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A full house screamed throughout last night’s Times Square premiere of “Jailer,” a grisly and comedic action Indian thriller starring Rajinikanth, the marquee-topping, Tamil-speaking septuagenarian and self-advertised “Super Star.” Or at least, everybody alive in that auditorium seemed to be cheering for Rajinikanth.

Rajinikanth (“Robot,” “Kaala”) is now 72 years old. His “Jailer” character, a retired cop and prison warden named Muthu “ Tiger ” Pandian, has a sassy young grandson and a knack for murdering villains. Beheadings and fatal stabbings are a Muthu specialty. He also has a vast network of shady old friends, played by a deep bench of Indian character actors and fellow leading men, who help Muthu kill the bad men who threaten his family.

In “Jailer,” the bad men are led by Varman (Vinayakan), a manic crime boss who kidnaps Muthu’s adult son Arjun ( Vasanth Ravi ), also a cop, and threatens to behead Arjun’s grandson Rithvik (Rithvik Jothi Raj), an aspiring YouTube star, while Rithvik and Muthu get ice cream. Varman’s men taunt Muthu by doing a grotesque dance of joy in the street. He retaliates by hacking at some of them with a gigantic blade: “After a point I don’t talk, I slash.” If you come to “Jailer” for anything but Rajinikinath, you will probably leave disappointed.

“Jailer” simultaneously is and isn’t a typical Rajinikanth vehicle. It’s more self-conscious and more committed than some of his other recent vehicles, as far as reconciling the tonal whiplash banked into the Indian cinema’s kitchen sink, mass-audience-minded masala style. The makers of “Jailer” toggle between emotional registers with confidence and alarming frequency, like whenever Muthu helps Rithvik film a gardening program for his YouTube channel, and then resumes his bloody feud with Varman. In a musical montage that only makes sense after a long-delayed plot twist, Muthu and Rithvik bask in each other’s company while an acoustic guitar plays and a singer paints a sunny picture of a man who, in Rithvik, also sees “my leader ... my son.” Meanwhile, Arjun tortures one of Varman’s men, and also orders a fellow cop to not give water to his blood-soaked victim. The acoustic guitarist never takes a break.

The persistent extremity of Varman’s character-defining violence also gives old man Rajinikanth a mandate to be merciless. It’s sometimes even touching to see him match Varman since, as our antihero’s theme song boasts, “He will make your next generation dance to his tunes.” Rajinikanth is perhaps unusual when compared to, say, a Sylvester Stallone or a Steven Seagal , in that he still attracts the sort of young idolatrous filmmakers who all seem obsessed with making the now biologically mature star look eternally iconic. A friend who saw “Jailer” in Los Angeles last night joked about how many times Rajinikanth enters a new room with dramatic flair. In Times Square, each new slow-motion turn to the camera was met with screams. So were Rajinikanth’s lusty action scenes, especially when he finally notices Varman’s barrels of sulphuric acid.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if director Nelson Dilipkumar knows what he’s doing, either with his star or this movie’s volatile mix of tones and styles. “Beast,” Dilipkumar’s loopy third-generation “ Die Hard ” clone, gives some helpful context since “Beast” pits the relatively young four-quadrant star Vijay against a shopping mall full of terrorists, one of whom he also beheads. In “Jailer,” Muthu is an older man with a legacy to consider. On-screen, Rajinikanth occasionally bumps his head against his emotional range’s low ceiling, like when Muthu cries about Arjun’s fate. In this scene, Rajinikanth leans as hard into his angles as he does whenever Muthu loses it and cackles like a lunatic with a secret.

Before an “INTERMISSION” intertitle flashed across the screen—they never pause for intermission at the AMC Empire 25—Muthu tells us that now that he’s got nothing to lose, he can stop juggling three different faces and just wear one. He says this to his family members after he warns them to stay perfectly still, so that he and his action-pose-ready friends can pick off some more bad men. After the “INTERMISSION” title, there’s an extensive new subplot involving an extra-marital affair, a bad toupee, the comedian Sunil, and the starlet Tamannaah Bhatia . Everybody acts as a version of themselves in “Jailer,” but only Rajinikanth’s performance pulls everything together by sheer willpower.

Rajinikanth is 72 years old, so it’s weirdly moving to see that, every two or three years, he can still crank out a freewheeling star vehicle as vigorous and exhausting as “Jailer.” Just outside Theater 25, I overheard a 40-something-year-old man ask an older companion what he thought about “Jailer.” I couldn’t make out the older fellow’s response, but his chuckle and little shake of the head suggested that he was still enjoying Rajinikanth’s eternal summer.

In theaters now.      

Simon Abrams

Simon Abrams is a native New Yorker and freelance film critic whose work has been featured in  The New York Times ,  Vanity Fair ,  The Village Voice,  and elsewhere.

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Jailer (2023)

170 minutes

Rajinikanth as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian

Shivaraj Kumar as Ravana

Jackie Shroff

Sunil Varma

Ramya Krishnan

Tamannaah Bhatia

Vasanth Ravi

Nagendra Babu

• Nelson Dilipkumar
• Arunraja Kamaraj

Director of Photography

• Vijay Kartik Kannan

Playback Singer

• Anirudh Ravichander
• Rajinikanth

Original Music Composer

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Jailer Reviews

Jailer is yet more of the same type of long-winded revenge action tale with fake-looking stunts, mediocre-to-bad acting, and an absurd plot that doesn't look believable.

