Kaala

Kaala is a movie where I don't agree with the core philosophy of communism or glorifying a monster like Raavan but I still rate this movie as high because you don't have to agree with the director's viewpoint to appreciate a well made movie. The cast is brilliantly picked and given meaty roles, no mannequins here for item song and fashion parades, dignified ladies with a mind of their own.Rajinikanth and Nana Patekar are like wine who seem get better with age.The screen presence Rajinikanth has is unmatched by any of the heroes North or South. If you are expecting a mass entertainment movie please avoid this and if you are expecting Thalaivar to do punch dialogues/ impossible stunts, please avoid it. But if you are looking for a well made, well-acted movie with a good storyline this is really a watch.Music is a very big letdown though, "Neruppu da" seems to be a fluke by the music director.

First of all, wasn't expecting much as usual. The best things about this movie is the visual, which is very good and that is the end of it. First half is full of love clichés, lot of unnecessary and irrelevant scenes. Second half is bit okish with good visual effects, typical Pa Ranjith style with realistic scenes and a that. Nothing much is addressed in the film except castism and still wondering what was human Qureshi's role in the film, such a waste it was and she didn't even make justice to the role.

#Kaala what a matured mass movie !! ..Rajini...what an actor..!! many good moments and dialogues throughout!!

Few other chars are impressive too..sema villain...sema bgm.. !!

As a Rajini fan,u will feel the joy inside and could have the hangover for at;east till the next day ..what an entertainer Thalaivar for 40 years !!!

The king is back. everything was positive except one may feel rajinikanth punch was needed more in a few scenes

Kaala, while an improvement over Kabali, doesn't really know how to project Rajinikanth in the Thalapathi like avatar where we last saw a perfect blend of mass and class.

Here, Ranjith follows Nayagan's episode of the Sait-ji trying to tear down the slums (this case, Dharavi) for land opportunities, and makes it the crux of the film. While it sounds promising on paper, the total duration of 2.46 hours doesnt not take this idea and revolutionize the fights, struggles and politics behind it until you're done sitting through the Kaala-Zareena-Selvi love triangle shoehorned in for effect for about half an hour (though honestly, Eswari Rao as Selvi is damn good, you wonder why Huma Querishi's role exists in the first place.)

After sitting through a pointless love triangle, we see Nana Patekar (in a more muted role despite flashes of his brilliance) posing as a Modi/BjP like figure trying to (again) do what the Sait-ji did in Nayagan. The rest of the film shuffles between Kaala-isms, Ranjith-symbolisms & the eleventh hour ladais which should have been built up somewhat in the first place.

I really don't know how hard it is to write a good Rajnikanth film. I expected at least a Thalapathi like sensibility while opting for a Madras like execution. Instead we are left confused. People who oppose BjP sentiments will adore this film, people who are Superstar fans will be let down. People who are Ranjith fans will be left satisfied. Things are shoehorned in and rushed (barring the Umbrella goondagiri fight) till that Holi-like climax.

It almost feels like after Kabali bombed, Dhanush wanted a do-over and brought the two together, instead, Dhanush offered script compromises (love triangle, umberla fight, usual punch scenes, etc.) which feels like an executive meddled film overall (please see VIP-2 for reference.) And why in this day and age, are we dubbing over Non-Tamil villians in Tamil?

See it on stream if anything else.