Like the eerie tales telecast on Tamil satellite channels at nights for thrill-hungry viewers, Kanchana (U/A) is bound to find takers. The latest from Raghava Lawrence's stable, is another foray into the occult and comes as a sequel to the 2007 film, Muni , also directed by him.
Comedy and fear of the unknown generally don't go together, except probably in films such as the Ghostbusters franchise. But in Kanchana , Lawrence's intelligent juxtaposition of humour and spookiness has you in stitches most of the time. So much so you forget that Kanchana is supposed to frighten you. Lawrence's delineation of the characters of Devadarshini, Sriman and ‘Kovai' Sarala is unbelievably funny. Full marks to Devadarshini — why isn't this actor's potential as a comedienne tapped more often?
Sriman is another talent who deserves to do more films. He comes out with an equally commendable show. It is Sarala who goes overboard in her bid to appear frightened and funny. All the same she has you in splits. Comedy is a highlight of Kanchana . Rib-tickling moments often accompany apparitions!
Raghava (Raghava Lawrence) is a hero by day and a coward at night. He sees spectres where none exist. When such a man is possessed by a spirit, hell breaks loose! Ironically, spreading irrationality and superstition isn't the aim, announce the makers!
Don't expect finesse. Raw and crude in treatment, loud in expressions and with some obviously illogical segments, this Muni 2 , as the tagline goes, moves at an interesting pace. (In the end, Lawrence warns of a Muni 3 too!) In fact, Kanchana keeps you glued for the most part. With less of songs, it could have been actually riveting.
Lawrence, the writer, director, choreographer and hero, has his fingers on the pulse of the audience. Hence the film has all the ingredients to make it tick. Storywise, Lawrence has stuck to Muni , more or less. Villainy and vendetta, the phantom kind, is the line Lawrence toes again. And if it was Raj Kiran in Muni , it is Sarath Kumar in Kanchana . A brilliant cameo from the actor, whose body language, expressions and agility in stunts are amazing! Sarath is a commendable surprise packet of Kanchana .
Lakshmi Rai returns after quite a while. Paired with Lawrence, it's a glam show all the way. And that's about it.
Thanks to effective CG, the supernatural sequences (there are several) in Kanchana impact.
As an actor Raghava Lawrence overdoes, as a dancer he is inimitable, as a director he impresses and as a storyteller he scores.
Arundhati with Anushka in the lead, made it because of adrenalin-activating destruction by a paranormal phenomenon. No reason why Kanchana shouldn't.
Kanchana
Genre: Supernatural thriller
Director: Raghava Lawrence
Cast: Raghava Lawrence, Sarathkumar, Lakshmi Rai, Devadarshini
Storyline: The spirit of a transgender, brutally killed by an avaricious politician, enters the body of the hero to wreak revenge on wrongdoers.
Bottomline: The humour-phantom link works!