Full Review | Aug 15, 2023

The guest stars do their bit and move on. It is left to Rajinikanth to shoulder the weight of the erratic script.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 15, 2023

Nelson, whose last big screen outing was Beast, is back with his signature style of filmmaking - packed with subtle, dark comedy in the first half.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 14, 2023

Who can take an avenging hero seriously when the threats are so feeble? A high-wattage star can bring only so much value to an indifferently written movie.

Full Review | Aug 14, 2023

The makers of “Jailer” toggle between emotional registers with confidence and alarming frequency.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 11, 2023

JAILER is full-on Rajinikanth love. Nelson brings his flair for black and absurd comedy and presents us with a super stylish mass spectacle in a class of its own.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 11, 2023

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‘Jailer’ Review: Rajinikanth returns to supreme form in Nelson Dilipkumar's film

Director nelson dilipkumar’s ‘jailer’, starring rajinikanth, vinayakan and vasanth ravi, is a proper paisa-vasool commercial entertainer. with solid performances and good camera work, ‘jailer’ is strictly a theatre watch, says our review..

Listen to Story

• 'Jailer' released in theatres on August 10.
• The film is helmed by Nelson Dilipkumar.
• Jackie Shroff, Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar play cameo roles in the film.

Release Date: 10 Aug, 2023

Rajinikanth is truly back and how! Whenever Thalaivar scores a hit, it almost feels personal. After ‘Annatthe’, which received unfavourable reviews, it has been quite a while since Rajinikanth delivered a solid entertainer. And for Nelson Dilipkumar, who is coming back from Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Beast’, getting ‘Jailer’ right was much-needed. And he did a great job!

‘Jailer’ opens with a group of people involved in idol smuggling, with its main leader as Varma (Vinayakan). Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) is an honest police officer who wants to track the idol smuggling network and bust them. However, Arjun gets kidnapped by Varma, and everyone in the police department fears that he is dead. His father, Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth), an ex-police officer himself, is distraught.

Muthuvel Pandian is a doting father as well and now wants to take revenge. He goes on a killing spree, which leads him to Varma. But that’s not the end. Varma gives Muthuvel a daunting task as well. And Muthuvel agrees to it on one condition. The whys, whats, and hows are explored in nearly three hours.

Director Nelson Dilipkumar is known for his impeccable comedy timing, and he incorporates dark comedy in all his films. ‘Jailer’ is no different. In fact, Rajinikanth gets a subdued introduction as a retired man taking care of the household chores. He helps his grandson with his YouTube channel, buys vegetables for the house, and has absolute fun. It is great to see Thalaivar do mundane stuff as opposed to the stylish antics we’d always see. But Nelson has struck a balance in tapping into both sides of Rajinikanth, which is essentially why ‘Jailer’ works.

It is Rajinikanth who does all the heavy lifting in ‘Jailer’. The story of ‘Jailer’ has shades of Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vikram’. The two films are about a father going to any lengths for their sons, even if it means taking on a criminal gang. While ‘Vikram’ sticks to its genre righteously, ‘Jailer’ is a commercial actioner, with the right doses of action. The initial portions of Jailer have Rajinikanth attempting black comedy. While the comedy works in some parts, it also falls flat in many places. The film takes its sweet time to get into the main conflict. But Rajinikanth makes up for his subdued performance whenever the film lags.

‘Jailer’ is a film that celebrates the film industry at its core. We have Shiva Rajkumar, Jackie Shroff, and Mohanlal with their explosive cameos setting the screen on fire. And seeing these greats share screen space with Rajinikanth offers several whistle-worthy moments. The film also has many callback moments to Rajinikanth's superhit movies like 'Baasha' and 'Enthiran', among others, which add a nice touch of nostalgia.

The interval sequence, which shows Rajinikanth's epic transformation, is a total banger! It is one of those sequences that brings forth the best of everyone. And when Anirudh's 'Hukum' plays, you are sold!

‘Jailer’ also has its own shortcomings. While the story is extremely predictable, there are places where you’d begin to question how Rajinikanth has people all over the country to chip in and help him. The flashback to his early days as a police officer looks unconvincing. Several murders take place, but there are no repercussions. The story begins in Arakonam and travels to Kavali, Bangaluru and several other cities in India. And sometimes, we feel that ‘Jailer’ is incohesive.

‘Jailer’ is Rajinikanth’s return to form. Even at 72, his charisma and style make you scream in theatres. After Rajinikanth, it is Vinayakan, who has stolen the show completely. His piercing gaze and deadly wrongdoings make him a worthy villain for Rajinikanth. Vasanth Ravi, too, has a meaty role in the film.

While the performance of Rajinikanth is an asset to ‘Jailer’, it is also Anirudh Ravichander, who acts as a solid pillar of support for the film. His thumping background score will make you enjoy Rajinikanth’s swag. Whenever the ‘Hukum’ song plays on screen, the theatre erupts in joy.

Cinematographer Vijay Kartik Kannan’s frames are grand and offer visual extravaganza. Editing by R Nirmal complements the film's mood as well. Ramya Krishnan, Sunil, Tamannaah, Yogi Babu and several others appear in short-lived roles.

‘Jailer’ is a film that celebrates Rajinikanth for what he is. There are sparks of Nelson’s intelligence in ‘Jailer’ which makes it quite enjoyable.

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Home » Reviews » Tamil Movie Reviews

Jailer Movie Review: It Is Rajinikanth Looking At The Phenomenon He Created In Wide Angle & Somewhere Accepting His Age Finally, But Rajni Style Doesn’t Fade Even An Inch

Jailer is only victorious because nelson never feels the pressure of serving rajni fans keeping his movie aside.

