The level of expectation on a particular movie depends on mainly the combination of hero and director. If a producer is able to get right combination in team, the demand for the movie increases and it gains more momentum than others. Prabhu Solomon, who is known to us (Telugu audience) for the films like Premakhaidhi and Gajaraju who is in great form with back to back hits teamed up with terrific actor Dhanush for a movie in the name of Rail having Keerthi Suresh as female lead, trailer of which seemed interesting. As it is a dubbed version of Thodari, it has certain expectations to reach considering the cast and crew. Let’s see how it works as it is releasing today in theatres.
Story
Balli Sivaji (Dhanush) is one of the pantry men in a train.He is an orphan and is brought up in the railway station. He meets with Saroja (Keerthi Suresh), a touch up girl of heroine Sireesha while delivering their orders and falls for her at the very first sight and he starts playing gimmicks to make her fall for him. She is an aspiring singer who has a very bad voice. Shivaji deceives her quoting Seetharamasastri as his friend. She falls for him by this and they are happy with each other in that journey. It all crashes when Shivaji’s false statements are revealed to Saroja by her madam which makes her to take a decision to die. Things go out of control due to some personal emotions of people and train goes overspeed where engine driver become unconscious. How this train is stopped?? How Shivaji sort out his problems with Saroja?? forms the rest of the story.
Cast and Performance
Dhanush is perfect fit as Balli Sivaji. He did this character with lot of ease and intensity. He didn’t disappoint in a single scene. Be it comedy, romance or sentiment, Dhanush has performed with ease and élan.
Keerthi Suresh is superb and is so expressive. Though she acted in a deglamorized role she looks beautiful. Thambi Ramaiah is nice and humorous. He has given a humorous relief to the movie. Karunakaran is nice who always loves to tell poems to his fellow workers. Harish Uthaman is well fit as Security Personnel of Central Minister. Radha Ravi as central minister is good. All other actors did fine job.
Writing Department
Story of this Rail is so simple and good. But screenplay is bad. Dialogues by Vennelakanti are okay.
Technical Departments
Songs composed by D Imman are good. Lyrics are not in well sync to elevate the tunes. Background score by him is so good and is so elevating. Cinematography by Vetrivel Mahendran is nice. He captured train sequences and nature so well. Editing by L V K Doss is good and should have been better. Stun Siva did fantastic job with action sequences. Production values are rich.
Highlights
- Dhanush as Balli Shivaji
- Cinematography by Vetrivel Mahendran
- Few comedy scenes in first half
Minus
- Screenplay
- Second Half
Verdict
It begins with the character introduction of Dhanush as Balli Shivaji who is a pantry man and also an orphan. This half fully relies on the comedy of Dhanush, Karunakaran and Thambi Ramaiah. At the same time love story between Dhanush and Keerthi Suresh takes place which is not fully convincing and lacks depth. Interval comes where the story goes into exciting mode. But director failed to handle the curiosity he created with the first half in the second half and it acts as a big let down. The script is very serious of type and director has succeeded in delivering comedy in the scenes. The way Dhanush & Keerthi Suresh stop the speeding train is not convincing at all. To summarise, this movie is South Indian version of Hollywood film Unstoppable.
