A Peck on the Cheek Director: Mani Ratnam Country: India Year: 2002

CAST:
Madhavan, Simran, Prakash Raj, Nandita Das, P.S. Keerthana

Upon entering the theatre to view a Mani Ratnam film, one has certain expectations: a riveting story, breathtaking cinematography, a pulsating score, and well-defined, complex characters. A lot to ask of a film, you may say, but not when it comes to Ratnam.

Mani Ratnam is one of the few Indian filmmakers, others include Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, and Mira Nair, who is recognized both artistically and commercially in India. His films fit into the Bollywood genre, yet also possess the depth and complexity which liken them to art-house cinema. Like many of his films, A Peck on the Cheek uses contemporary politics as a background to familial and romantic relationships. The extreme circumstances of war and terroristic activity bring families and individuals to situations where raw emotion comes to the surface.

Peck, a Tamil film subtitled in English, begins with the fairy-tale marriage of two Sri Lankan youths, the beautiful and innocent Madhavan (Nandita Das) and Dileepan, a committed activist opposed to the invasion and military dictatorship in his country. Their nuptial bliss is shattered prematurely when Dileepan runs away to oppose the military and leaves Madhavan alone and pregnant in a refugee camp.

Here, the film shifts to the domestic bliss of another family in Chennai. Indra (Simran) and Thiru (Madhavan) are the proud parents of three boisterous children. Of the three kids, Amudha (P.S. Keerthana), the effervescent eight-year old daughter, is the shining light in the family. Amudha is charming, intelligent and perceptive enough to know how to wrap her parents around her petite fingers. The most spectacular musical number in the film revolves around Amudha and her schoolfriends and pays tribute to the beauty, energy and innocence of children of that age.

Above the happiness of Thiru's family lies a shadow of the past: Amudha is adopted; she is the abandoned child of Madhavan and Dileepan. Thiru and Indra, liberal educated parents who raise their children with respect and integrity, tell Amudha the truth about her birth. Amudha responds with a multitude of emotions, beautifully captured by Keerthana, a sixth-grade student with no previous training or experience as an actress. Amudha's emotional deluge culminates in a desire to find her mother and confront her with questions. Thiru decides to attempt to fulfill Amudha's wish, knowing that in order for his family to move on, he will need to banish the ghosts of the past and give closure to his daughter's angst.

The final phase of the film takes the audience back to war-torn Sri Lanka where Ratnam places Thiru's family in the midst of political and ethnic strife. Suicide bombers, children with guns, and ravaged homes and villages colour the screen as the audience becomes witness to the savagery that has become routine in our times. What shines on the screen is the love between parent and child; Thiru and Indra are willing to face anything for the happiness of their child and it is this love that carries the entire film. The audience shares Amudha's pain and longing for her mother as the family combs rural Sri Lanka looking for a trace of the elusive Madhavan.

Unlike most Bollywood films, where many of the song sequences chronicle romantic love, Peck's songs passionately address parental love and childhood fantasy. The multi-talented A.R. Rehman has produced a joyous soundtrack for the film; the various melodies correspond perfectly to the changing moods and desires of the characters, and Rehman has incorporated the traditional Sri Lankan "bayla" beat into his music to capture a true Sri Lankan feeling. Peck is a breathtaking cinematic achievment that takes the viewer on a sensual and emotional journey. In this film, Ratnam succeeds in creating a film with mainstream appeal while illustrating true artistic genius. Bravo!