Kaala, while an improvement over Kabali, doesn't really know how to project Rajinikanth in the Thalapathi like avatar where we last saw a perfect blend of mass and class.
Here, Ranjith follows Nayagan's episode of the Sait-ji trying to tear down the slums (this case, Dharavi) for land opportunities, and makes it the crux of the film. While it sounds promising on paper, the total duration of 2.46 hours doesnt not take this idea and revolutionize the fights, struggles and politics behind it until you're done sitting through the Kaala-Zareena-Selvi love triangle shoehorned in for effect for about half an hour (though honestly, Eswari Rao as Selvi is damn good, you wonder why Huma Querishi's role exists in the first place.)
After sitting through a pointless love triangle, we see Nana Patekar (in a more muted role despite flashes of his brilliance) posing as a Modi/BjP like figure trying to (again) do what the Sait-ji did in Nayagan. The rest of the film shuffles between Kaala-isms, Ranjith-symbolisms & the eleventh hour ladais which should have been built up somewhat in the first place.
I really don't know how hard it is to write a good Rajnikanth film. I expected at least a Thalapathi like sensibility while opting for a Madras like execution. Instead we are left confused. People who oppose BjP sentiments will adore this film, people who are Superstar fans will be let down. People who are Ranjith fans will be left satisfied. Things are shoehorned in and rushed (barring the Umbrella goondagiri fight) till that Holi-like climax.
It almost feels like after Kabali bombed, Dhanush wanted a do-over and brought the two together, instead, Dhanush offered script compromises (love triangle, umberla fight, usual punch scenes, etc.) which feels like an executive meddled film overall (please see VIP-2 for reference.) And why in this day and age, are we dubbing over Non-Tamil villians in Tamil?
See it on stream if anything else.
