Close to almost one year after the release of 'Sivaji' super star Rajnikanth has come up with 'Kuselan' this season, in which he has played a cameo and not the usual kind of swashbuckling hero. For that matter, he appears as himself, not exactly as Rajnikanth but as a screen-superstar, Vijaykumar. As the promos rightly proclaimed, he looks his youthful best, his slim figure and ever-impressive style, giving him a cutting edge.
Still, basking in the glory of his earlier hit 'Chandramukhi' which actually resurrected the stardom and stature of the super-star, writer director P. Vasu , appears to have toiled hard to essay and execute the screenplay in such a manner that it would appeal to the hard-core fans of the super-star who have gone global in the recent times.
A remake of 'Katha Parayumbol' a sweeping success story in Malayalam Kuselan (a prompt title!) narrates the tale of two friends- one a sizzling screen star and the other a poor barber struggling and suffering to make his end meet. His misery is ceremoniously shared by his understanding wife Sridevi (Meena, quite a neat portrayal, though after along while!) and three children.
Well, the Malayalam original may not have inspired from the mythological story of the historical friendship between Lord Krishna and Kuselan but the Tamil version certainly appears to have been, at least with respect to the title.
The fact that their favorite matinée idol makes a belated entry almost in the third reel may not exactly find favor with his die hard fans but then even before this flick was launched, it was announced that Rajni will only be doing a guest role. But otherwise, his fans would be delighted to see their screen icon in a variety of colorful costumes (that actually fit him like a T!) he also appears in a song or two one of them has been dedicated to 75 years of cinema. Surprising, there are no stunts at all and the super-star does not even raise a finger here! While Rajnikanth has nothing much to do a tall most of the time in the movie, appearing and disappearing as though he is walking a romp but he walks away with the honors in the last 10 minutes. A neat underplay by the superstar in the climax. A subdued performance that is truly stunning. Though he is not the films protagonist in the technical sense, he simply walks away with the honors in the closing portions, Pasupathi records a remember-worthy portrayal not with standing the fact that it is the super-star against whom he has been pitted who is his co-stat playing his childhood pal.
Nayanthara provides the glamour quotient but otherwise cuts a sorry-figure. Vadivelu's comedy track is unimaginative and could appeal only to the front benchers, his animated expressions while watching his wife exercising as also in the scene where he gapes at Nayanthara who is at the dressing-table are far from being satisfactory. Livingston and his men fail to create an impact.
P. Vasu lines are thought provoking at places. Instead of mom, dad, guru and god it should have been mom, dad, guru friend and god-says the super-star at one point. A point to ponder, certainly.
Prakash Kumar's music is good without being outstanding Kusekan, a good friend, indeed!
