There is something about today's Kollywood directors (hailing from an industry known for some of the most splendid and realistic movies) that is sucking them into dishing out formula: it could be out-of-sync comedy or anything. What else explains the reducing of slice-of-life screenplay elements of the first half into a caricature in the second half?
Set in the backdrop of a train journey, 'Rail' tells the story of Balli Sivaji (Dhanush) and Saroja (Keerthy Suresh), a caterer and a touch-up girl respectively. Balli and Saroja are low-class workers thrown into a life-threatening situation when Delhi-Chennai Express goes out of control and there is none to save it from zooming into catastrophe. In the process, they find solace in their love for each other.
With romance and comedy as the key, the train chugs along with no big incidents for the first 40 minutes until Radharavi (as funnily frustrated Central minister who has too many complaints against his bosses) and Harish Uttaman (as an egomaniacal NSG commando) enter. Balli has a bad hair day with the commando and this could mean he and his sweet heart (Saroja) could fall in danger. Meanwhile, a group of bandits force their way into the train. Once the train goes out of control, it's a roller-coaster ride.
In what may be called a farce of a screenplay, the film takes the route of a theatre of the absurd on Television driving the story for a good part of the second half! Just because TV channels have adjudged an unarmed, petrified Saroja as a terrorist, would a competent cop (played by Ganesh Venkatraman) waste time inquiring her? Characters using the right jargon (related to railways) and such things are no substitute to gravitas. Decoupling of bogeys is something that would be the first resort of an emergency team. The director should have showed it as something impossible to be had till the nick of the moment.
The focus on comedy is too much. Thambi Ramayya in the role of a self-glorifying catering head falls into trouble either because of Balli or others (comedian Karunakaran, among others). But is this an idea to be used even in the second half? Radharavi's comedy, however, is balanced. The TV circus could have been handled better.
'Rail' can be tolerated for the good technical output, be it the background music or cinematography. As for graphics, it's a lame output.
Dhanush doesn't make an impact mainly because his character remains a footnote till the climax. His unsophisticated comportment is a treat to watch, though. Keerthy Suresh gets to play a deglam role with aplomb. She is utterly convincing in the role of a wannabe singer who doesn't realize she is a pathetic singer. The way she behaves, her costumes - everything befits her identity of a girl from a poor background.
Thambi Ramayya, Radharavi, Ganesh Venkatraman and others do a good job.
Verdict: 'Rail' is a thriller and a romance. Whereas the story line has the right caliber, the screenplay has too many formula-driven lacunae. In the name of comedy, logic and seriousness are thrown to the wind. Keerthy Suresh takes the cake as the best performer. Dhanush is just OK.
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