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O Kadhal Kanmani

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O Kadhal Kanmani
Official poster
Directed byMani Ratnam
Written byMani Ratnam
Produced byMani Ratnam
StarringDulquer Salmaan
sundari
CinematographyP. C. Sreeram
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byStudio Green (Tamil)
Sri Venkateswara Creations (Telugu)
Release date
  • 17 April 2015 (2015-04-17)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

O Kadhal Kanmani (English: Oh Love, Apple of my Eye), also known as OK Kanmani,[1] is a 2015 Tamil romantic drama film written, directed and produced by Mani Ratnam.[2] The film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen[3] as a young couple in a live-in relationship[4][5] and was said to be a "reflection of the modern mindset of urban India", dealing with issues such as marriage and traditional values.[6] The music was composed by A. R. Rahman. The film released on 17 April 2015.[7]

Premise

Aadi (Dulquer Salmaan), a computer game developer who relocates to Mumbai chances upon Thara (Nithya Menen) at a strange situation as soon he lands in the railway station. Adhi stays with his brother’s ex-colleague Ganapathy (Prakash Raj) whose wife Bhavani (Leela Samson) is a former carnatic singer now an Alzheimer patient.  Thara an architect by profession lives in a ladies hostel and is awaiting admission from a Paris university for higher studies.

Adhi subsequently meets Thara at his friend Ananya’s (Ramya Subramaniam) wedding at a church. They exchange phone numbers and soon become close friends as they share similar thoughts. Soon they realize that they are in love. Since both don’t believe in the institution of marriage and are career driven, they decide to ‘live together’ without any commitments. Thara moves to Adhi’s room although initially Ganapathy does not approve of their idea. All goes hunky dory until Adhi gets selected to go to US on deputation. A stage comes when things start to change and they feel that there’s something more to their relationship than a casual affair. Now they have to take  a vital decision. Whether they enter wedlock or part ways forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

Development

Mani Ratnam had discussions with Fahad Fazil, on a bilingual in Tamil and Malayalam.[9] After the project failed to materialize, he had discussions with Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan about other potential projects, before finalising to make a multi-starrer featuring Ram Charan and Allu Arjun in leading roles.[10][11] Apparently Ram Charan expressed skepticism noting that it 'lacked the potential of being a commercial success.'[12] In August 2014, Dulquer Salmaan was signed on by Mani Ratnam for another project, a romantic drama reportedly on the lines of Alaipayuthey (2000).[13][14] The film was titled OK Kanmani during the first schedule.[15] During the making, the cinematographer hinted that the film has contents on the lines of Ratnam's Alaipayuthey (2000), that was also based on a real life incident.[16] Briefing about the film, Ratnam called it an urban love story. The story is set in Mumbai and deals with people away from home who become independent of the rules and regulations of a family.[17] In a press conference at Taj Coromandel in Chennai, Ratnam went on to add that the film is a contemporary take on the new generation, their attitudes and their values.[5] Through the film, Ratnam wanted to portray the change that takes place every five or six years when a new generation comes in with different set of values.[5] This story revolves about two different sets of characters with its discords, the understanding and the changing that comes through.[5] Lyricist Vairamuthu, who has done lyrical work for the songs stated that the film has been made at a time when capitalism is dissolving traditional cultures. The entire film was shot with live sound.[6]

Casting

For the leading female role, Alia Bhatt was considered but she rejected the offer.[18] Pooja Hegde was offered the role but was unable to accept it due to levied contractual obligations until release of her debut Bollywood film Mohenjo Daro (2016).[19] The team subsequently held discussions with Nithya Menen for the role, while actress Parvathy was also considered, before the former was finalised.[20][21] Actress Kanika shot for a day with the team and confirmed her part a cameo appearance. P. C. Sreeram was signed on to be the film's cinematographer, collaborating with after fifteen years.[22] Eka Lakhani had designed the costumes for the main cast.[23]

The character Aadi (played by Dulquer Salmaan) is about a young urban man. For this role, Ratnam was looking for 'someone real and belonging to an upper class family, but not a hero'. Ratnam first met Salmaan at an audio release function and felt that he was the right choice to play the character Aadi, although he hadn't seen any of the latter's films. However, Ratnam had watched Nithya Menen's previous films where she played small roles.[5] Ratnam was quoted saying, "I found something alive about her, something real and perfectly beautiful about her. Nithya carries an individuality and is not just a glamorous girl. Like her character in the film, Tara, she has a mind of her own."[5] The supporting cast includes Prakash Raj and Leela Samson as onscreen husband and wife.[5] The latter makes her cinematic acting debut through this film.[24]

Filming

Principal photography began from October 6, 2014 with scenes featuring Dulquer Salman and Nithya Menen being filmed.[25] Menen revealed that the film would be shot in a short span of time and her portions would be completed by December 2014, while the team swiftly shot scenes at locations in and around Chennai, including near a bank in Parry's Corner. The last leg of filming, started in Mumbai in November 2014 with the shooting lasting for a week.[26] The team shot scenes at Indian Institute of Management and CEPT University both in Ahmedabad, the following month.[27][28] Filming was completed by December 2014.[27][29]

