Petta Movie Review: Brilliant Rajinikanth brings Baasha back in Subbaraj film

Karthik Subbaraj, in an interview, said that after hearing the script of Petta, Rajinikanth told him that only he could pull off this film. And that's every bit true. If giving his fans a Pongal treat was the only aim of Rajinikanth, then it is safe to say that he has finally hit the bull's eye... after two previous misses.

Petta is a well-made Rajinikanth film (it is high time we declared a genre for him). The success of Petta lies in the fact that it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Karthik Subbaraj as the director takes the backseat in the film and lets his Thalaivar take the wheel, and cleverly so.

There isn't much to say about the story of Petta. It is more or less a tribute to Rajinikanth's 1997 megahit film Baasha. Rajinikanth enters Petta as college warden Kaali but he is not what he claims to be, which is pretty obvious. He has a past; a bloody one that he camouflages with a jovial exterior, rightly claims Mangalam (Simran), Kaali's new found love interest, who also happens to be the mother of Anu (Megha Akash).

Kaali is on a secret mission. He has influence even on the Minister's office. He has once been arrested under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act). But right when you expect the film to take a Main Hoon Na turn (or Aegan), Karthik surprises you.

As hostel warden Kaali, Rajinikanth aces his role. We realise it is not just Rajinikanth's over-the-top style and pomp that we missed in Kaala and Kabali, but also that funny and loverboy superstar from Arunachalam and Padayappa. Karthik seems to remember them all. Rajini's stints with Ramdoss (the hostel mess manager) are hilarious yet subtle. And his romance with Simran is pure bliss to watch. But all of these are short-lived and rationed out because Petta has bigger fishes to fry - Singaar Singh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and Jithu (Vijay Sethupathi).

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Karthik Subbaraj indeed pays a lot of tribute to Rajinikanth's previous movies: what is now called Rajini-ism. He also pays tributes to everything old, everything vintage about the biggest superstar of Tamil cinema. From Manithan Enbavan Mirugamagalam to Malarndhu Malaradha, classic hits from the past decorate Petta, and their timing is impeccable.

Talking about music, from Mass Maranam to Petta Paraak, Anirudh Ravichander's racy numbers are exactly what the film needed. Not just the music for Rajinikanth; even the background music for Singaar Singh and Jithu are just well thought out.

You now can't talk about a Rajinikanth film without talking politics, even though Petta is almost apolitical. Even in the masala entertainer, Karthik accommodates a small place for the yet-to-arrive politician Rajinikanth. Kaali talks about 'his people', 'his land' and how he will protect them. You get the drift.

Also, there is going to be a lot of comparison between Ranjith's use of Rajinikanth and that of Karthik's. But there is an interesting similarity in the way they depict saffron terror. Increasingly, Tamil films are lashing out at right-wing politics. It was pleasantly surprising to see Karthik also jumping on the bandwagon.

There isn't much to talk about the performances of the other actors. Nawazuddin is completely out of place in Petta, and he shockingly has very little to do. Same can be said about Vijay Sethupathi and the rest of the cast. Rajinikanth does not let anyone else take centrestage in the film, and the director wants it that way. Petta uses Rajinikanth right to the core; so much so, that the others fade in front of him. Almost all the characters are just set pieces in Kaali's game, which he wins it effortlessly.

National Award-winning cinematographer Tirru brings his A-game to Petta. Kurseong comes alive in the film. Petta boasts of some impressive camerawork and production design.

For Rajinikanth fans, Pongal 2019 is a happy, happy day. The box office will sing to Thalaivar's tune this week.

Petta, Rajinikanth's second film in two months, releases today. Karthik Subbaraj had promised to bring back the vintage Rajinikanth. He delivers that. Petta is a classic Rajinikanth film that his fans should not miss, says our review.

3.5 out of 5 stars for Petta.

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