Star Cast: Jeeva, Ajmal Ameer, Karthika Nair, Piaa Bajpai, Prakash Raj, Sona Heiden and others
Director: K.V Anand
Producer: Jayaraman
Banner: Red Giant Movies
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Story:
The story starts at Dinanjali, a newspaper office where Ashwin (Jeeva), is a photographer while Renu (Karthika Nair) and Saraswathi (Piaa Bajpai) are seen as journalists working woth the same newspaper. All three of them try to break the news and stand up on their toes for all getting the latest happenings news. Ashwin’s lens is creative and he captures all well.
Moving forward the next character Vasanth (Ajmal Ameer) gets introduced and he is an engineer. Though is an engineer his aim is to become a politician and aspires to change the society. Vasanth plans to contest in the upcoming elections. Ashwin who has good political contacts he makes his friend Ajmal a politician for a good cause. But after turning as a politician Vasanth turns into a corrupted politician like all other politicians and kicks out Ashwin from his camp. Yogi (Prakash Raj) is the Chief Minister of that political party. Vasanth joins his hands with Yogi and forgets to do good for the society. During some unexpected mishap Saro gets killed in a bomb blast. Bu seeing all these Ashwin plans to bring down Vasanth by using the same political contacts. But Vasanth who is annoyed with the chain reactions plans to take revenge on Ashwin. The rest of the story forms the interesting plans of Jeeva with a twist in the story.
Performances:
All the performances by the vital cast are excellent, and equally praiseworthy.
Jeeva stands out as Ashwin and he looked cool stylish, flawless and urbane in his character. Wow! His dialogue delivery and body language are outstanding and brilliant. While performing action and serious scenes he perfectly transformed himself well and brought right dynamism.
Karthika Nair has made her Kollywood debut with KO and has performed her role with ease and élan. She looked beautiful and especially in songs both Jeeva and Karthika looked as a perfect pair. No doubt Karthika will soon make herself to the top list of actresses.
Piaa Bajpai is good in the role of journo and is the right fit. Thanks to director K.V Anand for choosing her. Piaa looked simple and stylish.
Ajmal as Vasanth has given equal performance to that of Jeeva. He excelled in his role and proved his mettle once again with KO. He comes up with victory with this film.
Watch out for Prakash Raj’s outstanding performance and one can’t blink his eyes while he is on screens. He is back after a long time with a meaty role and undoubtedly he rocked in his role. Especially during counter sequences with Jeeva deserve great ovation. Waiting for many movies from you Prakash Ji.
Cinematographer – Director K.V Anand has made this film with heart and soul as he started his career as a photojournalist. He directed the film in his own pace and also added all real life instances which are engrossing, entertaining and racy. Many movies have appeared on screen of this genre but the director has made a different attempt by showing the media men as demi gods. KV Anand has elevated the human angle of the journalists. In fact Anand has clearly showed the guts, willpower and the passion towards the profession through Ashwin’s character.
Music by Harris Jayaraj is undoubtedly outstanding. He can be termed as one of the hero in KO. He scored smooth and catchy tunes which when viewed with visuals are simply a great eye treat. Especially the locations in Norway are beautiful and one will surely plan for a trip to Land of Rising Sun. Background score is racy and it has along with the proceedings.
The way the film is detailed deserves a great applause and the film is better understood in each and every scene and it makes sure that we are into the movie straight away. Script by Subha is fast and furious. Thanks to him.
Cinematography by Richard Nathan is excellent. He captured the foreign locales exceedingly brilliant. Editing by Anthony is appreciable.
On a whole KO is brave and pacy as the shown in the trailers and promos. One can’t move his eyes from the screens as the film engages the audiences with a well designed story. As confessed by KV Anand, KO is definitely double of Ayan. The film is surely a great entertainer and you will not get bored at any given point of time. Thanks for the entire team for giving a out and out chilling entertainer in this hot summer.
Quick Take: Go Book your Tickets, don’t try to give a miss!
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Production: RS Infotainment, Red Giant Movies
Direction: K.V. Anand
Star-casts: Jeeva, Ajmal Ameer, Karthika Nair, Pia Bajpai, Prakash Raj, Bose Venkat, Kota Srinivasa Rao and others
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography: Richard M Nathan
Editing: Anthony
K.V Anand’s penchant taste for Hollywood flicks becomes so blatant with the style of movies he churns out. Be his directorial debut ‘Kana Kanden’ or his previous hit film ‘Ayan’, it was a bigger success due to the theme and the commercial blend that he goes for. ‘Ko’ is a political thriller starring Jeeva as photo journalist while Ajmal as his close buddy and an aspiring politician.
