Move over Masss and other mega-budget movies with superstars. Tamil film audiences are raving about a small film that tells the story of two slum boys who dream of eating a pizza some day. That may seem like too simplistic a plot, but the telling by debutant director M.Manikandan has turned Kaaka Muttai into a beautiful film that tugs at the heart strings.
Bharadwaj Rangan wrote in The Hindu, ‘What a relief to find a real person on the Tamil screen. But part of the performance, I am sure, has to do with the sensibilities of the director M Manikandan. This is one of the most assured debuts I’ve seen — one deserving of more than just that consolation-prize-of-a-National-Award. He wrote and photographed and directed this film. There is a voice, and an eye not just for scenes but moments… exquisite little vignettes.’
With its sensibilities, it could well be art house cinema, but it’s a box-office hit already and raked up Rs 2.4 crores in the opening weekend. The film is produced by Dhanush and Vetrimaran and stars youngsters Vignesh and Ramesh in the lead roles.
Kaaka Muttai is also proof that Tamil audiences are now very receptive to films that veer away from the clichéd commercial formula, to tell a great story. Previous hits of this kind have been Pizza, Naduvula Konjam Pakkatthe Kaanom, Soodu Kavvum and Mundasupatti. It’s a heartening trend for lovers of good cinema.
Accolades have been pouring in for Kaaka Muttai, with Karan Johar calling it a ‘gem of a film’:
Kaaka Muttai is a gem of a film! Genuinely moved by it…Small film….with a huge heart! Congrats @foxstarhindi@dhanushkraja
