Super Star in & as LINGAA ♠Anushka ♠ARR ♠KS Ravikumar

**kumarsr** · 13th December 2014, 04:23 AM

Rajinikanth's new film is political to the core

http://www.hindustantimes.com/entert....3wogF7nX.dpuf

Much like the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran, who used cinema to play a do-gooder, propagating Dravidian doctrine, Rajinikanth has often essayed characters with strong political overtones. Of course, there is a difference between these two men. While Ramachandran or MGR, as he was popularly known, believed in a certain political ideology and pursued his ambition to become part of a political system, Rajinikanth has no such ambition. At least, he has never spelt it out, though every time a film of his opens, the social saviour he portrays pushes both politicians and his huge, huge number of fans into a guessing game.

His latest movie, Lingaa directed by KS Ravikumar, which hit theatres on Friday, is probably the most political of his recent works. Essaying two characters (father and grandson, living in two different periods), who unfortunately look so much alike, Rajinikanth, on the one hand, is a civil engineer (with a British degree), a civil servant as well as a maharaja of a small southern principality - and on the other, a petty thief.

It is 1939, and the British are a harassed lot. The war in Europe and the growing movement for freedom in India under Gandhi are driving them nuts, and social welfare is the last thing on their mind. When the people of a parched land (who stop passing trains to collect water from the steam engines) ask for a dam to harness a river that will end both flooding and famine, the British brush them aside.

But Raja Lingeswaran (Rajinikanth) steps in, and with the help of his own money and expertise as well the labour from the land raises the dam. But like so many good men, Lingeswaran is forced out of the village and the temple he built there locked for all time when a village traitor schemes with the British and fools the people.

Cut to the present day, and we see the Raja's grandson, Lingaa (also Rajinikanth), as a petty thief who picks jewels off people's necks. Contrasting with this degeneration is the village, which has realised its folly and is bent on getting Lingaa back if only to reopen the temple, whose deity, Shiva Lingam, is worth a fortune. Lingaa arrives all right, but as a thief with an eye on the stone - and at a time when corrupt Indian politicians have replaced the British. One of them wants to destroy the same dam that the Raja built to last a thousand years, and Lingaa's change of heart and subsequent confrontation with the politician gets us a liberal dose of Rajinikanth's daredevilry -- interspersed as it is with an irritating number of songs and dances, some in dream sequences! AR Rahman's music does not help either to stop Lingaa from stumbling on its plot track.

Although, Lingaa arguably is one the better films of Rajinikanth in a long time, the actor remains a slave to his trademark mannerisms - which do not allow him to sink into the character. Here he does not flick a cigarette in the air (that will be politically incorrect now, will it not be?), but twirls his hair and moustache. And there is hardly a difference between Raja Lingeswaran and Lingaa.

And both Sonakshi Sinha, who abandons her home and village to be with the Raja as he is banished, and Anushka Shetty as a television anchor-girlfriend of Lingaa are characters on the periphery. Naturally, with a superstar like Rajinikanth in frame after frame, the others around shrink into inconsequential specks. Though Ravi Kumar appears to have taken pains to ensure that many of Sinha's shots are not close-ups, it will be apparent to any Tamil that her lip sync is far from perfect. The pitfall of doing a movie whose language is absolutely unfamiliar.

Santhanam remains the hero's (Lingaa) sidekick, portraying the same character for the zillionth time. But, yes, Radha Ravi (whose father, MR, Radha, was a great screen villain) in a small role - as the father of Sinha's Bharathi - caught one's eye.

**Google Adsense** · 13th December 2014 04:23 AM

**Dilbert** · 13th December 2014, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by thamiz

Is she a professional reviewer?? Sounds very childish!

Why your honor !! She was spot on with the brilliant review , question did you watch this movie?

**Dilbert** · 13th December 2014, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by thamiz

Everybody is complaining about the climax scene. How about Children? Will they like it?

