Kabali Rajinikanth is sentenced for 25 years in a case in Malaysia. Story begins as he is coming out from the jail. Kabali launches a school for his young gang members so that they can come out from the mafia. When the young gangsters ask how he landed in jail he reveals his story. He gets married to Kundanavalli Radhika Apte and rises as a gangster in short time.
One gang member Kishore who is jealous of Kabalis rise hatches a plan to kill him and his pregnant wife. In the attack Kundanavalli gets killed and infuriated Kabali kills them. Kabali lands in prison.
In the present day in a sudden twist he meets his daughter Dhansika also comes to know that his wife is alive and living in India. Kabali flies down from Malaysia to India but his path to find his wife is riddled with many problems.
Analysis:-
First things first Kabali is a huge letdown. The film is quite different from what the trailer and song teasers have suggested. It is not an out and out commercial movie as the trailers made out. If you are expecting a Baasha like mafia don movie from Kabali after watching the trailers then you are under wrong impression.
Forget about the trailer and the hype Kabali is confused drama half of the movie seems that it is all about family drama and last 30 minutes showcase total different picture the gang wars.
Story begins with an aged Rajinikanth coming out from prison. The initial set up is superb. The director Ranjith has established the Superstar as an ageing guy looking for his family and roots. This emotional build up is perfect in the first 20 minutes.
Trouble starts when he comes to know that he has a daughter and then he it is revealed that his wife is still alive. From here the story goes in different direction. How Rajinikanth tries to find his wife Radhika Apte is told in most boring way and in a lengthy manner. The interval shoot out and bang is quite interesting.
Second half begins with Rajinikanth on a mission to find his wife. When he finally finds Radhika Apte the director has focused on another aspect of the movie fighting between two gangs.
There are no moments that bring us relief no songs no comedy no punch dialogues no strong villains. Only in the climax we get to see the heroism of Rajinikanth. Before that we get to see shoot outs violent episodes that dont connect to the main story.
Also what is this film all about No clue. If Rajinikanth has acted as a savior for Indians living in Malaysia, the story would have been different. But he is hardly savior. In a flashback episode it is told that he fought for the rights of Indians who are working in plantations. There we see the real heroism of Rajinikanth. But after that it is back to that same gangster shootouts.
Then there are too many of Tamil style conversations scenes. When Rajinikanth talks to a group of children who are studying at his reform school it is like watching a non dubbed Tamil movie. We dont understand the drama that is going there. There are too many such absurd sequences.
What we expect from a Rajinikanth movie is elevation of heroism stylish dialogues and some good action episodes. But we see only him wearing various coats suits and laughing. There are very few high moments from him. In the lengthy episode of Rajinikanth going to find out his wife, it induces sleep.
Nippu Ra song was such phenomenon on Youtube but the song is not at all effective in the movie. There are no songs actually except that they are played in the background. It is totally entertainment less movie. Director Ranjith has failed to handle superstar Rajinikanth.
All in all Kabali is another disappointment from Rajinikanth. Which is better movie Linga Or Kabali Hard to say.
Greatandhra