Kannaki (film)

Last updated

Kannaki
Directed by Jayaraj
Written bySajeev Kilikulam
Based on Antony and Cleopatra
Produced byMahesh Raj
Starring Lal
Nandita Das
Siddique
Kalpana
Geetu Mohandas
Manoj K. Jayan
Cochin Hanifa
Cinematography M. J. Radhakrishnan
Edited byN.P. Sathish
Music by Kaithapram Vishwanathan Nambudiri
Production
company
Neelambari Films
Release date
  • 7 December 2001 (2001-12-07)
CountryIndia
Language Malayalam

Kannaki (English: The Eye) is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj and written by Sanjeev Kilikulam. It stars Nandita Das, Lal, Siddique, Kalpana, Geethu Mohandas and Manoj K. Jayan. [1] It is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. This is Jayaraj's second film adaptation of a Shakespeare play, the first being Kaliyattam (1997). [2] Lal plays Manickam, the equivalent to Antony. Nandita Das plays Kannaki, the equivalent to Cleopatra and Manoj K. Jayan plays Gounder, Octavius Caesar's role. Nandita Das' role as Kannaki was critically acclaimed and is considered one of her finest acting performances in her career. [3]

Contents

Plot

Manickam and Choman are best friends in a local village. Manickam excels in the local game of cockfighting and has acquired the mastery of the game and of the bird. Manickam is actually fighting for Choman in his regular cockfights against the Gounder.

Kannaki likes Manickam and Choman's sister Kumudam admires him. Kannaki and Manickam become very close and he takes a decision to marry her. When Choman learns of this, he is furious. He wants Manickam to marry his sister and goes to the extent of announcing their wedding at a public function. Manickam meets Kumudam and explains to her that he has a brotherly affection to her and not of that of a lover. Kumudam is heart-broken, but maintains a level of loyalty in hope that, Manickam will realize her love. Choman is angered by all this and feels betrayed by his best friend. Choman and the Gounder has a falling-out with Kannaki.

Kannaki meanwhile, out of love, tries to get Manickam out of the local game and enviously out of the clutches of Kumudam. A local fortune teller Kanakamma keeps feeding ideas and false news into Kannaki's ears about Manickam. On her idea, Kannaki provides an untrained cock on the pretense that she had trained the cock to fight, to Manickam. Manickam takes the cock to fight, against Choman's cock. Manickam loses the fight and comes home to say Kannaki has cheated him. There she tells him she did this to have Manickam all to herself and away from Choman and the Gounder.

Choman and Gounder pair up to defeat Manickam at a local festival. They know that Manickam will come to the cock fight. When Kumudam learns of Choman and Gounder's plan, she pleads to her brother to not fight against Manickam, to which the Gounder says if she wants Manickam, they have to separate Kannaki from him. And their separation is only possible if this fight takes place.

Later, Kanakamma comes to Manickam and says Kumudam wants to meet him in private. After he goes to speak to Kumudam, Kanakamma goes inside and tell Kannaki that Manickam is cheating on her, and as proof she can go outside and see Manickam and Kumudam speaking. Meanwhile, at a distance Manickam is telling Kumudam that he still sees her as a sister, and nothing else. Kumudam says she still loves him, and they depart. Kannaki then approaches Kumudam and says, Kumudam shouldn't meet Manickam again. Kumudam lies to her that she cannot stop herself from seeing her child's father who is Manickam, and that they have met like this many times before. Kannaki is shocked and asks Kumudam what she should do, to which Kumudam says she should let Manickam come back to her.

Kannaki then sees a local snake seller, and gets the most poisonous snake from him. Later Manickam is seen gifting Kannaki with a wedding saree to wear for their wedding. He says they will marry right after the game, which he is sure to win. Kannaki dresses up as a bride, and wishes Manickam the best for the game. As soon as he leaves, she tells Ravunni to tell Manickam after the game that she left from that place, and that Manickam should forget her and marry Kumudam. He also tells Ravunni that she will be in the inside the Sarpa Kavu, waiting for Ravunni's skill in convincing Manickam, and until he tells her that Manickam left to stay with Kumudam, she will not come out.

Manickam wins the game, seriously injuring Choman's cock, and a fight erupts. Gounder runs away, and at the end of the fight, Manickam and Choman finds their friendship stronger than ever. Manickam returns home with the winning cock announcing his victory, but when Ravunni delivers Kannaki's message to him, he is grief-stricken and shocked as to why Kannaki did this to him. He locks the house, and attempts to fight with the cock. He lets the cock wound and scratch him, and continues till the cock pecks at his jugular vein on the neck. Meanwhile, Ravunni unsuccessfully tries to stop Manickam from outside the house, and runs to Kannaki. Initially, she does not come out, but when Ravunni tells her what Manickam did to himself, she comes out and goes to stop him from going crazy. Manickam dies before Kannaki reaches him. When she finds him dead, she lets out a deep wail and cry. She then removes the snake she bought earlier, and lets it bite her. She dies beside Manickam.

