Rajinikanth stirs up a storm with ‘Kaala’

MOVIE: Kaala

CAST: Rajinikanth, Easwari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Nana Patekar, Samuthirakani DIRECTOR: Pa Ranjith

RATING: 8.5

REVIEWER: Michael Lachimiah

SUPERSTAR Rajinikanth, with his trademark swagger and ultra-smooth moves, is back again in Kaala. Director Pa Ranjith teams up with Rajinikanth yet again after Kabali and offers all Kollywood and Bollywood fans a mass Masala Rajinikanth rollercoaster of a movie! Kaala is a movie tailor made for all Rajinikanth fans and a movie that is certainly going to add more fans to an already burgeoning list.

Kaala has been released worldwide, on thousands of cinema screens, in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kanada. The movie deals with the age old problem of the fight for land, a topic that is prevalent in South Africa right now.

The story of Kaala revolves around Kaala, played by Rajinikanth, who lives with his wife Selvie, portrayed by actress Easwari Rao, who featured in the lead role in the SUN TV serial Kasturi many years ago. They have three sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Their youngest unmarried son is a social activist. They all live together in a massive slum in Dharivi, Mumbai, which has an eclectic mix of humanity who speak various dialects and live in total harmony. The people of Dharivi are protected by Kaala who, as their leader, vehemently opposes the government in destroying their settlement.

Nana Patekar plays the antagonist Hari Dhadha, a powerful politician who wants to clear the slum in Dharivi to make Mumbai a better place or so he says. But he has evil intent in achieving this goal.

Kaala is a role which is tailor made for Rajinikanth. He sashays through his character role with finesse. His magnificent on screen persona will linger in your memory even long after you have exited the theatre. Easwari Rao deserves special mention as the perfect match for Rajinikanth, as his doting wife. She is certainly going to be a much sought after actress in Kollywood after Kaala.

Nana Patekar portrays his role as the evil Hari Dhadha realistically and the veteran Bollywood actor makes his second Kollywood appearance.

The surprise package of Kaala is respected director turned actor Samuthirakani who will have you in stitches, playing Rajinikanth’s close friend and a perpetual drunk throughout the movie. Cinematographer Murali G should be singled out for his slick camera work which will have you in rapt attention throughout the movie.

Music by Santosh Narayan is a plus factor and the songs will have you tapping your feet and even moving around on your seat too!

Special mention and kudos to stunt director Dhilip Subbarayan, who has outdone himself. The stunt sequences in Kaala are jaw dropping and very realistically choreographed. The pick of the stunts is in the second half, where the crash scene is captured in such a manner that you gasp in shock and cringe as if you are a part of it.

Young director Pa Ranjith shows his brilliant talent yet again in offering the discerning moviegoer a neatly packaged cinematic gem.

Kaala is a big budget movie produced by Rajinikanth’s son-in-law, actor and producer Dhanush. Watch it on the big screen to appreciate its grandeur. Kaala is an addictive movie which you would want to watch over and over again!

Kaala is showing at CineCentre Sun Coast in Durban.