This is the week of the release of the most-awaited movies of the season.
‘Kochadaiiyaan’ is one such movie which has been in the pipeline for very long.
Rajinikanth is back on screen after a gap of 4 years.
Is he able to make an impression this time? Read on for Kochadaiiyaan Movie Review
Plot:
Rana (Rajinikanth), the leader of warriors in Kalingapuri, cons the king and switches sides to Kottaipattinam with the warriors.
It is later revealed that he did that to fulfil his dad Kochadaiyaan’s (Rajinikanth again) last wish. He also has a reason to take revenge on the king of Kottaipattinam Rishikodagan (Nassar). Will he succeed doing it?
Watch the film to know the answer.
Performances and Technical Aspects:
The movie has employed motion capture technology. So the entire film was shot inside a studio and all actions and reactions of the actors were captured by 48 cameras placed at various angles.
Even though it was shot in a studio, the performances still form an integral part of the film.
Thalaivar Rajnikanth plays his part with ease and his animated avatar is as believable as real-life avatar.
Deepika Padukone brings a breath of fresh air on the screen and is pleasant to watch. However, she could have looked better.
Sarathkumar looked more like Sarath Babu in the movie.
Rukmini, Shobana, Aadhi and Jackie Shroff have short but vital roles, which they have done well.
Veteran actor Nasser has been brought out almost perfectly in the animated form. He has a strong role in the film, but his characterization looks little dodgy towards the end.
Kudos to the team for bringing in Nagesh, and it looks like a tribute to the veteran actor.
Technically, there is a lot to talk about in this movie!
Soundarya, daughter of Rajnikanth has managed to put together a visual delight! Her direction stands out.
It is anyway an honour to direct Rajinikanth, but Soundarya has gone a step further by creating an animated version of him, which will stand the test of time. The movie ends with a small twist, which might pave way for a sequel.
The Motion Capturing, Music and Camera work are the technical highlights of the film!
Made at a budget and time frame which cannot be compared with Hollywood films, one cannot expect the movie to be technically flawless.
What works in favour of the movie is that the team has given maximum attention to replicate Rajinikanth’s style and mannerisms. For instance, in one scene, Rajinikanth shuffles an elephant toy between his hands. The particular scene reminds us of the Rajinikanth we have seen in the 1990s. On the flip side, certain nuances like eye ball movements and emotions are not convincingly conveyed via motion capture technology.
AR Rahman’s music increases the tempo of the film, especially during the ‘Rudra Thandavam’ and ‘Ship fight’ sequences. It is always not easy for a music director to complement the extra-ordinary animated visuals. But, AR Rahman has managed to do it with terrific orchestration.
Rajiv Menon brings out the close-up shots of Rajinikanth so authentically that those scenes virtually sends fans into a frenzy mode.
Editing by Anthony is crisp, ensuring a running length of under 2 hours.
The movie’s screenplay is written by KS Ravikumar and it is surprising to see him come up with a period story. He has made sure that the movie has enough twists to keep you engaged. The dialogues are crisp and truly in Rajinikanth’s style.
Hawk-Eye Analysis:
A lot was riding on Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadaiiyaan’, as it happens to be India’s first motion capture photo-realistic 3D animated film.
However, the movie is well-executed,which means many film makers would be using this style in the coming years.
Rajinikanth’s trademark mannerisms have been captured well. When he walks during the introduction song with SPB’s song in the background, you might just forget that you are watching an animated avatar of Superstar. If ‘Rana’ character showcases a charming and energetic Rajinikanth, ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ character showcases the vintage Rajinikanth.
The ‘Rudra Thandavam’ dance sequence is a sheer delight to watch.
Rajinikanth’s magnetic voice is the biggest plus point of the film and the audience will go gaga over his punch-lines.
Coming to the story, well, initially it seems like a typical simplistic revenge fantasy (a son avenging his father’s death) but as the plot progresses, we realize it is a bit more complex than that.
The film actually ends by leaving its lead character in a moral dilemma.
His family has served the king and protected him for generations but now, the son has acted otherwise. What fate does his action beget him? What happened to Rana’s elder brother who has vanished mysteriously? Where is his friend who abdicated the throne to marry the girl he loved and chose to leave his kingdom? Will the enemy prince that Rana let live return?
With such interesting questions, Soundarya has set the stage for a deserving sequel.
Final Verdict:
Overall, this is an experiment film for sure.
But if you’re looking out for something new this weekend, do go ahead and watch this film!
Indeed a must-watch for Rajnikanth’s fans!