this review sucks to the core
On 6/15/07, Achut J <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
[image: sivaji]
*Sivaji*
*the boss*
*Sivaji links*
• CBN watch<http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/pressmeet-sivaji.html>
• Photo gallery<http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/photogallery/sivaji/index.html>
• Wallpapers <http://www.idlebrain.com/download/sivaji.html>
• Trailers <http://www.idlebrain.com/movietape/sivaji.html>
• USA schedules <http://www.idlebrain.com/us/schedu/sivaji.html>
*Credits* * [image: Click to learn
more...]<http://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=0000694844/mnum=0000244965/genr=1/tkdt=B0P0R1T0/cstr=53760488=_46726d4d,7919768827,694844%5E244965%5E-1%5E0,1_/bnum=53760488>
*
*Jeevi rating: 3/5
Punchline*: black to white *
Genre:* Social *
Banner:* AVM
*Cast*: Rajnikant, Shriya, Suman, Vivek, Manivannan, Raghuvaran & Nayana
Tara (item song)
* Music <http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaji.html#>*: A.R.
Rahman
*Dialogues*: Sri Rama Krishna
*Cinematography*: K.V. Anand
*Art*: Thota Tharrani
*Editor*: Anthony
*Stunts*: Peter Hein
*Choreography*: Prabhudeva, Raju Sundaram, Lawrence and Brinda
*Presented by*: Bellamkonda Suresh
*Story, Screenplay, & Direction* : Shankar
*Producers:* M. Saravanan & M.S. Guhan
*Review*
*Story*
[image: sivaji] Sivaji (Rajnikant) is an NRI millionaire with an ambition
of starting a hospital-cum-medical college for providing free education and
medical
help <http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaji.html#> to the poor
people in India. His ambition is foiled by a local kingpin (Suman). Sivaji
gets questioned by the authorities and dragged onto the street because of
the ruthless political system. That is when he realizes that a state like AP
has around 46,000 crores as black money. He collects data and robs the black
money from rich people and sends the money to USA through hawala route to
get it distributed into small denominations by his NRI friends. The same
amount is routed back to India in the form of donations to the charity
foundation run by Sivaji. There by he virtually runs an alternate government
by using the black money,
helps<http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaji.html#>the poor and
develops infrastructure. However, the CBI is hell bent on
getting evidence to arrest him for his economic violations. The rest of the
story is all about how he evades the cops, eliminates the kingpin and
continues serving the society.
*Artists Performance*
[image: dubaiseenu]*Rajnikanth*: Rajnikant is a treat to your eyes. He
looks extremely charming even in some of the weirdest get-ups. His walking
style, mannerisms, get-ups and expressions are fantastic. What is more
surprising is his body language and dances. The way he imitated the dancing
styles of ANR, NTR and Chiranjeevi are excellent.
[image: sivaji]*Others*: Shriya is pretty good as the female lead. Nayana
Tara sizzled in an item song. Suman is competent as the villain. Vivek is
neat as hero's associate. Raghuvaran did a small yet important role. Stunt
master Kamal Kannan appeared as himself. Manivannan and others are adequate.
*Technical Departments:*
[image: dubaiseenu]*Story:* Story of the film is a typical Robin Hood kind
of one. Rob black money from filthily rich people and distribute it to the
poor and needy. The fascinating aspect about this story is orientation of
black money. The suggestions given when title cards were rolling were great
ideas. If Government abolishes the use 500 and 1000 notes and all the black
money would come out. He also suggested the compulsory use of money card
(similar to pan card with electronic features) where one has to produce it
while purchasing costly items.
[image: sivaji]*Screenplay - direction* : Shankar is always known for
mixing entertainment with purposeful message. He also tried the same thing
with this film. But he had to add some other aspect called heroism to his
recipe. By concentrating more on the love thread between hero and heroine in
the first half, he missed his commercial formula. The mechanism in which he
makes hero convert black money into white is good. The 'office' treatment is
also good. If you observe all Shankar's films, there is always a strong
motive for hero get the ultimate urge to help society (hero's brother death
in Gentleman, Hero's daughter death in Bharateeyudu, hero's sister death in
Aparichitudu etc). But here we find no reason that prompted hero to develop
the strong urge to help society. The following two points are unconvincing,
more so because these two points are turning points to the movie -
1. Sivaji accepting that he bribed the officials to get permissions.
2. The CBI arresting Sivaji even without knowing what is there in the
laptop (as the data in laptop is locked by a voice-recognition security
system <http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaji.html#>)
[image: dubaiseenu]*Other departments: * The dialogues by Sri Rama Krishna
are very good. Cinematography by KV Anand is an asset. Music by AR Rehman is
adequate. On the picturization part, the second songs and the last song are
extremely good. The main highlight of the film is Rajnikant dancing to
Premabhishekam (ANR), Aaku Chatu (NTR) and Abba Nee Tiyyani (Chiranjeevi)
with perfect body language. The fights of the film are adequate. The fight
in music shop <http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-sivaji.html#>did not
go well. Art work by Thota Tharani is good. The production values by
AVM are lavish.
[image: sivaji]*Analysis*: First half of the film is little slow. There is
momentum in the second half. The entire modus operandi of converting black
money into white money is pretty intelligent. The plus points are Rajnikant
and the main story concept of black money. On the flipside, director could
not blend the story point uniformly into the story line. The screenplay
should have been better. The much needed emotional impact is missing. The
runtime of the film is pretty long (more than 3 hours). The name of Shankar
itself is enough to get great openings and when a superstar like Rajnikant
acting in Shankar's film, the expectations are unprecedented. You might want
to watch it without any expectations.
*Tailpiece*: Before starting of the film, there is a little animation that
shows Rajnikant as 'Sulthan' by Adlabs.
