Thalaivi
Director: AL Vijay
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Arvind Swamy, Nassar, Bhagyashree and Raj Arun
Jayalalithaa, barely with rage, accuses the opposition of targeted harassment. Enraged, they ambush him, attack him and strip him of his clothes. She vows that she will be the Chief Minister the next time she re-enters the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
And so, on this dramatic note, Thalaivi begins, right off the bat deftly putting the audience on the side of a woman, who is undeniably wrong. Kangana Ranaut plays Jayalalithaa in the widely and hotly debated casting choice.
Over the past year, Ranaut has risen to political relevance (by chance or design) and even some fans of her onscreen persona have decided to unsubscribe from her work following her provocative stand. She is a very polarizing figure, to put it mildly. Loved by millions who love her unconditionally for or in spite of her ideology and despised by those who are not only angry with her, but are also upset with this critic for giving her a place in the mainstream media .
Pardon the obvious comparison, but former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was also surrounded by staunch fans and staunch critics. From films to politics, he ignited an audacious road-gathering brick-and-mortar to return to his times. Kangana, though demographically removed from the state, has an outlandish journey with undeniable resemblance to the character she is playing. These coincidences are shown on screen, creating many meta moments.
With Thalaivi, Kangana has made sure to have both critics and fans alike admiring her captivating portrayal. The courageous teenager, the helpless woman in love, the arrogant film star and a stoic politician, Kangana captures the essence of Jayalalithaa’s indomitable spirit. It’s not an impersonation, it’s a subtle performance.
Director Vijay always reaches for the most entertaining film on restraint that can fetch him more critical acclaim. Vijay’s eagerness for drama is fueled by Kangana’s punchy screen presence who bangs on the money. Written by Rajendra Prasad (Baahubali) and Rajat Arora, it comes as no surprise that the screenplay is interesting and gripping, making for a faithful biopic with an appeal to life. Thalaivi is based on a book of the same name, but the biopic of Savitri follows Mahanati’s blueprint.
Those who live in the environment of Jayalalithaa’s rule, especially this writer from Tamil Nadu, have a sense of ownership and the film is made to withstand heavy scrutiny.
Arvind Swamy, who looks nothing like MGR in real life, manages to make a mesmerizing transformation that comes alive from within. Nassar, who shares zero physical similarities with Karunanidhi, highlighted the stature of the person through his impeccable pronunciation. Raj Kundra casts animosity as MGR’s aide RM Veerappan. Bhagyashree (Maine Pyaar Kiya) makes a pleasant surprise as Jayalalithaa’s mother. Together, the cast gave a knockout performance, which was led by Kangana.
Thalaivi no course is perfect or updated tech. Jayalalithaa was barely 16 or at most 17 years old when she was shooting for the song Naamo (from the 1965 film Ayarthil Oruvan). It is extremely uncomfortable to hear 48-year-old MGR asking him to hug her like his mother. Her subsequent off-screen romance with this icon is a fact her senior at the age of 31. The film does not color these events with an approving or disapproving flavor, but trumps childhood without a coda.
It is a direct rewrite of key chapters in Jayalalithaa’s life, with popular sentiment intact. It is equal parts inspiring and heartwarming. One divisive woman played by another. Love them or hate them, you know how the cliche goes. I
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here
.