Star Cast: Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan, Vinayakan, Vasanth Ravi, Yogi Babu, Jackie Shroff, Mohanlal, Shivarajkumar, and ensemble.

Director: Nelson Dilipkumar.

What’s Good: It is a filmmaker taking the phenomenon of Rajinikanth one step ahead. The blue print is not just a fan service but an attempt to make it substantial.

What’s Bad: Some very convenient routes that the movie takes diluting the entire vibe.

Loo Break: Use the interval. Nothing is so bad that you will feel like skipping.

Watch or Not?: If you are a Rajinikanth fan, plenty of him is here, but not the stereotypical action start. So go in like a clean slate and let Nelson’s idea of the superstar take over.

Language: Tamil (with subtitles in selected theatres).

Available On: In Theatres Near You!

Runtime: 168.47 Minutes.

Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajini), a retired jailer, is now living a life that has no violence around him. One day his son, who is also a police officer, gets kidnapped and is declared killed. The Tiger decides to roar back and takes down an entire syndicate with the help of his star friends.

Jailer Movie Review: Script Analysis

A Rajinikanth movie is never a movie that walks standalone. It has the burden of serving to the cinema deity it stars. It has to not just be a story that impresses but also a platform that gives ample space for this larger-than-life star to walk in slow motion, throw a cigar in his mouth in reverse (he does that in Jailer), or just wear glares with the most complicated hand movements there could be. If done by anyone else, it could be eccentric, but for Rajinikanth, that is his style. Even the dried leaves and mud on the road know when to fly and form a mini storm when he walks by them.

So when writer-director Nelson Dilipkumar decides to cast one of the biggest stalwarts of Indian cinema in his crime comedy, he knows what he has signed up for. Jailer is only victorious because Nelson never feels the pressure of serving Rajni fans keeping his movie aside. He makes sure the movie happens first, and the fan service is a path of it. We meet Rajinikanth praying; he is not dressing up to now woo a young fair lady, but is a grandfather to a 6-year-old toddler. His wife taunts him, and he doesn’t dare to give a comeback. I could see the excitement of the fans fading in a houseful theatre when their superstar did not enter the screen punching some goons, or smoking a cigar. But Nelson takes this risk.

He takes the risk to make the biggest superstar of the country accept his age right in the beginning of his movie. Yes, a flashback where he is young serves as a redemption and the crowd even cheered more on that, but you see how the filmmaker is cleverly serving his sensibilities, the audience, fans, and producers. Jailer, for the most part of it, never shows you the action visually. It is always an idea. Rajinikanth has done enough for you to form an image of him breaking some bones when he enters a room and closes the door. So Nelson cuts to the chase and shows the end result. Now, this could not work for the fans who bought that ticket to watch the star beat hundreds of people in a go, but it is a great idea and must be appreciated.

Nelson, while writing multiple cameos, lives his fanboy dream. Superstars enter the frame one after the other and none demand the limelight of the other, because they are now that content with their share. You can see that in the little moments. Nelson even goes meta when he critiques his own industry when he talks about aged heroes running behind young actors with their wigs on.

Jailer loses the momentum though, post the interval. The second half begins on a high but soon gets too predictable and a big twists feels unnecessary entirely. That twist also leads to the climax becoming the biggest bothering bit about this movie. The writing also forgets the little boy and entirely ignores the women. None of the two ladies get to have a decent conversation. And one of the two is played by Ramya Krishnan, FYI.

Jailer Movie Review: Star Performance

Rajinikanth can now cakewalk through the slow motions and antique ways of wearing glasses, folding legs, sitting, walking; the man even has a style to light a matchstick. But the task for him is to underplay the Rajni Phenomenon, and you see him do that in Jailer. It is fun to see him accept his age in a much more nuanced manner.

Vinayakan, as the big baddie Varma, is a fun character. All the comedy and fear comes out of him, and is written quite nicely. He makes his goons dance to Rahman songs in an Anirudh musical. His hideout is as dramatic as possible. The actor makes sure he doesn’t become a comic relief, and the way he balances the two things is commendable.

Vasanth Ravi is impressive. Yogi Babu can never go wrong, and then when joined by Jackie Shroff, there is enough to hook you here.

Jailer Movie Review: Direction, Music

Nelson has definitely taken a huge risk in Jailer to change the blueprint of how a Rajinikanth movie should look. Not many can dare to break a mold that was so successful for a very long time. But we recently saw a saturation in that too and looks like even Nelson did. This is the superstar’s best work in a long while.

Anirudh is here to revolutionize music and needs to spread his art across the country and, eventually the world. His work in Jailer is so fresh and works so well with the setup. He makes the film sound so larger than life and also grounded when needed. As for songs, Kaavaalaa works pretty well in the movie. The placement of the song could be one of the best in a long time. DOP Vijay Kartik Kannan’s camera worships Rajinikanth in a good way. The wife angle shots are brilliant, and so is the set design in most of the parts.

Jailer Movie Review: The Last Word

Jailer is the best Rajinikanth movie in a very long time. Yes, there was also Darbar , and we know what happened. Though Jailer has flaws too, but none that should make you skip it. Go in if you want to see a fresh take on the Rajni Phenomenon.

Jailer Trailer

Jailer releases on 10th August, 2023.

Share with us your experience of watching Jailer.

For more recommendations, read our Shaakuntalam Movie Review here.

Must Read: Ponniyin Selvan 2 Movie Review: Mani Ratnam Finally Lets His World Bloom With Its Lethalness, Mysticism & Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Ethereal Presence

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Jailer Movie Review

10 Aug 2023 | U/A | 170 Mins

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Jailer Movie Review: An out and out Rajinikanth show with dynamic cameos of Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar

Planning to watch the Nelson Dilipkumar directed Jailer starring Rajinikanth in cinema halls this week? Read Pinkvilla review and let us help you decide

By himesh mankad.

