Critics’ Verdict: ‘Kabali’ Rides On Rajinikanth’s Aura All the Way

Find out how critics are reacting to Rajinikanth’s new film ‘Kabali’.

Film: Kabali
Director: Pa Ranjith
Cast: Rajinikanth, Radhika Apte

Kabali is review-proof, but check out how film critics are reacting to Rajinikath’s new film.

Rajinikanth gives Kabali his full attention and commands the screen whenever he is on it. The various ways in which he says “Magizhchi” (Cheers) proves that he can throw a line like few other actors, but the character is too underdeveloped and unidimensional to be more than a Rajinikanth riff. Kabali is less of a hoodlum and more of a righteous outlaw in the mould of Rajinikanth’s Baasha (1999) – a Robin Hood figure who is steeped in charity even as he drops bodies by the sidewalk.Take Rajinikanth out of Kabali and what do you get? That was a rhetorical question.

Nandini Ramnath (Scroll.in)

Finally, someone has used the mystical ease with which Rajinikanth keeps millions of eyes glued at him to intelligent use indeed. And what a magical experience, it turns out to be. But unfortunately, this kind of magic doesn’t stretch throughout the film. To be happy seeing the Superstar in this new avatar where he absolutely kicks ass transporting us to his ‘raw-actor’ days or feel frustrated thinking about the innumerable ways the movie could have been scripted and staged better... the choice is yours!

Mani Prabhu (Iflickz.com)

It’s interval and I am scratching my non-existent beard, wondering what about this generic gangster script interested either Ranjith or Rajini.The directorial confidence we saw in Attakathi and Madras is practically absent. Sensing some sort of uncertainty, cautiousness.But one thing must be said. No superstar film of late has been this free of pandering. I mean, they’ve really tried to tell a story here.

Baradwaj Rangan (Thehindu.com)