~~ Kadal Reviews and Discussions ~~

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sahi.

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Posted: 12 years ago

~~ Kadal Reviews and Discussions ~~

There are films that have their main draw from its stars and there are films which lure the audience to theatres thanks to the name of the director. Kadal falls in the second category. Mani Ratnam, the most revered director of our times presents his latest offering with two newcomers and two experienced artists to narrate a tale of good versus evil.

Kadal is the story of a young direction-less man and the influences on his life with a fishing hamlet as the backdrop. However, the pivot is the conflict between Arvind Swamy and Arjun which forms the warp and weft of Kadal on which the entire film is woven.

It will not be an understatement to say Arvind Swamy owns Kadal. What a powerful comeback! We are seeing him after quite a long aestivation and the man literally owns the screen with his portrayal of Father Sam. Be it the pain or the anguish or the affection or the determination to carry on Jesus' doctrine, Arvind Swamy triumphs with the myriad emotions. And Arjun is the perfect foil for Arvind Swamy with a different kind of characterization and the Action King sails through his role.

Karthik Muthuraman can be proud of his son Gautham. As the affection deprived and the venom spewing Thomas, Gautham delivers in his very first film. He scores in action as well as dance department too. A worthy find indeed! Thulasi Nair is natural and the confidence shows. The younger versions of Gautham are perfect, especially the child. His painful and scary looks linger on.

Technically Kadal boasts of illustrious names that prove their mettle once again. In a film like this, there are huge chances that the cinematography overshadows the script. But Rajiv Menon's success lies in his camera travelling unobtrusively with the needs of the script. Some of the shots he has canned, stay on with you even after you leave the theater.

By now, it is a known fact that A R Rahman reserves his best for Mani Ratnam and the tracks are already chartbusters. Nenjukulle has a different treatment amidst conversations, Adiyae was a let down with the choreography not gelling well despite it being a dream number, Elay Keechan and Moongil Thottam are lively and well shot. Magudi adds color to a well conceptualized title roll and also to Gautham's transformation sequence.

Jayamohan's dialogues are flavored with coastal nativity but the dialect does not seem to be uniformly spoken. There are quite a few aberrations on this segment. Kadal should be lauded for its art director Sashidhar Adappa who impresses with the church and in the climax sequence.

The pace of Kadal is leisurely languorous and this is the pace that the director has fixed for the film. The first half moves in a unilateral direction but it is in the second half that the film takes a meandering course. Although the conflict between Arvind Swamy and Arjun is the fulcrum, there is not enough depth in it for the rest of the sequences to hinge upon this. Same thing holds good for Thulasi and Gautham's romance. Thulasi's psychological condition and her relationship with Arjun are also not explained clear enough.

To encapsulate, the bar is always pushed several notches up when it comes to Mani Ratnam's films and in that vein, Kadal may disappoint the general audience whereas it would appeal to his fans who are still patiently waiting for his magical spell on them which is missing in Kadal.

Verdict: Technically brilliant, but wanting in Mani Ratnam's magic

Edited by Ravi. - 12 years ago

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sahi.

@sahi.

Inactive

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Posted: 12 years ago

Kadal Movie Review by Sir Voice Poet

STARRING : Gautham Karhtik, Thulasi Nair, Arvind Swamy, Arjun, Lakshmi Manchu

MUSIC : A.R.Rahman

Direction : Mani Ratnam

SCREENPLAY: Mani Ratnam and Jeya Mohan

STORY : Jeya Mohan

CINEMATOGRAPHY : Rajeev Menon

EDITING : Sreekar Prasad

STORYLINE

Movies start of with the Bergman (Arjun) and Sam Fernando (Arvind Swamy) after some incident Bergman want to take revenge against Sam Fernando but not now only later. Few years later Sam Fernando see a boy Thomas (Gautham Karhtik) then Sam adopts Thomas. Then Thomas grew up as a youngster meanwhile Bergman arrives to the place where Sam is there and he take revenge against Sam and Sam has been sent to the prison. Meanwhile Thomas fall in love with Beatrice (Thulasi Nair) who is Bergman daughter. Rest of the story is about the game between Bergman and Sam, What happen to Thomas and Beatirce love is the rest of the story of Kadal is about.

