but makes everyone fall in love and experience the feeling it would give you; that’s what Ok Kanmani does.
Right technicians always add up to Mani Ratnam’s movies. They deliver the movie a notch higher and give us a closer look of how the film maker wanted to show it. PC Sreeram’s cinematography and colour pallets kept the soul of the movie alive, Ananya’s wedding scene, all Café scenes, “Aye Sinamika” and “Mental Manadhil” visuals were the best of the bests to pick out. A R Rahman and Sreekar Prasad were the film maker’s constants throughout the years and this combination has not failed to impress us. Musically hypnotizing us Rahman does his usual on-screen magic elevating the grandeur of the scenes. Sharp crisp cuts and ample space for emotions to reach people: Sreekar Prasad’s treatment is fresh and engaging. In short, OK Kanmani; Fall in love.
M S ASHWIN BALAJI 