Music

Main article: O Kadhal Kanmani (soundtrack)

The soundtrack and film score were composed by A. R. Rahman. The lyrics were written by Vairamuthu[30] whereas Sirivennela Sitaramasastri[31] wrote the Telugu lyrics for the dubbed version. The soundtrack album was noted to be "youthful" with Carnatic themes.[32] Since Leela Samson plays the role of an old Carnatic singer in the film, there is a tinge of Carnatic music in the film.[5] Ratnam wanted an original soundtrack from Rahman that is contemporary as well as trendy.[5] Rahman's son, A. R. Ameen sang the track "Maula Wa Sallim" in Arabic. A first preview of the song "Mental Manadhil (Male version)" was released on March 17,[33] while the full song was released as a single on March 17 to positive critical response.[34] The soundtrack album was released by Sony Music India on April 4, 2015.[35]

Promotion and release

On April 8, 2015, the film was awarded a "U/A" certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification because of adult situations depicted in the film. The makers then sent the film to the revising committee to acquire a "U" (Universal) certificate but the status remained unchanged.[36]

The film was distributed by Studio Green[37] in 350 theatres in Tamil Nadu [38] whereas producer Dil Raju's Sri Venkateswara Creations distributed the Telugu version.[39] It was Dil Raju who suggested Mani to name the Telugu version as Ok Bangaram.[40]

The first poster of the Tamil and the dubbed Telugu version of the film were released on February 14, 2015.[41] The teaser titled "OK Kanmani - A Glimpse" was released on February 27.[8] The first trailer was released on March 1.[42]

Critical reception

The film received very widespread critical acclaim from critics, Anupama Subramanian of Deccan Chronicle wrote, "After a couple of lackluster flicks, master story teller Mani Ratnam is back with a bang with a feel good complete romantic movie O Kadhal Kanmani. There are a few overall glitches, nevertheless, watch OKK for its fresh approach and feel-good entertainment it offers." She awarded the film 3 stars out of 5.[43] Reviewing for Firstpost, Latha Srinivasan stated, "O Kadhal Kanmani celebrates romance, an emotion that is as old as creation itself (remember Adam and Eve?). Mani Ratnam is back, with a 21st century love story that will charm you."[44] Critic Baradwaj Rangan wrote, "O Kadhal Kanmani is something of a greatest-hits package. Barring a handful of scenes, everything is organic, everything fits. OKK is an unapologetic upper-class movie. We don’t want all films to be like this one. But given the mortal fear our directors have of openly courting this upper-class audience, it’s nice to have one of these films, once in a while."[45] Udhav Naig of The Hindu said "Ratnam has made a film that will not only resonate with audiences across India but has also truly retained the Tamil flavor".[46] Naig called it is as one of those films in which everything seems to have come together: music, acting, editing and the cinematography.[46] The critical review board of Behindwoods gave the film 3.25 stars out of 5 stating, "Okay, moral of the story - One fine morning, Mani Ratnam got up and decided to make something special for all young people out there. He then makes OK Kanmani, and in style".[47] Critics based at Sify stated, "The premise is simple, the story is focused. Technically OK Kanmani is superior as both AR Rahman and PC Sreeram have given their career best work for Mani Ratnam as the master craftsman himself is in tremendous form. O Kadhal Kanmani is definitely above a notch compared to the mediocre cinema we have been subjected to lately."[48] Sudhish Kamath wrote, "OK Kanmani is unfortunately that Uncle who makes you believe that marriage is the answer to your conflict of living in without any expectations from each other."[49] Haricharan Pudipeddi for Hindustan Times said that the film is a refreshing take on romance and relationship. This is his best work in years and this magical spell won't be forgotten easily. By throwing the spotlight on modern India's idea of romance, Ratnam has also succeeded in making us root for an older couple madly in love in O Kadhal Kanmani."[50] Karthik Keramalu of IBN Live stated that the film is a love letter to the audience. He went on to call the film as, 'Mani Ratnam's timely reflection of our society' which mustn't be missed.[51] He rated the film 5 out of 5.[51] R. S. Prakash of Bangalore Mirror wrote, "Mani delves into the plot of live-in relationship, but he has chosen not to go overboard, given the sensitivity of the subject, especially in his part of the world. The screenplay, though a bit implausible at places, flows steadily, carrying the touches of the master filmmaker."[52] Writing for The Times of India M. Suganth said, "The filmmaker shows that his touch is in tact and he can still make a romance come alive on screen." The film was rated 3.5 out of 5 by him.[53]Indo Asian News Service stated, "By throwing the spotlight on modern India’s idea of romance, Ratnam has also succeeded in making us root for an older couple madly in love in “O Kadhal Kanmani”."[54]S. Saraswathi of Rediff gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars claiming that it has, "director's trademark, unique narrative style, realistic characters, and excellent performances coupled with great music and stunning visuals". The critic added that the film is a beautiful and sensitive tale of love filled with fun that warms your heart.[55]