PERFORMANCE

Huge advantage of Kadal is the outstanding performance of each and every actors except few. Gautham Karthik gave his best performance we cannot say his first movie he have to work on some of expression and dance other than that Gautham Karthik is terrific. Thulasi Nair didn't satisfy whatever her character demand she did her justice but her acting is very immature she have to work on her acting if she want to stay here for long. It is her first film so she will improve in future. Aravindswamy is the show stealer he just gave his best performance, he acts very natural and live in the role of Sam. Arjun as bergman deadly villain did his justice but he overacts in many portions, the mistake should go to Mani Ratnam as his character is not sketch properly. Other characters like Lakshmi, Ponvannan did justice to their role not that much scope on their role.

ANALYSIS (POSITIVE/ NEGATIVE)

Mani Ratnam is one of the best filmmakers ever made but can't believe that Kadal is been directed by same director who give many classic likes Thalapathy, Mouna Ragam, Nayagan. The narration of Kadal is very confusing after the film ends also we will be in doubt what is the point on taking Kadal. This is only because Mani Ratnam has missed his opputunity to tell the story properly.

First Half of Kadal is good it is interesting but one doubt we will get is is the story is focusing on Arjun and Aravind Swamy or it is focusing on Thomas. Kadal is not at all a parrell storyline, but it is very confusing plot. If we takes the 2^nd half means it is focuign on Thomas is joining hand with Bergman to become huge the reason is unknown like why should Thomas want to join hands with bergaman because bergman is the one who has sent Sam to prison then why should Thomas has to joined with Bergman, Mani Ratnam again didn't explain it properly because the reason doesn't make sense. Climax why should the climax have to take in the kadal because then only audience will get to know that the film name is Kadal. They could have take the climax in a house or some other place and finished it because this story doesn't demand a climax in a kadal. Climax is a big disappointment like Aravind swamy is beating arjun and Thomas arrives on time where Arjun is it seriously doesn't make sense..

Narration, Screenplay is a big disadvantage of Kadal it is slow, confusing, where the film is taking the audience to. What is the point of taking kadal even though it is a masala film we have to get some answer rights ?? We don't get any of the answer after climax end also Mani Ratnam has confused the audience with Kadal. If Mani Ratnam change the story in the second half means Kadal could have working well with us or we could even impressed with the film.

Rajeev Menon cinematography is the real assests of Kadal he have captured the location so beautifully with his camera. We will be fell in love with location credits should go to Rajev Menon for his cinematography and the Art director for the lovely location with realism. Eventhough the climax is a disappointment the way Rajeev Menon capture the climax we will be awestruck. Sreekar Prasad has did a crisp editing just a normal editing.

Music by AR.Rahman he has given a outstanding songs already the songs are chartbuster as Rahamn songs will speaks a lot. Each and every songs are great and we can hear it as many times we want. Visualization of the songs are also great especially Moongil Thottam they have captured it well. But most of the songs didn't sync out well especially magudi song which will come in the title credits that doesn't sync it out at all, Adiye doesn't needed at all. AR.Rahman has put so much of efforts to the songs but sadly most of the songs didn't sync it out with story. Asusual his bgm is rocking.

Conclusion

Kadal is a average attempt by Mani Ratnam he lacks in direction this time. Kadal is touted to be Mani Ratnam weakest film as we cannot expect anything in Kadal expect the outstanding performance of actors and techinicalites. Other than that Kadal is a avoidable film.

VERDICT : Outstanding performance and techinicality but a big disaapointment in execution.

RATING: 5.6/10

Edited by Ravi. - 12 years ago