I saw the movie “Kanaa Kandean” before I went through any of the reviews. Cinematographer K.V. Anand has made a very good directorial debut. The choice of artistes, the technical aspects and the story line is very good. The movie has a good message to convey but the effect gets reduced due to the drag in the climax.
Shrikanth has done a commendable job in the movie as the Ph.D. holder aspiring to help people from the water scarcity problem. The flashback which shows his mother dying on the road while fetching water is supposed to be his inspiration. He has also handled the romantic part of the movie smoothly.
Gopika has done justice to her role. She actually doesn’t have much to do about the movie except come for a couple of romantic numbers and try to motivate the hero when he feels let down. She looks cute and acts well and it is high time she got a couple of meaty roles.
Prithviraj, easily the best performer in the movie, is too good in the negative role. The scene where he says he is obsessed with money and would do anything for money shows his character. He is good-looking, acts, fights and dances well. His Malayalam accent hasn’t reduced the effect of his character on the audience. Tamil cinema finally has found a young and good-looking villain.
Vivek, supposed to be Shrikath’s house-owner starts off with decent comedy that later gets filled with vulgarity. Even when the sound track is censored for the most part, it makes viewing the movie with family slightly bad. Comedy in the movie, in general, isn’t much enjoyable because of the stench of vulgarity in it. But the initial scene where a man from Mexico comes out of the bore well that is dug for water is really cool.
Music is rendered by Vidyasagar and is enjoyable. The background music is good. The two romantic numbers, one in each half of the movie, have been well placed and are pleasant to hear. The song in which Shrikath gets himself drunk and the song in which the couple meet Prithviraj are both fast numbers but don’t stay in mind for long and don’t fit in the movie at all.
The cinematography is good and even Chennai has been made to look good. Good job!!! The art direction is another highlight of the movie. The house in which Shrikanth and Gopika live, the office of Prithviraj and the Water purifying factory are all lively and well-presented. Good work by the art director.
The plots which the villain plans are very tricky and the way Shrikanth gets into Prithviraj’s office and steals the evidences is new. It has been a long time since kollywood fans saw a hero who had brains also. But the climax of the movie drags a lot and there are a few unwanted stunt sequences in the movie. The movie is enjoyable until the fight between the good and the evil gets physical. But one has to be convinced that it is to gather the action-loving lot. Also, the reason behind Gopika aborting her child is ridiculous. The film, as most kollywood films do, has an and-they-lived-happily-ever-after end. But doesn’t the villain deserve more than being a mentally challenged person in the end? After all he has been such an intelligent man earlier yaar!!!!