Finally experienced the Endhiran (released as The Robot in Hindi) phenomenon. I say 'experienced' because that is what the movie has become of course, thanks to Rajnikanth's overwhelming presence and the crores spent on never-before seen special effects. Amid media reports about fans queuing up for shows at 4 a.m., Rajni cutouts being felicitated with garlands and milk and simply countless Rajni jokes, the movie quickly became one of the biggest grossers in recent times.
I was in Chennai recently and decided to go watch it at a local PVR multiplex. The multiplex was packed despite the movie having released more than a month back. However, the crowds were largely calm other the odd whistle, spontaneous applause or two. Perhaps I should have chosen a standalone theatre to capture exactly how Rajni induces mass hysteria.
The story deals with what happens when man plays god. Rajni plays Dr. Vaseegaran, a scientist who invents a robot named Chitti in his own image (Rajni again). In his efforts to make the robot more perfect and hence secure approval from his peers, he invests it with human emotions thereby paving the road to hell. Chitti falls in love with Vaseegaran's fiance, Sana (Aishwarya Rai). When implanted with a 'destruction program' by Vaseegaran's competitor and one-time mentor Dr. Bohra (Danny Denzongpa), he goes on a bloody rampage to secure Sana and take over the city with an army of lookalike robots.
Endhiran is a movie that works on several levels. While it is easy to see it as a merely a vehicle to showcase and cash in on Rajni's popularity, it also serves as an allegory mirroring the relation between God and Man. How god created man in his own image, how emotions are a necessary evil that perfect and corrupt us at the same time. One can sense both Vaseegaran's pain at the way his prized creation has turned on him and sense Chitti's frustration at being denied love because he is after all a machine.
The special effects are spectacular with Rajnikanth as a robot now being legitimately able to do, in the name of science, all the stunts he did in the name of style in his other movies. And more. Yes, its over the top and yes, its illogical. But watch this with less cynicism and more of an open mind and you might just enjoy it.
I was in Chennai recently and decided to go watch it at a local PVR multiplex. The multiplex was packed despite the movie having released more than a month back. However, the crowds were largely calm other the odd whistle, spontaneous applause or two. Perhaps I should have chosen a standalone theatre to capture exactly how Rajni induces mass hysteria.
The story deals with what happens when man plays god. Rajni plays Dr. Vaseegaran, a scientist who invents a robot named Chitti in his own image (Rajni again). In his efforts to make the robot more perfect and hence secure approval from his peers, he invests it with human emotions thereby paving the road to hell. Chitti falls in love with Vaseegaran's fiance, Sana (Aishwarya Rai). When implanted with a 'destruction program' by Vaseegaran's competitor and one-time mentor Dr. Bohra (Danny Denzongpa), he goes on a bloody rampage to secure Sana and take over the city with an army of lookalike robots.
Endhiran is a movie that works on several levels. While it is easy to see it as a merely a vehicle to showcase and cash in on Rajni's popularity, it also serves as an allegory mirroring the relation between God and Man. How god created man in his own image, how emotions are a necessary evil that perfect and corrupt us at the same time. One can sense both Vaseegaran's pain at the way his prized creation has turned on him and sense Chitti's frustration at being denied love because he is after all a machine.
The special effects are spectacular with Rajnikanth as a robot now being legitimately able to do, in the name of science, all the stunts he did in the name of style in his other movies. And more. Yes, its over the top and yes, its illogical. But watch this with less cynicism and more of an open mind and you might just enjoy it.
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