What’s Rajni without his punch dialogue?

No message, no punch lines… Is this the Rajni we knew?
S Suresh Kumar


Rajnikant’s Sivaji has left fans with many questions.
All Rajni movies have a message. But audiences looking for inspiration found Sivaji a big disappointment. The means don’t need to be pure as long as the end is, Rajni seems to be saying through Sivaji.
The story resembles John Mathew Matthan’s Shikhar, where Ajay Devgan’s long time ambition is to buy a village and convert it to into Las Vegas.
Rajni goes through similar dilemmas. He buys land, and bribes his way from top to bottom. When the project is half way through, a court stays it. This storyline is the same in both films, though the heroes have different intentions.
Shankar’s gamble
Shankar, India’s costliest director, always delivers a positive message, but he gives Rajni fans some confusing signals this time.
Rajni films are famous for their punch lines, but they are missing too. He keeps saying ‘Cool!’ but that’s not Rajni!
Style gags
Shankar has worked very hard on Rajni’s style. He has added some bubble gum and coin tricks. Costumes are unusual too. Richness shows in each and every shot.
What they miss
The motivational song is the first thing fans miss. And then the punch lines.
Other actors always imitate Rajni, but in Sivaji he does a take on Sivaji Ganesan, MGR, and Kamala Hasan.
Next, Rajni tries to commit suicide but is saved by the heroine. Fans find it hard to digest Rajni feeling so weak.
He always makes fun of the comedian, but in Sivaji, Vivek dominates him. The movie also features some jokes in poor taste.
Rajni is proud of his dark skin. But in Sivaji he has changed his skin colour because the leading lady wants him that way.
A bus was modified to look like a mobile five-star hotel. It has a mini theatre, a conference room, a satellite link, and four bedrooms and a couple of bathrooms.
It is also equipped for medical emergencies. The bus was designed in Australia and is said to have cost a fortune. But it was used for just two shots.
For the climax, fake currency notes were printed in Sivakasi at a huge cost.
More than 40 vehicles were smashed for just one fight scene. Thousands of musical instruments were damaged for a fight scene. Dupes have been used for the fight scenes, and fans can make that out.
Logical flaws
Rajni deliberately touches a live wire in jail and kills himself. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used to bring his life back. But CPR helps only if it is done within 10 minutes of such an event. But the body is kept for some time inside the jail and taken out after a while. Questions, questions...