“Hukum! Tiger ka hukum!”
Jailer is an enjoyable Rajinikanth film. Watched it on Amazon Prime Video in Tamil as well as in Hindi. It is a very different Rajinikanth film to be released in recent times. I was expecting an out and out commercial film on the lines of Darbar. Jailer turns out to be more than that. I felt it was a lot in the Kabali zone. Definitely the style, treatment and storytelling is different considering they both have different directors. I am saying in terms of Rajini Sir playing a character as well as infusing his superstar style and mannerisms in the character within the constraints of the screenplay and the written character. More than Superstar Rajinikanth, it is Tiger Muthuvel Pandian’s story. The character has certain qualities and style that make him a hero not because he is Superstar Rajinikanth. It is more content driven. Everything is happening within the world of the film. I like the use of spectacles as a prop and as a motif. It is made an important part of the narrative as well as the character. That way, Nelson has done a very good job as the director. All the style and the massy element is there in the screenplay itself, in the characters, in the situations, in the conflicts, in the story. The way the director chooses to treat it and present it makes Jailer what it is. He has justified Rajini Sir’s stardom through his commendable visual storytelling. No doubt he is the writer as well. As a writer-director it is fabulous. Since, he has written the film, taking it to the next level as a director with the execution wouldn’t have been much of a challenge. The stylistic visuals and treatment are the by-products. His vision was clear from the writing stage itself. The relationship between the characters is well developed. I like the father-son relationship or rather the father-son conflict that sets it apart adding a twist to the narrative. The emotions are effectively conveyed. Nothing is overdone like even the humour is situational. The right mix of emotions, drama, action and hero-worship. The dialogues are well written. I like the amalgamation of different languages in the dialogue. The dialogues are primarily in Tamil along with that there is a bit of Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.
Anirudh’s background music is the highlight of the film. His music tells a different story altogether. It brings the entire film alive. It complements the edit pattern really well. His music is the backbone of the film. It holds your attention from the first frame to the last frame. It is very addictive. I like the theme music composed for each character. The western influence is very apparent in the Mathew theme music. I think maybe Anirudh is a fan of the kind of music used in Western Cinema. I like the placement of A. R. Rahman songs in the soundtrack. It has to be the craziest use of his songs. It was quite surprising for me as I didn’t expect A. R. Rahman songs in the soundtrack of the film. It is like Anirudh paying homage to the maestro in his own style. The sound design is superb. Some of the sound transitions are extremely well done as per the edit pattern. The songs are good. I really liked the Rathamaarey song. It is my favourite from the album. Kaavaalaa is also a nice peppy number. The situation in which it is used is very light-hearted and fun.
The cinematography and lighting is interesting. The compositions and camera movements are well done. I like the use of silhouettes. I even like the frame-in-frame composition. There is an interesting pattern of shifting the focus in the visuals. It just adds to the visual style of the film. The shots of Rajinikanth, Mohanlal and Shivanna with cigars in their mouth is nothing less than iconic. The way they are put together gives the feel of a Westerner. The film is well edited. The production design is good. The costume design is well done. It enhances the characters. It makes them believable. It adds to the look and feel of the film. It conveys the essence of the characters visually; you know what type of character it is just by looking at it without the need of any dialogue. The action is very good. It is in sync with the characters and the world of the film. That’s why it looks believable. It doesn’t unnecessarily go over the top. I like the minor gory element and bloodshed that makes the action more impactful.
The characters are well written as well as well performed. Every actor leaves a mark with their performance, which is one of the reasons why Jailer is an engaging film. Jailer manages a casting coup with all the cameos and the ensemble of actors from the different industries of Indian Cinema. With the ensemble cast and the mix of languages in the dialogue, it is a proper Indian film. It even pans across many locations around the country. With so much of content and so many characters, Jailer can have its own cinematic universe with sequels, character spin-off films and backstories. It will be an interesting cinematic universe considering the stellar casting that is done. It will also be a Pan-Indian cinematic universe considering the actors coming from different film industries. Also in the film, the characters are shown to come from different states and cities of India, from the North to the South. There are many characters whose stories have been left unexplained. They are so interesting that they deserve to be explored. I am rooting for a Blast Mohan spin-off.
Rajini Sir is a superstar personified. He is the epitome of stardom. In a very restrained performance also he can put his style, his class, his swag without going overboard. He understands the character really well. He has mastered the art of playing age-appropriate characters and still being the godly superstar that he is. This along with his conviction and energy is the reason why you find him to be so relatable. The way he emotes with his eyes is awesome. Vinayakan is superb as the antagonist. He is a “100% Professional.” After a very long time I could see a good antagonist in a Rajinikanth film. The hero v/s villain conflict for once wasn’t very one-sided. You obviously know who is going to win it’s a Rajinikanth film at the same time giving the antagonist enough time to dominate and be ruthless, without letting the protagonist overshadow the antagonist. That’s why it works. I like the various shades of the antagonist. Ramya Krishnan is good. Yogi Babu and VTV Ganesh provide some comic relief. Both of them are good. Sunil as Blast Mohan is fun to watch. I really enjoyed the quirkiness he gets to the character. Kishore as Jaffar comes at a very crucial point in the film. It is an action scene where they are staging the entire heist. So, you don’t get to see much of the character still it leaves an impact considering the important juncture where it is utilized. Makarand Deshpande as Sikander Singh and Girish Kulkarni as Inspector Bal Singh make their way to the ensemble cast. Lastly, Tamannaah Bhatia as Kamna adds some beauty with her presence. She does a good job with her dance and the few scenes as a part of the Blast Mohan sub-plot.
Coming to the cameos, the cameos are very well planned and impactful. Every cameo is made important to the narrative. It is nicely integrated in the narrative. The actors get the required limelight. Even if it means stealing Rajini Sir’s thunder for a while. The importance is given to the director’s vision, the script and the overall end result rather that any superstar. That is what makes Rajinikanth the superstar that he is. He is extremely secure as an actor including the other veterans who have done the cameos. They played their parts well, shining in their respective cameos. Dr. Shiva Rajkumar as Narasimha has a strong presence. Even without saying any dialogue he can rule the screen with his presence. Mohanlal the name is enough to make an impact. He as Mathew with his impeccable style and swag takes the character to the next level. Jackie Shroff as Kamdev is impressive. He has looked his part exceptionally well. The character played by Nagendra Babu is not explained much. He seems like a friend or maybe a former colleague since he helps Tiger with the information about the temple to plan the heist.
Jailer is a good watch. If nothing else the music will surely be playing repeatedly on your mind long after the film is over.