Key Highlight

• Jailer works, but in parts. When it’s good, it’s very good. But when it’s bad, it just drags
• Jailer has enough mass moments to appease the die hard Rajinikanth fans
• Howeever, Nelson's celebration of Rajinikanth's aura warranted a little better screenplay

Name: Jailer

Director: nelson dilipkumar, cast: mohanlal,shiva rajkumar,rajinikanth,jackie shroff,ramya krishnan,yogi babu, writer: nelson dilipkumar.

Rajinikanth films are like a festival - They open to packed houses on the shows as early as 6 am, even in a city like Mumbai. It’s a surreal experience to watch his cinema in packed houses, as fans celebrate, the walk, and every appearance, which at times even makes up for the slips and flips in the screenplay. The experience and the slips in screenplay is what Jailer is all about. Here’s our review.

Jailer revolves around Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth), an ex-jailer, who is on a mission to seek revenge for the death of his son, ACP Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) against a mafia dealing in temple antique artifacts. However, he encounters several unexpected conflicts that puts his own family – Vijaya (Ramya Krishnan), Shwetha (Mirnaa Menon) and grandchild Rithvik – in danger. Through the journey, he gets support from old alleys, Mathew ( Mohanlal ), Narasimha (Shiva Rajkumar) and (Jackie Shroff). Does he succeed to save his family and avenge his son? All of this unfolds in Jailer.

What works?

Jailer celebrates the aura of Superstar Rajinikanth. He gets some of the biggest crowd-pleasing moments in the drama space – be it the extended introduction block, or the pre and post interval sequence, the pre-climax twist and the climax. The film has enough ‘Rajini-Moments’ which will be enjoyed by the hardcore fans.

The plot is driven by father and son emotion, which is relatable and Nelson does well to add an interesting dynamic to the screenplay as the film progresses. It’s a film that rides primarily on the emotion, and drama rather than the action. The comic track featuring Rajinikanth with Yogi Babu work’s brilliant in the narrative, and we wished the comic talent had more to do, especially in the second half. Much like the film, the humour of Jailer also works in bits and pieces.

Watch the Jailer Trailer

Anirudh’s background score is one of the biggest pluses of the film and elevates the mass moments to another level. The aforementioned 4 blocks leave an even better impact due to the background score of Anirudh, which does complete justice to the aura of Rajinikanth. The dialogues ensure enough claptrap moments. The family angle, especially in the initial few frames are done well and brings a smile on your face.

The entire villain track, led by Vinayakan, is also done well, when in the intense space.

What doesn’t work?

Jailer is tad too long for the plot that Nelson has in his hand. The filmmaker could have easily put out a crisper version of the same film for a better impact. While the film has enough in terms of standalone moments, it does go off the track for a major part of the second half, which is thankfully lifted by a good climax. While the entire track of heist would have read great on paper, it is not well executed and hampers the pace of the film in a big way. The Blast Mohan (Sunil) subtract also doesn’t click as well as expected. While the humour works in the first half, the film gets derailed on the comic front in the second half.

Some of the sub-plots are left unexplored – be it the entire nexus of the police department working hand-to-hand with the stolen artifact’s mafia, or the arc of Tiger Muthuvel Pandian’s family members. The antagonist track doesn’t work when Nelson attempts to marry the intensity with his dark comedy. The entire psychiatrist angle in the first half doesn't land well. Pacing is also an issue through the film, as there are a lot of moments which drag and there are also some sequences which add nothing to the narrative.

Jailer Star Performances

Jailer is a superstar Rajinikanth show. The film isn’t just about the display of Rajinikanth’s superstardom and antiques, but also has enough scenes that puts forward Rajinikanth – The actor. He aces the emotional, dramatic, comic and heroic scenes with perfection and has a screen presence that very few in Indian can command. The film rides on Rajinikanth’s shoulders and they are strong enough to take the film through.

Vinayakan is menacing in his part of a dangerous antagonist, Verma and does well to be the baddie alongside a force like Rajinikanth. Mohanlal has a stellar cameo and his appearance is sure to be greeted with seeti’s and taali’s all across the board, especially in Kerala. He has a dynamic presence. Same for Shiva Rajkumar, who gets an excellent introduction to this tale. Jackie Shroff is decent in his appearance. Ramya Krishnan has limited screen time, but she does well in the allotted role. Same for Mirnaa Menon and the child artist, Ritvik. Tamannaah’s cameo is decent, but her track is a complete let down.

Jailer Movie Review: Final Verdict :

Jailer works, but in parts. When it’s good, it’s very good. But when it’s bad, it just drags. Nelson succeeds in his attempt to celebrate the stardom of Rajinikanth and blends it with a performance driven character, however, the film warranted a better screenplay to drive the proceedings. It’s a decent entertainer that works due to the aura of Rajinikanth in mass blocks alongside the dynamic cameos by Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar. Jailer has enough moments to emerge a box office winner. 

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'Jailer' review: Rajinikanth roars back to form in this mass entertainer

Superstar Rajinikanth's latest release 'Jailer' has graced the theatres, marking a triumphant return to his iconic form following the setback of 'Annaatthe.' The film presents Rajini in a spectacular display of energy and action, evoking fond memories of his youthful vigour.

Helmed by Nelson Dilipkumar, 'Jailer' is an absolute entertainer, with Rajinikanth commanding the screen with his singular presence.

