Jailer Review: Rajinikanth & Nelson Make A Dual Mass Comeback In This Action-Packed Film

When danger befalls his son, a police officer's quest to save his family targeted by the villain forms the storyline of the movie Jailer.

At a time when star-studded masala movies struggle to make a mark in Bollywood, a dark comedy movie directed by Nelson starring Rajinikanth is sure to come as a delight to the fans of that genre and ‘Thalaivar’. The love of father and son, an honest cop, and the threat to his life are common themes in Tamil cinema. There is a perception that these themes are done to death and don't interest the audience anymore. However, with these same themes, Director Nelson has attempted to cast his net to rope in the fans of ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth.

Along with Rajinikanth, the movie produced by Sun Pictures also stars Ramya Krishnan, Vinayakan, Jackie Shroff, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vasanth Ravi, and a cameo of Mohanlal. Whether these themes coupled with the dark comedy of Nelson's works or not is to be seen. 

Story Of "Jailer"

When danger befalls his son, a police officer's quest to save his family targeted by the villain forms the storyline of the movie Jailer.

Unlike most movies starring 'Superstar' Rajinikanth, Jailer does not begin with a grand introduction of the hero; it takes a different turn. The film opens with the villain Varman (Vinayakan) shooting three people who are part of his idol smuggling racket for betraying him. Varman's criminal enterprise remains untouched until an honest cop named Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) enters the picture.

Cut to, Tiger Muthuvel Pandidan (Rajinikanth), a retired jailer, who spends his days making YouTube videos, buying vegetables, and doing household chores. However, life takes an unsettling turn for the retired cop.

Arjun, who is also Muthuvel Pandian's son, seizes a lorry containing stolen idols. Following this, it is reported that Arjun has been murdered by the antagonist.

Things take a deeper dive from this point onward. Ashtalakshmi (Ramya Krishnan), Muthuvel Pandian's wife, blames her husband for Arjun's death due to his honest upbringing, as she believed it led to the tragedy. Muthuvel Pandian himself feels guilty.

As a result, Muthuvel steps in to avenge his son's death in a high-octane, action-packed battle, as the villain's gang also attempts to eliminate the family. The remaining plot unfolds to reveal how Varman's group is brought to an end and to uncover the truth behind what really happened to Arjun.

Jailer Detailed Review

Rajinikanth: The Show Stealer

While the movie focuses on Rajini's reign, the supporting cast, including Ramya Krishnan, Yogibabu, Vigneshkanth and Sunil contribute immensely. Sivaraajkumar, Mohanlal, and Jackie Shroff have perfectly portrayed their special characters. Actress Tamannaah steals the show with already a rage ‘Kaavaalaa’ song.

The portrayal of the hero seeking vengeance against those who kill his son is a recurring theme in Indian cinema, but what sets this narrative apart is its incorporation into the idol smuggling racket storyline.

Nelson's direction, combined with Rajini's signature style and Anirudh's music, makes this dark comedy movie a must-watch. This is a sure comeback for Nelson. 

The screenplay captures the audience's attention and keeps them engaged. The funny interactions between Yogibabu and Rajini bring a unique charm to the film's first half. However, it may not work in all languages since the humor might be lost in translation.

Vijay Karthik Kannan's cinematography and Nirmal's editing greatly enhanced the storytelling. The editor and director, however, could have trimmed some of the excesses in the second half, which induces a lag before the climax.

"I am the king here" sought dialogues by ‘Thalaivar’ peppered throughout the film are sure to resonate with the audience. The songs "Kavaalaala" and "Thalaivaru Alapparai" create a celebratory atmosphere in the theater, stirring up the fans.

Overall, the first half of the movie is for the family audience while the second half is for the fans. Thalaivar's reign is unstoppable!