Kannathil Muthamittal

Kannathil Muthamittal

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Say Kannatthil Mutthamittal and the dialogues/scenes that come to my mind are:

Introduction scene of Amudha: “En paeru T.Amudha. Naan 5D la padikkarraen.” (Why do kids always say their section along with their class?)

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The dialogue exchange between Madhavan and his fan when that person offers him his seat in the bus brings out the short-tempered nature of the character Thiru so well. (Incidentally, if you haven’t noticed, actor Siddharth will be one of the passengers travelling in the bus)

Madhavan tells his brother-in-law: “Free Advicelaam vaendaam” (This man speaks his mind, doesn’t he!)

Simran cries and Madhavan asks her, “Yaen azhara? Athaan ava enga irukkaannu therinjuduchu illa” and Simran replies, “Enakku azhuga varadhu naan azhudhuttu poraen!” Madhavan just smiles on hearing it. I like this scene.

The scene where Simran and all the three kids literally jump on top of Madhavan! Poor Madhavan! I love it! 🙂

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When Simran asks Madhavan whether he is adopting Amudha for the sake of marrying her or is it the other way round, he answers, “Enakku indha kaNNum pidikkum andha kaNNum pidikkum, indha kannamum vaeNum andha kannamum vaeNum.”
(Nice way to escape without answering her question! This does make you wonder whether Madhavan would have proposed first to Simran if he had been allowed to adopt Amudha earlier. Wouldn’t he have waited for her to propose first? After all, he does say earlier in the movie after her marriage gets fixed, ‘Ava manasula dhairiyam irundha ava avana vaendaannu solluvaa’)
The hugging scene that follows this dialogue is well, what’s there to say about it? It is a trademark Mani Ratnam scene! I love the background song, ‘Sattena nenaindhadhu nenjam’.

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The scene in the railway station: Simran sees Keerthana. Keerthana knows what she did is wrong and Simran would be angry at her for running away from home. So, she doesn’t hug Simran or anything when she sees her in the station. Simran, in turn, doesn’t want to mellow down in front of her and let out her feeling of joy on seeing her ‘daughter’ again. So, she too just stands silently glaring at her with a stern look on her face. Neither wants to make the first move. Knowing well that he has to take care of the situation, Madhavan prompts Keerthana to come to him with a smile on his face. She runs towards him and hugs him. But, even after this, all Simran and Keerthana are not willing to let go of their feelings. (The beautiful humming of the Kannatthil Muttamittal title song comes in the background during this scene.) In fact, Simran waits till Keerthana comes and apologizes.
This scene affirms what Madhavan says later in the movie, when they are travelling by bus in Sri Lanka, about the stubborn nature of the mother and the daughter. After he says that, Simran says ‘vae vae vae vae’ and he tries to repeat it. That scene brings a smile to your face, does it not? 🙂

The suicide bomb scene holds a special place in my heart due to this.

A few more scenes: the scene where Keerthana calls Nandita Das for the first time as Amma, intro scene of Prakash Raj, the conversation between Madhavan and Prakash Raj before Nandita Das’s brother sees them,….

I can go on and on about many more scenes. But, considering the lengthy post that this one has already become, I am stopping with this. It would be great if you all share your favourite scenes from this movie and any interesting observations that you have made.

P.S.: I was not able to blog much this month. But, am planning to bore you folks by blogging a bit more regularly from today onwards. 😛 By the way, my blog is going to cross 18,000 hits soon! Thank you folks!!!! 🙂

39 thoughts on “Kannathil Muthamittal

  1. adiya

    u captured most of the awesome moments. 🙂 few more things are

    nomenclauture for amudha.. 🙂
    Enna peru vaikalam- amudhamaga aval peri olithadhu amudha

    Andha veetu with oonjal just remainds just thathas house.. we have one similar oonjal like that.. 🙂 super….

    inital sri-lanka tamil , prakash raji renanisance song… appa super aa eruku.. 🙂

    neeinga periya movie buff dhaan doubtey illa.. 🙂

    I have my DVD of it. 🙂

    Reply
  2. chiroti

    Aparna,

    Kannathil Mutthamittaal is a very sensitive movie and I simply love it. I love the mother-daughter chemistry, the father-daughter understanding, the love between husband-wife, their natural reactions, the way Madhavan treats Simran throughout the movie, its really so natural and lovely. The songs are brilliant, esp. Oru devan thandha poove. Simran has looked the best in this movie with simple sarees. I love Sattenu nannaindhadhu nenjam too…:)

    Good writing.

    rgds,
    chiroti

    Reply
  3. siva

    Undoubtedly an excellent movie. No director will think of a happy inidan tamil family with a srilankan tamil problems in such a nice way. ur descriptions are nice too! keep writing on mani’s movies.

