Released Date : 10 Aug, 2023
Avg. User's Rating : 4.5/5
Jailer Movie Synopsis: A retired jailer Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth) goes on a quest to find the killers of his son (Basant Ravi). But the road leads him to a familiar, albeit somewhat dark place. Can Muthuvel successfully come out of this difficult situation?
Jailor Movie Review: Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth), a retired jailer, is now a family man. She spends her days making YouTube videos with her grandson, shopping for vegetables at the local market, and attending to routine household chores. Muthuvel's son (Vasant Ravi), a police officer, goes missing while on a mission to catch a gang of idol thieves. When his death is reported, Muthuvel's wife (Ramya Krishnan) blames his moral upbringing for the mess. Heartbroken, Muthuvel, sets out to avenge his son's death.
The 2-hour-40-minute-long film takes time to establish itself. It takes more than 40 minutes to get up to speed. Unlike every Rajinikanth movie, which thrives on a publicity stunt, this one doesn't offer that cathartic experience. This is where it becomes a Nelson film. But, the interval blocks and mass scenes in the second half make up for it. Director Nelson, whose last big screen outing was Beast, is back with his signature style of filmmaking - the first half is full of subtle, dark comedy. In fact, it's Yogi Babu and Rajinikanth's witty banter that saves the first half. The second half starts off well with some sweeping scenes, especially when the story goes back in time to show a glimpse of Muthuvel's past, but quickly loses steam and drags on to a somewhat boring and disappointing climax.
Like several of Rajinikanth's movies in the past, this film also lacks logic. The dark comedy works well in the original language (Tamil) and for those familiar with Nelson's earlier films. But since it's not everyone's cup of tea, the jokes may get lost in translation to other languages (the film was released in 5 languages).
Cameos by stars like Shivrajkumar, Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunil and Kishore add to the star quality. Watch out for Shivrajkumar and Mohanlal's climax for much-needed drama and energy.
Rajinikanth is no longer a hero; He is a superstar and this film shows him just like that. Fans get to see a lot of flute-worthy Rajini-baad and not much else. The father-son bond, which is essentially the heart of the story, is barely touched upon and leaves it to the audience that father and son are very close. There is not a single emotional moment between the two. It's disappointing to see a talent like Ramya Krishnan who has nothing to say or feel in the film. Vasant Ravi has a singular expression throughout the film. Vinayakan puts on an impressive display with his bloodshot eyes. Composer Anirudh Ravichander's ambient music enhances the film; The song, however, borders on average.
After an intense display of power play in the 1999 film Padayappa, Nilambari aka Ramya Krishnan tells Rajini, "Vayasanalum un style'um ajgum unna vittu pogala" (Though you have aged, your style and elegance have not left you). Twenty-four years later, we can still safely say the same about Zeller's Rajini. However, this may not be enough to save this image.
