Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek)

• Melbournite

  17 Jul 08, 13:27

   

   

  This is an incredible movie that begins slowly. It leads you along in thinking of it as a typical maudlin family drama. Then, in the second half, there is a plot twist that utterly transforms this into a profound tale of global scope.
   Especially beginning with the second half, you will find this movie an amazing experience.Excellent work! Though the war sequences reminded me of Saving Private Ryan, such a work was never attempted on Indian Screen...and also take note of the powerful music throughout the film, its got an amazing soundtrack (see sample link).

  Sample: http://www.4shared.com/file/47917762/2ab422ef/Mother-Daughter_Meet.html
  
  IMDB Link:.

  http://us.imdb.com/Title?0312859

  
  

   

  Kannathil Muthamittal ( A peck on the cheek) 2002

   

  Directed by Mani Ratnam

  Music by A. R. Rahman

  Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran
  Produced by Mani Ratnam, G. Srinivasan
  Written by Mani Ratnam, Sujatha
  
  Starring

  R. Madhavan
  Simran Bagga
  J.D. Chakravarthy
  Nandita Das
  P. S. Keerthana
  Prakash Raj
  Distributed by Madras Talkies
  
  
  Main
  
  Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek, கன�னத�தில� ம�த�தமிட�டால�) (2002) is an award-winning Tamil feature film directed by Mani Ratnam. It was one of the most successful movies by director Maniratnam.The film was released in March 2002 in India and worldwide. It stars P. S. Keerthana, Madhavan, Simran, Nandita Das and Prakash Raj. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman. The film's title is a famous phrase from a poem written by Subramanya Bharathy, which literally means a peck on the cheek. Mani Ratnam presents a glimpse of the Island of Sri Lanka at civil war, through the eyes of a child of Sri Lankan Tamil parentage, who desires to meet her biological mother. It is one of the best Indian films of 2002. The film premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, and was selected as India's official entry to the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It also received a strong reception when screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2003.
  
  
  
  Plot
  
  Thiruchelvan (Madhavan), an engineer and writer by occupation, and Indra (Simran), a TV Newsreader, live in Chennai, Tamil Nadu with their three children, the eldest of whom is Amudha (P. S. Keerthana). Amudha is surrounded by love, a secure family and many friends. On her ninth birthday, Amudha learns from her father that she is an adopted child. Her parents came across her as a baby at a Red Cross camp in Rameshwaram. She further learns that her biological mother was displaced by the war in Sri Lanka just before giving birth, and the current whereabouts of her mother Shyama (Nandita Das) and her father Dileepan (J.D Chakravarthy) are unknown. Amudha intent on finding her biological parents, eventually convinces her adopted parents to take her on a search mission. Amudha and her parents arrive in a war-torn Sri Lanka. Dr. Wikramesinghe, (Prakash Raj), a friendly host, guides their quest to the North East, where they witness the brutal conditions and harsh realities of an ongoing civil strife on the island.
  
   
  
  Critical reception
  
  Kannathil Muthamittal met with acclaim upon release, with Ratnam and P. S. Keerthana's performance as the young Amudha particularly gaining praise. Channel 4 Films described the film as "stunning...thought provoking,"[2] and Time Out Chicago declared, "Ratnam has a ravishing eye."[2] The Chicago Reader observed "[Ratnam's] passionate conviction fortifies the tragic and inspirational aspects of the story"[2] and the Chicago Tribune wrote "Realistic, intelligently written and often quite moving.
  
  Awards
  
  The film has won the following awards[1] since its release:
  
  2003 Jerusalem Film Festival (Jerusalem)Won - In Spirit for Freedom Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2003 Los Angeles Indian Film Festival (USA)
  Won - Audience Award - Best Feature Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2003 National Film Awards (India)
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Audiography - A.S. Laxmi Narayanan.
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Editing - A. Sreekar Prasad
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Child Artist - P. S. Keerthana
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - A. R. Rahman
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Lyricist - Vairamuthu
  Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Regional Film (Tamil) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2002 Filmfare Awards South (India)
  Won - Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil) - Simran Bagga
  Won - Filmfare Best Director Award (Tamil) - Mani Ratnam
  Won - Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award (Tamil)- Ravi.K Chandran
  Won - Filmfare Best Lyricist Award (Tamil) - Vairamutthu
  2004 RiverRun International Film Festival (USA)
  Won - Audience Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2004 Film Fest New Haven (USA)
  Won - Special Award - Achievement Award - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  Won - Jury Award - Features (International) - First Place Winner - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  Won - Audience Award - Feature (International) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2004 Westchester Film Festival (USA)
  Won - Best International Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  2003 Zimbabwe International Film Festival (Zimbabwe)
  Won - Best Picture - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
  
  The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  Soundtrack by A. R. Rahman
  Released February 4, 2002
  Genre Soundtrack
  Length 32:14
  Label TIPS
  Producer A. R. Rahman
  
  The film soundtrack features score and 6 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.The soundtrack was released in 2002 along with the release of the film to acclaim, and quickly became popular. The score and soundtrack of the film fetched A. R. Rahman his fourth National Film Award for Best Music Direction and another National Film Award for Best Lyrics for lyricist Vairamuthu. The background score was of high calibre resembling new age and celtic like tunes came as a brilliant piece of piece of work by AR Rahman.

   

   

   

   

• Melbournite

  17 Jul 08, 21:01

  and also take note of the powerful music throughout the film, its got an amazing soundtrack.,,,

• Melbournite

  1 Aug 08, 17:38

  deleted -

• SPLIT SECOND

  27 Sep 08, 23:57

  hey, i had seen this film before. it was good . Have seen all the director Maniratnam"s movies before. They appear as a trilogy

  Roja (1992) - About the kashimiri and india border conflict. By far this is the best film of Maniratnam.

  Bombay (1995) - About the hindu muslim religious riots which happened mumbai in 1992.

  Dil Se (1998) - about the conflict in the North Eastern territories of India

  I seen Guru (2007) - Corporate thriller in the likes of pulp fiction cinema