'KOCHADAIIYAAN' - OWNER's - pride... VIEWERS - Little to envy!!

The usual intense factor was missing... The celebrations were a little muted... The milling crowd wasn’t there... it looked like an opening show of a contemporary big star not of Rajinikanth the “Superstar”. There was a mood of acceptance among the crowd from 6-60 who had gathered there... You could only see loyalty there... Loyalty to their idol who had given them a million reasons to cheer and it was their turn to show him gratitude... to him and his family…

Kochadaiiyaan Movie Review

‘Kochadaiiyaan’ begins with the journey of a young kid meandering in the water and it doesn’t take long for you to realize the minimal impact the technology will have on you. As the story progresses you clearly predict the outcome and this is where ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ falters more than the technology. The script and the narration are weak. The movie is so light till the interval that you might not be scorned at if you look around to see what others are doing...Its post interval that the movie picks up pace when ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ finally arrives. As with many Rajinikanth movies it’s his flash back that provides the impetus and ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ almost delivers... The climax is OK.

The characters in the movie do their job. It goes without saying that Rajinikanth gets special treatment and deservingly so. The others do their job effectively. The much touted technology though promising doesn’t deliver much. That is in no way demeaning the director. On a shoe string budget, limited time and resource what has been delivered is praiseworthy. The ideation, the concept and the nativity deserve plaudits. Had the script writing been stronger and tighter ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ could have overcome the technology deficit with aplomb. That doesn’t take away the efforts of the cinematographer, sound director and the music director. The cinematography by Padmesh is splendid and so is the BGM, couple of songs of Rahman work well. The two multiply the efforts of the rest to a higher level. The dialogue in the movies, a crucial part of all Rajinikanth movies is a little above average. The dialogue delivery is commendable and this is one reason why you still see the Rajini halo behind his characters in the movie. Nagesh, though wonderful to see him brought alive on the big screen is sad to be seen typecast and at times a minor irritant. Deepika is amazing even in technology and the rest are more than adequate.

‘Kochadaiiyaan’ is about Rajinikanth. The power of this huge star to draw his fans and their emotions to the theatre despite acknowledging the deficit of the “real” he is seen to be believed. What’s striking is the expectation of his countless fans to rather see the real him animate on the big screen than accept him as a caricature who animates. Yet fans drove in lakhs to watch him. Perhaps only he could have brought this technology on an Indian screen so early. To most of his contemporaries it would have been a disaster in the making. For that sheer belief in his legion of his fans and his support to his brave daughter ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ deserves the applause. There is no point in comparing ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ with the Hollywood biggies. 1/10th in budget and time should consider that fraction for comparison. Some places ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ is very amateurish and it doesn’t require digital eyes to see the flaws. It’s the first step towards something bigger and better in Indian cinema. It’s about an attempt, a brave one at that and a prequel to something spectacular that we can. The producers of the movie ought to receive special mention for their courage and so do the entire cast and the team of the movie for their support. It requires just a bigger heart to accept it as a pioneering effort in Indian cinema, a heart as big as the Superstar’s...