Kumki Review

"Kumki" the lovable elephant is finally here to enthrall us all. The movie's hype has been on the cards ever since its announcement. It marks the debut of the legendary Sivaji Ganesan's  grandson, Vikram Prabhu. Wielding the megaphone again after the 2010 critically acclaimed Myna is Prabu Solomon.  National award winner Thambi Ramaiah, Music by D.Imman and Lingusamy's Production have made Kumki as one of the most anticipated movies of this year.
 
Adhi kaadu and surrounding remote villages of Tamilnadu - Kerala border are endangered by the monstrous Komban Elephant, which leaves no hair in destroying the crops, houses and even kills the villagers. Vikram Prabhu plays as Boman the mahout who shares an eternal bond with Manickam, his elephant. Supporting roles by Thambi Ramiah as his Uncle and Ashwin of "BEB" tag along with Boman till the end. Boman returns a favor to his friend and brings his elephant as a substitute to Kumki, to drive away the beast Komban. He falls in love with the Village chief's daughter and is torn between his love and respect to the village's 200 year old tradition. Do Boman and Manickam successfully chase away Komban and what happens to Boman's love... forms the rest of the plot.
 
Vikram Prabhu is hard to be taken of as a new comer and has gone through rigorous training. His connection with Manickam is a treat to watch and makes one to wish for a pet elephant. His rookie performance as Boman the mahout is sure to be applauded. On the downside he needs to concentrate more on his emotional performances. Lakshmi Menon as Alli blows the audience with her peasant and enchanted looks. The film rides high on Thambi Ramiah's rib tickling comedy. He has tried to outride his Myna performance and done that brilliantly with one liners. Ashwin Raja the tutorial student from BEB has contributed well with his humor. Some intelligent casting has helped the director without any acting glitches.
 
`Onnum Puriyala', `Sollitale' and `Ayayyoo' is enough to prove Imman's captivating music. Ranjith and Shreya Goshal's "Sollitale" is sure to be one of the major caller- tunes for a while. Imman's Magic never seems to cease when he composes for Prabu Solomon. Kumki is a visual extravagance by Sukumar, whose cinematography is phenomenal. Some of the views of Jog falls are just breathtaking and makes us feel awe-struck. LVK Doss needs a special mention in the Editing Department. Decades back Ramanarayan has taken animal centric movies and now Prabu Solomon's exquisite narration has showcased "Kumki" as the formidable hero. He has done quality research and this highlights throughout the movie. Prabu's "Kumki" is Kollywood's answer to Hollywood, where animal oriented movies are always showcased splendidly. Though the second half makes one to ponder if the screenplay is slightly sluggish, but it recuperates immediately. The Climax gives a sense of unfinished yet a feel of reality to the viewers.

After watching the movie its certain that, kumki a lovable companion will be missed , and the director has evoked the emotional strings of the audience to a different level.  Next time you see an Elephant on the streets,  Kumki will surely ring a bell and of course a smile!
 
Final Verdict : 2012's new friend on the block is Kumki