As Jayaraj likes it

Rajita

Jayaraj's love affair with William Shakespeare continues with his latest, Kannagi --- a story based on the bard's ode to passion and war, Antony and Cleopatra.

This follows on the heels of his earlier film, Kaliyattam, which retold the tale of Othello.

Amazingly, the director has, largely through employing the same techniques that worked so well in Kaliyattam, managed to translate Shakespeare's epic tale into a Malayalam milieu, to produce a film of astonishing power.

Manickan (Mohan Lal) and Choman (Siddique) are the best of friends. The main pastime in their village is cockfights. And the regular duels between Manickan's bird and that of the local landlord (Manoj K Jayan) are the highlights.

The village belle Kannagi (Nandita Das), believed to be endowed with magical powers, flips for Manickan's courage and his machismo. Manickan has another admirer in Choman's sister Kumudam (Geetu Mohandas).

Kannagi and Manickan become very close and he decides to marry her. Choman is furious and wants Manickan to marry his sister instead. Choman, in fact, goes to the extent of announcing the wedding at a public function.

The rest of the film is a tale of intrigue, lust, and treachery swirling around Manickan, while a subplot revolves around Kannagi's alleged flirtation with witchcraft.

The film is marked by deft direction and outstanding performances by the ensemble cast. M J Radhakrishnan's cinematography, and the choreography of the cockfights, are other highlights.

All told, a worthy successor to Kaliyattam, from Jayaraj. Makes you wonder which Shakespearean tale will provide him with his next muse.