However, the movie's appeal hinges on individual perspectives. Those seeking logical coherence might find themselves disappointed. On the contrary, for those who embrace the movie's mass appeal and set aside the need for rationality, 'Jailer' will be a good cinematic experience.

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Centred around Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajini), a retired police officer, the narrative delves into his unexpected descent into a world of action and conflict. This transition is catalysed by the mysterious disappearance of his son, Assistant Commissioner Arjun (Vasanth Ravi), who vanishes while on the trail of Varman (Vinayakan) and his notorious criminal syndicate.

Regrettably, the female characters, portrayed by Ramya Krishnan (as Rajinikanth's wife) and Mirnaa Menon, are severely underutilised. Their roles appear reduced to mere stereotypes of gullible and naive women, devoid of substantial involvement in the narrative.

Furthermore, certain scenes where Rajini's character berates his wife seem contrived solely for a dramatic flair, resulting in a dissonance that diminishes their suitability in the movie.

The film encompasses all the quintessential elements that define a Rajini movie: elegance, mass appeal, dynamic action, power-packed dialogues, and even a dance sequence (although Rajini's participation was limited, allowing Tamannaah to shine).

Vinayakan's presence in the film is undeniably robust. While he embodies a formidable villain, his mannerisms become somewhat repetitive over the course of the movie. 

The film strikes a balance between action and comedy.  Actors like Yogi Babu and Sunil adeptly handle the comedic aspects.

While the pacing wanes in the second half, potentially losing the audience's attention, the cinematic climax sequences compensate admirably.

The inclusion of cameos from stalwarts like Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff and Shiva Rajkumar adds a flavorful blend of ingredients that prevents the movie from unravelling. Their performances resonate warmly on screen, particularly in tandem with the ever-present Rajini. Witnessing Rajini in his full charismatic splendour after a considerable hiatus is indeed invigorating for the audience.

'Jailer' warrants a theatrical experience, especially for those who revel in mass entertainers. Amid the whirlwind of elements within the movie, Nelson has successfully delivered a commendable entertainment package.

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Rajinikanth's 'Jailer' film review: A glorious first half tapers off into oblivion

Even if director Nelson hadn’t flaunted the  Breaking Bad  tee in that teaser video of  Jailer ’s single, we all know by now, on evidence of his films, that the series has had a serious impact on him. Cocaine smuggling in  Kolamavu Kokila , twin assassins in  Doctor , Walter White masks in  Beast … and now,  Jailer   gives us more evidence of its influence on him.

In this film, people get dissolved in acid, a ceiling comes crashing down, a policeman pretends to be drunk and lures away two enemies before finishing them off… and perhaps most importantly, a cop father deals with the loss of his cop son.

We also know by now that Nelson’s film universe milks tragedy for comedy—and that, and his visual signatures, make him such a unique filmmaker. In  Jailer , heads get lopped off, family members disappear, women are perpetually unsafe… and like its men, the universe of  Jailer  feels cold. Nelson isn’t interested in your tears (not unless they are of laughter)—and so, he shows little interest in capturing the emotional consequences of events like the disappearance of Muthuvel’s son (Vasanth Ravi). In fact, soon after this event, you see Muthuvel and their grandson enjoying an ice cream—which is a strange scene to come up with so early after a profound loss. But I wasn’t in the mood to resist these developments. This is Nelson’s world, after all, and he has proven ways of delivering unique entertainment. He thrives in unexpected, cool violence; he specializes in deadpan humor. And often, he combines both to powerful effect. When Muthuvel drags a sack to Yogi Babu’s car, we know it’s the aftermath of a murder. But that doesn’t stop the scene from being funny. Quite the opposite, in fact.

These are such great moments in a wildly entertaining first half. Every time Rajinikanth agrees to work with a filmmaker, a question that pops up immediately is, ‘Will the filmmaker, in making the Rajini brand work, compromise on his previous strengths?’  Jailer ’s first half suggests no dilution in the Nelson brand of filmmaking. In his fascinating world, when Muthuvel smiles, it’s an expression of pain. When characters squeal in pain, it’s often for laughs (like when a character is hung from a fan). You know it’s the Nelson world when a husband calmly looks at his wife, who’s shocked about a dead body falling on her, and simply advises, “Just push it.” Rajinikanth, at one point, refers to himself as a dinosaur—and somehow, Nelson ensures that this lands as a mass moment. It’s the first half in which Yogi Babu’s quips seem like the perfect foil for Rajini’s serious demeanor. The film, in these portions, establishes enough motivation for ‘Tiger’ Muthuvel Pandian to go berserk; it establishes a menacing, nutty villain and actor Vinayakan’s performance (those unforgettable eyes!) is wonderfully physical. And above all, perhaps the most important—and likable—decision Nelson seems to have taken in this film concerns Rajinikanth’s fight sequences. This film almost wholly does away with hand-to-hand combat. Even when it uses it, Nelson ensures it delivers maximum impact (like in that memorable interval scene). Finally, we are realizing that Rajinikanth has enough charisma to ensure that he doesn’t need to do all the killing. It’s enough if, like in that pre-interval scene, he sits down and asserts control, while someone else takes care of the shooting.

