In 'Kaala', the villain worships the not-so-deified Sri Rama and the hero is likened to this good guy called Ravana. Yes, you read it right. The climax uses this subtext very prominently. The symbolism is the stuff of Marxist narrative that has no basis whatsoever in facts, ethics or commonsense.

For all we know, the Rajinikanth movie has come to be described as an anti-Hindutva film. Says Sagi, "Sincere and essential anti-establishment (anti-Hindutva) film. If 'Attakathi' was Dalit lives, 'Madras' was Dalit politics, 'Kabali' was Dalit assertion, and 'Kaala' is land assertion. Incredibly good final stretch."

Adios AB opines," If Anurag Kashyap's 'Mukkabaaz' was about the oppressed fighting the system to win a battle, then Ranjith's 'Kaala' is about fighting the system to win a war. Ranjith effectively uses Rajinikanth as the mouthpiece for his most politically charged film to date. Unlike Kashyap, Ranjith's political symbolisms are in-your-face. From Manu to communism to Ram and Ravana, Ranjith pulls no punches in showing his beliefs on screen."

Humanist writes, "HD Kumaraswamy must be some genius to block an anti saffron movie. Had Siddaramiah been CM, he would have released it with glee."