The Rainmaker

Movie : Kaanakanmani
Language : Malayalam
Theatre : Savitha
Date : Sep 06, 2009. Saturday

Review

When you expect a vegeterian meal for a marriage sadhya, you would be surprised to be served with Chinese instead. This is exactly what the family and general audiences watching Akku Akbar's latest movie 'Kaanakanmani' also are bound to feel. You may be expecting a family drama but about 40 minutes in to the movie, you would be surprised to be watching a horror movie instead.

Surprise! Surprise
The above genre shift is surprise which can be taken as a positive. Once you have come to terms with the fact that you are in for a horror movie, the next best thing is to judge 'Kaanakanmani' for what it is. A family based horror movie. You can be a best critique by judging the movie only based on its content and entertainment value, instead of the above genre shift.

A Novel Theme
The theme of abortion and the pain,suffering of the unborn child is a new theme in Malayalam. The way it has been presented in certain portions of the movie is noteworthy. Especially in the second half, after the initial song,the next 10-15 minutes which shows how the couple arrive at the decision of abortion and how the doctor explains the inhumanity involved is very much relatable and handled well.

Direction, or lack of it?
'Kaanakanmani' is a very good example of how a novel theme can be presented in an irritating manner. Director seems to have the above theme about which he is very passionate, alright, but the antics shown to drive home the point, make you squirm in your seats. The girl child (played notably by Niveditha) keeps switching between herself and the ghost of the unborn, without any provocative situation. This looks tacky. May be the director should see movies like 'Manichitrathazhu' more carefully, where a complex theme is presented so beautifully.

After 30 mins in the second half, all hell breaks looks and the movie becomes a directionless horror flick. There are some genuine scares but then again most of it seems cliche and oft repeated.By the end you do not care what the theme is of what happens to the family. Its difficult to sit through.

Performances
Niveditha as 'Anagha' is good but she is not outstanding. Her efforts to understand the character needs to lauded at such young age. Jayaram is nothing special as is Padmapriya who needs to seriously look at her colour sense in costumes. Biju Menon is wasted. Vijayaraghavan and Suraj are good releif.
Music has nothing to cheer. Camera is competant. Special effects not up to the mark.
The whole idea of horror being planned and created at an isolated home sans to impress and is very recent in the movie 'Winter' with the same hero. The same theme could have been presented in a much better way in a natural setting like say 'Bhooth'.
Apart from the novel theme and some moments here and there 'Kaanamanmani' is a painful watch.

Verdict - 2/5 as rating and 'BELOW AVERAGE' as opinion

'Kaanakanmani' - Mishandled novelty!