Official Trailer:

இன்னாசெய் தாரை ஒறுத்தல் அவர்நாண
நன்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்.

Tamil Transliteration:

Innaasey Thaarai Oruththal Avarnaana
Nannayanj Cheydhu Vital.

Meaning in English: The fitting punishment to those who have done evil to you, is to put them to shame by showing them kindness, in return and to forget both the evil and the good done on both sides.

Above Thirukkural went through my mind as I watched the movie KaanekKaane. How hard it is to behave this way? Especially the person who did the harm to you is closer to you. When I read the Kural during my school days or whenever I quote the couplets in discussion, I never scratched beyond the surface. What is the process a person needs to go through to not to retaliate with harm? Especially if you are driven to take revenge – even if that requires you to go the dark side?

KaanekKaane is a brilliant movie with strong writing, flawless performances, and scores in every department. As the movie unfolds, director brings us to the edge, what is going to happen next, how is the conflict going to be resolved? KaanekKaane is not easy to slot, it is a thriller, it is an investigative procedure, and it is a psychological drama. Writers delve deep into the psyche of the characters. To begin with you sympathize with Paul, the father, and as the story progresses you are not so sure. Fautlines start appearing in the characters. No one character is painted as a hero or a villain, an angel, or a demon. As the story unfolds in an unhurried manner, we get the new pieces of the puzzle. Towards the climax we are left with the moral question that will keep our mind busy for a long time to come.

KaanekKaane is about how a momentary lapse of consciousness can alter our lives. How in a momentary lapse of reason even a normal person is capable of ghastly and horrifying act. How guilt and revenge can consume people impacting not only them but their families and friends.

Which brings us to the question. Both Paul and Allen are guilty of a terrible conduct. As I infer, story draws an equivalence between their acts. As an observer, what we conclude? Do they nullify each other? Or one act is more horrifying since we didn’t see a redemption? We all get bad thoughts sometimes. Few people act on it and few others don’t. Even if you act on it you may escape because of the outcome (nothing bad happened). But are we to assume the good outcome absolve you of bad thought? Or do we need to accept the fact that as humans we are flawed.

So many beautiful scenes in the movie we can talk about. The opening sequence at the cemetery – information it conveys visually. Interaction between Paul and his grandson, Paul and Sneha’s father, how the mood switches in the hotel room between Paul and Allen. And the seamless switch between the past and the present. While the performance of every actor is good, Suraj Venjaramoodu’s impeccable performance need to be highlighted. Suraj is awesome to watch, and he pitches the character perfectly.