Chennai
What works here are the messages on the society’s myopic stand on bringing up their daughters and how they are forced to give up on their dreams.
The film manages to engage the viewers with some nail-biting cricket tournaments, a formula that most of the sports-genre films follow and also bring the patriotic emotions to the fore. Arunraja’s treatment is interesting and relatable, as he has tried to blend in another sub plot, which talks about the plight of farmers in today’s world. It’s not preachy or overdone. We are moved to empathise with several characters in the film, including a cow called Kapil Dev that grows along with the lead character.
In the first scene, we are introduced to a beautiful town near Cauvery delta region, where two cricket teams get embroiled in brawl while playing a local tournament. In the very next scene, we travel back in time, to see the story of Kousalya (Aishwarya Rajesh), a Class 6 girl, who develops an interest in cricket, just because her father Murugesan (Sathyaraj), a farmer, is mad about the sport.
He loves cricket so much that he wouldn’t mind watching India-Sri Lanka match at the time of his dad’s funeral. In fact, that’s one of the reasons for Kousalya aka Koushi to take up the resolution of becoming a cricketer to make her father happy. She seeks the help of guys in her hometown to learn the nuances of the game. Her mother, who thinks that cricket is a game for men, wants her to sacrifice her dreams and focus on studies.
That said, what’s brilliant is, Arunraja Kamaraj doesn’t focus only her dreams or her life. He plays it up to the gallery by narrating a parallel story, on her dad’s plight as a farmer. His struggle to repay loans, because of drought. The director also justifies it in the climax sequence, with a fitting dialogue.
Firstly, Sivakarthikeyan, the producer of the film, should be appreciated for trusting the director’s vision and in fact, that’s the reason for it to strike a chord with the audience. His cameo is engaging and helps to cover up the dull moments in the second half. Feeling for the underdog in a sports film comes by default, but Aishwarya Rajesh’s heartfelt performance and her professional cricketing moves earn her the claps and love. She deftly shows what it takes for a woman to achieve something in a male dominant society.
Debutant actor Darshan, who plays Aishwarya’s love interest, fits in perfectly for the role and does make a mark. Other actors like Savari Muthu, Antony Bhagyaraj and Sathya are people to watch out for. Composer Dhibu Ninan’s background score is earthy and gives you that much-needed adrenaline rush. Overall, Kanaa is a film that romances not just cricket but also women empowerment, farming and a lot more.
Cast: Aishwarya Rajesh, Sathyaraj, Sivakarthikeyan, Darshan, Ramdoss, Antony Bhagyaraj, Savari muthu, Ilavarasu
Director: Arunraja Kamaraj
Composer: Dhibu Ninan Thomas
Synopsis: A small town girl, Kousalya, aspires to become a professional cricketer. Will she pursue her dreams or sacrifice it to help her family, who knows nothing but farming
Rating: 4/5
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