Why i liked Endhiran?

A good Endhiran trailer with Rajni himself at the end.

I normally don't like Rajni films these days - too hollow, formulaic and totally mass masala. Or for that matter any big film targeted at the Box Office - like Avatar, Iron Man etc.,

Thank God, Endhiran is not entirely so.

Robot, for an indian film - they thought thro the script - before spending so much of money. It came from two of the books written by Sujatha.

"Shankar, I completed my work satisfactorily. Hereafter, there is no tension to me, even the film will become as my last one!" - Sujatha.

Endhiran is based on his two novels "En Iniya Iyanthira" and "Meendum Jeano".
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2008/sujatha-passed-away-280208.html
http://600024.com/the-forgotten-sujatha-connection-with-endhiran/

Very few writers are respected in india - their views considered in such a huge media like cinema where things are ruled by ego, $$$, glamor, charm, pulp, foolish instincts, hard-to-break patterns and what not.

Shankar thinking thro with and learning from Sujatha.
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFS7s6zzjl8
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmXFgN8f14s

Did you notice they talk about Zeno’s Paradox in Endhiran?. Only Sujatha could have written it in a tamil film ;)

Not many indian films have much thinking leave alone it be original. These days people love one or more Hollywood films and mix them up to make up a desi version - for the indian audience...! While Robo too has many influences, it's pure "desi" entertainment at it's heart and has several genuine moments. It's carefully made like a Hollywood film with/for indian sensibilities.

"Shankar proved that he is the master of catching the pulse of the audience. As the movie unfolds, directors like me could see the growing confidence levels of Shankar and at the same time humility and sincerity to the core. Definitely, Robo has set in motion a much difficult yardstick before Tollywood, and to that matter Indian cinema. More than technical brilliance, what matters is the sincerity in one’s thought and action. Robo is like a yogic experience on the celluloid" - Director Rajamouli.
I liked his Magadheera. Though it's somewhat weak and old-school, has all the elements you would expect from an entertaining indian film - pucca commercial director, as a friend mentioned - and so went on to become a huge hit and is totally deserved. And i agree with his view of Shankar, at least of Robot.

I expected it to be an ok film as i don't think of Shankar much. But he surprised me. Put his heart & soul & sweat in every frame and imagined the film so well. I can't think of another indian film where things are as thoroughly thought out and each scene executed so meticulously. Shankar saying it's his "pet project" is justified well. Done their home work alright. Endhiran is Shankar at the top of his game. Don't think he can reach this level again. People say "Who is the Black Sheeep..?!" is their favorite scene but for me - even the Robot walking out the first time and enjoying the sunlight and breeze is a beautiful scene you normally don't see in a Shankar film.

And then Rajnikanth.

Someone in Hollywood becomes popular playing Superman, Spiderman, Batman or the Joker. You put in all of these characters and more into Rajnikanth - who is a living legend than some character in a comics book - to reach the people. It's the reverse and so hard to imagine another person like that. People can't understand this phenomenon(nor can it be explained) unless they been thro themselves.

"This is Rajnikanth, and he is no mere actor—he is a force of nature. If a tiger had sex with a tornado and then their tiger-nado baby got married to an earthquake, their offspring would be Rajnikanth." My Goodness...! SUPERSTAR Rajnikanth! The biggest movie star you've probably never heard of.  By Grady Hendrix - The slate article

And here is one more attempt to understand Rajnikanth.
The Last Indian Superstar

It's a Rajni film...! Nobody needs any review (or) ratings...! At least in Tamil Nadu. And the BO Collections are a given. And still... Rajni was true to the role. And they made merry with his star power only after the interval. There is always a good actor inside Rajni and we get to see traces of it again in Endhiran. More than anything - Rajni is supposedly a good human. Or atleast is a self-made-man, constantly evolving, learning and been thro so much. We can see it all in Endhiran. The maturity that comes through. Sure he evoled so much as an actor too. When you know the world and things, it simply shows in the person. Another attractive aspect of the Rajni myth is that he is always portrayed very manly and treats women like little girls but with respect. I don't know if it's his real personality in life too. Picked it up from Clint Eastwood? See The Pursuit of Heroic Masculinity . Rajni is one of the most carefully created celluloid & public image.

