Jailer is a reasonably engaging movie with its first half. But it suffers from a wafer-thin plot in the second half. Rajinikanth’s droll humor adds value to the film. Director Nelson’s penchant for milking tragedy for comedy is evident here as well. He and his team are no doubt trying to ape the success of Vikram. But the movie is a letdown.
Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth has been the face of Tamil cinema for a long time now. The superstar can evoke cheers even when he is doing the most mundane things on screen. Nelson Dilipkumar understood this and used it to his advantage in Jailer. He doesn’t make the hero do the usual action start and instead lets him enter a family scene first. Then, he takes on the crooks in a flashback. He uses his age and experience to the advantage and is a savage in the prison scenes.
The movie has some slips in the screenplay and isn’t as flawless as it should have been. But Rajinikanth’s star presence and acting prowess elevate it to a mostly decent commercial action entertainer. The climax is an absolute treat to watch. It’s not something one can see often in a mass film. The actor’s utter power on screen is what makes Jailer a memorable experience.
Anirudh
Rajinikanth’s performance is great and he makes the movie worth a watch. The film also stars Yogi Babu, Sunil, Ramya Krishnan, Mirna Menon, Vinayakan, Jaffer Sadiq and Tamannaah Bhatia in pivotal roles. The music is by Anirudh Ravichander and it is a treat to the ears. His songs and BGM elevated the scenes in the movie. But the movie falters a bit in the second half, with unnecessary twists and turns. The movie gets boring at times, especially when scenes involving other veterans are dragged.
But, despite all that, Jailer is still an entertainer. The movie will surely make money at the box office. The movie is a must-watch for Rajinikanth fans. But, if you’re looking for a good story, then this is not the movie for you. Nevertheless, this is one of the best films by Nelson. It has all the elements that a Tamil fan would want to see in a movie. It is a must-watch for every Rajinikanth lover.
Vijay Kartik Kannan
Rajinikanth’s heroism and humor carry the film to a certain extent. But the second half loses its sheen, with the director struggling to sustain the plot. Several sequences drag, and the reliance on comedy tracks is grating. Sunil and Tamannaah’s roles are underutilized as well.
The movie tries to explore the deep love of a father for his son, but it falls flat. The story is quite old and the screenplay lacks profundity. The movie strays from its core values at times. Nevertheless, it has an engaging first half and an excellent interval block. Director Nelson’s previous movies, such as ‘Kolamavu Kokila’, which explored Nayanthara getting entangled with gangsters, and ‘Doctor’, where Sivakarthikeyan refrained from slapstick humor, have proven his knack for storytelling. Jailer is no different.
Shiva Rajkumar
Rajinikanth delivers a powerful performance in Jailer. The movie starts well and does not waste time to build up the action sequences. The director Nelson also incorporates comedy and family moments with the main plot to make it an interesting watch. However, the solar movie film loses momentum post-interval. The second half follows a formulaic approach and consists of extended fight sequences, a gangster song by Sunil, Tamannaah’s item song, and the usual family drama scenes.
The heroism and charisma of Rajinikanth, as always, remains intact in the film. The character he plays is age-appropriate and fits his menacing eyes. He gives his best and does not disappoint his fans, especially the ones who remember him from the films Baashha and Padayappa.
Rajinikanth is a Sandalwood legend and has won several awards for his work in Kannada cinema. He debuted with Anand and went on to appear in over 120 films. He has won many state and national awards, including four Filmfare awards South for films like Om, Nammoora Mandara Hoove, A.K. 47, and Jogi. He is married to Geeta, daughter of former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, and has two daughters.
