Kannathil Muthamittal

Infobox_Film
name = Kannathil Muthamittal


director = Mani Ratnam
writer = Mani Ratnam
Sujatha
starring = R. Madhavan
Simran Bagga
J.D. Chakravarthy
Nandita Das
P. S. Keerthana
Prakash Raj
producer = Mani Ratnam
G. Srinivasan
cinematography = Ravi K. Chandran
distributor = Madras Talkies
released = February 14, 2002
runtime = 130 mins

language =Tamil
music = A. R. Rahman
imdb_id = 0312859

"Kannathil Muthamittal" ("A Peck on the Cheek", கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால்) (2002) is an award-winning Tamil feature film directed by Mani Ratnam. It stars P. S. Keerthana, Madhavan, Simran, Nandita Das and Prakash Raj. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman. The film's title is a famous phrase from a poem written by Subramanya Bharathy, which literally means "a peck on the cheek". Mani Ratnam presents a glimpse of the Island of Sri Lanka at civil war, through the eyes of a child of Sri Lankan Tamil parentage, who desires to meet her biological mother.

The film premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, and was selected as India's official entry to the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It also received a strong reception when screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2003.

Plot

Thiruchelvan (Madhavan), an engineer and writer by occupation, and Indra (Simran), a TV Newsreader, live in Chennai, Tamil Nadu with their three children, the eldest of whom is Amudha (P. S. Keerthana). Amudha is surrounded by love, a secure family and many friends. On her ninth birthday, Amudha learns from her father that she is an adopted child. Her parents came across her as a baby at a Red Cross camp in Rameshwaram. She further learns that her biological mother was displaced by the war in Sri Lanka just before giving birth, and after giving birth, both Shyama (Nandita Das) and her father Dileepan (J.D Chakravarthy) secretly joins the Tamil Tigers. Amudha intent on finding her biological parents, eventually convinces her adopted parents to take her on a search mission. Amudha and her parents arrive in a war-torn Sri Lanka. During the course Amudha develops a hatred for her adopted mother Indra as she longs to meet her biological mother which disturbs Indra. Thiruchelvan manages to keep his wife and child in peace. Dr. Wikramesinghe, (Prakash Raj), a friendly host, guides their quest to the North East, where they witness the brutal conditions and harsh realities of an ongoing civil strife on the island. Finally Thiruchelvan and Dr. Wikramesinghe succedd in finding Shyama's brother(Pasupathy) who brings Shyama to meet Amudha. The climax unfolds the meeting of Amudha with her biological mother in the presence of her adopted parents. Amudha talks and embraces her mother much and requests her to come to chennai leaving everything in Sri Lanka. Shyama refuses, thanks Thiruchelvan and Amudha for bringing up her child and leaves Amudha with her adopted parents. The credits start rolling when Amudha Kisses her adopted mother Indra when Thiruchelvan watches it on. All 3 of them are now under an umbrella as it rains.

Awards

The film has won the following awards since its release:

2003 National Film Awards (India)
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Audiography - A.S. Laxmi Narayanan
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Editing - A. Sreekar Prasad
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Child Artist - P. S. Keerthana
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - A. R. Rahman
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Lyricist - Vairamuthu
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Regional Film (Tamil) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
* Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best South Indian Actress - Simran Bagga2003 Jerusalem Film Festival (Jerusalem)
* Won - In Spirit for Freedom Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam2003 Los Angeles Indian Film Festival (USA)
* Won - Audience Award - Best Feature Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam 2004 Film Fest New Haven (USA)
* Won - Special Award - Achievement Award - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
* Won - Jury Award - Features (International) - First Place Winner - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
* Won - Audience Award - Feature (International) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam2004 Westchester Film Festival (USA)
* Won - Best International Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam2003 Zimbabwe International Film Festival (Zimbabwe)
* Won - Best Picture - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam2002 Filmfare Awards South (India)
* Won - Filmfare Best Movie Award (Tamil) - Kannathil Muthamital
* Won - Filmfare Best Director Award (Tamil) - Mani Ratnam
* Won - Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil) - Simran Bagga
* Won - Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award (Tamil)- Ravi.K Chandran
* Won - Filmfare Best Lyricist Award (Tamil) - Vairamutthu2004 RiverRun International Film Festival (USA)
* Won - Audience Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam

Critical reception

"Kannathil Muthamittal" met with acclaim upon release, with Ratnam and P. S. Keerthana's performance as the young Amudha particularly gaining praise. Channel 4 Films described the film as "stunning...thought provoking,"cite web | title=Facets Cinematheque: Kannathil Muthamittal| work=Facets Cinematheque: Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek) | url=http://www.facets.org/asticat?function=web&catname=facets&web=cinematheque&path=/archive/march2005/peck| accessdate=19 November | accessyear=2007] and "Time Out Chicago" declared, "Ratnam has a ravishing eye." The "Chicago Reader" observed " [Ratnam's] passionate conviction fortifies the tragic and inspirational aspects of the story" and the "Chicago Tribune" wrote "Realistic, intelligently written and often quite moving."

oundtrack

Album infobox
Name = Kannathil Muthamittal:
The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = A. R. Rahman

---

Background = Gainsboro
Released = February 4, 2002
Genre = Soundtrack
Length = 32:14
Label = TIPS
Producer = A. R. Rahman
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = "Kannathil Muthamittal: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"
(2002)
Next album =

"Kannathil Muthamittal: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"

The film soundtrack features score and 6 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.

Track listing:
#"Vellai Pookal" (5:05) – A. R. Rahman
#"Sundari" (4:39) – Hariharan, Tippu, Sujatha, Karthik, Madhumitha
#"Kannathil Muthamittal" (6:24) – Chinmayi, P. Jayachandran
#"Signore Signore" (3:22) – Raafique, Noel, Anupama, Swarnalatha
#"Vidai Kodu Engal Naadae" (6:16) – M. S. Viswanathan, Balram, Febi, Raihanah
#"Kannathil Muthamittal" (6:28) – P. Jayachandran, Chinmayi

The soundtrack was released in 2002 along with the release of the film to acclaim, and quickly became popular. The score and soundtrack of the film fetched A. R. Rahman his fourth National Film Award for Best Music Direction and another National Film Award for Best Lyrics for lyricist Vairamuthu.

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0312859|title=Kannathil Muthamittal