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'Chandramukhi' A Rajnikant film all the way

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

If early reports trickling from Tamil Nadu are any indication, the Rajnikant-starrer is set to become a bumper hit. One wishes the same could be said about the cinematic quality of the film.

Yes, if you are a dyed-in-the-wool Rajni fan, you will enjoy it immensely. All the ingredients that go into a typical Rajni movie are in place – the style sultan's mannerisms, breathtaking stunt scenes, romance, comedy. But at the end of the day, you are left with the feeling that this was not what one came looking for.

The film is based on the Fazil-directed Malayalam original Manichitrathazhu. Of course, for form's sake, some changes have been made in the storyline.

But the fact is it has neither the depth nor the intensity of the Malayalam original. Fazil had managed to craft a brilliant movie backed up by fabulous performances from the top artistes, Mohanlal, Shobana and Suresh Gopi. They all looked vulnerable and human. The same cannot be said about either Chandramukhi or the principal protagonists, including Rajnikant.

If Manichitrathazhu was a heroine-oriented film, Chandramukhi is anything but that. That is the major flaw of Chandramukhi. It lacks focus. Superstar Rajni dominates it in such an overbearing manner that the heroine's role has got totally diluted in importance. It is Rajnikant all the way.

In his anxiety to ensure a sure-fire hit this time around – his last film ‘Baba’ was a washout – Rajnikant has dwarfed the other characters in a manner that detracts considerably from the excellence of the movie.

Chandramukhi, despite being a heroine-oriented subject, ends up being a superstar-projecting film with the sole aim of projecting Rajnikant in an ingratiatingly inane manner.

One feels sorry for director P Vasu. He has nothing much to do except meekly follow what Rajni expects him to do. Of course, this has been the lot of all superstar films right from the days of the redoubtable MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. The fate of Chandramukhi is no different.

As for the story, Saravanan (Rajnikant) is an American-returned psychiatrist who rushes to the help of his best friend Senthilnathan (Prabhu). Senthil has a problem: his wife Ganga (Jyothika) suffers from a split personality. The newly-wedded couple who want to stay in an old palace, runs into trouble. The palace is haunted and the spirit of a dancer called Chandramukhi hovers over it. Ganga gets 'possessed' by the spirit and starts behaving like Chandramukhi.

The dancer had been forcibly brought from Andhra by a King, whose advances she spurns. In frustration, the king kills her lover and burns Chandramukhi herself in the palace. Ganga becomes fascinated by the story and starts empathizing with Chandramukhi. In the process, she falls prey to a deadly disease, which if not treated properly, can prove fatal for her.

Enter Saravanan (Rajni) who sets about treating her in a professional manner. Initially, Senthil opposes Saravanan's attempt, but agrees reluctantly realizing that there is no other option to save Ganga.

Rest of the film revolves around how Saravanan saves Ganga and restores peace in the household.

Another major failure of the film is below par performances from the main actors. Neither Rajnikant nor Jyothika look convincing. Despite the aid of makeup, Rajni looks old as well as tired. That age has caught up with him is clearly evident from the dance sequences.

Jyothika looks out of place as well, and the climax scene featuring her is a total washout. Even ardent Rajnifans cannot help letting out catcalls at the facial contortions Jyothika makes in the dance scene, brilliantly done by Shobana in the Malayalam original. The entire blame for this poor denouement must go to director Vasu.

Even comedian Vadivel, normally an efficient essayer of hilarity, fails to impress, though he makes a brave attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings. Nayanthara, who acts as Rajni's love interest, has nothing much to do except look pretty and figure in two song and dance sequences with the superstar. Thereafter, she simply fades away. But, Nayanthara is a star in the making.

As for the music, the less said the better. Vidyasagar has totally failed to do justice to the music department. Of course, there are some foot-tapping numbers to enthuse the Rajni fans. But somehow Vidyasagar has not been able to compose music that the storyline demands. Even the song featuring Asha Bhosle Koncha Neram leaves one in the cold. A disappointment, given the fact that Vidyasagar is the most promising of the upcoming music directors in the South.

Conclusion: If you are a diehard Rajni fan, you will lap it all up unquestioningly. It is certainly not for a moviegoer who wants to watch serious and quality stuff.

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