Kaala - பெரும் மகிழ்ச்சி

This is what I wrote after watching Kabali FDFS,  மகிழ்ச்சி, சற்று குறைவே. But, Kaala was பெரும் மகிழ்ச்சி. This is the Rajini movie I should have watched in the early morning FDFS show. It was very surprising that Rajini wanted to do another movie with Ranjith. I was happy to know that at least Rajini himself was happy doing a Kabali. And, Ranjith didn't really disappoint the Rajini fan as well as director Ranjith's fan in me. I feel this is the most balanced Rajini-Ranjith movie we can get.

It was like Ranjith heard every comment about Kabali and decided to do something about it. Right from the voice-over at the start of Kabali, I felt Ranjith's voice didn't suit and it was replaced here. Then, the cast, everyone complained about Ranjith is using the same faces in all his movies. So, he went for some fresh combinations here and it worked well. Then, the weak villain in Kabali, who was no match at all for the Superstar and he gets Nana here and their combination scenes sets the screen on fire. And, everybody felt the portions where Rajini travels in search of his wife was too stretched, though I liked it. Kabali had too many assassination attempts on Rajini and none were powerful. Even here there were a few, but each one was handled really well. Here, he does give enough space for some sentiments, but doesn't overdo it. And, the final product was one of the best of Rajini and also Ranjith's as well. 

Let's talk about the ladies in the movie, Ranjith brings back Eswari Rao and what a power packed role and she aces it with an fantastic performance as Selvi which matches Rajini. Her first scene was enough to show her power, a long scene (single shot ?) which introduces us to the whole Kaala family, mind you his family was really big. As the lyric in Thanga Sela song says, "Nee illati naan onnum illa", it was really evident, wasn't written just for the song. Then, we get a reunion of ex-lovers with an amazing song Kanamma with Huma Qureshi, I really felt she was too young to be Kaala's ex, but she wasn't just for the song though. She was very much part of the movie, so is Anjali Patil. The way Anjali says, "oh you really want me to bow before my in laws", just thought how "Padayappa" would have reacted to that :D :D. Kudos to Ranjith for writing these roles in a Rajini movie.

Then, the next big thing is SaNa's songs and scores. Man, he just continues his terrific form from Kabali with his non-Rajini-but-Ranjith style sounds. When we get that Katravai Patravai in the climax it was terrific and so is his other BGMS especially for that rain fight. And, the way Ranjith uses Rap again was really too good like that "nikkal nikkal" before the interval. 

And, Rajini was at ease here as Kaala, once again he surrenders himself to the director. The opening scene itself, he doesn't hit a six, he gets out without scoring a run of the final ball. Then, even after that famous "Kya re, setting ah" scene we didn't get a mass fight scene, his son and others saves him. And, then we get to see "mass" rain fight, just like the famous Badshah, after enough waiting. That was easily the theatre moment of this year. And, his "I love you di" scenes with Selvi and his awkward scene with Serina, keeps reminding us about the Rajini the performer. And, the "Kumaru, yaar ivaru" scene, waah.

The villain Nana Patekar, his uncanny resemblance to you-know-who and his scheme's name "Pure Mumbai", his favorite god Ram everything points very clearly who he is and Ranjith doesn't hold anything back he tells you everything clear about whom he wants to project as villain. It was surprising that Rajini accepted it, cos he was the one who rejected Mudalvan.

Ranjith's very clear about what should he talk about and for whom he should talk about. And, also what are all the cliches that should be changed, like Kabali wearing a coat or the name Kabali itself. Here, the color black and white and what they represent.

At the end of the movie, my only question "Does the Real Rajinikanth saw the Reel Rajinikanth's Kaala?"