Movie Review: Ok Bangaram (By Hapra)
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Nitya Menon, Dulquer Salmaan, Prakash Raj, Leela Sampson and others
Cinematographer: PC Sree Ram
Music: AR Rahman
Production Designer (Art&Costumes): Sharmista Roy
Story-Screenplay-Direction: Mani Ratnam
Producer: Madras Talkies / Dil Raju
Release date: 17th April, 2015
Testing the patience of audiences with a string of flops like Villain and Kadali, acclaimed director Mani Ratnam has now teamed up with his proven horses PC Sreeram and AR Rahman to deliver his best form, through his proven romantic genre. Here comes Ok Bangaram, featuring Dulquer Salman (Mammottys son) and Nitya Menon.
The CONTENT:
Aadi (Dulquer) is a game designer, who stays in a paying guest accommodation at Ganapathi (Prakash Raj) house. Meanwhile Ganapathis wife Bhavani (Leela Sampson) suffers from Alzheimer disease. Aadi falls for Tara (Nitya Menon), an architect, in the first sight itself. Both fall in love, but never express that, and start their live-in relation at Ganapathis house. When Tara gets an admission in Paris, Aadi gets a chance to go to USA. What happens to their love nest then? Thats one thing you need to watch on silver screen.
The EFFORT:
On-Screen:
Nitya Menon steals the complete show as she happens to be the hero for Telugu audiences, provided with the driving factor that she is well known here rather hero Dulquer. The way Nitya gave stunning expressions to showcase happiness, emptiness, loneliness and other emotions is something best we have seen her in recent times. Its a treat for her admirers. She is at stellar best.
Dulquer Salman, Mamootys son, is impressive as a boy-next-door and Telugu audiences might never feel the difference that he is a Malayali actor doing a Tamil movie which got dubbed into Telugu now. The fact is, hero Nanis dubbing made it more effective.
Needless to say, Prakash Raj is whom we look upto when everything falls flat. As the first half looks stretched and dull, he brings little life to the melodrama. Leela Sampson, who played Prakashs wife as a patient is convincing but over-the-top at times. Popular tamil actors like VJ Ramya played some cute roles. Others are mostly unknown faces for Telugu audiences.
Off-Screen:
Mani Ratnam is best known for exploring top notch performances from his actors, and he does it with grace again. But he tries hard to establish characters like during old-age school style, however, he focuses more on screenplay rather on story. But Manis mathematics in getting the physics and chemistry of lead-pair to distinction is appreciable.
A total saving grace for Ok Bangaram is PC Sreerams cinematography. From start to finish, his playful compositions, camera angles and lighting excites. PC along with art director has brought unique warm tone to the film, and maintains that feel throughout, in exploring Mumbai from a middle-class angle.
AR Rahman, the wizard of music, once again disappoints to some extent. Most part of the second half is where this Oscar winner titillates us with his mettle, while first half is left to emptiness like in a documentary. Songs are not so enchanting and they doesn't get any better inside the flick when tagged with visuals. Because theres nothing like duets inside, only montage songs.
Sharmista Roys Art direction blends seamlessly into cinematographers work and creates the perfect mood and backdrop for Mani Ratnam to narrate a new-age love story. Her national award winning experience brings that complex look to the flick easily.
The PLUSES:
Nitya Menons performance
Vibrant first half
Emotions in pre-climax
The MINUSES:
No big plot
Simple climax
BREAKDOWN:
With two back to back flops, Mani Ratnam is trying to prove mettle with a pure new-age love story where all the characters are matured, independent and with a set of preoccupied thoughts. But here, don't expect a thrilling story from Mani, rather look for the emotional bondage.
Aadhi is a game designer who finds this girl Tara at a friends wedding in a church. That first interaction scene ups the oomph of the whole film, as it is as romantic as it could be. The couples meeting, the boys caring, as he follows Tara to every place, and their own artistic professions, blend seamlessly. However, except the lead pair, there are no big comedians to bump you out of seat and except that romantic chemistry there is no other edible here. Some beautiful feelings lead to second half, where the romance gets dramatic as the lead pair are about to split. All this time it looks like any other regular film, but Manis saga starts once a painful love story starts blossoming. A pain like moment leads to a simple climax, but youths in love will feel the punch. Its Rahmans music and PCs cinematography that carried the film strongly than Manis strength many times.
Audiences are not asking these days for a film only with comedy or just action, but they are seeking different emotions and genres. Identifying this, Mani Ratnam has come up with something that caters to multiplex audiences, A&B centres folks. This vibrant chemistry will wonder youths, excite Manis fans, but for regular movie goers it looks regular.
The FINISHING Line: Plenty of Emotions Bangaram
Review By: Hapra