Comparison of other Adaptations:
12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful:-
Jane Austen's story as never told before!, 19 April 2001
Author: mastana from Los Angeles
That Jane Austen's novel "Sense and Sensibility" is a terrific
piece of literature goes without saying. Ang Lee adapted Austen's
story for his film of the same name. The film won Lee accolades for
his ability to portray the relationships that Austen weaves with
finesse. Seven seas across from Hollywood, Indian filmmaker
"whizkid" Rajiv Menon has created a second, and an even better
visual adaptation of Austen's book. "Kandukondain Kandukondain" is
simply an enthralling and enchanting adaptation of a great piece of
literature.
While he borrows the basic plotline from Austen's novel, Menon
changes and adds to numerous portions of the story. Setting it in
contemporary, modern Indian society, Menon gives the film a more
identifiable and consumable quality than Lee's version. The
principal characters of the two sisters, played by Tabu and
Aishwarya Rai are a notable diversion from the conventional nature
of female characters in Indian cinema. These are strong,
determined, and capable women. Unlike the norm of female characters
in many Indian films, these women do not have an obsession with
love. It is just an integral part of their life which the film
focusses on. Rajiv Menon's ability to handle the relationship
between the characters of the two sisters and the men who come into
their lives and leave, is highly impressive. While Ang Lee did a
commendable job in his treatment of the relationships, one could
not identify or even feel for the character because the nature and
society in which they were set were too distant. In "Kandukondain
Kandukondain," the characters are real. They are one of us, we are
one of them.
Menon has added a lot more material to the plot in order to
increase the film's saleability. However, what sets this film as a
class apart is the fact that the addition of "masala" as Indian
film industry auteurs like to say it, does not interfere with the
artistry of the film. Menon uses the conventional technique of
mass-hybridization and creates an amazingly entertaining, yet
fulfilling, "feel-good" film.
A.R. Rahman, the musical genius, adorns Menon's film with some
exceptional music. The songs are simply wonderful with Vairamuthu's
lyrics drawing inspiration from the poems of Bharathi, perhaps one
of the most prominent personalities in the history of Tamil
literature. Bharathi's poems also form an intricate link in the
story that is used as a catalyst to build relationships. This
artistic, and poetic feel is something that not only Lee's
adaptation lacked, but even the original work by Austen.
The cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran is breathtaking. The
extensive use of color stands out, but never gets too loud to be
replusive. The color combinations are very pleasant and used
effectively to create meaning within every shot of the film. The
sets during songs like "Kannamoochie" seem to involve numerous
characteristics of modern three dimensional abstract art. The
remaining songs are picturized on locations in 70 MM CINEMASCOPE
from the rice fields and waterfalls of South India to the pyramids
of Egypt and the castles of Scotland.
The film boasts exceptional performances from both Tabu and
Aishwarya Rai. Mammootty is the pick of the lot with his highly
sensitive, and underplayed performance as Major Bala. Ajit,
Manivannan, and Srividya are very competent. On the whole,
"Kandukondain Kandukondain" is a masterpiece of Indian cinema
because of its ability to wholesomely entertain with a lot of
intelligence, sense, and sensibility.
