Jailer - Superstar Rajinikanth announces his comeback in style with this slick entertainer.
Superstar Rajinikanth has always had huge success with the underdog breaking into larger-than-life persona stories. In fact, he pioneered this template with his iconic film 'Baashha' and started a new trend for don movies in Kollywood. Now, the legendary actor is back in a similar storyline in his 169th outing, 'Jailer,' directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. The highly anticipated movie, produced by Sun Pictures, has a musical score by Anirudh Ravichander. Has Jailer managed to pull off the Rajini magic with his trademark storyline?
We are introduced to the menacing villain Varman (Vinayakan) running an idol smuggling crime network in the underworld. Meanwhile, Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth) lives happily with his family in Chennai. He spends his time helping his six-year-old grandson (Rithvik) run a YouTube channel. Muthuvel's son Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) is an Assistant Commissioner and a very straightforward officer who fears none. He's been on to track down Varma's idol smuggling network for years by then. To everyone's fear, Arjun doesn't return home and Muthuvel Pandian goes in search of him asking his higher officers and visiting the person who Arjun had recently arrested in the idol smuggling case to seek an answer about his missing son, only to find out that Arjun is killed by the notorious gang. Muthuvel Pandiyan unleashes his old instincts and goes on a killing spree to avenge his late son. He dethrones Varman easily, thanks to his legendary past. In a shocking turn, he finds out that he's still out there. Varman places an impossible task on Muthuvel Pandian. The latter unite forces to make his side strong by seeking help from his old-time friends before a final face-off with Varman and his gang. Whether his family was reunited is what Jailer is all about.
Superstar Rajinikanth is back in style to captivate the audience with his charisma following a few setbacks. Thalaivar has owned this film more than any other person who worked on it. He brings the theatre roofs down whenever he appears in a mass scene and he is also able to make the audience enjoy his one-liners and humour. Vinayakan is the next best performer in the film. He played a befitting villain for Thalaivar, who is deadly, devastating and proud even when Superstar outsmarts him. Vasanth Ravi has done a neat job as Rajinikanth's son while Yogi Babu, Jaffer Sadiq, VTV Ganesh, Rithvik and some others took care of the comic relief very well. Finally, the top stars Shiva Rajkumar, Mohanlal and Jackie Shroff know very well to steal the show with limited screen time. Ramya Krishnan, Mirnaa, Tamannaah and Sunil had done what they were asked to do.
The best thing about Jailer is how it uses Thalaivar Rajinikanth's strengths to the fullest. The 'Rajini magic' is perfectly worked out by creator Nelson in this action entertainer. The superstar moments were penned very skillfully starting from the initial mass scene where he answers a phone call saying dinosaur to the climax scene that brings back the Baashaa Rajini. The direction team has made sure that the watchers are presented with a goosebumps scene at regular intervals. The container sequence, interval sequence, flashback sequence, heist sequence and climax sequence are surely going to be memorable for the fans. On the other hand, this film also brought back Rajinikanth's comedy side.
Nelson's writing was fair enough but he could have gone an extra mile to make it a peak cinema. His trademark comedy portions were on and off throughout the film. Especially, the portions with Sunil, Tamannaah and Redin Kingsley felt boring. The makers could have easily trimmed it to a more crispy flick. However, these misses were compensated well enough with the uber mass characters for Shivanna, Mohanlal and Jackie Shroff. It is impressive that these actors had solid mass moments along with the hero in a Superstar film rather than being eye candies. Also, we have to avoid seeking logic in some major proceedings of the movie to enjoy it.
Coming to the technical crew, Rockstar Anirudh is the second hero of the movie as usual. Jailer will be his second-best work for Rajinikanth after Petta. His work was top notch including the Hukum song and vera-level background scores. Lyricist Super Subu's lines were the backbone of Jailer. Director of Photography Vijay Karthik Kannan deserves a special mention for his astounding work. The film travels through various moods and yet he delivers his best in every scene. His camera work in the container sequence leaves the crowd with goosebumps. Nirmal's editing and DRK Kiran's artwork were exceptional.
Verdict: Go for this proper Superstar Rajinikanth film, which leaves you with goosebumps and entertainment.
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