Movie Review: Another Classic Case of Style Over Substance!- Kabali

***Spoiler Alert!***
India's Biggest Superstar, Sir Rajinikanth is back with a movie whose trailer had literally broke all the records before. I was so impressed by that same trailer that I had watched it at least 15 times in a day. 'Kabali', coming after 2 not so successful films of Sir Rajini, had got audience rooting for it beyond skies. Since the first look, marketing has been brilliant and Sir himself looked stunning. Whatever may be the package, all that matters is the content and 'Kabali' falls short of content to say the least.

Story starts off with high command of Kaula Lumpur police discussing whether to release 'Kabali' from the prison he had been kept captive for over 25 years or not due to the situation in the city. 'Kabali' is released and that makes up for a fantastic introduction. However, losing his wife and daughter takes a toll on him. He becomes delusional about his family. On the other hand, things aren't same as they were 25 years back. 'Kabali' and gang has got competitors and enemies who will go to any distance to stop them from doing good. Amidst all this ruckus, 'Kabali' finds out that his daughter and wife are still alive. His journey on getting his family and his throne back and what made an educated man like 'Kabali' become a gangster forms rest of the story.

Pa Ranjith, after directing a successful Tamil film Madras, had signed on one of the biggest projects of India. Though he had a lot to offer, it seems that he had lost the track of it. The first half sails on with no struggle although there are some unnecessary sequences. Second half brings up a real test for the audience. Though the attempt of showing that a Don like Kabali is ready to go any distance to meet her wife is appreciable, the story just drags between all those sequences. Couple of miscasts doesn't help too. Few supporting actors pulls your focus away from the movie and that too not in a good way. The climax is probably the worst part of the movie. Ambiguous ending seems just forced when there is absolutely no need for that. All three lead characters from Kabali's family, does a commendable job.

Highlights:
  • Rajini Sir, Radhika Apte, Dhansika
  • Costumes
  • Flashback Episode
  • Cinematography

Drawbacks:
  • Story
  • Second Half
  • Miscast
  • Screenplay
  • Editing
  • Pre-climax & Climax 
 
What does Kabali do best?
               Rajini Sir is a feast to eyes. Kabali is a proof that he's still young and is still got it in him.
What does Kabali do worst?
               Too long! At least 30 minutes of the movie can be chopped off effortlessly. Story seems fresh out of a 60's movie.

What had helped and also contributed to the fall of the movie is marketing. Or should I say false marketing?! The movie was marketed as a movie of Gangsters and the re-rise of a long forgotten Don whereas it was a philosophical journey of a man for his family. That was the first nail in the coffin.

Verdict: An average flick that almost got saved by Rajini Sir!

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