So, yes, I do think the world of everything that happens in this film before it breaks for an interval, but then, as the click-bait text goes on social media, ‘what happened next shocked me’. The film, for no rhyme or reason, goes into freefall, in directions that don’t feel organic at all. There’s a flashback in which we see a ‘younger’ Rajinikanth—and the Rajini admirer in me felt compelled to enjoy it (make the most of everything you get from him, right?). Let it not matter that the walk of the younger Muthuvel isn’t as dynamic as it needed to be, or that the look itself is not-so-convincing. This scene also shows the policeman, Muthuvel, happily lopping off a prisoner’s ear as punishment, and declaring that he won’t follow ‘rules’ when dealing with those who don’t follow them. Such blatant romanticization of police violence has always made me uncomfortable—and this time too, it was no different. This film, interestingly, also talks of how cops are generally corrupt—and it’s perhaps for this reason that Muthuvel seems to have closer alliances with reformed gangsters than he does with those in his department. So, no, it’s definitely not a film that’s out to whitewash the police department—but still, the preeminent star of our times, wearing a police uniform, unleashing brutality to Anirudh’s thumping music, doesn’t exactly scream responsibility.

Soon, the film, bizarrely, turns into a sort of heist; suddenly, it’s all a far cry from the pre-interval joys. You get something about a film shoot; there’s something about a bad actor vying to win Tamannaah over a rival, his own assistant; wigs are worn and removed; Redin Kingsley, who was so funny in  Doctor , stares aimlessly and mumbles something about ‘refraction’… All these flabby portions fill up big chunks in the second half, and Rajinikanth seems strangely absent for a while. To prop things up perhaps, top actors from other languages play cameos, and we get representatives from across regions including Shiva Rajkumar, Mohan Lal, Sunil, and Jackie Shroff, all making brief, forgettable appearances… Even more forgettable are the women in this film. Ramya Krishnan plays Rajinikanth’s wife in the film, and she’s largely relegated to looking meek and frightened. Somewhere around the interval, there’s a striking visual of Ramya Krishnan rising and Padayappa, sorry, Rajinikanth sitting down, but the film doesn’t make any more of it or of her.

A last-ditch attempt to wrest control over the film feels too little, too late—and there’s a downer of an end as well, for a film that seemed so dynamic, so explosive for long periods in the beginning. I went with the film with all its fanciful leaps (like the convenient idea of CCTV footage bailing out Muthuvel, like allies constantly showing up when needed), in the hope that consistent, memorable payoffs would come, but there just aren’t enough.

None of this is Rajinikanth’s fault though. The man seems to belong as organically in Nelson’s universe as Sivakarthikeyan did in  Doctor . He’s smiling while killing. He’s crying while laughing. He’s lopping off heads like a vendor slices vegetables, which perhaps leads Yogi Babu to confuse bloodstains with beetroot coloring. He polishes the shoes of younger actors; he even does a self-deprecatory jig as a backup dancer at one point. This is an actor who clearly doesn’t have a problem submitting, on evidence of this film; if there are problems in  Jailer —and the second half is a sackful of it—it has to be attributed to the writing.

As  Jailer  ended, I was left with many thoughts. I thought about whether that brief flashback was enough to justify the title. I thought about the film seeming so full of promise at the halfway mark and bizarrely losing direction from then on. I thought about another unforgettable Tamil film from 27 years ago that spoke about an incorruptible father dealing with his son, without compromising on ‘commercial entertainment’. Above all, I thought about how many more films Rajinikanth has in him and whether we are making the most of his willingness to submit to filmmakers.

Rating: 3/5

(This story first appeared on  Cinema Express )

READ MORE:  Rajinikanth: The Superstar title is always a problem

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Jailer Review: Solid Start, Regular End

Movie: Jailer Rating: 2.75/5 Banner: Sun Pictures Cast: Rajnikanth, Mohan Lal, Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar, Sunil, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah, Yogi Babu and others. Music: Anirudh DOP: Vijay Kartik Kannan Editor: R.Nirmal Art: Drk Kiran Action: Stun Siva Presents: Kalanithi Maran Produced by: Sun Pictures Written and directed by: Nelson Release Date: Aug 10, 2023

The recent speech by Rajinikanth, along with the trailer and songs, has collectively fueled the hype around "Jailer." The movie has garnered significant attention even in the absence of any Telugu promotion.

It remains to be seen if this film will signify Rajinikanth's resurgence in his career.

Story: Varma (Vinayakan) leads a mafia gang that steals temple idols and sells them in other countries. Varma and his gang kidnap an ACP who has been studying and documenting this gang's operations for months. Muthu (Rajinikanth), the ACP's father and a retired police officer, is devastated by the news of his son's kidnapping and possible murder.

So Muthu decides to exact his vengeance by killing the gang members one by one. Varma, on the other hand, threatens to kill Muthu's wife (Ramya Krishna), daughter-in-law, and grandson.

How will Muthu save his family and also finish the mission?

Artistes’ Performances: Rajinikanth not only portrays a role that suits his age but also delivers an exceptional performance. Throughout the first half, his presence captivates the audience's attention. His smile, idiosyncrasies, and intensity are all portrayed brilliantly. He holds our complete focus until the intermission. His interactions with Yogi Babu also add to the entertainment.

Vinayakan portrays the villain's character with a menacing aura, even though the role itself follows a familiar pattern.

Ramya Krishna portrays the conventional housewife character, but unfortunately, she doesn't have any particularly engaging scenes.

Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, and Shiva Rajkumar make cameo appearances. Tamannaah Bhatia also appears in a few scenes and a song. However, the song on screen doesn't match the impact it had in the trailers.

Technical Excellence: The cinematography is superb. The cinematographer's capture of interior fight scenes deserves special mention. The production values are also impressive.

The film is held together by Anirudh's musical score, which includes both the background score and songs.

