With Vignesh Shivn as a director, I took notice of Poda Podi, thoroughly enjoyed Naanum Rowdy Thaan, was indifferent to TSK and intrigued by his offering in the anthology Paava Kathaigal.
But after watching KRK, I had to revisit the elusive question: what could draw an audience into the theater:
option a - Stellar cast and crew
option b - Story/ screenplay
option c - Technical finesse
The right answer is a secret option d - marketing. And that kids is how Vignesh Shivn pulled off a con, kaathuvaakle.
KRK is a misfire on several counts. Now i am all for a fun no brainer.And with the marketing overlords going on a blitzkrieg, the teaser did pique my interest and actually thought it might be a ’’’’fun while it lasts’’’’ kind of flick.
The story of Rambo’’’’s plight of having two gorgeous women falling for him at once did have that mysticism of our folklore (where one day the out of favour protagonist turns a new leaf with lady luck smiling on him) and potential to be a rollicking ride on paper.
How i wish it were simple to translate ideas into entertaining cinema. The problem with KRK is its inability to balance the dramedy genre.
The tonal shifts in key scenes were abrupt and didnt quite transition smoothly. For example, take the scenes establishing Rambos badluck - are we to feel bad, laugh at the slapstick farce on the screen? Or for that matter the scenes establishing Kanmani (literally portrayed as an angel.. save me lord!) are flatter than the cricket pitches made for IPL.
What about the characters?
Rambo(an effortless VJS) is an enigma, did make me wonder: what’’’’s his endgame? dangerously suggestive of polygamy??
Kanmani on the other hand is Ms. Goody too shoes and is a bore with a B. I’’’’m sorry if I am a little harsh but she’’’’s too uptight, and not in a LOL way, to be in this movie.
The real surprise package has to be Khatija (a refreshingly energetic Sam). She seems to be just enjoying herself in this farce.
The rest of supporting cast including an insufferable Kala master, repetitive Redding and ’’’’not sure what I am doing’’’’ Maaran added to the dead load.
Despite capable actors, an Anirudh album full of bangers and ragers, solid technical crew and the marketing budget the size of Singapore at his disposal, Vignesh Shivn didnt quite make laugh out loud nor did we feel for the love.
You could see the potential in some scenes:
Rambo finally digging into chocobars (2) as if a curse had lifted off him
The tribute to Khushi with characters racing to save the oil lamp and the matter of fact confrontation that ensues
Poetic lyrics of soulful numbers- Naan pizhai, rendu kaadhal
But for every scene that worked I can pinpoint atleast 3 scenes that didn’’’’t stick the landing. Particularly the climax which was probably the right one but was underwhelming. And that is primarily the problem, I didnt feel it - neither the romance, comedy nor the drama.
So well done marketing team for the con job and better luck Vicky with the next one, this one is dead to me. On second thoughts he might not need the luck, he has ’’’’Nayan’’’’ lives.