Hyderabad:
Pics:Endhiran
Like everyday, Chennai got up early on 01.10.10. But instead of heading to the Mylapore Kabaleeswara temple, it went to Kasi `temple' much before 5 am. Where Lord Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, also known as Rajinikanth, has been consecrated as the presiding deity. This is the `speed 1 tera Hz memory 1 zetta byte' modern-day avatar of the Super God, providing darshan to millions of those who love him, on 2000 screens worldwide.
Carpet bombing now has three new names. Endhiran in Tamil, Robo in Telugu and `Robot' in Hindi.
Like all of director Shankar's films, the scale and canvas of Endhiran is huge. Or calling it HUGE would be more apt.
Rajini has worked overtime in Endhiran. He is the not just the hero of the film. As Chitti, the robot, Rajini also plays the comic part. And as Chitti, the reincarnated robot, he is also the villain of the film. The bad guy has hundreds of sidekicks, who are also Rajini. For fans who can never get enough of their Superhero, he is all over the screen, literally. Paisa vasool for diehard fans of the superstar. Those familiar with the dynamics of the Tamil film industry would say Rajini has out-Kamaled his closest screen rival Kamal Haasan, whose ten roles in Dasavatharam were a landmark.
Ironically, for a film that is India's most futuristic till date, Shankar has turned the clock back by 35 years on the superstar. Rajini who started his career as the bad guy in the mid 70s, plays the antagonist to good effect. And just like in the past, he makes the bad guy look more interesting and stylish than the hero, who seems quite a wimp.
Shankar loves gizmos and in Endhiran, he has been pampered excessively by Sun Pictures' Kalanithi Maran, for who sky (even without Spicejet !) is quite literally the limit. The quality of special effects used in the film, are the kind never seen before in Indian cinema and certainly raise the bar. The hard work put in by the crew, both actors and technicians, is visible in every frame. It is flawless, seamless and perfect.
``In this world, only two people are perfect,'' says Chitti the villain to Sana (Aishwarya Rai). "Me and you''.
Both aren't. Chitti, corrupted by crook-scientist Bohra (Danny Dengzonpa), has to be eliminated and Aishwarya doesn't think twice before cheating in a medical exam, a la Munnabhai MBBS.
It is Shankar who is attempting to be perfect. A film, where everything, from sets, animation, action to costumes, make-up and cinematography, aims to be perfect. The focus, like in all of Shankar's films, is on the opulence. The director, it would seem, wanted to prove that it can't get bigger than this for a Rajini movie. The real biggie of course is the 160 crore rupees budget, that makes Endhiran the costliest film made in India.
And therein lies the problem. Shankar has sacrificed substance for form. The comedy fails to tickle beyond a few feeble laughs (the Amman scene is hilarious though), despite having an actor like Rajini, whose sense of comic timing is legendary. Having decided to invest in awesome special effects, he goes overboard with it. Like the scene with the mosquitoes, literally sucks.
So much so that in the second half, you just want it to end now. The cacophony, mindless destruction of cars, ruthless killing, the Rajinis in the shape of a huge snake that cannot be vanquished, all in the name of a sci-fi movie fail to sustain interest. Excite it does initially, but then it becomes like a loud video game that refuses to pause.
If the Tamil audience at Prasads multiplex in Hyderabad, where I watched the film, greeted every move and gesture of Rajini with claps and whistling in the first half, the second half evoked a robotic reaction. In the hugely mounted climax, we would have liked to see Rajini the actor emote. Instead, he is just another cog in the techno wheel, consumed by Shankar's desire to be India's Steven Spielberg.
Chitti in the end, admits he is Aishwarya's toyfriend, not boyfriend. The problem with `Enthiran' is that it too is like a toy that has been overwound.
But despite all its flaws,Endhiran is a very watchable film. Even if just for those five seconds of the typical Rajini walk in slow motion in the Kaadhal Anukkal number. It is amazing how a 60-year-old gets more of an ovation than the former Miss World.
And the hard work Rajini has put into the film shows. He looks very good and carries the film entirely on his shoulders. I only wish his look in the lavishly shot `Kilimanjaro' song didn't remind one of how he looked in Baba. Since Baba was a black sheep in Rajini's magnificent CV.
Do watch it for the special effects and for the scale of Shankar's vision. And of course Thalaivar. And Aishwarya looks gorgeous. All the others characters in the film are irrelevant, there only to fill up the empty space.
But may I also suggest you carry cotton for the ears. You are quite likely to need it in the second half.
P.S. Thalaivar, now that `Enthiran' is behind you, you owe films like Thalapathi and Badsha to your fans. Rajini, the actor, Vazhga !
