Thursday Jan 08 2009, Trivandrum

Kanjeevaram: Art vs. Art-y!!

Directed by - Priyadarsan

Produced by - Shailendra Singh, Bhushan Kumar

Music by - M.G.Sreekumar

Casts - Jayakumar, P.Sreekumar, Geetha Vijayan, Sampath Kumar, Dr.Bharadwaj etc.

Starring - Prakash Raj, Shreya Reddy

Priyan could also have picked a point from directors like KP Kumaran who roped in none other than John Altman for composing the music for his film ‘Aakashagopuram.’ Priyan turns to his friend MG Sreekumar, and the result is disastrous. If ever there is a movie that suffers from the loudness of its re-recording excesses, it is ‘Kanjeevaram.’
If ‘Kanjeevaram’ deserves a harsh critique, it is simply because Priyan positions it on a higher intellectual plane, when the film has nothing but the visual richness of S Thiru’s camera and a fine performance by Prakash Raj to boast of.
Priyan is justified in his choice of Prakash Raj, and he said the Dubai audience that his first choice was Mohanlal, but the difficult Tamil that the lead role had to speak forced him to make his current preference.
‘Kanjeevaram’ also tries to capture the exploitation of the weavers in Kanchipuram – but it is strictly in the vintage ‘dark shades’ that one associates with any Bollywood flick. The landlord could have been one of those ‘Ghajinis’ and the difference wouldn’t show? Where is the elegance of subtlety? Where is the grace of under-statement? ‘Kanjeevaram’ has neither, except the pretention! That will take it to film festivals but not seat the move in the viewer’s heart. From Priyan’s heart to the viewers, it will still be a long road.

-By Rajeev Nair