All things you loved about Superstar are back.
1. Youthful zest: Superstar looks young yet again! Yay!
2. SPB Intro song: Thank you, Devuda!
3. P-P-Paambu sentiment: Snakes ought to be a part of Superstar comedy, so here it is!
4. Return of the native: Superstar always is the son of the soil. Either, he’s a village simpleton or a highly educated youth back from the States, lured home by the smell of the soil. After a string of films playing simpleton, he’s back to his Rajathi Raja days.
5. Friendship sentiment: Prabhu replaces Sarath Babu as the eternal best friend that Superstar will give his own life for. Superstar is always the nanban, the thozhan, the thalapathy!
6. Englees: Nothing works like Superstar English. How is it?? Super! In this one, Superstar throws some psychoanalytical jargon too! Too much ya!
7. Kick the sidekick comedy: Remember Superstar kicking Chinni Jayanth everytime he said ‘Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaan’ in Raja Chinna Roja? Or him getting Senthil into trouble for wearing his silk shirt? This time, it is Vadivelu’s turn. What surprises me is the level of double meaning dialogues in a Superstar movie, that too uttered by Superstar himself! Hmmm!!
8. Special effects: Ha ha ha ha ha! Superstar surely seems to be obsessed with special effects involving a kite… Here we go again! Kidding actually, here it’s just for a song and it works! Oh, and the Matrix style fight sequences. Now… if they don’t give that kind of build-up for Superstar, who will they give it for! Besides, they are called Special effects cuz Superstar uses these effects!
9. Song Picturisation: Pichitaanga!! Super! Excellently wonderfully beautifully choreographed and shot sequences and awesome songs!
10. Timing, style, flair, charisma, magic.
However, what it does not have:
1. No solid punchlines: Superstar seems to have gone on a peace mission. No attacks on anyone! Disappointing!
2. Subdued style: Very very underplayed this time around. No smoking at all, which is a good thing!
3. Fight in the climax! But hey, we are forgetting that it’s afterall an adaptation of ‘Manichitrathazhu’ which never had a single fight scene!
How it compares to the original:
No comparison. Different genres. Different sensibilities. Those who loved the original need to understand that before running down this simpler, dramatised version. Manichitrathazhu is indeed India’s best made thriller and will remain so. The beauty of that film lies in the narrative that explores with great detail the supernatural and the scientific aspects of a person possessed by the spirit of the dancer who died ages ago. The beauty of this film lies in the fact that P.Vasu actually managed to simply such a complicated fascinating tale and easily comprehensible by the lowest common denominator in the audience, by converting this into a typical Superstar movie with all the masala! No easy task this!
Oh, there’s also this small mood piece I wrote after watching the movie noon show on the first day of release. This story appeared today.
Gotta watch this more than once. As it comes in the ‘Devuda’ song… ‘REPEATU’!
MADRAS INK. 
It is impossible to explain the craze for Rajnikanth in the state of TN. I can understand the auto drivers, road side romeos and such like fawning over him but how can highly educated and aware people idolize him to such ridiculous extents?? Any views are welcome. Can’t believe I would ever read a review of a movie written in such a manner anywhere else
Dude,
Your review rocks. I have forwarded the link to all my friends. Would you believe it if I tolf you that the first day first show is sold out in US?
In all the cities, it is sold out. I had to book my tickets in US 2 weeks in advance.
The king will rule. (Period)
– A
Exactly the feelings which I had!
But I really miss the Superstar punch! When this is the case with me, I guess it will be hard to take for the front bench audience. I feel the movie rocks…but pleasing those who whistle and clap is going to be hard I guess.
We used the samt blog title for our reviews!!! Lol!!!
Anyways, great review! You’ve hit the nail right on the head. He rocks!
You spoke about how the tamil movie is simplified. Doesn’t that mean its dumbed down? Or to go a step further, doesn’t it mean that its an assault on more refined sensibilities? (again ‘refined’ is a relative term, i agree. :-P)
dear anon,
you can actually read review of a movie written in such a manner in at least one other place i know.
http://vinodg.blogspot.com
and tell me, what use is education if its gonna make u a total snob with a stick way too up ur ass, bitch!
long time since i swore at stupid ass guests! now i feel good again! 🙂
Dear A,
America is educated country. obviously people there seem to respect what is popular culture and understand the sentiments of the masses.
long live the king!
let anonymous critics die!
praveen,
considering he plays a doc, anymore punch wud’ve robbed it of the little class it has retained even within a mass-based narrative!
im sure thalaivar will compensate with next movie!
