kadali movie review

kadali(2013) Telugu movie Review

Release date: 01 Feb 2013

Director : maniratnam

Music Director : a.r rehman

Starring : Karthik and Thulasi Kadali is the story of Sam Fernandez (Arvind Swamy) and Bergmans (Arjun) who undergo training for priesthood in a Christian institution. Bergmans is a fun loving guy and will be thrown out of the institution due to a mishap. Sam Fernandez is sincere and hardworking and later settles as a priest in a local church. He brings up a local orphan Thomas (Karthik) who later falls in love with Priya (Thulasi) who is the daughter of Bergmans. What happens next forms the actual story! Karthik and Thulasi looked good on screen and they brought the freshness required by the script. Gautam delivered a decent performance as an orphan and Thulasi is not so good in looks but fared well in expressions. But both of them did not get enough screen space in the movie. Thulasi in particular was confined to only 2-3 scenes in the first half and some more in second.AR Rehman’s songs are good but the translation work in the lyrics had killed the feel in the movie. But Mani Ratnam had come up with his trade mark picturization which made them viable. Rehman’s back ground score in soothing and added weightage to many scenes in the movie. Mani Ratnam is one director who can woo audience to theaters with his films. His films have more realistic touch in them to which audience can connect easily. Just like Sachin Tendulkar can be out duck for the first ball, Mani Ratnam is not entirely flawless. He had selected a decent story line for the movie but faltered in narrating it.The movie began well but lost it track as it approaches the end. The novelty audience expect from Mani Ratnam film is missing in entiretyArvind Swamy looked awesome as ever and carried out the role with grace and elegance. Arjun had delivered a stupendous performance in negative role. Both of them together are the actual show stealers in the movie.Rajiv Menon’s Cinematography is outstanding and is one of stand out feature in the movie. Every frame in the movie is picturesque and elegant. Editing could have been better and Art department is superb Rajiv Menon’s Cinematography is outstanding and is one of stand out feature in the movie. Every frame in the movie is picturesque and elegant. Editing could have been better and Art department is superb he first half of the movie deals with introduction of characters in the story and establishing links between them. The interval bang also passes with out much excitement. Mani seem to have got distracted in the second half and focused too much in the romance on the lead pair which was also not so convincing. The emotional bonding between the movie and audience which is one of the major strengths of Mani Ratnam is clearly missing. There are severe doubts over it BO potential.  highlights? 1. Arvind Swamy and Arjun 2. Rajiv Menon’s Cinematography 3. Apt Costumes and excellent Art work  Drawbacks 1. Let down Screenplay 2. Weak emotional impact 3. Not so appealing Thulasi