At the first look Kaala reminds me of Mani Ratnam's 1987 Nayagan. Loosely based on the life and times of a Tamil don, Varadarajan Mudaliar, who as a boy runs away from his home in Tamil Nadu to what was then Bombay, Nayagan talks about the struggle of Tamils in the big city. Rajinikanth's Kaala, helmed by Pa Ranjith, also centres on a Don, who leaves his hometown in Tamil Nadu to settle down in one of Asia's largest slums in Mumbai's Dharavi. He becomes an underworld Don to essentially take care of his Tamil brethren. Seen as a do-or-die movie for Rajinikanth -- whose last work, Kabali, evoked a lukewarm response from critics and even his fans – Kaala also comes at a time when the superstar's popularity has dipped, because of his rather insensitive utterances on the police firing at Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi in which 13 people died. And his views on the Cauvery waters issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have not gone well either in Bengaluru and elsewhere because he was born in the city and is considered a son of that soil. With a huge star cast of three heroines, Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi and Anjali Patil as well as Nana Patekar and Samuthirakani, Kaala at 167 minutes is purportedly packed with thrilling sequences and Rajinikanth's trademark antics.
Jun 7, 2018 12:05 pm (IST)
Unfortunately, Rajinikanth as and in Kaala has little to show by way of novelty. He still relies on gimmicks to push his performance, this time playing with his sunglasses, which he keeps wearing and removing.
Unfortunately, Rajinikanth as and in Kaala has little to show by way of novelty. He still relies on gimmicks to push his performance, this time playing with his sunglasses, which he keeps wearing and removing.
Pa Ranjith's Kaala is a heartrending look at land mafia -- an age old evil in India that has been dealt with since the days of Khosla Ka Ghosla. The nexus between politicians and land grabbers forms the core of Kaala, which is notches higher than Ranjith's earlier Kabali.
Pa Ranjith's Kaala is a heartrending look at land mafia -- an age old evil in India that has been dealt with since the days of Khosla Ka Ghosla. The nexus between politicians and land grabbers forms the core of Kaala, which is notches higher than Ranjith's earlier Kabali.
Nothing very new about the Rajinikanth-starrer, but what may be different this time is kind of reception Kaala will get, given that this will be the South Indian superstar's first movie to hit the screens after he had announced his decision to step into the political arena.
Ever since the film's first look was revealed, audiences have pointed out the Ambedkar connect in the film. The poster had Rajinikanth sitting on a jeep with his usual swag and wicked smile.
Jun 7, 2018 10:08 am (IST)
Rajinikanth's Kaala marks the superstar's first release since he announced his decision to enter politics.
Jun 7, 2018 10:02 am (IST)
Rajinikanth and Nana Patekar complement each other like only two veteran stars could.
A wonderful scene between Kaala and Desai. Patekar stands well up to Rajinikanth’s super stardom.
Sporting a white linen kurta, the actor, who enjoys a demigod status in large parts of south India, had a tough time boarding the steel grey Fortuna car a few metres away, amid the thunderous cries and frantic bids to capture his movements on mobile camera.
Ahead of its release this week, whether the movie will be screened here or not is still unknown as threats by pro-Kannada groups continue against the movie's release.
Jun 7, 2018 9:16 am (IST)
Huma Qureshi, perhaps best known for her role in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs oof Wasseypur, joins Rajinikanth and Nana Patekar in Kaala, possibly playing the superstar's love interest.
Huma Qureshi as Zareena appears in Dharavi. Seems like Kaala’s lost love
Directed by Pa Ranjith, the film also stars Eswari Rao, Samuthirakani, Sampath Raj, Sayaji Shinde, Anjali Patil, Manikandan, Dileepan, Pankaj Tripathi, Ravi Kale, Ramesh Thilak, Arul Doss, Aravind Akash, Sakshi Agarwal, Arundhati, Suganya and Nithish.
Jun 7, 2018 9:05 am (IST)
In Rajinikanth's Kaala, Nana Patekar as wily politician Harinath Desai plans to take over the slum.
Nana Patekar as wily politician Harinath Desai plans to take over the slum.
Ever since the film's first look was revealed, audiences have pointed out the Ambedkar connect in the film. The poster had Rajinikanth sitting on a jeep with his usual swag and wicked smile.
Jun 7, 2018 8:58 am (IST)
Rajini's trademark dark glasses have an enviable role in his latest film. The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block the release of Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil film Kaala saying that it cannot put on hold the screening just a day ahead of its release.
Rajinikanth starts his gimmicks. Plays with his dark glasses. On and off!
Rajinikanth has always portrayed himself as standing up for the little guy, both on and off-screen. Kaala is no different, in portraying the superstar's support for the masses, with his character setting out to save a slum from demolition.
Rajinikanth out to save a slum from being demolished.
And superstar Rajinikanth comes on to screen with cricket bat held high. This is the southern star's first film in decades to not have completely sold out before its release.
Kaala is Rajinikanth's first film since he made his political debut. Film critic Sreedhar Pillai said: There has been a drop in the ticket sales and it is nowhere close to Kabali or the previous Rajnikanth movies.
Jun 7, 2018 8:35 am (IST)
Kaala is Rajini’s first film since he made his political debut. Sathyam Cinemas, however, says the movie is housefull in their multiplex till the weekend.
Usual euphoria for a Rajinikanth film is missing. Are his admirers angry about his political utterances? Or unhappy with his jaded performances?
At Satyam Escape. Usual euphoria for a Rajinikanth film is missing. Are his admirers angry about his political utterances. Or unhappy with his jaded performances.