Kabali - the best message to Rajni fans

When Pa. Ranjith got the opportunity to make the next Rajnikanth film, the industry as well as fans were baffled, and rightly so. How could a director who has made just two movies get to make a Rajni movie? Post the release of Kabali, the fans are divided on the outcome. Disappointment seems the more dominant emotion among fans and non-fans alike. But there is enough reason to believe this movie was just what Rajni needed now to take his career forward, and Rajni was the most perfect choice for this script. It was high time Rajnikanth stopped playing young roles, and there was no better way to break away from the trend than Kabali. The movie gives glimpses of both the yesteryear Rajni and the current superstar but struggles to mix the ingredients well and find the right balance.

The first half mainly builds the plot(around gangster Kabali's life after his release from prison after 20+ years). The community is at his heart and he tries to do good things for them. The scenes where he interacts with juvenile delinquent Tamil kids in a support foundation speak volumes both script-wise and for Rajni the actor. That scene is commonly criticised as a draggy scene, but I felt that was one of the highlights of the film, the way the conversations happen in a casual manner with no importance given to heroism. This scene also helps build the back story which is the crux of Ranjith's plot. The symbolism of wearing suits as a form of protest against the upper classes is established really beautifully. The way Kabali's personal life is woven into the story is also impressive (for the most part). Radhika Apte in the few scenes she appears just nails the role. So much that you wish she had more screen time. Dhansika as the fearless daughter too fits the bill perfectly and breathes a whiff of fresh air when it comes to depiction of heroines in Tamil movies, but at some places her acting and voice-over disappoints, especially at the end of the first half when the revelation ("Appaaaaa") is made. The film abounds with such scenes where one wonders why the editing has been badly done. Of the remaining cast, Attakathi Dinesh shines in his comic role as Kabali's loyalist. Kishore as usual is a class actor in his role as Veera. The main villain John Lee was a big let-down. No complaints about Santhosh Narayanan though. He was the second star of the movie. Brilliant BGM. I just wish "Vaanam paarthen" had a full song dedicated for it like "Maya Nadhi". There are many scenes from the movie that warrant a second or a third viewing, but overall the impact of the movie is "Meh". I can't blame Ranjith for it though. He is just another upcoming director who got too big a responsibility too soon. Let's cut him some slack. One can't expect the CEO of some new year-old startup to quit and go on to head Google.

In a way, Kabali's biggest message is to Rajni fans itself. As a Rajni fan myself, my thoughts at the end of the first half and during the second half conveyed the harsh reality of the Rajni superstardom in Tamil Nadu/India. I really liked the first half which had lesser entertainment value, but built up the core message really well - the plight of the Dalits in Malaysia. The overall response in the theatre though seemed bad. The second half had more thriller-type and entertainment value scenes, which were the typical-Rajni-kicks-villain's-ass and revenge-themed. There was lesser scope for the crux of the movie. I found myself cheering for the Rajni movie rather than the movie itself. I wanted the film to succeed. Here is where I could identify with the dilemma of a person such as Ranjith to make a Rajni film. The scope was there for this film to be really up there as one of the best Rajni movies after he became a super star, but somehow the narration messed it up. That's why I say this movie is a message to Rajni fans. Don't pressurize directors to sell their soul for your superhero. There is more to a Rajni movie than just his style and entertainment value. Relish the character actor in him. Relish his portrayal of subdued emotions. Enjoy the casual conversations he may have as a normal man. Blush along with him when he still achieves romantic sparks at this age. Above all let him do such movies and break away from the formulaic tripe we have become used to.

2016 Oscar season movies review

Inside Out - My favorite movie of the year. Oh my, nobody can imagine like Pixar. Probably the best animation film made for adults, competing with Studio Ghibli. The concept of giving a shape to different emotions and how they interact within your mind has been implemented to perfection. Worth a second watch and a third, just to appreciate the various nuances in the story-telling. In a way, if you appreciate the way emotions work, the message of the movie can in fact help everyone react to real life situations in a better way.

Spotlight - A real life story on a sensitive subject of a religious scandal. Well-executed and keeps you engrossed all through. Investigative journalism movies such as "All the president's men", "Frost/Nixon" have a special sort of charm. And this movie too doesn't fail in that regard.

Mad Max: Fury Road - Absolutely loved everything about this film, from the visuals, the direction, the acting, and best of all the background music. The shot of the masked guitarist ripping music amidst a wall of speakers on a mean machine moving through the desert - one of the most legendary scenes in cinema. Pretty disappointed that the composer, Junkie XL didn't get the recognition due for his score on this movie. Hans Zimmer has called the score "absolutely phenomenal and mind-blowingly brilliant." That's god-level.

Ex Machina - One of the best Artificial Intelligence-themed movies for sure, tying for honors with last year's Her. Though the concepts presented are not new, the way the philosophical themes of AI are discussed, this is a movie that makes you think hard for the most part while watching and after as well. The interactions between Ava(the humanoid robot) and Caleb(the Turing tester) are beautifully executed. Alicia Vikander as Ava and Oscar Isaac as the scientist are both splendid in the film.

Room - A story of a young woman and her child held captive in a room, and how they deal through the situation. Powerful emotionally, to say the least. Jacob Tremblay as Jack has provided a performance that is highly deserving of Best Actor in a supporting role. But unfortunately the Oscars don't recognize performances by child actors. High time they started a category for this, as so many performances go unrewarded every year. Though Brie Larson has done justice to her role, there is nothing exceptional about her acting. But I believe she should be the favorite for this year's top acting honor.

The Revenant  - Movie-making at its finest. Inarritu stuns with this raw movie on themes of survival and betrayal. Though di Caprio has done a great job as the lead actor in the film, it is Tom Hardy's performance as Fitzgerald that steals the show. Emmanuel Lubezki has great chances for a record third consecutive cinematography win.

The Big Short - An adaptation of Michael Lewis's novel on the 2008 housing crisis and the collapse of big financial institutions. The style is slick, the way the director Adam Mckay has simplified a complex subject for the average film-goer is appreciable. A movie I enjoyed for the humor more than the story or the brilliant star cast, Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling being the best of the lot.

Steve Jobs - A great character study of Steve Jobs, delving into his personal life more than the professional. Though it largely portrays him in a negative light, I wouldn't call it completely negative. It was realistic and Michael Fassbender packs a punch by becoming Jobs himself. Though it was a little disappointing to not have enough coverage of the charisma of Jobs in the product launch events, I guess it was a conscious choice, as we have all those videos in the public domain itself.

Carol - A poignant tale of an intimate relationship between two women, but the only thing I enjoyed in the film was how much Rooney Mara resembles Audrey Hepburn in the film. Breathtaking likeliness, and perhaps deliberately so. Cate Blanchett is her usual self, but not a performance worth an Oscar. Rooney Mara has a better chance.

The Martian - Realistic science fiction, probably loyal to the book. But due to this, the movie isn't really an enjoyable watch. Though not a drag, the plot is just about good to carry through. Effectively tells the story of the potential consequences of an astronaut stranded in Mars, and provided he is a smart zoologist, how he manages to survive. The science of the movie is probably debatable, but that is beyond my comprehension.