Movie Of The Month - A kiss on the cheek!

Movie Of The Week

Hello everyone!

Welcome to our 1^st Movie Of The Month! In this thread we're going to discuss about a movie (and some other fun activities - you've to wait and see). And if the topic isn't active, then this topic will not be continued! So we want many members participating.

This movie wasn't a great success, actually it was under-rated for whatever the reason is. From my view point, this film is one of the best Tamil film ever directed and I know many of you'll agree!

This film was directed by Mani Ratnam. Starring Madhavan, Simran, P.S. Keerthana, Prakash Raj and Nandita Das.

Okay, so have you guessed the film? If you haven't, then the film is Kannathil Muthamittal (A kiss on the cheek).

Please DO NOT Read the paragraphs in blue as they contain spoilers/plot information about the film.

Mani Ratnam's Kannathil Muthamittal explores a universal theme of love, displacement, family and probes into issues of political unrest. It explores the emotional turmoil of a young girl in search of her biological mother, and the effects it brings upon her foster parents. Shyama (Nandita Das) gets separated from her husband within few weeks of their marriage, following the breakout of civil war in Sri Lanka. She ends up in an Indian Red Cross camp and gives birth to Amudha (Keerthana), but moments later she abandons her and goes away. She grows up in the household of her adopted parents Thiru (Madhavan), a renowned writer, his wife Indra (Simran) a TV news reporter and their 2 kids. On the eve of Amudha's ninth birthday, Thiru and Indra break the ice and reveal her past, which torments her fragile heart. Thiru is bombarded with questions as he narrates Amudha how she was the cause in bringing him and Indra together when he decided to adopt her. However, she begins to feel alienated amongst her brothers and questions her own stand in the family. Engulfed by grief she flees home, but is rescued back.

She develops a strong desire to meet her biological mother, and once again flees home to the place of her birth to find out about her mother. Startled by her determination and considering the fragility of her emotions, Thiru and Indra decide to accompany Amudha in her search. They head to Sri Lanka, and are welcomed by Dr. Herold Vikramsinghe (Prakash Raj) a friend of Thiru who promises to help them in their search. Amudha witnesses disturbing events in Sri Lankan soil as the Tamil rebels fight against the military dictatorship, and the plight of innocent people losing their lives in the depressing onslaught. But the will of an innocent throbbing heart yearning for her mother endures her. As Thiru and Herold find the location of Shyama, and the news of her willingness to meet Amudha ignites tremendous joy in her. As Amudha and her foster parents wait for Shyama, they're caught amidst the crossfire between Sri Lankan soldiers and rebels. Amudha decides to leave for home as Indra narrowly escapes from the face of death, and she doesn't want to lose a mother for another.

Outstanding performances by all members of the cast.

Simran usually seen in glam roles, proves herself as an actress with this movie. As the caring mother who has to bear the anguish of being separated from her child, Simran puts in a great performance.
Madhavan got a break from his usual lover boy roles, and he proves his calibre. As an idealistic writer, loving father and affectionate husband, he traverses different shades wonderfully.
Prakash Raj as a Sri Lankan who helps out the couple is outstanding. One of the best actors in South, he had already proved his mettle in another Mani classic Iruvar.
Nandita Das and Chakravarty do well in the cameos of Amutha's real parents.
But the best performance would be that of Baby Keerthana as Amutha. Daughter of two talented actors Parthipan and Sita, she does her parents proud with a totally naturally performance, both as a tomboyish, mischievous girl and a girl pining for her real mother.

If you haven't watched the movie yet, then please do so! It's a very good and a must watch movie!

Please check this page for more information & Links! If you have any suggestions then feel free to PM me!

Next month movie is up to you to decide, so if you want any movie to be discussed then also feel free to PM me.


Sri

Discussion Questions

(4 and 5 - not really about the film, but worth discussing!)

1)What do you like about the film? And dislike about the film?
2)Did you like the ending of the movie?
3)If you can change few things about the movie, what would you change?
4)Who is greater the woman who has given birth to you, or the one who has bought you up?
5) Do you think telling a 9 year old daughter that there are not her biological parent is right?

Sri😃

Reserved!
Informations will be added later!

1)What do you like about the film? And dislike about the film?