The film is produced by RS Infotainment and is released worldwide by Udhayanidhi Stalin of Red Giant Movies.
Ashwin (Jeeva) proves to be the smartest photo-journalist working for a reputed newspaper and keeps revealing the bad side of politicians (Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivasa Rao) with his skills. He happens to be come across an aspiring politician Vasanth (Ajmal Ameer), who along with his youngsters of political party ‘Siragugal’ contests in elections. He helps him by publishing his good deeds, which again irks the opposition parties. On a grand youth rally that is hosted by ‘Siragugal’, a bomb blast kills hundreds of innocent peoples including Ashwin’s close pal Saro (Pia). Broken down in spirits, Vasanth decides to quit politics to keep away from himself and his supporters away from problems. Does Vasanth get back to politics? Will Ashwin find out the real culprits involved in the bomb blast? You’ll have to watch them out on screens that have a stunning climax.
On the performance level, Jiiva lives closely to the skin of characterization. For this actor, who has already proved his best shows in ‘Ram’, ‘Ee’ and ‘Katradhu Tamizh’, this one isn’t a real challenge and he does it with good approach. He looks cute in romantic sequences and so vigorous pumped with high energy in stunt sequences. Karthika makes her debut with this film and she has done a fabulous job. She can look out for more challenging roles and can clearly get hold of a good place in Kollywood if she strides on right path. Pia Bajpayee is perfect to the role and K.V. Anand does a right job by picking her up for the role while Ajmal becomes the showstopper.
The technical department assures that you will never turn your head around looking out at your wrist watches even during the boring sequences. Patently because the songs by Harris Jayaraj, cinematography by Richard M Nathan and Anthony’s editing keeps the visuals best at places. Don’t miss the beautiful locations of the songs. But to be precise, the film doesn’t need any songs during second half and it’s purposely inserted so as to elongate the duration to more than 150minutes. But the twists and turns we tend to notice during second half with a surprise baggage in climax.
On the whole, ‘Ko’ can be watched once for its entertaining elements.
Verdict: Spicily commercial
Having made films on unusual themes with the commercial blend, K.V Anand has been riding on the success of ‘Kana Kanden’ and ‘Ayan’. Much alike these films, ‘Ko’ is done with the same panache of stunning visuals, breathtaking stunts, perfect casting of actors and an unexpected twist in the tale (has been a must factor of K.V Anand’s films).
Produced by RS Infotainments with a whooping budget, the film revolves around a thin plot. But the narrative structure of K.V Anand makes it up for 2hrs 45mins of long journey. To mark the verdicts,
Ashwin (Jeeva), photojournalist of leading newspaper along with reporter Renuka (Karthika Nair) are assigned with the coverage of political stories. With the election campaigns popping across nook and corners of the town, a group of ambitious youngsters under the political party ‘Siragugal’ led by Vasanthan (Ajmal Ameer) work on their propaganda. But it turns out to be unceasing hassles for the youngsters as they face more problems one after the other with a terrible bomb blast at youth rally, which kills many people including Saro (Pia Bajpai), Ashwin’s colleague. Much distressed with the pathetic scenario, Vasanth decides to quit politics fearing for the dreadful outcomes caused by the powerful politicians (Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivasa Rao). But the story take an ultimate turn in the second half with an unpredictable climax.
Lots of actors were taken into consideration for the lead roles, but finally it was Jeeva, Ajmal, Karthika and Pia picking up the best offers. In fact, they get a good scope when compared with the senior actors like Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivasa Rao. To be precise, Jeeva and Ajmal are the only option that K.V. Anand would afford for. It’s worth mentioning that he had previously approached A-league stars, but things didn’t work out. Hats off to Jeeva for accepting this script that has equal footage for the other lead character… In fact, we find that Ajmal dominates Jeeva in many portions, but he steals the show with the stunning act in climax. Though the gimmicks done with camera look quite artificial to a certain extent, it can be excused for its commercial element… Karthika looks confident over each frame and looks beautiful indeed. She gives more prominence even the minute details of her expressions. But the skimpy costumes in songs don’t suit her image. Ajmal steals the show for his brilliant performance. We have already seen his ne plus ultra show in ‘Anjathey’ and this one too proves good of his adeptness. Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivas Rao appear in extended cameo roles. The screenplay blatantly reveals the real culprit during first couple of shots in post-intermission sequence.
While the protagonist is busy investigating the death of his close friend Saro, we find unwanted distractions with couple of songs. The flashback sequence of just one song could have been avoided as it drags the film and so is the song ‘Venpaniya’. Though the locations in these songs are fabulous, they’re nowhere close to the film. But the song ‘Ennamo Yedho’ is very well choreographed as K.V. Anand adds some significant visuals to match the lyrics. Though we have almost all the leading stars of Kollywood appearing in the song ‘Aga Naga’, it isn’t up to the expectations.
