Jailer Review:
Many people believe that serious, issue-driven movies are superior than the Indian masala film genre, which is the backbone of the film industry. However, if done correctly, it can offer a singular experience. When Nelson Dilipkumar taught us how it is done with Rajinikanth, the de facto poster boy of Tamil masala films, it seemed as though filmmakers, at least in Tamil cinema, had lost the alchemy of good masala films.
Nelson has a ton of regard for this genre, which has recently been lacking in the production of commercial movies. Things in Jailer get really tasty when he combines this tried-and-true recipe for success with his deadpan humor.
Ironically, a movie with a title like Jailer cannot be categorized into just one type of movie, which is exactly what a masala movie is. However, the transition from one genre to the next in this movie is very obvious and intriguing. We are initially seeing a family drama, then it transitions into a revenge saga, and then it changes into something that I will not say because doing so would be a spoiler.
The pleasant cameos as well as the surprises don’t stop either. I am the king here, says Rajinikanth in Jailer, part of his joke. The rules are those I say. And I’ll keep modifying it haphazardly. Like Nelson explaining how he manages the movie here. Jailer’s rules and genres are always changing, yet one cannot gripe because it is pure entertainment.
Rajinikanth’s movies during the previous few decades, with a few notable exceptions, can be divided into two groups. One tells the story of a main character who loses everything and starts over, becoming Padayappa, Annamalai, or Muthu. Baashaa is the alternative template. The man who had a past but is now leading a life befitting a non-person.
The superhero, however, emerges when destiny calls. Jailer falls under the latter group. Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, a charming grandfather who makes YouTube videos with his entitled brat grandson, is a reference to Rajinikanth movies. The mafia gang’s head Varma (a brilliant Vinayakan), who smuggles temple sculptures, is being pursued by his son Arjun (Vasanth Ravi), assistant commissioner of police.
Arjun goes missing after refusing to halt the probe. Muthuvel Pandian comes to the conclusion that his kid has been murdered and begins his own revenge story. He turns to old jailhouse pals for assistance, and as a result, superstars from the Kannada, Malayalam, and Bollywood film industries, including Jackie Shroff and Mohanlal, make hilarious cameo appearances. Because the cameos greatly aid in the creation of what are known as theatrical moments, the movie could have been titled Rajinikanth and Friends.
Jailer’s plot undoubtedly shares many similarities with Kamal Haasan’s Vikram, but it is not as depressing as Lokesh Kanagaraj’s movie. Because the only thing that matters to the director is to keep you entertained, Nelson’s movie has no qualms about making fun of some of the most delicate circumstances. Nelson’s determination to follow the laws despite filming a “Superstar film” is what makes Jailer so outstanding. Although Rajinikanth may be omnipotent, Nelson places a limit on his power.
Taking the Kaavaala song as an example, Rajini could have easily joined Tamannaah in shaking a leg, but he chooses not to. It all happens for a reason, even though he briefly shares the screen with Tamanaah. Nelson doesn’t stop there; he also creates a wild scene by mocking Rajinikanth’s status as a superstar. A standard masala fest and Jailer can be distinguished solely by this subtle touch.
The way he employs his supporting cast deserves a lot of praise as well. He uses them largely for comic effect and has no qualms about employing them against his hero. In Nelson’s movies, Yogi Babu, Reddin Kingsley, and Jaffer Sadiq develop into amazing actors because Nelson knows how to use each of them. The actor Harshath, who portrays one of Varman’s goons, is my personal favorite.
Because Nelson’s characters are so unusual, even a minor part has a significant influence. Then there is the amazing Hukum and Jujubee by Anirudh Ravichander, which gives a train that is already moving forward more force. If you take Anirudh’s music out of the jail, it will no longer have the same effect.
Violence is, of course, a major issue with UA-certified Jailer. Absolutely literally, it’s a blood bath. Rather than the violence, the certificate is the problem. Given all the blood and guts scenes, it deserves an A. Additionally, it merits a grade of A for being a clean entertainment.
Jailer Director: Nelson Dilipkumar
Jailer cast: Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan, Vinayakan, Jackie Shroff
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