Chandramukhi...first day :-)

Thalaivar padam...paathutten.... :-))

A long wait of 3 years for all Rajini fans after the
infamous Baba...

Went to the movie first day...4:30 show....after
mailing my team that I had urgent personal work and I
am leaving early ;-)

The multiplex here in Bangalore wouldnt have seen such
celebration before. The fans were having a gala time.
There were lots of crackers, people dancing around,
big garland over thalaivar's cut out, lots of posters
stating "There is one sun, there is one moon and there
is only one superstar!"

The atmosphere was electric as any other first day of
a Rajini film. We went as a gang of around 10 people
and had lots of fun with whistling, shouting, etc.
Most of the people there were Software Engrs who cud
be identified with the famous tags hanging around
their necks. But everyone was enjoying without any
restraints.

Now to the movie...

The entry of Rajini was too cool...the customary
initial fight started...and the clapping, the whistles
and the shouts...u must live thru it to enjoy it.

Unlike his recent movies, Rajini doesnt have a 'punch'
dialogue in the movie, no political message and he
even doesnt smoke once! Actually in the first scene
when he throws and catches something in the mouth, it
turns out to be a chewing gum and not a cigar as many
expected.

The movie is lively and moves at a fairly fast pace.
The traditional intro song for thalaivar is there.
'Devuda Devuda' - u like it as u hear it more and
more. The dancing was vintage Rajini (The hand on hip
step
will never ever get old!).

The story is based on the 1993 Malayalam movie
'Manichitrathazhu' which won awards for both Shobana
and Mohanlal.

The storyline is strong here unlike many other recent
Rajini movies. The story starts with a haunted palace
in Vettayapuram and a 150-year-old legend. A king,
Vettayaraja, lusts for a beautiful dancer,
Chandramukhi, and forces her to be his mistress. But
she continues her relationship with her lover. When
the king finds out, he beheads the lover and burns her
alive. But her soul lives on for revenge. A 30 feet
snake, life-size portraits, jewels and costumes keep
the legend alive.

Senthil(Prabhu) and Ganga(Jyothika) buy the palace.
They stay there along with their family (Nasser,
Malavika, Vadivelu and others) and Senthil's friend
Saravanan (Rajini), who is a leading psychiatrist
(gold medalist) from USA. Vijayakumar is the gardener
of the palace and Durga (Nayanthara) is his 'paethi'
and she conducts 'paatu' classes.

Problems start when several untoward things start
happening in the house - two attempts on Senthil's
life, Ganga's saree catching fire, etc.

How these problems are related to the legend
Chandramukhi and how Saravanan solves these problems
with his expertise in psychiatry with help from a
poojari and from Vineet(a dance professor) forms the
rest of the story.

The film has an exciting second half and the story
builds up to a thrilling climax.

Jyothika steals the show here. Her usual over-the-top
acting is missing in the movie and she has given a
good performance. She is horrendous in the climax
especially when she yells out "laka..laka..laka..".

Rajini, though looks old in certain scenes, has done
well to conceal his age in the movie and is very
energetic. He has even got his costumes designed very
youthfully. But his voice has lost that 'zing' which
is a major part of his superstar personality.

Prabhu is subdued in the movie, as expected in any
Rajini movie.

Nayanthara has very little to do in the movie except
sing a duet with the superstar. But she does look
cute.

Comedy always has a prominent role in Rajini's movies
and Chandramukhi is no exception. Rajini's scenes with
Vadivelu are good especially the scene where Vadivelu
is left alone in the eerie palace is hilarious. But
there are a few double-meaning dialogues, which was
never a part of any Rajini movie earlier.

The music by Vidyasagar is good. I should also say
that the background score and the sound effects needed
in the haunted palace has been done well.

Overall the movie satisfies you when you walk out of
the movie hall. Though this movie doesnt have the
usual masala seen in Rajini movies, it more than
compensates by its story.

Rajini is back with a bang to prove that he has lost
none of his charm and charisma, not to mention his
huge fan-following. This film should be a huge hit !!


Hubbbbbbbaaaaaaa...that was quite a loooooooooong
review. But thalaivara patthi ezhudha aarambicha udane
andha flowla adhuvaaa kottiduchu....