    Reply
  4. ranjhith

    I feebly remember the incidences in the movie. The best of Creativity shots is the 3rd pic you hav put, the kids & Simran stacking on Madhavan.

    Have to see the movie a time more to really reflect… Like Siva points out, its Undoubtedly Excellent.

    Reply
  5. Mathangi

    hey aparna! a very good post!
    one of my favourite scene is when the little kid comes running to amudha saying ‘amudha akka’, when she returns home after that station scene.. absolutely cute!

    Reply
  6. Aparna

    Adiya,
    Those are nice scenes too! Btw, it is “avaLadhu azhugai amudamaaga olitthadhu” 🙂 And, I too have a DVD of KM.

    Chiroti,
    Thank you 🙂

    Siva,
    Welcome to my blog! Thank you 🙂

    Ranjhith,
    Yup. The third pic is the best!
    Hope you watch the movie soon 🙂

    Sathej,
    Happy blogging! 😉

    Mathangi,
    Thank you!
    You are commenting after a long time. Examkku bayangaramaa padichundu irundhiyaa? 😛

    Reply
  7. Bharath

    Back to your blog (I keep this in my favourites to see another Mani fan write on her/my favourite director)… Kannathil was brilliant… One scene you missed out is Keerthana running around Madhavan when he’s supposed to tell her that she’s adopted, and her reaction… Of course the railway station scene was excellent along with the scenes just before and after…

    Youre right the bus scene and the scene where someone comes home asking for a donation (was it a donation) bring out Madhavans character very well! But Keerthana steals the show – I just cant imagine how Mani can make her act so brilliantly… The scene that sums up her entire character (being a kid, chemistry with her parents and with her real mum) is when she asks to go back to check the park once more after the bombings…

    Youre too observant – Didnt know that Siddharth was on the bus nor did I realize that it was shot in Pondy!!!!

    Waiting for your comments on his other movies especially Nayagan which I saw probably for the 15th time last week…

    Reply
  8. Aparna

    Bharath,
    Thanks.
    Yup Keerthana’s acting is brilliant. Mani makes almost everyone act brilliantly, doesn’t he? 😉

    A correction: Keerthana doesn’t ask to go back to the park after the bombings. It is Simran who asks that and Keerthana replies they needn’t go since Simran got hurt only when they went there.

    I came to know only from a chat transcript of Mani Ratnam & Keerthana that the scene was shot in Pondy.

    Reply
  9. Chandu

    Good post. Definetly KM holds special place.

    Apart from many, I like the the way Mani used graphics to connect the story. Wondering what KM to do with graphics? The scene where Nandita das leaves the child seeing through the window! This is the brilliance of Mani. We’ve always seen many graphics/visualizations used in india cinema. Most of them are to show that they can do some Computer graphics or that they can spend money. But Mani used it such a simple and effective way that you feel like traveling with the story and character. Great!!

    Reply
  10. Prashaanth

    Interesting post. But I noticed that no-one had mentioned anything about Prakash Raj’s acting in that film. He has perfectly molded into the role of Harold Wickremasinghe and a person who would not know otherwise would think that he is actually Sinhalese. Infact, the best parts in the movie where those of the small roles: Chakravarthy, Pasupathy and Prakash Raj. Of course, that is to be expected of a Mani film which gives importance to all the characters equally.

    Personally my favorite scene was the scene when Nandita Das tells Chakravarthy that she likes God better than him and Eelam better than God. Another favorite was when Madhavan and Prakash get ambushed and Madhavan’s monologue till he meets Pasupathy (I am familiar with the verses but I am not sure where they got it from. Any help?) Overall, a fantastic movie about a very sensitive subject.

    Reply
  11. Aparna

    Prashaanth,
    Welcome to my blog.
    Yes. Prakash Raj’s acting was too good. He is such a versatile actor that he can handle any given role with ease.
    I have no idea about the verses either.

    Reply
  12. Saravanan

    A nice post. The one word that comes to my mind when I watch this movie is “yadhartham”… so natural.

    I got to this page when I was surfing for the eelam verses Madhavan says when he goes with Prakash Raj to meet people in Sri lanka. I just loved it and I wanted to hear or read it again. One of many scenes that often made me cry. Now I am not in Tamilnadu to have access to that movie and too bad I do not have a dvd. If it is not too much to ask, can you watch the movie and write down the verses either here or better would be to my email. I would really appreciate it.