No I didn't

**Avadi to America** · 13th December 2014, 06:13 AM

**Dilbert** · 13th December 2014, 06:19 AM

Mood in the theatre was nothing short of Indial ! Never in my USHA life so far I saw such a huge crowd and rage for an Indian movie like this one. Not even for Shivaji or Manthiran

**thamiz** · 13th December 2014, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dilbert

Mood in the theatre was nothing short of Indial ! Never in my USHA life so far I saw such a huge crowd and rage for an Indian movie like this one. Not even for Shivaji or Manthiran

It certainly opened big.

**Avadi to America** · 13th December 2014, 07:17 AM

http://www.apeveryday.com/tollywood/...-movie-review/

Film: “Lingaa”; Cast: Rajinikanth, Sonakshi Sinha, Anushka Shetty, K. Vishwanath, Jagapathi Babu, Vijayakumar, Radha Ravi, Santhanam, Karunakaran and Dev Gill; Director: K.S. Ravi Kumar; Rating: ***

In one of the scenes in “Lingaa”, Rajinikanth is seen reading Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with A Thousand Faces’. The camera zooms in on the book’s title from different angles to emphasise that it was included for a very strong reason. According to director Ravi Kumar, his hero is Rajinikanth, and his thousand faces are that of a collector, a king, a civil engineer, a patriot, a socially responsible citizen, a leader, a communist, and finally, a common man. Rajini proves he could be anybody on screen. He could go from a king to a pauper in a scene and audiences won’t mind it because he’s the hero with a thousand faces.

All that you want in a Rajinikanth film is packed in abundance in “Lingaa”, which doesn’t disappoint his legions of fans. From his signature walk to bizarre stunts to philosophical touch in dialogues to his reluctance towards politics but interest in serving people — every scene illuminates with Rajini’s presence. In another scene, Rajinikanth jumps off a mountain on his sports bike to land on a hot air balloon (reminds you of the scene from Jackie Chan’s “Armour of God”). Any other actor in his shoes would’ve been subjected to ridicule and mockery.

“Lingaa” is a social period drama that unfolds in the pre-independence era. It follows the story of Raja Lingeshwaran (Rajinikanth), a collector during the British regime, who becomes instrumental in the construction of a dam in a village called Solaiyur. In the process, he loses everything but not his self respect and will power. When a group of villagers ask Lingeshwaran why he threw away a king’s life for the villagers, he replies that a person with a happy heart will remain happy forever.

The film is filled with such quintessential Rajinikanth dialogues, included in the story at the right junctures to give his fans an adequate dose of inspiration along with entertainment.

It’s always advisable to watch a Rajinikanth film with least expectations and that’s very much applicable to “Lingaa” as well. While it’s wonderful to see the superstar do what he’s best at in a live action film (after the disastrous “Kochadaiiyaan”), the wafer thin story of “Lingaa” is a letdown. The story gives us a flashback of several of Rajini’s own films and the most evident of all is “Sivaji”.

“Lingaa”, which released on the superstar’s 64th birthday, desperately tries to hide his age, and it succeeds at that. Rajini hasn’t looked so dashing in ages, and the swagger with which he carries his role, is a treat to watch. One of the best examples is the age-defying stunt sequence (choreographed by Lee Whittaker) atop a moving train. If you’re wondering how could he possibly pull it off (even with the help of VFX), you should remember it’s also one of his thousand faces.

If there’s one thing that really bothers in “Lingaa”, it is its running time. Agreed it’s a Rajinikanth film and that it comes probably once in a few years, so it shouldn’t be a problem to sit through three hours. But it seriously isn’t easy after getting used to shorter Tamil films in the last few months. Another area of concern is A.R Rahman’s music, which doesn’t quite touch the bar he had set with his previous collaborations with the superstar.

Both Sonakshi and Anushka don’t have much to contribute. The former has a lengthier role, yet there isn’t much scope for performance.

“Lingaa” gives Rajinikanth a ticket to entertain his fans and he doesn’t let them down.