Yes … I saw Sivaji … And I saw it in Pune !! :-) After it released a week late on 22nd June, 2007. I saw it second day first show. I got the ticket through BookEazy a cool service where you book tickets online, pay for it in the theatre and arrive anytime (even late) and still you have your place booked for you. Here is how it works !! Thanks to Santosh Dawara for having me introduced to the service. I must say that the service is great !!
On a separate note, I plan to spend sometime with Santosh when he gets time to understand the internet business.
At the onset, let me tell you that I am not really a Rajini fan … :-). But there is something about him (including all the euphoria that surrounds his movie releases) that draws you towards him. So, I decided that I will see the movie in true Rajini Fan style (well … as much as possible) … I started my movie experience with a full volume screaming of “Talaivaaaaaaaaaaaa” (That is what true Rajini fans call him) on his entry scene … And then lots of more shouting and yelling during each of his style, dialogue or fight sequences (adding to the Janani’s embarrassment, who found it very uncultured behavior ;-) .. but what the heck). I had to get back to myself and behave in a more “cultured” way coz Janani threatened to disown me if I didn’t stop acting that way. :D
So the movie plot is pretty decent … typical Sankar style … Doing good for the society even if that means bending the rules a bit. So Rajini wants to build a college and hospital putting in all the savings of his life (made out of a Software System Architect job in US :-)). He intends to provide free treatment and education to all. That obviously makes people running other colleges insecure and they make Rajini taste dust. So as they say … when you can’t take out the butter with a straight finger you need to bend your fingers … so Rajini does just that … And he does that Rajini/Sankar style … :-) … He decides to convert all the black money in India into white (Using Hawala and then sending it back to his foundation as donations) and use that for the college and hospital activities. So that is pretty innovative.
Lots more to see and enjoy … some new styles … some more dialogues … Like
- “Panningathaan kootama varum ... Singham ... Single aa varum”
- “Kooooool” in typical Rajini style
- The famous cigarette that used Rajini used to toss into his mouth has now been replaced by a chewing gum that he bounces off his palm into his mouth. (and once he bounces it off the villain’s forehead ;-) .. Now that is Kooooool … )
- Finally the coin tossing act … which goes through 2-3 tossing iterations before it perfectly lands into his pocket :) …
And there are lots of high flying fight sequences … in typical Sankar style.
They have done wonders with respect to Rajini’s looks … Make up, special effects etc and Rajini looks so young … You have to see it to believe it …
Songs are ok ok … I would have expected more out of AR Rehman but … I don’t know … Didn’t click to me … Vaaji Vaaji and Sahara Pookal were ok … Rest of them were just mediocre … It’s sad that Songs for Rajini’s big movie are not that good … :(
And as usual, typical of Rajini/Sankar movies they have a message for all of us … To know about that try and catch a ticket to see the movie.
As for me … It was a great experience to watch that movie in true Rajini Fan style and so much so that I am a Rajini Fan now !! :)