    Reply
  13. Saravanan

    Haha.. I just realized that another person Prashaanth has talked abt those very same verses. Since he had said in his comment that he is familiar with the verses but just not the origin or source, I think he would be able to answer right away, that is if he reads this sometime in the near future.

    Reply
  14. Saravanan

    That’s sweet. Thanks a million and take your time. Another question if I may… why do u blog? Just to be heard? May sound a silly question. Just curious. Sometimes I wonder whether people other than journalists blog. I know they do, like students who pursue journalism or students abroad…

    Reply
  15. Karthikeyan

    Hi,

    Got another opportunity to see Kannathil Muthamittal in KTV tonight (17.07.08) and wanted to search for the verses, or rather the poetry that Madhavan says when he and Prakash Raj are abused. Happy that some more people have also requested the same stuff.

    Can you help me too?

    Thanks !

    Karthikeyan S

    Reply
  16. Jane

    It was nice, as I am french and try to learn Tamil, to have some words of the best movie (in Tamil) that I really like. If I could find a way to have more tamil transcription of the movie, I d be very glad to have an advice

    Jane

    Reply
  17. Pacha Nambi

    Hi Aparna,

    I liked your review of the movie “Kannathil Muthamittal”. This movie is one of the best Tamil movies I have ever watched. I have the DVD with me and have watched it about dozen times and can never get tired of it. The acting by the 9 year old child and Simran are outstanding. Madhavan also has done a good job. Mani Ratnam is a great story teller and wonderful director. This movie is simply amazing. The mother-child bonding seems so natural in this movie.

    Pacha Nambi
    Seattle

    Reply
  18. Pacha Nambi

    What is really remarkable about the movie “Kannathil Muthamittal” is it does not have fancy special effects like the “Start Wars” movies. The movie is a great example of excellent story telling coupled with wonderful acting, good songs and good camera work. Movies don’t get any better than this!. I am going to watch now all the movies directed by Mani Ratnam. By the way, I have become a great fan of Simran after watching this movie. She is a fantastic actress. I have watched few movies with Simran in them and in every one of them she has done her part very well. These are signs of a truly great actress. I rate her along with other great Tamil actresses of the past. I hope she will continue to act in Tamil movies after her marriage and a child.

    Pacha Nambi
    Seattle

    Reply
  19. Pacha Nambi

    If you subscribe to Netflix in the US, you can rent or watch “Kannathil Muthamittal” online. Netflix carries the DVD that you can rent; also there is an online version of this great movie. If interested check the website http://www.netflix.com

    Seattle

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Aparna’s Blog » Kannathil Muthamittal Revisited

  21. Gowrison

    Nandita das’s husband asked to her
    “Ennaiya vida unaku eathu athikama pudiku???”
    she replied by touching the sand instead of saying words.

    Reply
  22. Sabarish B

    Hello Aparna,

    I need one information about this film, In this film at Srilanka, Madhavan R and Prakash Raj went in paddy field. At that time Pasupathi and his troops came and cover Madhavan and Prakash Raj at that time Madhavan says this Engal Puruvam Thazlnthuna Engal Imaigal Kavinthulana……….. Who writings is this? Can u help me. I just felt this sentences with so much of inter feelings.I feel very happy if i know who wrote these lines.

    Reply
    1. BALA

      Those lines are meant to describe the tragedies of Tamil Eezham, Madhavan starts telling the lines while he was dragging by the Srilankan militants and pasupathi joins Madhavan at the end. The known thing is both Madhavan and pasupathi belongs to Tamil, That’s why they tell the lines in same time.
      By the way, those lines are written by Madhavan in the movie, one of the militants said that he saw Madhavan in the photo and he confirmed that he is Writer Indira.

      Reply
  23. famitha calicut

    Hi aparna
    Indha padathil madavan pasupathi first meet pannumpothu madavan sonna kavithai athu yaar ezhuthunnathu..athu bharathiyaar kavithaya illai writer sujatha ezhuthunnatha…….cn u hlp me plz..vry energetic tamil lines…andha lyrics romba pidichirukku..so plz hlp me

    Reply
  24. Rajkumar

    I love poem in kannathil muthamital when pasupathi and his gang captured Madhavan and Pragash raj when madhan start telling poem its awesome
    Who is the poet of poem pls reply

    Reply

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