Ok Kanmani
The very awesome Kiva Ashby gives us her expert take on Bollywood movies.
Ok Kanmani
April 2015
Director: Mani Ratnam
Starring: Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen
Length: 2hr 19min
Short summary: This Tamil romantic drama tells the story of a very likely couple, that take an unlikely journey to eventually be together. Dulquer Salmaan plays Aditya, a twenty something video game designer that loves his bachelor life.
Nithya Menen is Tara, a twenty something bachelorette who focuses all her attention on her art career. The two have a chance meeting at a friend’s wedding and decide, after a few exchanges, that marriage is not for them, and anyone who chooses to get married is crazy to do so. Despite this somewhat grim outlook on long lasting relationships, they start to go on dates together and eventually have sex (the casualness of it being quite taboo).
When they move in together, at the dismay of Adityas uncle, we can see where this story is going. The two fall deeply in love with one another and when the time comes to move on from their “no strings attached” relationship, they find it harder than they expected.
Music & Dancing:
***
The dance scenes in this movie were very much like the music montages of American cinema. There are no elaborate dance sequences and there are no over the top dance moves. However, the songs are very sexy and nicely acted out. The songs always revolve around just the two characters and the intimacy that is occurring between them.
Outfits & Wardrobe:
****
The film takes place in modern day Mumbai. Both characters are young and trendy artists. I actually had a great respect for the clothes that Tara’s character wore. She mostly spent the movie in flowing patterned skirts and light blouses. Aditya wore jeans and button down shirts. I personally like Bollywood movies that take place in rural villages or in non modern times. I love the saris, kurtas and salwar kameez’s but that would have been too traditional, and this movie is definitely not that. The clothing reflected the modern thinking of the two lovers.
Overall rating:
****
I would highly recommend this to a western audience that wants to make an easy transition into Bollywood films. It’s a beautiful love story that is very easy to understand and to relate to. The uncommon western romance is one that American viewers are already used to. Boy and girl meet, boy and girl promise to make no commitments, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl break that promise.