Three sequences in the film are enthralling
1. Jeeva capturing the clandestine marriage of Kota Srinivasa Rao with a 13yr old girl.
2. The situational song of ‘Ennamo Yedho’.
3. The opening chase of ‘Bank Heist’ (though the stunts look artificial).
The three factors that act as spoiler
1. Pooja during her death tries conveying something earnestly. It’s so obvious that she is revealing the culprit.
2. The background score.
3. K.V. Anand purposely drags the film to nearly 3 hours. The film could have done justice with just 2 hours. It would have been a sleek thriller.
Richard M Nathan steals the show with his cinematography as he captures every shot with perfection and good clarity
while Anthony’s editing suffers a lot. There are so many discontinuities in the sequences, especially the climax point. Though the climax is justifying with logic, the action sequence is too unbelievable. A photographer who strongly believes that his instrument is the weapon (very well shown in the opening sequence) does follow the same thing in climax, but then the hand-against-hand combat becomes a major hurdle and fails to justify.
Harris Jayaraj’s background score is a big disappointment. He tries experimenting with various instruments and fusion, but nothing suits the visuals well.
On the whole, ‘Ko’ has a strong message for the youth in politics, but when it comes down to screenplay, K.V. Anand doesn’t carry forth the script with the same efforts that were very much prevalent in ‘Kana Kanden’ and ‘Ayan’.
What works: Casting, Songs, Cinematography, Climax
What doesn’t: Logic missing, screenplay, placement of songs…
Verdict: Average show by K.V. Anand
Production: RS Infotainment, Red Giant Movies
Direction: K.V. Anand
Star-casts: Jeeva, Ajmal Ameer, Karthika Nair, Pia Bajpai, Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao and others
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography: Richard M Nathan
Editing: Anthony
Jeeva’s thumbs up performance in Ko
The most awaited film of the season Ko has already graced screens and the entire industry is raving about Jiiva’s performance. Jeeva plays the role of an intelligent photo journalist in the film. He emerges as a perfect action hero material, both for the masses and classes. His introduction sequence (bike wheeling) and the climax fight scenes need special mention. We all know that Jiiva is one actor who keeps reinventing himself in each movie and emerges successful each time. With Ko, he has reached the next level; whether in the daring fight sequence or the mesmerizing songs, Jiiva trumphs! So don’t miss Jiiva’s master class performance in K.V Anand’s Ko.
Ko is a spicy ride
Red Giant Movies‘ and RS Infotainment‘s latest, Ko (King), directed by K.V Anand, who gave the 2009 blockbuster, Ayan, manages to satisfy most of the criteria of a summer entertainer; there’s a little bit of action, humour, political gymnastics, treason, betrayal, angst and the mandatory romance to satisfy audiences. And for what it’s worth, it takes you along on a spicy ride.
Like Ayan, this movie too, features the writer duo Suba, who’ve come up with the screenplay in conjunction with the director, as well the dialogues. And to give credit where it’s due, much of it sparkles with wit, humour and targets today’s issues straight on the head.
Interestingly, the protagonist Ashwin (Jeeva) happens to be a photo journalist with the Dina Anjal Tamil daily, a different take from the usual parade of professions (director K.V Anand is supposed to have drawn inspiration from his own experiences as a photo journalist, for the film).
He is literally trampled on by the heroine, Renuka Narayanan (Karthika Nair), who ducks from his sight when he enters the office. She’s the chief reporter for Dina Anjal, and has been newly transferred from Madurai . There’s an instant spark between Ashwin and Renuka, notwithstanding the bubbly Saro (Piaa Bajpai), who happens to be another reporter, and has a soft spot for Ashwin. You’re also introduced quickly to Dina Anjal, and into how a popular daily works.
As matters cruise along in this lighthearted fashion, peppered with tasteful duets, things begin to hot up on the other end of the spectrum. There’s Alavandhan (Kota Sreenivasa Rao), leader of the opposition party, who washes his hands discretely with Dettol once he touched a baby, and tries to marry a 13-year old because his horoscope predicts a great future if he does.
And then, Ashwin runs into Vasanthan Perumal (Ajmal Ameer), a smart, self-possessed, compassionate young man with a band of followers, who are determined to do their bit for society. Vasanthan is the embodiment of all that is necessary to turns politics around but he lacks public support and finances. Ashwin, impressed with his ethics, begins to do everything he can to throw the spotlight on his newfound friend, and give him some semblance of support.
Of course, just when it seems like everything might fall into place, disaster strikes.
