Jailer is a 2023 black comedy action film written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures. It stars Rajinikanth in the title role, along with Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar, Sunil, Ramya Krishnan, Vinayakan, Mirnaa Menon, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Vasanth Ravi. Mohanlal makes a cameo appearance. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Vijay Kartik Kannan and R. Nirmal, respectively. The film was officially announced in February 2022 with the working title Thalaivar 169, being the 169th film of Rajinikanth, while the official title Jailer was announced in June. Principal photography began in August 2022 in Chennai and wrapped in June 2023. Jailer released theatrically on 10 August 2023
Jailer Plot
The film revolves around Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth), a retired jailer who lives a peaceful life with his family. He spends his days making YouTube videos with his grandson, shopping for vegetables at the local market, and taking part in routine household chores. His son Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) is a police officer who goes missing while on a mission to nab a gang of idol thieves led by Varman (Vinayakan). When Muthuvel learns about his son’s death, he decides to take revenge on the culprits.
However, he soon realizes that his past is not as simple as he thought, and that he has a hidden identity that connects him to the gangsters. As he embarks on a manhunt to find Varman, he also has to face his old rivals Mathew (Mohanlal), Narasimha (Shiva Rajkumar), and Blast Mohan (Sunil), who have their own agendas. What follows is a series of twists and turns that reveal Muthuvel’s true character and his connection to the underworld.
Performances
Muthuvel Pandian, a complex character played by Rajinikanth, struggles to balance his duty as a jailer and his love for his family. He displays charisma, style in action, and emotional depth with comic timing in lighter moments. Rajini proves why he is the superstar of cinema with his screen presence and dialogue delivery. He shares great chemistry with Ramya Krishnan (Ashtalakshmi, his wife) and Yogi Babu (Jaffer Sadiq, his sidekick).
The supporting cast also does a commendable job in their respective roles. Jackie Shroff plays Muthuvel’s friend and mentor, who helps him in his mission. Shiva Rajkumar makes his Tamil debut as Narasimha, a powerful politician who has a history with Muthuvel. Sunil plays Blast Mohan, a notorious bomb expert who works for Varman. Vinayakan plays Varman, the main antagonist who is ruthless and cunning. Mirnaa Menon plays Arjun’s wife, who supports Muthuvel in his quest. Tamannaah Bhatia plays Camina, an actress who gets involved in the plot. Mohanlal makes a cameo appearance as Mathew, a mysterious figure who has a key role in Muthuvel’s past.
Technicalities
The film is technically sound and well-crafted by Nelson Dilipkumar and his team. The cinematography by Vijay Kartik Kannan captures the mood and tone of the film with its vibrant colors and sleek shots. The editing by R. Nirmal keeps the pace and rhythm of the film intact, without compromising on the clarity and coherence of the story. The music by Anirudh Ravichander adds to the entertainment quotient of the film with its catchy tunes and energetic background score. The film’s situations match the well-picturized songs. The choreographers and actors execute the action sequences well, avoiding unrealistic stunts and excessive violence.
Positives
Rajinikanth’s performance and screen presence
Nelson’s direction and screenplay
supporting cast and their performances
comedy and action scenes
music and cinematography
Negatives
predictable and clichéd plot
weak and underdeveloped villain
dragged climax
lack of logic and realism in some scenes
overdose of fan service and references
Analysis
Jailer is a fun-filled ride with Rajinikanth and Nelson, who deliver a mass entertainer that appeals to all kinds of audience. The film is a perfect blend of Rajinikanth’s charisma and Nelson’s creativity, which results in a satisfying and enjoyable experience. It is not a typical Rajinikanth film, but rather a Nelson film that features Rajinikanth in a new avatar. The film is not a masterpiece, but rather a paisa vasool film that entertains and engages the audience with its humor, action, drama, and sentiment.
Verdict
Jailer is a must-watch for Rajinikanth fans and followers, who will love to see their idol in a different role and style. It is also a good watch for the general audience, who will appreciate the freshness and entertainment value of the film. It is not a flawless film, but it is definitely a fun film that deserves a chance.
Jailer Rating
3/5
*This is an Artificial Intelligence-generated movie evaluation. These reviews are written by a large language model, trained on a massive dataset of text and code. This means that our reviews are more comprehensive, insightful, and unbiased than anything you’ll find on other platforms.
