This week Ok Jaanu explores the live-in side of love through an unconventional and unapologetic character of Tara and Adi. The movie is an official remake of Mani Ratnam’s hit Tamil film, “Ok Kanmani” and is directed by Shaad Ali. The film revolves around the tale of two independent individuals coming together in a non-committal live in relationship, and nobody has opposed to the idea.
Shaad Ali began his innings as a director with another Ratnam remake – Saathiya (2002), based on Alaipayuthey (2000). Saathiya held its own because Rani Mukherjee and Vivek Oberoi’s performances made the film without quite taking on the baggage of the predecessor. No such luck lustre this time. Ok jaanu feels like an update on saathiya. There it was all about making a young marriage work, here it is about eventually embracing marriage after living together. It is all about opting for a life together even while pursuing separate dreams. And in both the films these life lessons come through an older couple.
While Saathiya had SRK and Tabu, in this case it’s the much older Naseeruddin Shah and Leela Samson in whose house the couple lives. In remaking the original, Ali brings little that is new to the screen. The Mumbai setting, scenes, dialogue, camera, placements and angles, even the colour palette and production design seem have been reproduced verbatim. The names of the couple – Adi and Tara – their occupation, i.e., video game developing and architecture, their family histories and background, their idols Zuckerbeg and Balkrishna Doshi – all is as it was.
A few things do change; a Hindustani classical music concert replaces the kacheri. But not every change is necessarily for the better. The things that work here are Kitu Gidwani’s (who plays Tara’s mom) sarees and Nasseeruddin Shah. He holds your attention just by being himself.
My verdict: Marriage as an institution is not passe, and is one of the two consequences of a live-in relationship, the other being break-up!
– Vinay Gupta
Film Maker and Producer, Vinr Films
Vinay Gupta Producer, VinR Films is a third-generation entrepreneur, with rich and varied experience in a wide range of business domains. Vinay is a software engineer from Amity, NOIDA. and has completed his MBA from the IT division of Symbiosis International University. He is also the Founder Director of Dynamic Technosoft (Software Company) and a Director in Vinsam Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. (Investments & Wealth Management Company). In his professional career Vinay has diverse experience in the fields of information technology, software projects, infrastructure development, financial wealth management, film making etc.