Highlights: Superb first half Rajinikanth’s performance Anirudh’s musical score

Drawback: Sunil’s boring episode Routine scenes in the second half Slow-paced moments

Analysis "Jailer" kicks off on a high note, with Rajinikanth portraying a mild-mannered retired police officer. When his son is kidnapped, Rajinikanth transforms into an angry old man, putting an end to the sequences depicting his simple domestic life. From this point on, the film becomes engaging.

Nelson has crafted some remarkable sequences for Rajinikanth. The introduction of Yogi Babu's character and Rajinikanth's utilization of this comedic persona for his mission to avenge the mafia gang's actions deserve praise. The standout moment is the fight scene within Rajinikanth's house, where his wife and daughter-in-law sit at the dining table.

As the intermission arrives, the impression is that the film will offer another riveting experience akin to Kamal Haasan's blockbuster action thriller "Vikram." Such is the excellence of the first half. Nelson adeptly employs action, comedy, and family moments, and the interval climax generates immense excitement for the audience.

However, the second half of "Jailer" takes a contrasting direction from the first. It adopts the formulaic approach often seen in mass-entertainers. The film features conventional episodes, such as Rajinikanth's flashback as a jailer, a comedy segment involving Sunil and Tamannaah, Tamannaah's item song, extended fight sequences, and so forth.

Regrettably, these moments not only adhere to the formula but also become tedious. Despite Tamannaah's song "Kaavaalaa" gaining viral popularity on YouTube, its impact in the film is diminished because it's filmed on Sunil and Tamannaah instead of being a duet with Rajinikanth and Tamannaah.

Similarly, even the episodes featuring other superstars like Shiva Rajkumar and Mohanlal function as standard heroism-elevating scenes rather than advancing the plot.

Nonetheless, the climax of the second half serves as its redeeming feature.

In summary, "Jailer" starts strong but concludes with an unpredictable climax. It presents a regular action drama with an impressive beginning and a lack of impact in the second half but a hitting end.

Bottom line: Star-studded One Man Show

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• 'Jailer' Twitter review: Blockbuster action entertainer from Rajinikanth - Nelson earns early Praise

'Jailer' Twitter review: Blockbuster action entertainer from Rajinikanth - Nelson earns early Praise

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Updated Aug 10, 2023, 14:41 IST

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Jailer Review: Rajinikanth Is A Star For All Seasons And All Regions

Jailer review: the guest stars do their bit and move on. it is left to rajinikanth to shoulder the weight of the erratic script..

Rajinikanth in a still from the movie. (Courtesy: YouTube )

In Jailer , written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, a superannuated lawman played by Rajinikanth takes the law into his hands with impunity and summarily eliminates several bad guys. But the superstar isn't quite the action hero of yore although the movie has all the trappings of a blockbuster.  

In what is essentially an ultra-violent crime drama about an erstwhile jailer who is forced to don the garb of a vengeance seeker years after his retirement, the charismatic lead actor assumes a circumspect, unflashy persona who does not swing into 'action' until he is left with no other option.

The protagonist, former Tihar Jail warden "Tiger' Muthuvel Pandian, who once had prisoners live in dread of his whims, has hung up his boots. He now focuses on the career of his police officer-son, Arjun (Vasantha Ravi), who he has raised to be as honest and fearless as he was.

Muthu is a paragon of probity, a dutiful family man and, when push comes to shove, an unvanquishable thalaivar who brooks no trifling with things and people he holds dear. His transition from a seemingly docile grandfather going about his domestic chores to a vengeful executioner who wields a scimitar to deadly effect, does not take place until the film is well into its first half.

And when the process attains completion, the Anirudh Ravichander musical, which has only one lip-synched number performed on screen by Tamannaah Bhatia, comes up with something akin to a theme song that celebrates the superstar's mass appeal across generations. The song erases the gulf between the fictional world of Muthuvel Pandian and the real universe that Rajinikanth has lorded over for decades.

Jailer is a Tamil film, but given the cameos by Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar and Makarand Deshpande, several other languages are spoken by the actors, include Rajinikanth - Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi. It is clearly and intrinsically a movie aimed at a pan-Indian audience.

One might argue that most Rajinikanth films are designed for nationwide consumption but Jailer isn't just another Tamil-language film meant to be distributed in the form of dubbed versions. It is best to see its original version with subtitles because only then will one get a sense what the film is trying to achieve.

Not that the Rajinikanth aura is in need of any sort of resurrection. What Jailer does is project him for what he is and has always aspired to be - a star for all seasons and all regions.

Does the film serve its purpose? The first half of Jailer is engaging for the most part. Its second half isn't half as riveting. In fact, it is sluggish and all over the place notwithstanding a couple of climactic twists that pack a reasonable punch.

In one scene in the second half, Muthu confronts a film director named Balu and exhorts him not to foist garbage on the audience in the name of commercial cinema. Give them clean family entertainment, he suggests.

There is a family all right at the heart of Jailer, but does the film live up to Muthu's prescription. It doesn't. For one, there is way too much gore in the film for it to be suitable for all age groups. Not all of the violence in the film is perpetrated by the villain who dunks gang members who goof up into sulphuric acid vats. The hero, too, is just as ruthless.

In one sequence, Muthu decapitates a goon and then proceeds to regret that the headless man can longer fulfil his desire to see Muthu's angry face. The film plays out in a hyper masculine world where the women do not so much as play second fiddle. They are allowed no play at all.

Muthu treats his wife and daughter-in-law as liabilities incapable of fending for themselves. So, every time the bad guy threatens to harm his family, the patriarch has to step in directly or indirectly to protect them. The only other woman in the film who has a few scenes is a movie actress played by Tamannaah. She is plied with gifts by two men - a film director and a male star, neither of whom think it is necessary to ask her what she wants.            

