Review time - Kaakkaa muttai

There are certain movies which are a delight to watch and are even more delightful to write about. Any one who watched Kaakkaa muttai ( Crow's egg) would want to write about it and go ga-ga all about the movie. Its that kind of movie that wants you to relish writing about it as much as watching it.

Ennathaan chandelier strewn five star, seven star hotels and restaurants ponaalum, nothing beats the romance of a candle light dinner illaya. At times, the simplest form of anything charms everyone. Fact that, as compared against big budget releases with mega production values, this movie standa heads and shoulders above them in box office collections is a phenomenon in itself. Touted as an art movie, for its mere mistake that it won a bunch of awards in international circuits before its release in TN, it donned the obvious yet unwanted image of being a sob story or emotional knocker ala other movies which are based on the life of slum people. The same kind of happiness that one gets by watching his favourite team wins can be cherished by looking at the success of this movie.

If there is a list of ten most beautiful things in the world, smile of children would rank right on top of it. The movie poster carries not one, but two kids smiling and smiling big they are. You wouldnt know the reason behind that smile. Nor is it noticable in a marquee scene in the movie. But, when you finish watching the movie, you realize the reason behind that smile. It has shades of innocence, mission accomplished gratification, sense of victory and above all satisfaction with a tinge of pride.

Storywise its pretty simple. A pizza shop comes up on the place of what was a playground for slum children. Lookint at Simbu, the actor, trying out a slice of Pizza, two kids take up fancy to it and make it their mission to have a pizza. How they go about earning money for it and what are the obstacles they face in their mission forms the story. They do succesd in their mission, but the realization that dawns after tasting the pizza tells many an untold ending for the movie. You can call the script brilliant, intelligent, emotional, funny with as realistic a premise as possible and every single one of the adjective is justifiable. It has multiple layers as well, with something for everyone. A slight dig at globalization, insensitive media, corrupt politicos, corporate greed, callousness towards public space, apathy towards slum dwellers and above all misconceptions about their psyche. Every single scene is so well thought out that it feels a compelling watch multiple times. Best part about the movie being that, despite all the inherent negativity, it oozes with positivity and is pretty heartening a watch.

Kudos to those two kids, the elder one for bringing out the azhukku paiyyan in our nearest slum and the younger one who is the darling of the movie. He looks so cute and genuine and funny and honest as a kid. Having been forced on a steady supply of reality shows exploiting innocence in kids, its really refreshing to see kids being kids on screen in a really long time. I loved the stylish way the younger one says."hi..my name is kaakka muttai. naan chinnna kaakka muttai..ivan peria kaakka muttai". Human relations are such a complex subject that, you can make reams and reams of storylines based on them. The interwoven equation between the paati with heart of gold and her love for the kuttipaiyans, her relation with her daughter in law, their pet quarrels and respect for each other, the love for her jailed husband despite his misgivings, a dad's love for his kids, despite not being able to see them in person, a kids fantasy for cellphone innocently ranking it above their dad's release, everything stands out spectacularly in such a small frame. Songs are also unhampering to the watching experience. The crowning glory of the movie is the final dialog when the kids say that the dosai prepared by their paatti is far better than the pizza was simply wow. Couldn't resist clapping :)

Gils verdict: Please watch it. You will enjoy it for sure.