Cast

Soundtrack

Film had notable songs composed by Kaithapram Vishwanathan Nambudiri, who debuted through this film, and lyrics penned by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.

SongLyricsArtistRaga(s)
"Angu Vadakku"KaithapramKuttappan, Chorus
"Ennu Varum Nee"Kaithapram K. J. Yesudas Sankarabharanam
"Ennum Varuum"Kaithapram K. S. Chithra Harikambhoji
"Iniyoru Janmamundengil"KaithapramK. J. YesudasHarikambhoji
"Karineelakkannazhaki"Kaithapram M. G. Sreekumar Shuddha Dhanyasi
"Karineelakkannazhaki Kannaki" (F)KaithapramK. S. Chithra Shuddha Dhanyasi
"Kodungalooramme"KaithapramM. G. Sreekumar
"Pooparikkaan"KaithapramK. J. YesudasKapi

Reception

A critic from Cinesouth wrote that "Ours is a culture famous for its epics. Our people have a taste of such stories that came into existence ages ago. Kannagi is just another proof of it". [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kannagi</span> Protagonist of Cilappatikāram

Kannagi, sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic Cilappatikāram. Kannagi is described as a chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his adultery, their attempt to rebuild their marriage after her unrepentant husband had lost everything, how he is framed then punished without the due checks and processes of justice. Kannagi proves and protests the injustice, then curses the king and city of Madurai, leading to the death of the unjust Pandyan king of Madurai, who had wrongfully put her husband Kovalan to death. The society that made her suffer suffers in retribution as the city Madurai is burnt to the ground because of her curse.

<i>Cilappatikaram</i> Ancient Tamil Hindu–Jain epic

Cilappatikāram, also referred to as Silappathikaram or Silappatikaram, is the earliest Tamil epic. It is a poem of 5,730 lines in almost entirely akaval (aciriyam) meter. The epic is a tragic love story of an ordinary couple, Kannaki and her husband Kovalan. The Cilappatikaram has more ancient roots in the Tamil bardic tradition, as Kannaki and other characters of the story are mentioned or alluded to in the Sangam literature such as in the Naṟṟiṇai and later texts such as the Kovalam Katai. It is attributed to a prince-turned-monk Iḷaṅkō Aṭikaḷ, and was probably composed in the 2nd century CE.

Vishwa Thulasi is a 2004 Tamil-language drama film directed by Sumathy Ram, starring Mammooty and Nandita Das. This film's score and soundtrack were composed by Ilayaraaja and M. S. Viswanathan. The film was notable for having a female director.

<i>Raavanaprabhu</i> 2001 film directed by Ranjith

Raavanaprabhu is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film Devaasuram written by Ranjith, directed by I.V. Sasi. The film stars Mohanlal in the dual role of Mangalassery Neelakandan and M. N. Karthikeyan, father and son. Napoleon reprises the role of Neelakandan's archenemy Mundackal Shekharan. It also features Vasundhara Das, Siddique, Innocent, Vijayaraghavan, and Sai Kumar. Revathi reprises the role of Bhanumathi in a cameo appearance. The plot follows M. N. Karthikeyan, Neelakandan's son and his attempts to reclaim their ancestral home Mangalassery tharavadu.

<i>Thiruttu Payale</i> 2006 film by Susi Ganeshan

Thiruttu Payale is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language erotic thriller film written and directed by Susi Ganesan. The film stars Jeevan and Sonia Agarwal, with Abbas, Malavika, Vivek, Manoj K. Jayan, Gaayathri and Charle in supporting roles. The music was composed by Bharadwaj. Thiruttu Payale was a box office success. The film was remade in Hindi by the director himself as Shortcut Romeo (2013). The film was also remade in Telugu and Kannada as Mr. Rascal and Aadu Aata Aadu respectively. A spiritual successor Thiruttu Payale 2 was released in 2017.

<i>Azhakiya Ravanan</i> 1996 Indian Malayalam drama film

Azhakiya Ravanan is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. The film has an ensemble cast of Mammootty, Bhanupriya, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon, Rajan P. Dev, and Cochin Haneefa. Kavya Madhavan portrayed Anuradha's younger self. The movie was produced by V. P. Madhavan Nair under the banner of Murali Films, while the music was composed by Vidyasagar as his debut in Malayalam. The 2015 film Chirakodinja Kinavukal is a spin-off to this film.

