Sivaji
Writing a preview for Sivaji is a daunting task as it is arguably the biggest film ever made in Tamil.
Rajinikanth, Shankar, AR Rahman and AVM, as a combination there is none to better this in Tamil filmdom.
Now that Sivaji is confirmed for a release on May 31, Sivaji craze is at its highest, even higher than the ever-soaring temperatures in Tamil Nadu.
So where do we start the preview, what do we tell which hasn't been told?
As it is, hard news about Shankar's movies are hard to come by. It is doubly so in the case of Sivaji.
The movie has been the talk of the town what with the biggest marquee names in Kollywood (Rajini, Shankar, A R Rahman), and some of the most talented technicians like cameraman K V Anand, editor Anthony, art director Thotta Tharani, writer Sujatha, choreographers Raju Sundaram, Larencce and Brinda, and costume designer Manish Malhotra have figuring in it
Grand, style and slickness are the words being associated with the movie. It is not just the most expensive film ever made in Tamil cinema but also the movie to be released with maximum number of prints.
Shriya plays the female lead. Suman, Prakash Raj, Manivannan and Vivek are also in the cast.
Sivaji was short extensively in Hyderabad, Pune, Spain and USA.
Nothing much is known about Sivaji except that Rajini plays Sivaji, the Boss.
Shankar has always made films on social issues. If the story of Sivaji is anything like Anniyan where the protagonist fought against injustice in society, Sivaji can be more explosive.
The story has some broad contours surrounding the educational scenario in the country.
On being part of a Rajinikanth film, Shriya says, "It was project which had all the big names in Tamil film industry. When Shankar offered me the role, I immediately grabbed it with both hands since I am a great fan of Rajinikanth. Shankar is one of the few in film industry who knows exactly what he is doing. He thinks big and executes them big on screen".
For her, acting with Rajini was a great learning experience. "He (Rajinikanth) is always ready to learn, very approachable, ready to help others and is always smiling. The child in him is very alive", she says.
The film's music is already a big draw. A R Rahman has managed to combine his techno virtuosity to match the mass expectations of Rajini fans. It is a big achievement. Some of his songs are a rage. The Shana song is perhaps the anthem of the season. The Ballelakka number will have his fans dancing in the aisles for long.
Shankar has worked around the looks of Rajini. The superstar, as is well-known, is not much of an 'experimenter' when it comes to make-up or hair-do. But for Sivaji he seems to have run that extra mile to come across in a new form.
Manish Malhotra, who has worked his magic on such Bollywood beauties, was roped in to work his undoubted skill on Rajinikanth.
The effort seems to have paid of. For, Rajini looks at his smartest best and thoroughly refreshed and relaxed.
Rajini has gone in for a variety of hair styles, too. In one of the stills, he sports the typical Rajini look - hair parted low on left-side with a huge swathe rakishly falling over the forehead on the other side.
Remember, this is the style with which the urban legend of Rajini was born? Whenever he ran his hand casually across the hair and tossed it with practiced insouciance, blood coursed across fans' veins fast and furious. Rajini has a few portions with his now familiar parted-on-the-middle back-combed middle-aged metro look.
The most intriguing presence is,<