I’m not a Rajini fan. Let me tell that upfront. And this movie is no wonder, a block buster in Indian Cine World. As the entire blog world had already discussed the story, I’m not going to talk about that.
It was a big drama to see the movie at ours. It was no where screened in Belgium. In fact, I had plans to go to Paris if no other options were turning up. Finally, Ayngaran.nl saved me and we did a 1 hour drive (instead of 4 hours ;) ) to Eindhoven (NL), to watch it.
I watch movies quite often. Most of them are Tamil movies, with a few exception of Alfred Hitchcock’s or a real Hindi block buster. To me, it’s enough if I don’t have to think too much and just sit back and enjoy. It is more important that the movie satisfies my taste that moment. Since I don’t do any research in movies, nor my intention is to place Indian movie in Worldwood (?), my review is just from the view-point of a normal movie fan. With Endhiran, this was more than just saying “accomplished”. I enjoyed, more or less, every bit of the movie.
I had always heard from my north Indian friends that, they think Tamil cinema and especially, Rajini, as most “illogical” things. I still remember… once that when we were talking about Actor (?) Vijay, my friend asked, “Oh is it? Is he more overacting than Rajini?”. You should have seen my furious face then. J. I hope this movie had gracefully shattered those thoughts. Rajini had done his part exceptionally well. While everybody talks about the villain Rajini, my favorite is Chitti. I really wish I could have a robot like him next to me… in one word.. Sweeeeeet. Especially the scene when Chitti and Vasigaran get ready to attend Ash’s bday party. There is no wonder why still people like him. The innocence of the robot is well portrayed. And the old actor in Rajini is not dead. Thanks for the villain role to have reminded that to us!
Ash… Frankly, I don’t like her too much. Don’t know why; was never impressed with her acting. It’s very well possible for Trisha or Tamannah to have played the heroine part. Luckily not. At least for this movie, it would be hard to replace Ash (or someone of her kind). Not for acting… again. I don’t know if she had acted in the movie. But the grace and her dance went along nicely. A rich look for the movie.
My first impression of the movie itself was that, I didn’t find it in “Chennai standards”. Meaning, the locations, the characters (especially Ash and her costumes), the sets, Vasigaran’s house … nothing resembled a normal Chennai lifestyle. Of course, the exception of the train, people in the Home, etc. prevails. I myself got it confirmed with the Ash’s birthday scene. I’m not sure if regular Chennai girls dress/party that way.
The Graphics… I wouldn’t say it placed us in Hollywood… but definitely a good step in the right direction. I enjoyed the last 45 minutes. The problem with our people is that, we had got used to idea that the fight scenes should expose the hero’s talent in jumping over the walls, kicking 10 men in 1 punch or beating a train in a race. And our mindset placed us in the position that such giant human wheel or spherical human formations etc are fit for only Sci-Fi movies from Hollywood. This makes it difficult to accept, or rather only laugh, when we see Rajinikanth or Vijaykanth movie containing such fight sequences. When it happens in Hollywood, it is a “hey wauw”.. and and when it happens in Kollywood it is “graphics pa”. J I don’t know whom to blame here. Is it our conventional directors who made us think “this is heroism” or is it simply us. (My husband had the same feeling. He felt it was more graphics and sound than real action; I told him that he would have liked the movie, if it had been enacted by some Hollywood hero directed by Steven Spielberg or James Cameroon). Honestly, I appreciate all the efforts behind the art and graphic works for this movie. With an exception of very few places, it was difficult to say whether it was a set or real.
Music is of class A. No doubts. (And for all those people feeling that the BG or the songs are only of loud sound and not of any tune, you better watch Hollywood Sci-Fi movies and tell me which one had a romantic duet or a lullaby in middle of hot robot fight). In my impression, the movie has the right music that it should have for its genre.
My Takes
Ø Comedy is something that I expect from Rajini’s movies. That good part was greatly missing in this one.
Ø The mosquito scene… I’m sorry.
Ø Danny? Dummy
Ø Everybody talks about the third role. I didn’t find anything special in that. Did you? To me, it was just the scientist trying to fool his creation. What else was “interesting”?
Ø Villain character is good. But not the villain Robot. I felt that the whole team forgot that, in spite of the feelings that it has, it is still a Robot and not a man (while the rest of the Robots, accompanying the villain, acted like a Robot and not like a man J).
Ø No punch dialog Rajini… man, he rocks. To be true, the Chitti had out-witted the scientist. I felt the latter more stupid.
My Mosts:
Scenes: Places where Chitti irritates Vasigaran for Ash.
Dialog: Speed 1 Terra Hz, Memory 1 Zetta byte.
In all, a must watch if you want to see Tamil cinema getting into another dimension of good movie making.
(I wish I could also write something on the criticisms on this movie. Especially, to scold the people who enjoy scolding Sun Pictures or Rajini. I will come up with one soon).
