The story of the Tamil film Ki Mu, produced by Yako Films and directed by A Majid, of Vijay's Tamizhan fame, is nothing more than a mock-glorified attempt at recreating Kaadhal.
Right from the first scene, you get the feeling that A Majid and a host of assistants sat around and discussed how best to re-write and produce Kaadhal in a 'better' format.
The only difference is that Saravanan (Hassan) is a boy delivering mutton pieces throughout the city; Ramya (Sarika) is rich, spoilt girl, the daughter of the local dad-cum-bigwig Bavani (Saranraj).
From out of nowhere, Ramya, who does noting but eat at hotels, gives Saravanan a piece of her mind and generally makes a nuisance of herself. In the process she makes Saravanan fall madly in love with her. She also makes him run around the whole city before refusing his love -- and then, once he's slapped her twice, falls in love with him as well.
A song full of montages, similar to Thottu thottu ennai (where Saravanan asks Ramya if she really does love him) follows. Bavani gets to know of his daughter's love, forcing her to run away with her clothes and jewellery (the only difference between this and the original), and they are off on a run, from Kutralam to Thiruchendur, getting on and off buses, afraid of their own shadows.
Hassan looks like a deer caught in the headlights most of the time, while Sarika is marginally better but then she hams. Neither can act to save their lives, but it's their first film so we can cut them some slack.
The real stars (if you could call them that) are Karthik, Frederick and Co, who play Hassan's friends and are the most believable of the lot. Even Saranraj as the calm and collected villain.
Meantime, director Majid himself plays Kasi, Saranraj's right-hand. Poor Vadivelu has been reduced to inane comedy as the unscrupulous Madasami, the provisions-shop owner. Exactly what his connection is to the story is murky as all he does is run around and get into trouble. Even so, his comedy tracks are the only bright spots in the movie.
Director A Majid, who raised some expectations with the rather childish Thamizhan, has done well at only one point in the movie: depicting the actual run of the lovers from town to town. He says that the movie's title actually refers to all the trails lovers have faced before the time of Christ -- hence Ki Mu (No word on the trials a movie-watcher has to face.).
Ki Mu, copying one or two well-known trend-setters, seems nothing short of sacrilege when seen on screen.
Rediff Rating: 
