Machismo monsoon

THE trailer of the Vikram starrer Saami Square throws forward a disturbing patriarchal arrogance as Vikram, who is known to experiment with various roles, runs amok with machismo.

Never has this solid Tamil actor, pictured, been seen to be so blatantly and crudely heroic in the most basic cinematic sense. Rippling muscles, flaring nostrils, blaring dialogues… Playing a cop he snarls, he swears, he beats up his adversaries and he treats his lady love like trash.

This is Salman Khan’s Dabangg territory being invaded by the redoubtable Vikram. And the prime casualty of Vikram’s overweening machismo is the leading-lady Keerty Suresh. Just the other day, the gorgeous lady held centre stage in Mahanati. Now here, in her first post-Mahanati release, she is content being the secondary interest.

In Bollywood the female hero may rule in Raazi and Veere Di Wedding. But the kind of build-up and welcome given to Salman Khan in Race 3 is unequalled by anything the ladies can do.

One can see Vikram struggling to appear larger than life Saami Square (not to be confused with Saami Circle). He screams for attention in barechested glory, barely giving the other actors a chance to have a word edgewise. – IANS