As the film begins, Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth) leads a quiet life with his wife Vijaya (Ramya Krishnan), daughter-in-law Shwetha (Mirna Menon) and grandson. He is happy to shop for vegetables, help his grandson shoot insta reels, and indulge in prickly banter with a Bharathiyar-quoting taxi driver (Yogi Babu) who keeps threatening to run him over.

His son, an assistant commissioner of police, is on the trail of a gang of antique smugglers led by the vicious Varma (Vinayakan). One fine day, the officer goes missing. Word gets around that he is dead. Muthu's wife blames him for the fate that has befallen Arjun. It is you who conditioned him to be so upright and uncompromising, she laments.

The "tiger" dormant in the guilt-ridden Muthu resurfaces. Roping in the cabbie who needles him needlessly, the ex-jailer kills the man who is believed to have murdered his son. The kill takes place off-screen, a sign that Jailer is going to be a Rajinikanth film with a difference.

In subsequent action scenes, however, Muthu uses sharp-edged weapons and guns to dispatch the hoodlums to their doom but in most other sequences he relies on a group of snipers provided to him by his friend from Mandya, Narasimha (Shiva Rajkumar).

In Kabali , Rajinikanth's sphere of action was in Malaysia, in Kaala in a Mumbai slum and in his last release Annaatthe (2021), circumstances saw him move to Kolkata. In Jailer , he operates all across India because he has friends everywhere. That is where Mohanlal and Jackie Shroff come in.

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The guest stars do their bit and move on. It is left to Rajinikanth to shoulder the weight of the erratic script. Playing an age-appropriate character, the septuagenarian star pulls his weight all the way though in a role that, despite the absence of the customary vim and vigour, fits him like a glove.

Jailer does intermittently have you in its grip because Rajinikanth has it in to whip up a storm even at half tilt.   

Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Tamannaah

Nelson Dilipkumar

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Release Date : August 10, 2023

123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring: Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Shiv Rajkumar, Ramya Krishna, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil, Vinayakan, Mirnaa Menon, Vasanth Ravi, Naga Babu, Yogi Babu

Director: Nelson Dilipkumar

Producers: Kalanithi Maran

Music Directors: Anirudh Ravichander

Cinematographer: Vijay Kartik Kannan

Editors: R.Nirmal

Related Links : Trailer

Superstar Rajinikanth’s craze is unparalleled across the globe. The actor’s latest flick, Jailer has hit the screens today amidst sky-high expectations. Nelson Dilipkumar directed this action drama which boasts a phenomenal star cast. After a long time, Thalaivar’s film has achieved sensational hype in Telugu states. Let’s see if the film lives up to the expectations.

Muthuvel Pandian, a.k.a Muthu (Rajinikanth), is a retired jailer who leads a simple life with his family. Muthu’s son Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) is a sincere police officer. Arjun gets into a tussle with Varma (Vinakayan), who smuggles antique pieces and idols of God. One day Arjun goes missing, which causes tension in the police department. Muthu gets to know that his son is murdered, and hence he goes on a killing spree. During this, Muthu learns a surprising fact which changes his path. What is it? How did Muthu deal with it? This forms the crux of the story.

Plus Points:

It is good to see Superstar Rajinikanth in a solid role after a long time. His characterization is well designed by Nelson. Rajinikanth underplays for the most part of the first half, and he transforms into a menacing force as the film progresses. This has been superbly shown, and the interval block is terrific.

Rajinikanth’s comedy timing has been nicely utilised in Jailer, and his scenes with Yogi Babu evoked good laughs. The dark comedy worked pretty well in the first hour. Especially the fun infused during the action set pieces was enjoyable.

Anirudh is the second pillar of Jailer after Rajinikanth. He elevated Superstar in an excellent manner with his thumping background score. Especially the Hukum song and the interval sequence looked stunning, thanks to the pulsating background score of Anirudh. Ramya Krishna, Mirnaa Menon, Vinayakan, and Vasanath Ravi were adequate in their roles.

Minus Points:

Jailer suffers from a wafer thin plot, and this resulted in a poor second half. The first half was engaging due to the humor and histrionics of Rajini, but the second half failed to carry the same momentum. The director ran out of ideas to keep the film engrossing in the second hour, and he resorted to a few comedy tracks, which didn’t work.

Sunil’s characterization and the portions involving Tamannaah don’t add much value to the film. As the story is weak, the action blocks didn’t bring the much-required adrenaline rush. The movie is also weak on the emotional front, and the twist over the end was also not great.

The movie is quite lengthy, and it is difficult to sit through the second hour due to dragged sequences. The much hyped cameos of Shiv Rajkumar and Mohanlal didn’t have much impact and lacked that wow factor. Jackie Shroff is wasted in a small role.

Technical Aspects:

As said earlier, Anirudh did a fantastic job. His background score was instrumental in elevating a few scenes. The cinematography by Vijay Kartik was fair. The production values are solid. The editing team should have chopped off a few sequences in the second half.

Coming to the director, Nelson Dilipkumar, he did a below-par job with the film. He showcased Rajini in a superb manner, but his script lacked enough meat. The first half was nicely handled, but the second half was a big letdown due to poor writing. Had the director concentrated more on the script, the film could have been way better.

On the whole, Jailer is a partially engaging action drama that relies majorly on the performance and style of Rajinikanth. Superstar was stunning in his role, and the movie has a nice first half. But Jailer suffers from a wafer-thin plot, and the second half fell like a pack of cards. Hence Jailer ends up being just an okay watch, and it is suggested to keep your expectations in check.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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