OK KANMANI
Year 2015 ; Among the odd 200 features which were released in Tamil , only a handful of films were memorable.
As learners of film language and craft ,, let us pick out one single epitomic film and see how cinematography is applied; making it as a cohesive whole in creating a cinematic world.
O Kadhal Kanmani , directed by Mani Ratnam and Cinematography by PC Sreeram.
This film creates a beautiful , credible world which makes one emotionally connect and resonate. All elements of filmmaking come together. This under-recognized film deserves a more attentive watching.
This is the seventh collaboration between the director and the cinematographer. And it shows.
When a director and cinematographer grow over a course of several films, there comes a level of technical and narrative camaraderie and a matured and evolved output with a midas touch. This film is an excellent example.
They have shot Mumbai before. But the Mumbai in this film is very different. Exteriors, filtered with grads ; layered and lacquered and Interiors, lit with exquisitely colored palette , especially, Ganapathy’s home. It’s a very interesting departure from the oeuvre of the Cinematographer.
The staging of the film ; notice that it is unforced , natural and is personal. Scenes to particularly note are Adi entering Ganapathy’s home for the first time, the church wedding scene where Adi strikes up a conversation with Tara for the first time or when Adi brings Tara to Ganapathy’s home first time. And the key scene where , in Ahmedabad, Sabarmathi Ashram , Tara opens up about her father. Or the scene when Tara meets Adi , after he was absconding for couple of days. Note how excellent , crisp writing is married to effortless , unobtrusive staging and capturing with the camera.
Note the exuberant energy infused in the song ‘Mental Manadhil ..’ by way of staccato shots, use of zoom , blurred-slow frame rate and of course the camera movement. The brilliant editing matches the high voltage energy of the song. It is interesting to note how the loopy song , ‘Paranthu Sellavaa …’ was wholly shot inside a single room and still making it visually very engaging , by means of versatile camera movements and angles, aided by supporting art direction.
Notice how , because Adi is a game developer, gaming images and videos are progressively interspersed, there throughout the film starting from the title sequence to the development of the new game to the end credits.
Note the transition of night to dawn , when the party for Adi is over and Tara and Adi are at the Gateway of India, drawing up a contract. Notice the framing at this all important moment, when they really come close.
And then, notice the visualisation of the song ‘Theera Ula …’. It starts of as a countdown for the last 10 days and then tapers off into the scene where Adi gifts her for the first time . See the framing in this sequence , with pigeons fluttering around.
See how the use of rains towards the climax, adds strongly to the mood, when Adi and Tara frantically search for Bhavani.
See how doors help in framing and creating a mood ; towards the end when Ganapathy puts Bhavani into bed and in the same vein , Adi and Tara think about themselves ‘together’.
See the use of mirrors in the scene which follows. When finally Adi commits to Tara, they both are infront of the mirror. Triple images , with different looks , confront us .
Note how , in the last shot, a simple location is transformed into a wedding ceremony place with its tasteful art work and very fluid camera movement , with great help coming from the music layered on the sound track
From a production point of view, it’s a small film. It would be interesting to know that more than seventy percent of the film was actually shot in Chennai , including the climax raining street and road, where Adi and Tara search for Bhavani and Ganapathy. Mumbai and Ahmedabad were the other locations , where exteriors were shot extensively. But note, how seamless the scenes and the locations are.
This film is definitely a master work of the director – cinematographer duo , aided by great , groovy music and excellent editing , where several elements have come together as a whole.
Go back again and again to a film you like and watch it deeply. Some films deserve this attention. The film will then, unravel, how different elements come together cohesively to create a world for us to immerse and connect. It will expose how technique and craft has been used in the film. It could be a great learning experience..!.
