A Peck on the Cheek

Released Feb 14, 2002

2h 15m

Drama

List

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

93%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

On her ninth birthday Amudha (P.S. Keerthana), after learning that she was adopted, resolves to find her birth mother. Her parents Thiruchelvan (Madhavan) and Indra (Simran) insist on accompanying her, and so together they leave the comfort of their home in India to venture into the jungles of Sri Lanka, where they witness the violence and brutality of civil war. Eventually they discover Shyama (Nandita Das), who explains that she gave up her daughter to fight for the separatist cause.

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Jonathan Curiel

San Francisco Chronicle

In A Peck on the Cheek, we get Ratnam at his best, albeit with a few glitches.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 27, 2005

Full Review

Adam Nayman

eye WEEKLY

This lavish Indian comedy-drama is unsure of what it wants to be, but still manages to be charming and consistently entertaining.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 28, 2003

Full Review

James Wegg

JWR

Director/writer Mani Ratnam has zeroed in on the Sri Lankan/Tamil conflict to demonstrate the consequences of political upheaval under the guise of social/religious/commercial progress.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 28, 2009

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Looks too commercially slick in its presentation to really touch one's heart.

Rated: C+

Jul 5, 2007

Full Review

Jason Gorber

Film Scouts

The clash of styles works very well, and the uncompromising picture was a treat to see.

Rated: A-

Jun 21, 2007

Full Review

Arthur Lazere

culturevulture.net

Unabashed, unapologetic sentimentality.

Apr 28, 2003

Full Review

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Priyan B

Movie was below average and overrated as fuck screenplay felt so flat and the characters aren't deep enough

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Kannathil Muthamittal - 10/10. When I was 9, I remember coming back from the tamil store with a dvd copy of Kannathil Muthamittal. All I knew was that Madhavan, Simran, and Prakash Raj were in it, with music by A.R. Rahman and the movie being directed by Mani Ratnam. This was before the rise of internet reviews, so my only knowledge was through the posters at the store. When we got home and watched it, it quickly became one of my favourite films of all time. In fact, the impact the movie had on me was so immense that it was the sole reason why I wanted to visit Sri Lanka (which I ended up visiting that 2002 summer). After recently revisiting the film after nearly a decade, it made me realize how perfect of a movie it is. As a kid, I didn't fully realize what Ratnam had crafted with this film. I loved the story and music when I was a kid, but now rewatching it made me realize the power the film possessed. The beauty of adoption/giving second life to a child, but also, the confusion and pain that child would go through knowing they're adopted. The horrors of war. The cause and effects it has on people who have to go through that setting (Amutha's biological mother has to leave her baby at the refugee camp due to her having to go back to her war torn country). The impact that literature has (the story that Madhavan's character writes about baby Amutha changes not only his life, but creates the spark for the love Simran's character has). Ratnam made a film that is deeply layered and very to the point. During a time when films rarely shown anything related to the war in Sri Lanka, he chose to take on the topic. In my opinion, it's one of his top 3 best films, and certainly is one of the best films since the turn of the millennium. It also features the best performances in Madhavan and Simran's careers. Keerthana, who retired from acting after this film, gives such a great performance for a child star. Ravi K. Chandran captures the darkness of war and also the brightness of hope with his brilliant cinematography. The soundtrack is classic Rahman, with deep music that hits the soul. A must watch for any cinema lover. An all time classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Intense, emotional and touching...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie because It talk about What Sri Lankan Tamil expericanced

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This amazing movie is a must watch due to its technical greatnesses.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

#ManiRatnam at his best. It is a peck on the cheek...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Mani Ratnam

Director

Madhavan

G. Thiruchelvan

Simran Bagga

Indra

Prakash Raj

Dr. Herold Vikramsinghe

Nandita Das

Shyam

P.S. Keerthana

Amudha

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Synopsis

On her ninth birthday Amudha (P.S. Keerthana), after learning that she was adopted, resolves to find her birth mother. Her parents Thiruchelvan (Madhavan) and Indra (Simran) insist on accompanying her, and so together they leave the comfort of their home in India to venture into the jungles of Sri Lanka, where they witness the violence and brutality of civil war. Eventually they discover Shyama (Nandita Das), who explains that she gave up her daughter to fight for the separatist cause.

Director: Mani Ratnam
Screenwriter: Mani Ratnam, Sujatha
Production Co: Madras Talkies
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Tamil
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 16, 2016
Runtime: 2h 15m

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