🙂
this movie’s a good comeback vehicle for thalaivar. thats good enuff!
Vinodji!
I know. I saw ur review! Super machchi!
Also see that lotsa idiot critics are actually trying to analyse/critique a Superstar movie!!!
Let farting donkeys fart. after all, what does donkey know of camphor? (translate to tamizh!)
But thalaivar in his Devuda song has the answers to most of the “criticism.”
He sings abt role of the working class, the need to do ur work and turn deaf to what people talk!!
If only these dumb ass critics paid some attention!!
Good work thambi, keep it up!
Siddhu:
Read ur blog dude!
Extremely well written I must say! Only wish you had the wisdom that matches up your language!
How can you even think of analysing a Superstar movie? Do you know what kind of people watch his movies and what they talk and what they understand and what makes them laugh and what makes them cry?
The key to any review is to understand the purpose of communication in the context of the sender of the communication and the receivers of it and the equation of the relationship they share.
A Superstar movie is made primarily for his fan base of millions around the world.
Why would anyone complain as long as they are entertained?? and in style??
As for ur “refined sensibilities,” you must try and do something more useful for urself than watching a Rajnikant movie??
Some really funny phrases in ur review though!
Good language, bad attitude!
Thanks Sudhish. 🙂
But, I view a blog as an outlet to my self-expression. I actually was press-ganged into sitting through it,(and writing a review which went more like ‘ah vintage superstar!’) – didn’t have much of a choice! 😦
yay! joy to the world style king is back!
in thisworld filled with captains and otherwise junta… here comes the voriginal rocker back!!
thambi,
i’m only a recent fan of thalaivar. and i dont look to analyse or critique his movie (despite the fact that it deeply affected me, being a fan of manichitrathazh) but, i’m sorry, chandramukhi disappointed. esp in the lakalakalaka stuff. I know ur going to say its support to be a satire… but sorry man. Thalaivara intha paadu paduthitaangale… antha overact jothika vera…tch.
ana, first half, thalaivar intro, till interval sooper than. vadivelukku oru periya vanakkam. *romba thappa edai pottuten avare* he keeps improving with every movie…
but your enthu for this movie, i cannot find in me…:)
adhutha padi mumbai express than.
cheers!
ramya
*giggle*
Loved this post! It was a little difficult to appreciate the sentiments expressed here initially, but I got the drift! – sorry about this, but being a Mallu, I simply couldnt identify with your views until I saw something about ‘Manichitrathaazhu’! thats when the whole thing clicked and I read the review all over again!
Rajni… Need to check out this dude in closer quarters now!
Super review! When the movie is that of Superstar’s, it can’t be otherwise:D
Somehow I am terribly terribly disappointed at the lack of punch lines… oru 2-3 punch scenes at least irundhirukkanum…:(
I am really and desperately hoping that Thalaivar makes another movie soon, full of punch dialogs:)
Sudhish
Are u an alum of DAV,Annanagar?I remember a Sudhish Kamath and some murmerings of him writing for the local section of the Hindu….
And I do remember a Murugan from DAV who was House leader of one of those groups which seem so important when you are in school 😛
Anyways great blog and a varied set of reviews!!
Kalakitta thalaiva !
Hello boss,
Super review, best review for chandramukhi. Kalakeeteenga………By the way, thalaivar ippadi oru different subjectla, different rollea, heroineku importance kuduthu, pinnittaru. My fate, I saw it online. I’ll have to wait till Apr 30 for it to get released in this forbidden Cleveland. Anyways, its a great news that thalaivar is back again…………
Folks:
For thoose who think that Rajini movie is watched by just taxi drivers, keep yr “everything” shut. Because Rajini has been the inspiration of all thoose who come up in life with hardwork, and sincerity. He has taught us to be down to earth. He has taught us not to forget past. In the influence of Tamil politicians i was an aethist and it is Rajini who inspired me to love God. Just don t use these forums to spit venom on a super human being.
Very genuine review deep from your heart I guess-but only one minus as you righly said double meaning dialogues that too in Rajni’s movie was undigestible.May be they wanted a drishti
Does simpleton not mean ‘fool’? Atleast thats what Webster says..
‘ a person lacking in common sense’
ayyyyyyyyyy..yaar athu thaleevara pathi thappa solrathu.. :):)
Great Review!
True…Double Meaning dialogues were surely a “drishti” to this film.
I hope Rajini will not let this happen in his future films, that too when his films are famous with the child audiences.
– Murali