OK Kanmani review: A delicious treat from Mani Ratnam

When the promos of Mani Ratnam’s O Kadhal Kanmani were out, the ace filmmaker had literally brought the time machine out of his closet and took us back in time when R Madhavan and Shalini played lovers in the iconic film Alaipayuthey.

With a fresh pairing of Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menon, Mani showed us a glimpse of his old touch of masterclass and with AR Rahman’s heart stirring tunes at his disposal, it felt like nothing has changed over the past few years. The same old Mani Ratnam who made classics like Roja, Bombay, Alaipayuthey and Guru is back. Excited to know how good is the film? Read the review to know!

What’s it about:

The story is about two individuals who don’t believe in marriage and are okay with having a casual affair with someone sans sentiments. Meet Adi ( Dulquer), a video game designer, who is hep, urban and irresistibly charming thanks to his boy next door looks. And then there is Tara( Nithya), an ambitious architect, who hails from a broken household with divorced parents. Mumbai becomes the setting of their romance as they meet and start liking each other. And through a series of fun bike rides, infinite coffees, playful train journeys and cute bedroom romance, the two leads fall in love. Soon, they star living together with an old couple, Mr Ganapathy (Prakash Raj) and his Alzheimer’s ailing wife Bhavani (Leela Samson). Meanwhile Tara gets scholarship to study in Paris and Adi gets an opportunity to go to US for work. Soon, problems and fights start to arise as the couple try to maintain that marriage is not their cup of tea, but inside have insurmountable feelings for each other. Will they chose their careers over marriage? Or will they sacrifice their careers for love?

What’s good:

What’s good you ask? Well, a plenty. The film might sound like a normal love story but it is Mani Ratnam’s treatment that make even cliched scenes stand out. He manages to infuse emotions through little thoughtful antics here and there, as he tells an entertaining tale of love, marriage and live-in relationships. The dialogues in the film are very different from what you hear in every other film, as it bears Mani Ratnam’s touch in it. Performances from Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menon are very good, as they prove that they are apt for playing Mani’s conflicting characters. Dulquer’s cute, naughty antics make you like him instantly, where as Nithya has delivered a stellar performance infusing energy to the proceedings and literally talking with her eyes. It is Mani’s master stroke to overlap an older couple’s sweet relationship with the urban fun filled romance of the two leads, as the sweetness in the chemistry of the married couple plays as a catalyst in the change of dynamics in Adi and Tara’s relationship. There is also a hint of light hearted comedy which will make you chuckle. The film has been fantastically shot and captures the urban life of Mumbai so aptly. Every frame is a delight to look at. Music by AR Rahman is already a big hit, but the music director also does a commendable job with the background score.

What’s bad:

Though it is a brilliantly made love story, it has its flaws. There are a few scenes which come off as little weird, like the one where Adi explains to Tara where he was for two days without giving her any prior intimation. There are few unconvincing scenes too that pull the film down. There is a scene where Adi follows Tara on an office trip to Ahmedabad, after just having a coffee with her once. When she finds him on the train with her she is taken aback, but soon Adi manages to turn on his charm to impress her. It was the face palm moment in the film as I found Adi’s stalker antics creepy, and I bet you would agree once you see the film. Also the pace of O Kadhal Kanmani is pain stakingly slow at times and it will not please the masses.

What to do:

After a long time, Mani Ratnam has come up with a film that does justice to his talent. Whether you are single or committed, O Kadhal Kanmani is a must watch for all as it beautifully portrays the dynamics of two young passionate people in a relationship. Though the ending is not new, it still manages to leave an impact and melt your heart. This delicious treat from Mani Ratnam warrants a visit to theatres this weekend. Take your Kanmani to O Kadhal Kanmani this weekend, and you would end up loving it.