Kuselan

Where do i start? Is it the Merciless sabotage of such a brilliant script? Is it the absolute lunacy of Rajini coming into the movie on a winged horse? Is it the crude and tasteless comedy track that totally derails the movie? Is it the unwarranted cleavage shots and thigh shots that makes it impossible to watch with family and gives the movie a soft-porn look? Or is it the mind numbing music? Two and a half hours of this and you come out of the theater depressed, dejected and lost all hope in mankind. An iconic figure like Rajini who is supposed to set an example for younger generation actors, goes and does such a cliché. Way to go Sir. Keep this up and you will send Tamil cinema back to stone age.

Watch at your own risk.

Kuselan (2008) is one of those movies that's... not that bad. In fact, it's totally watchable-as long as you go in with the right expectations. Directed by P. Vasu, with Rajinikanth's superstar aura cranked up to eleven and everything else kind of... well, there.

The story follows Pasupathy, a humble barber (played earnestly by Pasupathy himself), who struggles to make ends meet while nursing memories of his childhood friendship with Rajinikanth's Ashok Kumar, now a mega superstar. The plot is simple and even charming in places, as it explores themes of friendship, humility, and staying grounded despite fame.

The problem? Rajinikanth. No, not him as an actor-he's as charismatic as ever-but the way the film bends over backwards to include more of his screen presence. While the original story was a quiet ode to friendship, Kuselan seems more interested in showcasing Rajini's star power through extended cameos, flashy songs, and a whole lot of slow-motion walking.

Still, the film isn't a total disaster. It has moments of heart, some genuinely funny comedy (thanks to Vadivelu), and a message that almost lands if you squint hard enough. Plus, Rajini fans will find plenty to cheer for, even if it's just the novelty of watching him as a fictionalized version of himself.

Kuselan might not win any awards for subtlety or originality, but it's watchable if you're in the mood for a half-hearted tribute to friendship wrapped in a superstar fanfare. Sure, it could've been better, but hey, at least it's not unwatchable. Right?

Close to almost one year after the release of 'Sivaji' super star Rajnikanth has come up with 'Kuselan' this season, in which he has played a cameo and not the usual kind of swashbuckling hero. For that matter, he appears as himself, not exactly as Rajnikanth but as a screen-superstar, Vijaykumar. As the promos rightly proclaimed, he looks his youthful best, his slim figure and ever-impressive style, giving him a cutting edge.

Still, basking in the glory of his earlier hit 'Chandramukhi' which actually resurrected the stardom and stature of the super-star, writer director P. Vasu , appears to have toiled hard to essay and execute the screenplay in such a manner that it would appeal to the hard-core fans of the super-star who have gone global in the recent times.

A remake of 'Katha Parayumbol' a sweeping success story in Malayalam Kuselan (a prompt title!) narrates the tale of two friends- one a sizzling screen star and the other a poor barber struggling and suffering to make his end meet. His misery is ceremoniously shared by his understanding wife Sridevi (Meena, quite a neat portrayal, though after along while!) and three children.

Well, the Malayalam original may not have inspired from the mythological story of the historical friendship between Lord Krishna and Kuselan but the Tamil version certainly appears to have been, at least with respect to the title.

The fact that their favorite matinée idol makes a belated entry almost in the third reel may not exactly find favor with his die –hard fans but then even before this flick was launched, it was announced that Rajni will only be doing a guest role. But otherwise, his fans would be delighted to see their screen icon in a variety of colorful costumes (that actually fit him like a T!) he also appears in a song or two one of them has been dedicated to 75 years of cinema. Surprising, there are no stunts at all and the super-star does not even raise a finger here! While Rajnikanth has nothing much to do a tall most of the time in the movie, appearing and disappearing as though he is walking a romp but he walks away with the honors in the last 10 minutes. A neat underplay by the superstar in the climax. A subdued performance that is truly stunning. Though he is not the films protagonist in the technical sense, he simply walks away with the honors in the closing portions, Pasupathi records a remember-worthy portrayal not with standing the fact that it is the super-star against whom he has been pitted who is his co-stat playing his childhood pal.

Nayanthara provides the glamour quotient but otherwise cuts a sorry-figure. Vadivelu's comedy track is unimaginative and could appeal only to the front benchers, his animated expressions while watching his wife exercising as also in the scene where he gapes at Nayanthara who is at the dressing-table are far from being satisfactory. Livingston and his men fail to create an impact.

P. Vasu lines are thought –provoking at places. Instead of mom, dad, guru and god it should have been mom, dad, guru friend and god-says the super-star at one point. A point to ponder, certainly.

Prakash Kumar's music is good without being outstanding Kusekan, a good friend, indeed!

Even before release, kuselan made big hype in Indian cinema industry. It's audio sales broke all previous records. We all know the reason for all these hypes, that is the SUPERSTAR RAJINI.

I saw the movie in the second day of its release in bangalore. The movie does not fail to meet the hype it had created. We have seen Rajini as a superhero who will destroy all the devils and save the world. But this is completely the another side of this great actor. He appears in the screen only in the 40th minute and his total role will be only for half an hour including 2 songs.

It is nice to see Rajini as himself in the screen (only the name is changed to Ashokkumar). Most of the scenes depict his real life. He is not doing any strles, not giving any punch dialogues, fighting with the gudas, but still attracts everyone. In the climax school function speech, he made everyone cry. You can notice that when everyone comes out of the theater. It has been long back Rajini made us to cry, the last time i think it is in Mannan ("Amma endru azhaikkadha" song).

Other than Rajini, the movie has lot of weaknesses. Meena is not acceptable as a poor barber's wife (her lipstick, makeup, her sarees will tell you why). Vadivelu's comedy is irritating most of the time. Nayanthara comes only for that glamour song (most audience went out for smoking). Pasupathy has done a decent job, but still he should have done little better.

Inspite of all these weaknesses, a single mega factor compensates all. That is RAJINI.

If you are a die-hard Rajini fan, don't expect a lot from him (dance, fight and punch dialogues). It is not a Rajini film, a film which tells the greatness of friendship. My rating will be 7/10.

It could have been so much better,if they have taken it like the Malayalam film,only rajnikanth is saving this boring flick,because of the poor comedy from vadivel and others...the director should have used the original script,and should not have added extra comedy scenes...mainly by vadivel and livingston.....santhanam comes up with some good crackers..he doesn't disappoint here...pasupathy has done a great job...but his acting often makes us to remember veyil....meena doesn't look like her family is poor...she has over make up...which is not suiting her character...Arvind Krishna's camera is excellent...G.V.Prakash's music is average.....only 2 numbers are good in his tracks..Climax is touching....Kuselan is one time watchable..