Comic, horror, PSA all in one!

Muni 2 - Kanchana (முனி-2 - காஞ்சனா, Tamil 2011)
Written, Produced, Directed, Starred by Raghava Lawrence

In order to be a commercial success, a Tamil movie has to cater for all layers of the viewers. Hence, that is why this movie, which is supposed to be in the genre of horror comedy (like Ghostbusters), had to infuse many synchronised ala-Michael Jackson Thriller type of dances and community message like the LGBT issue to ensure promising returns of investments.

Raghava Lawrence, who started off as a dancer like Prabhu Deva, has come a long way just like him. Here, he appears as a swashbuckling youngster who beats up ruffian in the daytime but turns into a fur-ball at night, a curl up scaredy cat at night who sleeps with his mother and is afraid to pee alone! His pairing with Kovai Sarala is a great selling point. In fact, Kovai Sarala singlehandedly leaves the audience in stitches with her many antics as Raghava inadvertently brings in the spirit of the Kanchana, the ghost into the house!

Raghava and mother lives with Raghava's brother, wife and two kids in a big bungalow with Raghava's love interest (Raghava's brother's sister in law, Priya [Laxmi Rai]) coming in to spice up the screen for a holiday. It sets a scene for Raghava to showcase his slapstick comedy and dance moves in synchronised dream scenes dance manoeuvres .

Muscle man Sarathkumar
(ex Mr Madras) in transgender role

The second part of the film sees Raghava possessed by Kanchana the ghost and starts showing effeminate demure, in dressing and conduct. It takes a full form of possession when the family summons ways to exorcise the ghost - Ragahava acts as a lady, a child and a North Indian Muslim man, much like Vikram in 'Anniyan'.

The successful exorcism was done by mystic Islamic priest who traps the spirit of Kanchana into a corner and later into an urn. Then it was the ghost's turn to tell of her sad story. In comes Sarath Kumar, the Tamil film muscle man, in flashback in full glory of a woman in saree, bosomy blouse, long locks, vermilion pottu and all as a transgender beating up a guy for disturbing her transgender college going adopted kid! Kanchana relates her childhood of being ostracised by her family for her gay tendencies, her adoption by a kind Muslim man and his retarded son - who were the ghost characters that Raghava was possessed. Kanchana whose birth name was Kartikeyan grows up to adopt another transgender individual who goes to medical school. Kanchana was cheated of her land and murdered together with her family and she was back for revenge. Expectedly, the hero rights the wrong. Sweet revenge is plotted and equilibrium is maintained - a piece of cake.

Kovai Sarala

The commercial success of the film which has gone into franchise is evident from the various remakes and dubbing efforts into other languages. You know you had hit it big when there is talk of casting Shahrukh Khan in a Hindi remake! The sequel of this film is out now - 2015.

Interesting to see various cultures in India blend seamlessly into the story. The secularism of the nation is clear when you see a Hindu with all trademarks of his religion entering a mosque respecting the local culture seeking help from the holy men without much hullabaloo. Even though exorcism of evil spirit is taboo is certain sects of Islam, it is acceptable to those in the Sufi sect.

This write up would not do justice if the doyen of comedienne of Tamil comedy, after the great era of Manorama is not mentioned. Kovai Sarala, who made her presence known in the 90s plays a pivotal role in inducing laughter as Raghava's mother. Her mere voice and her antics as a over-protective mother surely brightened up this rather unusual approach in film making and leave audience rolling in stitches.