Likes:
Liked the performance of Keerthana, she was amazing and best in the film, next to Shamili, she was the other one who impressed my on her first movie. Maddy and Simran did a excellent job, so was Prakash and Nanditha in the small role they had. 👏👏

The music was very good, esp the title songs and the song where they show bits of refugees leave their place was good and excellent choreographed. 👏👏

How they managed to show the civil war

Dislikes:
The way they told a little kid about her being an adopted child, just like that….bad directing there by Mani Ratnam…the parents was not prepared so why spill out the truth….Maddy told it on a bad way…"you are not our daughter"…hello…?? 😡😡



2)Did you like the ending of the movie?
Yeah…for me, it was one of the best scene in the entire movie.👏 One the one side, parents who loves the child more than anything even though they are not her biological parents. in middle we do have a kid who is struggling to meet her birthmother and on the other side a mother who cant think of her self as a individual and her own kid, but think of the entire kids in her society and the war.

It was touching when Amu discover her mother never hold her or hugged her, and stops to ask her question from her list. 😭

3)If you can change few things about the movie, what would you change?

will edit...

4)Who is greater the woman who has given birth to you, or the one who has bought you up?

Both….in this movie…I felt bad for the birth mother cause we saw her situation….but otherwise, a mother who abandons her kid is not a be forgiven. Why bring a child into this world when you cant take care of it. Many people doesn't know the value of the life and take responsible for their acts.

The woman who brought and raise you up is great. You most have a big heart to adopt a child and raise it as your own. Its difficult to raise a kid and who love and affection.

5) Do you think telling a 9 year old daughter that there are not her biological parent is right?

Every child deserve to know their origin, so I think its right to tell. But you cant just break the ice and tell the kid that "you are not our biological child". there is no "right time" to tell, so the parents has to choose when..its better for the kid to be told by them self instead of the kid finding out self which will make the situation more worse and painful.


Will edit my post…its late and I am tried…nice post again Sri…you rocks with your creativity..and to last but not least…

Congrats for becoming a IF dazzler so soon ….I expect you to be a IF rocker within the next two months…. 😉

Congrates! Sri for becoming IF Dazzler!

This is a great topic you opened, and the first movie you have chosen was the best and my all time favourite.

Its a great movie, showed everyone's feelings in the right way, especially that kid Amuddha's. I also felt the way Mathavan told the truth was little hard, maybe the director wanted to tell kid at the age of 9, but me, I will wait for some more years, till the kid get little more mature to handle this...

This is movie really motivated me to adopt a child, I always wanted to adopt a child, so now I am sponsering a kid... Simran did extremely well showing her emotions when Amudha wanted to see her biological mother...

I donno if i answered the way you asked the questions... This is a great movie ever done!!!!

Good thread Sri - this is one of my favorite movies!!

Like about the film - The whole concept is good. Like Serial
said, I am sure at least a few would have been inspired by
this movie and would have gone in for adoption - a few
kids would have found home and loving parents. The whole
film was good - music was excellent - Vellai pookkal is one
of my favs - Rahman was just too good!!!

Dislike?? - I would not use the word "dislike" but I feel that
the treatment could have been better in a few places. I did
not like the way the girl exhibited her emotions - like rolling
on the floor and crying when the milieu was hostile - A 9 yr
old should definitely behave better and also she is old enough
to know that she was subjecting every ones'life to danger -
wanting to stay behind when gun fire is on!!!
Also, the way Madhavan breaks the news to the girl -
having brought her up for 9 yrs, he should know her traits -
how she would react to the news - that was too abrupt.

Ending - yes, it was good - Well, there is no other option.

Change some thing in the movie?? - I do not know but I
would prefer to show the 9 yr old as a 9yr old - She definitely
looked older. But I guess, the director chose her for the
acting skills!!

Mothers - biological or adopted,a mother is a mother. Any
one who adopts does that only because they want to - no
one forces them!!! And, I totally disagree with abandoning a kid
for whatever reasons - If there is such a grave issue then she
must make sure that the infant is left in good hands, make sure
that the kid does not suffer and make sure to keep in touch -
it is not impossible.

Right to know - yes, a child has every right to know her/his
origin. Also, it is better that they hear the truth from their loved
ones. Learning the truth from a stranger ( for whatever reasons) is
hurting. It is not just the truth but the way it is presented is also
important - if I were to know some thing like this I would much
rather hear it from my adopted parents!!!

thanks meli & Serial! 😊

Cograts Sri for dazzling!!!

Yes , this movie is indeed one of the better ones that were screened. Yes it is a page torn from life.More reality than reel!

Giving birth is no big deal.......bringing up the child is commendable!

Oh yes! All children should be told about their background as soon as they can understand aboutlove. Being adopted is nothing to be ashamed of! I believe we are all God's children adopted by our earthly parents to bring us up.

Society should be blamed for spinning yarns especially in fairy tales about wicked stepmothers etc

OOPS! Sorry for multiple postings!

Oops sorry for multiple postings!