South Indian cinema heartthrob Rajinikanth’s latest movie “Jailer” released last month in theaters, ending fans’ yearlong wait for his 169th film amid high expectations. Rajinikanth, as he is known by legions of fans across India, has been one of the highest-paid actors in Asia since his debut in 1975, revolutionizing the industry with his charismatic and larger-than-life presence on screen. “Jailer” features Rajinikanth in the role of Muthuvel Pandian, a retired police officer seeking vengeance for the murder of his son in the line of duty. While the film features the star in his usual dynamic action role, the film also grapples with deeper themes such as family, betrayal and the choice between love and the law. This made the movie a much more meaningful experience for viewers when compared to other Indian movies of the present day.
“As more and more South Indian movies are promoting drugs, alcohol, gangs…’Jailer’ was definitely a welcome change to more wholesome values,” Lambert senior Sudhan Sivakumar explained.
The film was able to portray fatherly love and the relationship between Pandian and his son in a unique way, which made for a more compelling storyline in terms of the role of family and relationships. For many, the saga of the main hero fighting to avenge his son gave the action scenes added meaning and fervor as compared to other such films. This helped make “Jailer” one that stood out from the competition and kept audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Another key aspect of the storyline was the web of plot twists woven at all turns, which captivated audiences and helped further the intertwining of the film’s themes. For instance, the son was revealed to be alive and well, but secretly working as a corrupt cop for the very men believed to have “killed him.” This led to an intense moral dilemma for Pandian between choosing his son or choosing his sense of duty, which for many was a grappling theme they found themselves highly invested in.
“Despite his love for his son, [he] gave him an ultimatum to either turn himself in or face the consequences, which I thought was really interesting from someone in a father figure role,” Lambert junior Pranav Srambikkal said.
Such moral conflict and intellectual fodder are becoming increasingly scarce in the commercialized, repetitive world of South Indian cinema. Dilemmas like Pandian’s help illustrate the power of providing such content for audiences. Focusing on themes like family and love serve as a better reflection of the traditional backgrounds that these films represent, allowing fans to more effectively connect with the stories being told on screen. “Jailer” on its surface, may have seemed like just another blind action movie, but when seen through its deeper themes and with positive response from fans, was something much more – it truly encompassed the essence of quality South Indian cinema that seems to be in scarcity today. No matter how “Jailer” finishes at the box office, it is sure to be remembered as the need of the hour for both audiences and the industry alike.