References

  1. ^ "Presenting 'O Kadhal Kanmani', our official title". Madras Talkies on Twitter. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Mani Ratnam's next is Okay Bangaram". The Times of India. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Mani Ratnam begins work on new Tamil-Malayalam film: Will it be the hit he needs?". Firstpost. 10 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Dil Raju suggested 'Ok Bangaram' title to Mani Ratnam". The Indian Express. March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mani Ratnam's 'O Kadhal Kanmani' out on Friday". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  6. ^ a b Naig, Udhav (April 12, 2015). "'OKK: a new-age romance'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  7. ^ "Mani Ratnam's OK Kanmani on April 17th!". The Times of India. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Mani Ratnam's 'Ok Kanmani' trailer to be unveiled on Sunday (March 1)". The Indian Express. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Malayalam actor Fahad Fazil in Mani Ratnam's next?". IBN Live. 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  10. ^ "Mani Ratnam to direct Ram Charan". The Times of India.
  11. ^ "Who will play the lead role in Mani Ratnam's next?".
  12. ^ "Ram Charan explains why he rejected Maniratnam's offer".
  13. ^ "Maniratnam keen to cast Dulquer on his next !". The Times of India.
  14. ^ "Confirmed: Dulquer Salmaan Is Mani Ratnam's Next Hero". Filmibeat. 26 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Mani Ratnam aka Maniratnam's next titled!".
  16. ^ 'Okay Kanmani' will be like 'Alaipayuthey -2': PC Sreeram Sify Retrieved. 15 January 2015
  17. ^ "One can experiment within mainstream cinema: Mani Ratnam". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  18. ^ "Dulquer-Alia for Mani Ratnam`s new film?". Sify.
  19. ^ "Did Pooja Hedge disrespect Mani Ratnam?". The Times of India.
  20. ^ "Mani Ratnam's next kick starts on October 6". The Times of India.
  21. ^ "Nithya Menen in Mani Ratnam film?". The Times of India.
  22. ^ "Mani Ratnam to begin his next. The date is set".
  23. ^ "Prakash Raj joins Mani's new film". Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  24. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (April 14, 2015). "Meet Leela Samson the actor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  25. ^ "Mani Ratnam's next to roll out from Oct 6". The Times of India. 1 October 2014.
  26. ^ Karthikeyan, Shruthi. "Dulquer takes a 10-day break during the shoot of Mani Ratnam film". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Mani's return to romance". Bangalore Mirror. 2015-02-18. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  28. ^ "'Okay Kanmani' unit starts new schedule in Ahmedabad". Sify. 6 December 2014.
  29. ^ "Okay Kanmani: Mani Ratnam's quickest project?". The Hindu. December 9, 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  30. ^ "Mani Ratnam is calling the shots!!". Behindwoods.com. 13 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Seetharamasastry to write lyrics for Mani Ratnam's film". The Times of India. Feb 24, 2015. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015.
  32. ^ "Rahman Rocks Music Charts with 'OK Kanmani'". Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  33. ^ "Mental Manadhil song: A glimpse". The Times of India. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  34. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (March 17, 2015). "Being 'Mental Manadhil' about Rahman's music". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  35. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani audio release on April 4". Sify. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  36. ^ "No change in OK Kanmani's censor status !!". Behindwoods. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  37. ^ V.P., Nicy (2015-03-05). "After 'Komban', 'Masss', 'Baahubali', Studio Green Acquires Theatrical Rights of Mani Ratnam Movie". International Business Times. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  38. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani (aka) OK Kanmani will release in around 350 theaters in Tamil Nadu. The movie's length is 138 minutes". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  39. ^ "Dil Raju to release Mani Ratnam's next". The Hindu. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  40. ^ "Style factor in Jil will make it stand out: Director". The Hindu. 24 March 2015.
  41. ^ "V-day treat from Dulquer Salman and Nithya Menon". Manorama Online. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  42. ^ "Watch: Mani Ratnam's take on modern romance in 'OK Kanmani' trailer". Zee News. March 1, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  43. ^ "Movie review 'O Kadhal Kanmani': Mani Ratnam is back with a bang". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  44. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani: Mani Ratnam is back, with a 21st century love story that will charm you". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  45. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (April 17, 2015). "O Kadhal Kanmani: A lightweight but enjoyable romance". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  46. ^ a b Naig, Udhav (April 17, 2015). "O Kadhal Kanmani: Mani Ratnam has regained his touch". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  47. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani (aka) OK Kanmani review". behindwoods.com. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  48. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  49. ^ "OK Kanmani: Unlimited thaali please, we are South Indians". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  50. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani review: A refreshing take on romance and relationship". http://www.hindustantimes.com/. Retrieved 2015-04-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  51. ^ a b "'OK Kanmani' review: Mani Ratnam's timely reflection of our society is the one you shouldn't miss-South Cinema News - IBNLive Mobile". IBNlive. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  52. ^ "Movie Review: Oh Kadhal Kanmani - Bangalore Mirror". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  53. ^ "O Kadhal Kanmani Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  54. ^ "Movie review: 'O Kadhal Kanmani'". Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  55. ^ "Review: O Kadhal Kanmani is a celebration of love". Retrieved 2015-04-19.
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