<i>Sallapam</i> 1996 Indian film

Sallapam is a 1996 Malayalam-language film directed by Sundar Das and written by A. K. Lohithadas, starring Manoj K. Jayan, Dileep, and Manju Warrier. The music was composed by Johnson. The film was remade in Telugu as Egire Paavurama.

<i>Thenkasipattanam</i> 2000 film directed by Rafi Mecartin

Thenkasipattanam is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film written and directed by Rafi Mecartin, produced by Lal, and starring Suresh Gopi, Lal and Dileep as male leads and Samyuktha Varma, Geethu Mohandas and Kavya Madhavan as female leads with Salim Kumar and Spadikam George in supporting roles. The film went on to become an industry hit surpassing the records of the movie Narasimham.

<i>Madhya Venal</i> 2009 Indian film

Madhya Venal is a 2009 Malayalam film produced by Jahangir Shamz under the banner of Xarfnet Movies. The movie is directed by Madhu Kaithapram starring Manoj K. Jayan and Shweta Menon.

Punaradhivasam (transl. Rehabilitation) is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by V. K. Prakash and written by P. Balachandran, starring Nandita Das and Manoj K. Jayan. This film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam, Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director and Kerala State Film Award for Best Story.

<i>Asuravamsam</i> 1997 Indian film

Asuravamsam is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film written by Ranjith and directed by Shaji Kailas, with cinematography by V. Manikandan. The film stars Manoj K. Jayan, Siddique, Biju Menon, Narendra Prasad, Sai Kumar, Priya Raman and Chippy.

<i>24 Hrs</i> (film) 2010 film by Aditya Sam Abraham

24 Hrs is a 2010 Malayalam action thriller film directed by debutant Aditya Sam Abraham. The film stars Komal Jha, Kuldeep, and Manoj K. Jayan. The film is based on a story by the director Aditya Sam Abraham himself. The director roped in acclaimed young composer Rahul Raj for the promo song.

<i>Chamayam</i> (1993 film) 1993 Indian film

Chamayam is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Bharathan and written by John Paul, starring Manoj K. Jayan, Murali and Sithara in the lead roles. The film is about the lives of two fishermen who are also stage actors.

Thandavam is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language action film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by S. Suresh Babu, and produced by Johny Sagariga. It stars Mohanlal, Kiran Rathod, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju, Sai Kumar, Manoj K. Jayan, and Jagadish. Released in 86 centers, Thandavam was released to high expectations and had the highest opening-day collection at the box office in the history of Malayalam cinema at the time, although it failed to maintain it further and ended up as an average grosser.The film was dubbed into Tamil and released as Erumugam.

<i>Eakantham</i> 2006 Indian film

Eakantham is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language feature film directed by Madhu Kaithapram, who made his debut. The film stars veteran actors Thilakan and Murali. It tells the story of two brothers who suffer from isolation and loneliness in their old age. It received critical praise and won many awards including two National Film Awards and a Kerala State Film Award.

<i>Samooham</i> 1993 Indian film

Samooham is a 1993 Malayalam drama film, directed by Sathyan Anthikad, with Suhasini, Suresh Gopi, Manoj K. Jayan, Sreenivasan and Sunitha in the lead roles.

<i>Ardhanaari</i> 2012 Indian Malayalam-language film

Ardhanaari is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language film about the life of transgender people in Kerala. The film is directed by Santhosh Souparnika and produced by M. G. Sreekumar under his production house MG Sound & Frames.

<i>Sopanam</i> (film) 1994 Indian film

Sopanam is a 1994 Malayalam drama film directed by Jayaraj, starring J. V. Somayajulu, Manoj K. Jayan, Chippy in lead roles. Scripted by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, this film tells the story of a singer who loves his teacher's daughter.

<i>Anumodhanam</i> 1978 film

Anumodhanam is a 1978 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by Thayyil Kunjikandan. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Vidhubala, Jayan, Sankaradi, Raghavan and Bahadoor. The musical score is by A. T. Ummer.

David David Mr. David is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Viji Thampi and produced by Rajan and A. V. Govindankutty. The film stars Balachandra Menon, Ashokan, Murali and Sumalatha in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Raveendran.

References

  1. ↑ "Kannaki (2002)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "MalayalaSangeetham.Info (MSI) Malayalam Songs from Movies, Audios, Videos - Comprehensive Malalayalam Music". Malayalam Movie Database. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  3. ↑ "കണ്ണകി". M3DB.COM. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20021023005634/http://malayalam.cinesouth.com/english/scopes/reviews/kannagi.shtml [ bare URL ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.