#Kabali

Infinite Possibilities, Infinitesimally Leveraged

Rajini's screen presence, charisma, swagger and style is given and hence I am not even commenting on it.

The first half of the movie is a masterclass in body language. Rajini;s body language has always been instructive, Nasser in his three minute cameo sizzles and delights.

I am glad that Pa. Ranjith the film Maker, did make a very serious attempt to make good cinema within the constraints imposed by the superstar's persona.

In the backdrop of unacceptable and repulsive violence, Ranjith weaves a beautiful love story, which stands out, and will be remembered for a long time.

All the sequences with Radhika Apte have been shot with such exquisite taste, that it is a pity that the spirit could not be extrapolated to the other aspects of the film.

And in a sequence where the Super Star meets his long lost wife, we melt along with him, as we seldom get to see an opportunity to see the true actor within him. We also see his magnanimity to accommodate and give screen space to his co-star but also allow her dominate the scene.

Thalaiva, will you every be released from the prison of your own mindset and would we ever get to see you in all your resplendent glory? 

While Nasser, lifted straight from Iruvar and Radhika Apte from Nallavanuku Nallavan, have some flesh and blood built into their characters, Ranjith has sculpted a neat little role for his favourite Dinesh.

Surprising that there is hardly any effort to develop the characters of the villains or anybody else for that matter.

The movie heads south exactly after a reunion. 

No tangible conflict. No tangible tension. Where is the drama?

BTW, The movie is certified for general audience with no cuts, another classic case where people in position and power can mock at the law of the land,  Jai Hind

#Kabali : To be or Not to be.....

The Anxiety of a Rajini Fan

July 22, is around the corner, as a die hard Rajini fan, I just want to see the film release quickly and get a roaring reception and be done with the my anxiety.

Why would I be anxious? Of course expectations are sky High!!!! and you do want to see Rajini with all his swagger and style. I remember, my father say, Rajini has to just come onto the screen and his electrifying presence would send us into a tizzy. Have we had enough? We surely want some more.

I could be a student of World Cinema. Meryl Streep and Daniel Day Lewis could be my favourite actors, but it is for Rajini that Goosebumps are reserved..

Why then the ambiguous To be or Not to be...

Strangely enough PA Ranjith, Santhosh Narayanan and Rajini share the same screen birthday's on Aug 15. While the first two bounced on to the stage on Aug 15, 2012 with Attakathi, Rajini's ‘Apoorva Ragangal’ was released on Aug 15, 1975.

Ranjith, had audacity to conjured up the magical ‘Attakathi”(Cardboard Knife), the life a vagabond and looser, with a story that was almost non-existent. He had shot the movie in the lazy villages in the suburbs of Western Chennai, peppered with characters whom you would find in your day to day life. The movie was fragrant with, daily bus rides on foot boards, sweet nothings, great conversations at tea stalls, the romance of the’Thavani’(Half Saree), things that we all take for granted but may be the most liberating aspects of living.

Along with Ranjit, when Santhosh Narayanan, combined the Funeral Dance with the Spanish Strains, we knew a pied piper had arrived in town.

Santhosh Narayanan carried the good work in ‘Madras’. Not only were his songs chartbuster’s, but he arguably, scored the best background score, in Indian Cinema. I rate this as magical as God Father if not better.

While the songs for kabali have been good, will Santhosh's background score be magical. It will be a great differentiator.

Madras, incidentally became  a cult classic. Ranjith’s characters continued to be next door. Conversations on compound walls, Romance near  public water wells, Dusty neighbour hood, real people, raw energy , seething anger and surcharged with emotion.

Rajini films after the 1980, Billa has been in a different world

Hence the question is To be or Not to be…

Will it be the charisma of Rajini or will it be the flair of Ranjith?

Will Ranjith be able to create the magic of Kali’(Mullum Malarum) or will he be content with a formulaic rehash of “Annamalai” or “Basha” or Will Ranjith go one step higher and help Rajini reinvent himself?

I guess I can wait for 48 hours.

Sultan

Alive and Kicking, This 'Saand' (Bull) Rocks.

Sultan, will probably go down in history as the First Musical Sports Drama. Vishal Shekar conjure up some stirring music and manage to steal the thunder from Salman, Anushka, some good stunt choreography and, the haryanvi dialect. 

Anushka somewhere triggered memories of  shantarams Mohini, in Navrang. The most petite wrestler!!!

The audience could have benefitted with Twenty minutes of trimming and felt a bit lighter without loads of lives lessons and sermonization.

Despite his off screen awkwardness, Sallu  Bhai always keeps his onscreen engagements as clean as possible.

A perfect entertainer for the family audience.

A big blockbuster on the cards.

Eid Mubarak. Let the festivities begin.

Oru melliya kodu, a thin line, Tamil film.

Not so bad and could have been better. In Fifteen years, it was amusing to see how Manisha Koirala has become Manisha Guerilla!!. Just wondering while the English expletives get across uncensored, tamil audiences, may have to stay contended with David Pillay!!