GHAJINIKANTH – Cast and Crew details
(Photos has been attached below)
Cast :
Arya @ Rajinikanth
Sayyeshaa @ Vandhana
Sampath @ Sathyamoorthy
Naren @ Ramanathan
Uma Padmanaban @ Lakshmi
Motta Rajendiran @ Karthick
Sathish @ Deva
Karunakaran @ Karuna
Lijeesh @ Ajay
Neelima Rani @ Gayathri
Kaali Venkat @ Uthamnan
Madhumitha @ Uthaman wife
Dilli Ganesh @ Grandfather
Sulokshana @ Grandmother
Manobala @ Ramanathan friend
Music by – Balamurali Balu
Cinematography – Ballu
Edited By – Prasanna GK
Art Direction – Subramaniya Suresh
Stunt Choreography – AnbuAriv
Dance Choreography – Baba Bhaskar
PRO – B.Yuvraaj
Written & Directed by
Santhosh P.Jayakumar
Production Company
Studio Green
Produced by
KE Gnanavelraja
Ghajinikanth’s director Santhosh P Jayakumar has two films in his filmography – Hara Hara Mahadevaki and Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuththu. The two films have a lot in common – adult content, double meaning jokes and an A rating. With Ghajinikanth, it is clear that Santhosh is trying to subvert his image as an ‘A’ filmmaker — there is a small gimmick with the end credit card, in case we were in doubt about his image repositioning. Well, you could say he has accomplished his objective. There’s not much adult humour, at least in comparison to his previous outings. (Except for one objectifying ‘joke’ about a maid that I am too tired to outrage about. Hannah Gadsby gets its right. I identify with tired these days a lot.) But, there is nothing new about the film as well. There are several ways to keep the viewer engaged – it could be through the story, it’s characters, the writing or the filmmaking. Sadly, Ghajinikanth doesn’t tick any of the boxes.
A remake of Nani’s Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (Disclosure: Haven’t seen the original), Ghajinikanth follows Rajinikanth (Arya) who is forgetful. Our hero Rajinikanth is born at a cinema theatre when his parents are watching Superstar’s Dharmathin Thalaivan. Lo and behold, we get a similar absent-minded hero with a heart of gold. There are several ‘predicaments’ built around the fact that Rajinikanth forgets directions, I think he also forgot a handy, little application named ‘Google Maps’ as well. I was prepared for the Rajini references in the film, placed to get a few cheers from the Rajini fans. However, Santhosh leaves no star unaddressed. We have a scene from Kamal Haasan’s Vasool Raja MBBS recreated. “Sodakku” from Suriya’s film is used. There is a dialogue borrowed from Ajith’s Vivegam and even Baahubali and Mouna Raagam isn’t spared. We have seen better comic capers in Kaadhala Kaadhala and Ullathai Allitha where the plot also revolves around exchanged identities and the chaos that ensues. Unlike Tamizh Padam 2 or even parts of Junga that are parodies, Ghajinikanth remains a compilation of moments from films we already know.
Sayyeshaa as Vandana, looks ravishing, though she falls into the cadre of being that quintessential commercial heroine who somehow never seems to distrust her lover no matter how many cues she gets about his unintended diablerie. She can transform into a potential performer if she can add more expressions to her kitty. Sampath is the heroine’s father and he plays to his well-defined motives. There is an antagonist (Lingesh). There’s a background theme that plays whenever he is in a scene, and that is how we’re reminded that he is the villain. But that is about it. Sathish’s one-liners, especially the references to ‘Enga Veetu Mapillai’ and other contemporary jokes are laughable but one might want more of these hilarious scenes.
Arya’s performance in the first half looks slightly unnatural, and it gets worse in a scene where he has to transform into an emotionally wrecked man. This could be due to lack of proper guidance from behind the camera, but his portrayal of the emotion ceases to convince you. Having seen him perform tougher scenes with conviction, this one will disappoint some.
On the technical side of things, Balamurali Balu brings to the table, commercially inclined songs that provide ample space for Sayyeshaa to show off her competency in dance. When it comes to cuts, a fraction of the viewers might prefer a crispier version of the film. Ghajinikanth is well lit, sometimes in excess. But on the whole, the visuals aren’t tacky.
