Kanden Movie Review
Banner: TCS
Cast: Santhanu, Rashmi Gautham, Santhanam, Vijayakumar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Muthukalai
Direction: A C Mugil
Music: Vijay Ebanesar
Boy loves a girl and the affair faces hurdles where the boy is the reason for everything. How he overcomes all to hold the hands of his beloved forms the crux of ‘Kanden’.
A C Mugil, an associate to choreographer-filmmaker Prabhudeva, has directed this bubbly and youthful entertainer that has everything to woo youngsters. Mugil at many places reminds his mentor, who handled similar ideas in his directorial ventures.
The film stars Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Santhanam, debutante Reshmi Goutham, Ashish Vidyarthy and Vijayakumar. The director deserves credit for weaving an entertaining tale with just five principal characters. The script is light-hearted but oozes with energy.
Vasanth (Shanthanu) is a computer engineer, who works in a software firm in Chennai. He wants to marry a girl of his choice. However in his village his grandfather (Vijayakumar) is a Nattamai, who wants him to marry his relative.
Shanthanu in a bid to stop the wedding says that he is in love with a girl. Now his grandfather sets a deadline – bring his beloved with her parents’ permission in just 30 days.
Shanthanu comes to Chennai and bumps on Narmadha (Reshmi). It’s love at first sight. He acts as a blind man and wins over her sympathy. Eventually it develops ionto romance.
Narmadha’s father (Ashish Vidyarthy) is a police officer who is against the wedding. All hell breaks loose when Narmadha comes to know that Vasanth’s is not blind. Now a desperate Vasanth with the help of his friend Saami (Santhanam) goes all means to prove his true love for Narmadha.
When everything falls in place and Narmadha forgives Vasanth and gets ready to marry him, he loses vision in a freak mishap. How the couple is bailed out of the trouble is the climax.
Shanthanu is bubbly and enthusiastic. Unlike his earlier ventures (‘Sakkarakatti’ and ‘Siddhu Plus Two’), he plays a wholesome role and does utilise it well. He is good at stunts and romantic sequences.
Reshmi is a welcome addition to the list of Tamil heroines. She emotes well and interestingly after a long gap one gets to see a heroine hogging major share in a movie. Vijayakumar and Ashish Vidyarthy deliver what is expected of them.
The real scene-stealer is Santhanam. As usual his one-liners, quick wits and sarcasm are the movie’s highlights. He comes all through the second half and adds pep to the proceedings.
Music composer Vijay Ebenezer reminds one of Harris Jayaraj with catchy tunes which is a fusion of West and East. Prashath D Mishale is the backbone for the film capturing the scenes with essential grace and charm. Newcomer Antony Rooban’s editing is sleek and crisp.
The movie is more of ‘Kushi’ meeting ‘Minnalae’. Mugil has not tried anything extra-ordinary or tried to be preachy. In fact at many places a sense of deja vu prevails and the climax looks amateurish. Mugil could have made it more logical. On the whole, ‘Kanden’ could be a summer destination for youth.