Kaala to promote ‘Neta’ Rajini

Superstar Rajinikanth’s film Kaala’s teaser is finally out, after having been put back by a day. It is trending in 4th place globally and is first in India — crossing 4 million views within hours of its release on Thursday. Rajini plays a gangster named Karikaalan from Tirunelveli who established himself in Mumbai. The dialogues he speaks and the background against which the film is shot indicate his political entry and may be thought of as a fitting reply to those who oppose or make a mockery of his plunge into politics.

Rajini’s son-in-law and actor, Dhanush produced Kaala in his home banner Wunderbar Films. He decided to unveil the teaser earlier than its scheduled time on Thursday as the full version of Kaala’s teaser had been leaked the previous night. However, Dhanush posted on his twitter handle that whenever and however you release Thalaivar’s teaser, that day sparkles like Deepavali with instant mass appeal.

With a first look in which colours splash on screen, Dhanush released the teaser on Holi. The day also coincides with the one on which Rajini’s mentor K. Balachander rechristened Sivaji Rao Gaikwad as Rajinikanth in 1975.  

Kaala is not wholly fictional. The story is inspired by the life of a Tamil leader who hailed from Nellai and settled in Mumbai. Sources say the Superstar has spoken in the Nellai slang with a mix of Dharavi Hindi.

It may have been a deliberate decision of Rajinikanth and director Ranjith to make and edit the teaser while keeping the former’s fans in mind as it contains a large dose of the superstar’s style and is obviously aimed as a trailer of his political entry.

The teaser opens with Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, who essays the antagonist, asking, “Kaala, kaisa naam ye re? (What sort of a name is this?)” Seconds later, Rajinikanth makes his entry, holding an umbrella and with a Samudhrakani voiceover saying, “Kaala — Karikaalan means black. One who protects everyone by fighting.”

Dressed in a black outfit, Rajinikanth is seen beating up a few men on the street. Then there’s the typical Rajini punch wherein Karikaalan enters and is seen throwing a challenge in Nellai dialect, “Kyaa…re… Settingaa? Vengai Maan! Otthaiyile Nikken! Dhillirundha Motthama Vaangale!” (I’m alone. If you have guts, all of you come together.”)

There is another punch line which could be his reply to those who are cynical about his political plunge. He says, “Indha Karikaalanoda muzhu rowdy thanathai neenga paakkala illa, paapeenga.’’ (You have not seen Karikaalan’s full rowdyism. You will).

Kaala has music by Santhosh Narayanan and  stars Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil, Eswari Rao, Samudhrakani, Sukanya and Pankaj Tripathi.

The film is scheduled to hit the marquee on April 27.