The role is a cake-walk for Jiiva: he’s had a ball with the camera, clicking shots in almost impossible situations and making sure his trademark effervescence is present at all times. Peter Hein’s stunts make sure he fights well but the drawback is that this is not really a performance-oriented role.
The same goes for the striking Karthika, yesteryear actress Radha’s daughter. With her dark eyes and well-made up face, she displays a confidence in front of the camera that makes you forget she’s debuting in Tamil.
Piaa does the part of the bubbly enthusiast well, while seasoned actors like Kota Sreenivasa Rao and Prakash Raj, with smaller roles, add depth. You wish they had been given more screen space. Several secondary characters, like Sona, wring a bit of laughter.
Its Ajmal, however, who happens to be the surprise package. He has got a lot of scope to perform, and makes use of the opportunity well. In fact, his role clocks in almost as many minutes as Jiiva’s himself.
The production crew has almost outdone itself: Richard M Nathan’s camera, after a somber outing in Angadi Theru, enters light, glitz and glamour.
Editor Anthony is the star, though: the shots flip by at amazing speed or linger as necessary, and he’s shown an instinctive understanding of them which helps the story.
Harris Jeyaraj’s numbers are already chartbusters but Ennamo Edho is obviously the pick of the lot. You do, however, feel that the placement of some of the numbers hamper proceedings. The background score might not be scintillating, but manages to be unobtrusive.
K V Anand’s screenplay moves swiftly during the first half, courtesy the dialogues, and lags slightly in the second. Still, with its basic plot of politics, it has enough twists and turns to keep you occupied. Best of all are the light touches of sarcasm and humour that make it work. Go for it.
Excellent review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Must watch this movie!!!
movie is like advertisement, hq!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOLKS!!! don’t miss it!!!
When there have been many films based on journalism, director K.V. Anand tries bringing a new shade by focusing on photo journalism. Though the profession is almost a hot business in world of media, especially with magazines based on investigative journalism, nothing much has been depicted on this profession. Inspired from Hollywood thriller ‘State of Play’, the film revolves around a photo journalist and his ambitious friend involved in politics. The film is produced by RS Infotainment and is directed by K.V. Anand, whose previous films ‘Kana Kanden’ and ‘Ayan’ had some innovative themes with the adequate quantity of commercial ingredients.
The film revolves around a photojournalist Ashwin (Jeeva), who works for a leading newspaper often breaking the news against the leading politicians (Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivasa Rao). Vasanth (Ajmal), an aspiring politician works ardently along with his political party ‘Siragugal’. Assigned with the coverage of political parties involved in election campaigns, Ashwin gets into the task of revealing the dark side of these politicians that pulls them down with status. On hosting a grand youth rally, Vasanth and his team of youngsters are involved in delivering speeches that is shattered with a bomb blast resulting in the gruesome death of innocent souls that includes Ashwin’s colleague Saro (Pia). What happens now is whether Vasanth pulling himself away from the political dreams. But Ashwin supports him to accomplish with his dreams. What unfolds next is a series of twists and turns with an unexpected shock awaiting everyone in climax.
On the performance level, Jeeva does a remarkable job as he appears with the look that is suitable for the role of a photo journalist. His mannerisms and body language are good. The action sequences prove of his involvement while Karthika’s acting skill is best and it doesn’t look like her first film. You’ll have to surely look into the way she emotes to various situations and they’re on matured levels. Thanks to her hard work. Pia on the other hand fits strongly to the character of a bold journalist. Ajmal comes up with his effortful gesture and proves strong on all portions. Right from the beginning till the end, he keeps doing his best realizing the need to make a strong comeback. Prakash Raj and Kota Srinivasa Rao don’t get enough footage.
Songs by Harris Jayaraj sounded well on our stereo and also looks best with visuals, so are the songs ‘Ennamo Yedho’ and other ones. But then, the situation and placement of songs doesn’t suit. The duration is very lengthy and it acts as a major spoiler.
But every minus gets trivialized with the stunning climax. The stunt sequence, brilliant message at the end stands out as the major highlight.
On the whole, ‘Ko’ is a good entertainer that will gain the interests of audiences.
superb movie , but lengthy climax
I beg ur pardon but prakash raj did not get a meaty role at all he has a very small role in the film n vasanth joins hands wid naxals n becoms the chief minister n not wid prakash raj pls correct ur review before people are misled:)
good movie from copycat K.V.Anand.
Its the combination of STATE OF PLAY(2009) and ANGELS & DEMONS(2009)
@THE EDITORYour story is absolutely false.its bull shit ,not anywhere near to the movie,Whu=y are you writing a review without knowing the story??
Land of rising sun is Japan. Norway is land of midnight sun.