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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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BOLLYWOOD ROBOT
EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: ***
Those in the know are aware that `superstar` Rajnikanth is
perceived to be in the image of god. Rajni makes fewer mistakes during the
course of a film, than god. In "Robot" this perception is taken a step
further as Rajni creates a robot - in his own image.
Robotics scientist Vashikaran (Rajni) creates a humanoid robot Chitthi (Rajni).
After Chitthi`s inability to feel causes him to be rejected from inclusion in
the Indian Army, Vashikaran tries to create feelings in him, and thanks to a
freak of nature, succeeds. Only it causes problems, as Chitthi falls in love
with Vashikaran`s fiancee Sana (Aishwarya Rai). As the creator and creation are
locked in a jealous battle against each other, the jealous robotics scientist
Dr. Bohra plans to misuse Chitthi for wrong objectives.
Anyone who has seen a Rajnikanth film understands that often it is not the story
that makes the film a success, but Rajni`s antics. There are plenty of them in
the film. And, for once, his conception as a robot gives Rajni the logic, to
lack logic.
There are gravity defying stunts, shooting with a finger, running horizontally
at high speed on the side of a train, flying cars and bikes, corny but hilarious
dialogues -- e.g. after grabbing and pointing scores of guns at the police, he
says `Happy Diwali` before firing a salvo of bullets; or when the robot is asked
his address and gives his IP address. It`s not just god, the universe and its
logic itself is recreated in the film.
Director Shankar who has a penchant for double image, multiple images and split
images of his heroes returns this time with hundreds of images of Rajnikanth.
The inspiration of Hollywood, most predominantly the "Matrix" trilogy
(stunts choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping of "Matrix" fame), "The
Mask", "I, Robot", and many Frankenstein movies are evident, but
not overbearing.
Where Shankar scores is the ingenious conception of stunts. The allegedly
`poorer` cousin of Bollywood, the south Indian film industry, has been growing
leaps and bounds in the special effects department. And with a little help from
Hollywood, like in "Robot", it soars.
"Robot", however, cannot boast of good music, so crucial for an Indian
film. A.R. Rahman`s decision to rely on robotic sounds, which we have heard
close to three decades back in films like "Robocop", fails to inspire.
He could have at least conceptualised them more intelligently.
The Hindi dubbed version is saved by Swanand Kirkire`s translation that prevents
the dialogues from becoming jarring like previous dubbings of South Indian
films. Yet, he could not salvage the songs, whose gibberish lyrics are seemingly
out of a time warp from films in the 1990s (remember the Prabhu Deva starrer
"Kadhalan" again directed by Shankar with music composed by Rahman).
Aishwarya`s character is as conventional as expected. She`s the chaste love
interest, the damsel in distress who has time and again to be saved from being
raped, and who is nothing more than eye candy.
Two words begin with the letter `R` and are synonymous: Religion and Rajnikanth.
A third has now been added to cinema folklore, `Robot`. And with the largest
number of prints ever for an Indian film and a global release, this sexagenarian
actor might still enter world cinema folklore. After all, Rajnikanth can make no
mistakes.
Tamil superstar Rajnikant is set to hold a special screening of his new film "Robot" for the Bachchan clan. Read More
'Robot' makes my wild imagination come true: ShankarAce South Indian director Shankar says he has tried his best to make his wild imagination a reality in much-awaited bilingual sci-film "Robot". Read More
Dr.Vasis Thesis
Location - Chennai 2010
Mission - Creating a Andro humanoid Robot - Chiti
Purpose - to help the society
Development time - 10 years
Configurations - speed one terra hz, memory one zeta byte. Processor Pentium ultra core millennia V2.Fhp 450 motor from Hirata, Japan.
Special features - A human who is not born but is created. He can dance , sing, fight, is water and fire resistant. He can do all that a human can and more. He feeds on electricity. He takes instructions literally. Where a human can lie to save himself this andro-humanoid robo chii cannot lie.
Trouble shooting - where he has a razor sharp memory and can memorize an entire telephone directory by just running through the pages. He cannot understand human emotions. Dr.Vasi upgrades Chiti`s processor and stimulates human emotions without realizing the repercussions. Chiti gets transformed. He can now feel, and the first feeling that he discovers is love
Will this love come in the way of Dr. Vasi`s purpose of creating Chiti?
Will Dr. Vasi`s own creation destroy him?
