Komaali Kings (transl. Clown kings) is a 2018 Sri Lankan Tamil language black comedy thriller film written and directed by King Ratnam in his directorial debut and co-produced by Ganesh Deivanayagam, Bawadharani Rajasingham, and R. Selvaskandan for Picture This Motions.[2][3] The film, starring Raja Ganeshan, Kamala Sri Mohan, Darshan Dharmaraj, Gajan Kanesshan, Niranjani Shanmugaraja, Sathiyapriya Ratnasaamy, and King Ratnam in the lead roles, opened to positive reviews among the audience after the first day.[4][5] The film also received praise from critics for its satire and comedy storyline.[6][7][8]
| Komaali Kings | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | King Ratnam |
| Written by | King Ratnam |
| Produced by | Picture This Motions |
| Starring | Darshan Dharmaraj Niranjani Shanmugaraja |
| Cinematography | Mahinda Abeysinghe |
| Edited by | Anjelo Jones |
| Music by | Shriraam Sachi |
Release date |
|
Running time | 125 minutes (2 hours and 5 minutes)[1] |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | Rs. 30 million |
Komaali Kings is considered one of the rarest and most important mass-budgeted films in Sri Lankan Tamil cinema in nearly 40 years since the release of the super hit Komaligal in 1976.[9][10] Komaali Kings was one of the most awaited films in Sri Lankan cinema after its production was started back in 2016 with only 26 days of shooting procedure but there were delays due to unavoidable factors,[11] and was finally released nationwide on 23 February 2018 after 2 years of delays.[12] The film has both Sinhala and English subtitles.[13]
Recently this film won Best Tamil Film of the Year award from the Derana Film Awards 2019.
Production edit
A team announced the filming process for a Tamil movie to be produced in Sri Lanka titled "Komaali Kings" earlier in the year 2016, on January 23. The team stated that Komaali Kings was an attempt to rekindle and re-establish nostalgic memories of the hay days of Sri Lankan Tamil cinema, mainly as the Sri Lankan Tamil cinema was demolished due to the Sri Lankan civil war which prevailed in Sri Lanka for 30 years.[14][15] Initially, the director of the film wanted to prepare a script on a crime thriller film with the title Nuni before changing his mindset to arrange a script for a black comedy film.[16][17] The trailer for the film was released in 2016 and the first look poster of the film was released by popular Indian director K. S. Ravikumar.[18] Veteran Sri Lankan radio announcer and the actor who starred in the film Komaligal, B. H. Abdul Hameed, served as the honourable patron of this landmark film.[19]
The film was shot in Tamil-resident areas of Sri Lanka, such as Jaffna, Batticaloa, Malayagam, and Colombo, as the film includes the usage of 6 different slangs of Tamil that exist in the nation. The movie also comprises a mixture of Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim, and Christian cultures to indicate the unity between races in the nation.[20][21]
Plot edit
The film's title is inspired by the Sri Lankan box office hit 1976 Tamil film Komaligal.[22] The theme of the movie is simple but a master plan.
"Komaali Kings" revolves around Siva Sithambaram (Raja Ganesan), an average next-door neighbour whose mundane life takes a hilarious turn when a distant relative Pat (King Ratnam) and his family from London decide to stay with him for the duration of their trip to attend a family wedding.[23]
Cast edit
The cast includes the Tamil-speaking Sinhala film lead actor, Darshan Dharmaraj, and lead actress, Niranjani Shanmugaraja, along with director King Ratnam playing an important role as the character of 'Pat'. More importantly, the film consists of an all-Sri Lankan crew, with most of them making their acting debuts.
- Darshan Dharmaraj as Mohan
- Niranjani Shanmugaraja as Yoga
- King Ratnam as Pat
- Raja Ganesan as Siva Sithambaram
- Gajan Kanesshan as Babeth Baba
- David as Groom
- Kamalasiri Mohan Kumar as Mrs. Siva
- Nekita Reshani[24] as Baba's girlfriend
- Adri Abilash as Angelo
- Enoch Akshay as Agilan
- Anushyanthan as Kutty
- Kamalraj Balakrishnan as Roshan
- Meena Deivanayagam as Vaishoo
- Navayuga Rajkumar as Mohan's wife
- Priya Luvendran as news anchor
- Priyantha Srikumara as Baba's driver
- Daya Wayaman as van driver
- Goabi Ramanan as Swamiji
- Pathurjan Wijesekara as Swamiji assistant
Soundtrack edit
The songs and background score for this film were composed by Shriraam Sachi in his debut as a music director. This is a debut film for the singers as well.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kootathil Govinda" | Shriraam Sachi | MC Rajkumar, Sutha, Adri Abilash,Shriraam Sachi, Sooriyakala.R.Sharma | |
| 2. | "We are going shopping ya" | Varun Thushyanthan, King Ratnam | Kanagaratnam Lawrence, Saasha Karunaratne, GK Reginold Eroshan, King Ratnam | |
| 3. | "Kuberanukkum Sangu" | Shriraam Sachi | Shriraam Sachi, King Ratnam |
Release edit
The film was initially released in theatres in Feb 23, 2018.[13] later it was also made available in a streaming site named Ceynema.lk
References[25] edit
- ^ "Showtimes for Komaali Kings in Lucknow". Film Pop. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "Rebirth of Sri Lankan Tamil Cinema". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ "முதற் காட்சியில் பிரபலங்களை அதிர வைத்த கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்". Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Komaali Kings Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "ஈழ வரலாற்றில் 30 வருடங்களின் பின் புதிய திரைப்படம்; கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்!". news.ibctamil.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "King Ratnam To Bring Sri Lankan Movies Back In The Scene". Desimartini. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "An Interview with the Komaali King: King Ratnam". roar.media. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "The Laughter of Comedy King". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "Reviving Sri Lankan Tamil cinema after 40 years". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "பெப்ரவரி 23 முதல் 'கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்' முழு நீள இலங்கைத் தமிழ்த் திரைப்படம்!". athavannews.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Network, S.M Media. "இலங்கையில் உருவாகும் 'கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்' திரைப்படம் | Thinakkathir". thinakkathir.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ Nandhakumar, Sindhuri (20 April 2018). "Tamil diaspora cinema: Tales from the global backyard". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Komaali Kings Gets Released Tomorrow | Decibel". decibel.lk. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ^ newstm. "'கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்' படத்தைக் கொண்டாடும் இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள்". newstm.in. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "'කෝමාලි කිංග්ස්': ලාංකීය සිනමාවට එක්වන දෙමළ චිත්රපටය". BBC News සිංහල. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "'Komaali Kings' here". Daily News. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Komaali Kings Breathing life into Lankan Tamil cinema - Ceylontoday.lk". www.ceylontoday.lk. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "வெளியானது "கோமாளி கிங்ஸ்" | Virakesari.lk". Virakesari.lk. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "கோமாளி கிங்ஸ் - இலங்கையின் பிரம்மாண்டமான தமிழ் படம்". www.englishdailymirror.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Komaali Kings New Movie Stills & News & Trailer". Kural TV. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ Srinivasan, Meera (26 February 2018). "Indigenous Tamil film awes Sri Lankan cine-buffs". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Claessen, Deana (19 February 2018). "Reviving Tamil Cinema in Sri Lanka with 'Komaali Kings' | Pulse". Pulse. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "King Ratnam maiden cinematic action". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Nekita Reshani with Komaali Kings (in Sinhala), retrieved 8 March 2018
- ^ "Ceynema.com Watch komaali kings". Ceynema.com | Ceylon - Cinema | Watch Komaali Kings online. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