Nobody would dare to compare a Vikram, Vijay, Simbu (or) Dhanush film with Rajni's. Even Shahrukh Khan says - pls don't compare me with Rajni - when people talk about Ra. 1 along side Robot.

Most of the jokes in the film won't make much sense to people other than tamil nadu. Others should not forget they are watching a dubbed film.

A lot of nonsense is being written these days of A.R Rahman. As usual, whenever someone is too popular in india - or for that matter anywhere in the world - people just get too critical - and find reasons not to like. Many reviews mentioned Rahman is so-so in Endhiran. I don't agree. Background score could have been better but Endhiran is a film with huge scope. Shankar lived with the story in his mind for 7 or 8 years before the film went on the floors. No music director can do justice to the project. That said - the songs totally rock...! Ask Radiohead to compose for a film and give a hit album at the same time...! Or ask John Williams to give songs across all genres for a Steven Spielberg film. Why all that - is there any other music composer in india at the time of making the film that Shankar could have approached?.

Lemme give an example.

The intro song - Pudhiya Manitha - is all about the Robot. Some guy creating a thing with all the good positive intentions - and it's more of a melody and meaning-oriented to the theme. It's not about Rajni. No intro song for Rajni...! And then when the Robot turns dark in its mind - Arima Arima - agrinai-yin arasan naan - with it's aggressive tunes and lyrics and Rajni's murderous steps. "AgriNai" means Nouns reffering to animals, plants and non living things like rocks - or in this context "the king of the non-living". At which point it becomes a Man-vs-Machine (better yet Creator-vs-Created) thing as one review pointed out. Now how many indian films think thro their songs?. And what has thinking's got anything to do in a RAJNI film? ;)

Now some general thoughts and notes.

Whenever there is a Rajni film - there is just too much - in the media. Several people write 3 page articles why Rajni films are crap - as if going against something so huge brings them some kind of an identity (or) they are in possession of never heard of wisdom - at the cost of others ;)  There are the Rajni hooligans who go to any extend to defend anything with Rajni. Now add to the mix people from other states/regions/even countries too. There are not too many things to like in this world. It's a pity when people can't genuinely enjoy a simple thing - like a film or some mannerism or such.

Ticket prices are $20 in NOVA, $30 in NJ, $40 in NYC. That's such a deplorable thing.

Danny Denzongpa in tamil sounded too much like (late)Raghuvaran.

Every frame looks so bright and beautiful. Cameraman Rathnavelu Interview.

My punch lines for the film would be -

The Boss is here. Better than ever. ;)

Rajni De-Wormed

Films are about myth-making. Here is a great chance to live the Rajni myth.

While watching the film - you will be thinking - feeling like - this is what happens when a good screenplay, $$$, mind and actors - everything comes together. When there is a favorite environment, anybody can raise to the top.

Madras brings to memory so many things and filter coffee is one of them. The film strives hard and to some extent, achieves that flavor. Now don't ask me what is that. I don't know ;) I think it's when they show the family oriented, father/mother, lot of women in sarees, jewellery shops etc., i guess. Like how you feel shopping around at Panagal Park or such. The feel for the place - or the homely feel - if you may. It's like how the Hindi films build up to and achieve the marriage scenes with everyone around, dancing etc.,

Rajnikanth image should be patented (or his younder daughter Soundarya has already?). Otherwise how can we explain someone whom we still want to see how he was 30 years ago?. It's like the Superman, Spiderman, Batman images. Marvel Comics would have made a killing by now, if they were in india. Make RoboSapien toys.

My Verdict:
It was good. Rajni's second daughter said it right http://movies.ndtv.com/video.aspx?id=166914. Actually Rajni keeps getting better after so many films..! When two Rajni-s are cross, it's a freakin volcano. The screen just erupts...! Kamal, Rajni both bring out their best when bad. Shankar too is very imaginative, for a change. Great effort from these two (three, if you may). It will take a long time for another indian film to come out better than this. If i'm to make one point on the minus side - it may not suit the tastes of people other than (big)cities in india - even with the Rajni factor. As long as people don't try to compare it with Transformers and so many other Hollywood films(Mask, I Robot etc.,)  they have seen - and go just see it as an indian film - it's a blast...! Makes no sense paying attention to inane articles and reviews ;)

Here is an elated fan's response after seeing the film.

Another opinion i value.

Shankar's blog post on Endhiran with the Balachandar letter.