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Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum [2016 : Tamil : 2h15m : Romance (Musical, Drama)]
Wirtten & Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy

Music Santosh Narayanan

Starring : Madonna Sebastian & Vijay Sethupathi



Oru Oorula, Ore Oru Veeran. Avana Seendathaan, Kitta Vandhu Paaraen.

The title clearly suggests that the film, Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, will be evelopped inside Romance. Being alergic to this fantastic genre, I just could not ignore a C. V. Kumar production ; a film by Nalan Kumarasamy ; starring Vijay Sethupathi and music composed by Santosh Narayanan - that's bigger than a festival package.

Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum is an unusual film which tries to be usual. There is no caste or relegion or the hero lecturing the heroine or the female drolling for the male or any over the top episodes to justify the reunion of the lead pairs. Infact a Romance Film without a duet, only sign is the rain. But still, it's usual when talking about a relationship between an uneducated youngster, Kadir (Vijay Sethupathi), who is obviously a stray in the society, with an educated town girl, Yazhini (amazing name, enacted by Madonna Sebastian), who comes to the city for job oppurtunities. Nothing really happens between them - Kadir ignores Yazhini, while Yazhini does not seem to care about the way Kadir is - but still many personal matters, common and uncommon, happen between this inglorious pair - Nalan strikes, hats off Nalan.

Ambition is the platform from where the film maker carries his story. Yazhini & Kadir strive to make it big in their line of work - Kadir goes to jail so that he can get to run a Bar ; Yazhini elopes from her caring family to persue her dream. Moverever, they both prepared to acheive what they wished by supressing the unlimited insults, be it getting beaten in a bar or sing a song in an interview. When these two personalities meet, it's their ambition that ties them together with a elastic cord - further they move from each other, closer it brings them. The humour is at its best when potraying their attitudes - Kadir takes the umbrella of Yazhini to get idilis where as she walks to the interview in the rain, and when Kadir meets Yazhini on the way, he is more worried about the Idlis getting wet.

Just like Kadir surrounded by his assosiates who try to run a bar at any which way possible, Yazhini has her parents who stictly don't beleive in her independence. And both parties do show some efforts towards them where Kadir's mentor has some other plan for him just to keep him out of trouble while Yazhini's parent accept to meet her new boy friend. So many such wonderful episodes happens inside the movie, which makes it tickingly interesting.

Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogaum is a Musical. Lovely songs & back ground score, mostly narrative music. 'Bongu Kichan' pitches in timely during suituations to convey a sattire, exmple, a payment asked for paltistic bag, and when Yazhini or Kadir try to establish a crooked idea. 'Pangaali' is the best, where you can see the peak of the song is when Kadir waits for the IT-HR (LoL). 'Paravai Parandhuchu', a fabulous funky number with excellent lyrics - Aana Aavanna, Yenna Rani Naan - a song about liberation, a devine freedom to follow the dream. The music starts on the train - 'Thus her journey begins ...' - is just amazing. 'Akkam Pakkam Paar', a jazz number is the only song that sees Kadir & Yazhini joined together potraying how two contrasting individuals are under the same umbrella (ambition).

The film has a Mani Rathnam feel throughout, starting from the rain - a Weather of Love - to the way the characters are leisurely handled. Nalan has wonderfully crafted the personalities in his narration with an effective writing for the screen. The temple episode is fantastic, no exageration just a potrayal of how life can turn cruel between seconds. All that Vijay Sethupathi does is to emote, he is becoming terrific. It's a charm to see him put in use his eyes to bringout sympathy, anger, curiousness, passion, etc., and above all, the apathy. The rest of the artists were good to too good. Editing and camera have deployed few cinematic techiniques wonderfully, couple of scenes - a bar fight and when Yazhini calls in the HR as a BBC reporter. The movie is loaded with charm, hats off Leo John Paul & Dinesh Krishnan.

Eventhough I would have settled for an alternate ending, the post-climax was cool. The tentative title 'Eskimo' would have been much apter, as the lead pair do shelter under their own warmth - feeling safe and comfortable. The official title sounds Shakespearean.

As defined, Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum is a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.

Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum - Essence of Romance