Over the last few days, I have been quite confounded actually. So confounded that I have spent a few hours discussing and debating whether I am ‘old fashioned’ when it comes to movies – especially Tamil cinema. Not that I think so. Having watched many more movies than I used to, I am now a firm believer that Tamil cinema is experiencing a renaissance of sorts with a number of low-budget, yet high-quality films being made. Many of these have dared to venture beyond the comfort zone and have been amply rewarded, although perhaps not always financially. But last week I was jolted out of my reverie when confronted with OK Kanmani. What was so ‘special’ about this one? Before I made the decision to watch the movie, I had listened to the songs. Popular opinion was that A.R Rahman had rediscovered his mojo in Tamil movies and had provided one of the finest scores in recent years. While I would perhaps not venture so far as to shower such accolades, I believe the music score for OKK was quite brilliant and was one of the reasons I really pushed myself to watch the movie.
One might be justified in asking me why the fact that Mani Ratnam being the director was not a big enough reason to hit the theatre. Well, the ace director has been having a poor run for the last few years and has not directed a single good movie for a while. All the more a reason to believe that he was going to turn the corner and showcase glimpses of his movie-making genius. Alas, it was not to be. In fact the movie was a disaster according to me. In more ways than one, the film lacked charm, reeked of clichés, missed the ‘wow’ factor, and ultimately failed to provide the Mani Ratnam touch which most of his earlier classics inevitably had. Now why should all this leave me confounded anyway? What stunned me in the aftermath of this movie visit was that hundreds of movie goers apparently liked/loved this movie and found it refreshingly different and thoroughly enjoyable. I agree that movies can spark off polarizing opinions and generate heated debates. However, in this case, I almost surely felt the two groups (the ones who despised the movie and the ones who adored it) had a very different outlook when it comes to Tamil cinema.
I was about 3-4 years old when I was taken to the theatre to watch Mani Ratnam’s classic Nayagan. Obviously I don’t recall much from that day but remember my family raving about it. Since then, I have been fed a steady diet of Tamil movies with a significant majority of the movies being those of the great director. In Mouna Raagam, he was way ahead of his time in terms of the story, the emotions, and the screenplay. The background score and songs by Ilayaraja are divine. Mani Ratnam went on to give the world Thalapathi, which must rank as one of the greatest movies in Tamil cinema history. Add to the list Iruvar (a delicate & brilliant portrayal of Tamil Nadu politics), Roja (a top-class movie that touched upon terrorism in Kashmir), Bombay (the 1992 riots), and Kannathil Muthamittal (revolved around the LTTE crisis). He even gave Alaipayuthey, a refreshing love story, which wooed movie goers with its excellent music. After years of watching all these movies multiple times, it was pretty obvious that I yearned for a particular level of film making and class in a Mani Ratnam movie. OKK didn’t just disappoint, it dashed all hopes.
Now what’s really wrong with OKK? First let me get some good points in about this film. It stars two young actors who are looking to make a mark. Mani Ratnam has done this before and launched young stars successfully. So let’s hand it to him. The music & songs are excellent. As I have already mentioned, ARR is top class and has provided us with an excellent music score. The cinematography by P.C Sreeram is breathtaking. He has set a very high standard for years and lives up to it through the movie. That’s about it really. I can’t seem to think of many other high points. Oh well, wait! Prakash Raj, in his limited role, proves why he is a cut above the rest.
Time for the brickbats now. Let’s start with the comedy. Mani Ratnam has never quite attempted to master this aspect. He almost always has very little comedy in his movies. But in a rare occasion such as this one, when he attempts comedy, it comes off very poorly. He should’ve stuck to what he is best at and not venture into dangerous territory. Comedy is a huge factor in Tamil cinema. South Indians, especially Tamilians, love satire, sarcasm, and witticisms. Come to think of it, I cannot imagine a single other state (language) in India boasting two 24/7 channels to screen comedy clips. The Tamilian’s definition of comedy is also very different. Case in point – when the protagonist in OKK tries to demonstrate his video game idea through weird gesticulations and movements, the quintessential Tamil cinema lover will shrug and reflect on the pathetic attempt at humour. However, this kind of comedy is more likely to be appreciated by a largely Bollywood-cinema loving audience. My friend who watched the movie in Bombay agrees. The Tamil crowd in Bombay cannot really relate to their counterparts in Madras. Their idea of comedy is largely influenced by what Bollywood thinks is funny (largely allowing for exceptions). Mani Ratnam, for years, has unfortunately been trying to make movies that appeal to a pan-India audience but has instead churned out very mediocre fare.
The lead actors in the movie do try their best but fall well behind in terms of their acting prowess. Hard to blame them but when I look back at what Mani Ratnam achieved with debutants in the past, I get a feeling that this is a letdown. In short, it seems like he wasn’t quite demanding or focused on their performance. The romantic scenes and dialogues are poor to say the least. None of the scenes leaves a lasting impact. ARR’s music (he still does not have the Midas (read Raja) touch w.r.t the BGM) is definitely the saving grace.
But then, lot of this hinges on the script. How could a man, who gave us such stellar movies in the past, provide such a cliché-ridden, insipid storyline? One might never know the answer to that. I did not watch his last two movies (debacles if you ask me) and was sincerely hoping for a turn of fortunes. However, this effort has left me wondering whether he is past his best days as a movie maker and must instead go back, relax, and bask in the glory of his heyday. Creative geniuses usually never think that way and I will not be surprised if he does come up with another script in the next 2-3 years. My only hope is that he does not spend that long in writing something as amateurish as this.
Some movie goers argue that it is perfectly ok to make a feel good movie (Mozhi, Abhiyum Naanum etc.) every once in a while. Absolutely, I fully endorse that view. But this wasn’t a feel-good movie at all. I cringed from start to finish and could not wait to get out. I have watched pathetic movies in the past but then never imagined I would struggle through a MR movie like this. When you set high standards, you are judged by those throughout and it is hard to look beyond them. Roger Federer may still be No. 2 in the world but everyone understand that he is past his best at least in terms of Grand Slam performances with just two wins in five years. Similarly, Mani Ratnam’s prime is perhaps over and his ability to stun, mesmerize, and captivate audiences, is vanishing if not lost already. I might have criticized but not mulled over and penned a blog if OKK had been any other director’s effort but the fact that it is Mani Ratnam’s means that I will rant and you will have to endure.
PS: I still am a fan of all your classics MR. I really do believe (and strongly hope this time) that form is temporary and class is permanent.
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