Like everyday, Chennai got up early on 01.10.10. But instead of heading to the Mylapore Kabaleeswara temple, it went to Kasi `temple' much before 5 am. Where Lord Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, also known as Rajinikanth, has been consecrated as the presiding deity. This is the `speed 1 tera Hz memory 1 zetta byte' modern-day avatar of the Super God, providing darshan to millions of those who love him, on 2000 screens worldwide.
Carpet bombing now has three new names. Endhiran in Tamil, Robo in Telugu and `Robot' in Hindi.
Like all of director Shankar's films, the scale and canvas of Endhiran is huge. Or calling it HUGE would be more apt.
Rajini has worked overtime in Endhiran. He is the not just the hero of the film. As Chitti, the robot, Rajini also plays the comic part. And as Chitti, the reincarnated robot, he is also the villain of the film. The bad guy has hundreds of sidekicks, who are also Rajini. For fans who can never get enough of their Superhero, he is all over the screen, literally. Paisa vasool for diehard fans of the superstar. Those familiar with the dynamics of the Tamil film industry would say Rajini has out-Kamaled his closest screen rival Kamal Haasan, whose ten roles in Dasavatharam were a landmark.
Ironically, for a film that is India's most futuristic till date, Shankar has turned the clock back by 35 years on the superstar. Rajini who started his career as the bad guy in the mid 70s, plays the antagonist to good effect. And just like in the past, he makes the bad guy look more interesting and stylish than the hero, who seems quite a wimp.
Shankar loves gizmos and in Endhiran, he has been pampered excessively by Sun Pictures' Kalanithi Maran, for who sky (even without Spicejet !) is quite literally the limit. The quality of special effects used in the film, are the kind never seen before in Indian cinema and certainly raise the bar. The hard work put in by the crew, both actors and technicians, is visible in every frame. It is flawless, seamless and perfect.
``In this world, only two people are perfect,'' says Chitti the villain to Sana (Aishwarya Rai). "Me and you''.
Both aren't. Chitti, corrupted by crook-scientist Bohra (Danny Dengzonpa), has to be eliminated and Aishwarya doesn't think twice before cheating in a medical exam, a la Munnabhai MBBS.
It is Shankar who is attempting to be perfect. A film, where everything, from sets, animation, action to costumes, make-up and cinematography, aims to be perfect. The focus, like in all of Shankar's films, is on the opulence. The director, it would seem, wanted to prove that it can't get bigger than this for a Rajini movie. The real biggie of course is the 160 crore rupees budget, that makes Endhiran the costliest film made in India.
And therein lies the problem. Shankar has sacrificed substance for form. The comedy fails to tickle beyond a few feeble laughs (the Amman scene is hilarious though), despite having an actor like Rajini, whose sense of comic timing is legendary. Having decided to invest in awesome special effects, he goes overboard with it. Like the scene with the mosquitoes, literally sucks.
So much so that in the second half, you just want it to end now. The cacophony, mindless destruction of cars, ruthless killing, the Rajinis in the shape of a huge snake that cannot be vanquished, all in the name of a sci-fi movie fail to sustain interest. Excite it does initially, but then it becomes like a loud video game that refuses to pause.
If the Tamil audience at Prasads multiplex in Hyderabad, where I watched the film, greeted every move and gesture of Rajini with claps and whistling in the first half, the second half evoked a robotic reaction. In the hugely mounted climax, we would have liked to see Rajini the actor emote. Instead, he is just another cog in the techno wheel, consumed by Shankar's desire to be India's Steven Spielberg.
Chitti in the end, admits he is Aishwarya's toyfriend, not boyfriend. The problem with `Enthiran' is that it too is like a toy that has been overwound.
But despite all its flaws,Endhiran is a very watchable film. Even if just for those five seconds of the typical Rajini walk in slow motion in the Kaadhal Anukkal number. It is amazing how a 60-year-old gets more of an ovation than the former Miss World.
And the hard work Rajini has put into the film shows. He looks very good and carries the film entirely on his shoulders. I only wish his look in the lavishly shot `Kilimanjaro' song didn't remind one of how he looked in Baba. Since Baba was a black sheep in Rajini's magnificent CV.
Do watch it for the special effects and for the scale of Shankar's vision. And of course Thalaivar. And Aishwarya looks gorgeous. All the others characters in the film are irrelevant, there only to fill up the empty space.
But may I also suggest you carry cotton for the ears. You are quite likely to need it in the second half.
P.S. Thalaivar, now that `Enthiran' is behind you, you owe films like Thalapathi and Badsha to your fans. Rajini, the actor, Vazhga !
