BABA

Starring: "Superstar" Rajnikant, Manisha Koirala, A. Vidyarthi & Amrish Puri.
Director: Suresh Krishna
Producer & Screenplay: Rajnikant
Music: A.R. Rahman

This was perhaps one of Indian cinema's most expected film (along with Devdas) for the 2002 release that was highly anticipated by cinephiles in the south. Audiences waited for the official date 15th August and when it came, many saw this film as a first sign on the dying showcase of the Indian Superstar.

Never has an audience shown their outcry so publicly. The outcry has had so much influence that now Rajnikant is said to be involved in another project to ensure that his fans (and distributors) remain satisfied with his work. The highest paid actor in Indian cinema even took a massive pay cut for this next venture, tentatively titled as Selvam!

So what went wrong with BABA?? Why did this sci-fi devotional film outrage people?? I personally don't care as I found the film watchable despite its major and blatant faults in its screenplay and technical values like editing and cinematography.

The film has all the elements of a Rajnikant starer: Good action, decent music score and theme, great dialogues, and a final climax that works well...leaving an open ended question for audiences. What I found questionable was the use of poorly done special effects and the romance plot involving a plumed and over-the-top Manisha Koirala.

The director continues to make lower known genre-based films within the conventions of commercial cinema. Both critics and audiences reviewed his last film Aala Vaandhan, as being an awful film of sex, drugs & violence laced with Indian melodrama. I see it as a cult film that reflects the ever-changing bastardisation of the evolving Indian culture.

Though BABA isn't as deep as Aala Vaandhan, it still manages to go into the minds of underprivileged people and link up with their view on both India's social and political conscious. Some see this film as a propaganda political film for Rajnikant, who is entering politics. This might be true, as dialogues reflect this, but for a person like me who wouldn’t give a dam about politics in India (as I don't reside there) I see the film instead as a film which presents you with other ideas about policies, which at times seem reasonable, though still cinematic!

The film won't be for everyone tastes, and for those who aren't familiar with Tamil cinema, I would give this one a miss. But for those trying to understand Tamil cinema, and those who appreciates the style of Rajnikant then it is highly recommended.

The DVD is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, which is anamorphic. Sadly this DVD has such bad quality that I couldn't believe that this was an Ayngaran product. The picture looks it it was done in PAL then re-converted back into NTSC, which create so much problems in terms of picture quality. Also the print seem to come from a gradient postive print used in cinema (a no-no if doing a DVD) that exhibits dirt and grain.

The 5.1 sound is actually in 1ch mono which further outraged me as the film was released in Dolby EX and DTS ES soundtracks on the big screen.

Thankfully Ayngaran are planning to release this film on a special edition DVD version next year. Still they could have ensured that this DVD release would be one that was of some quality. Instead it almost looks like an EROS or WEG DVD, and we all know what kind of quality is that.















[edit: copied images to local server - Ali]



Edited By ali on 1034335768

Re: New Ayngaran Releases - Will be updated regularly...


I couldn't find any so here they are from Zoran009 bhai;













































Ali

Did Ayngaran redo this title?

Baba screenshots posted by Shahran Sunny Audit

Old


New


The old DVD had a pseudo-5.1 DD track, with no DTS but the new one features DTS.

Thanks man! even ali could not find! Old dvd, looks murky, with all jaggies, new is prog, soft, a bit grainy, may be OAR? and DTS for sure!

Topics merged...

Ali

I browsed dvd! film looks interesting with good music! Rajni is younger too, definitely looks better than crapola CHANDRAMUKHI! I have not seen SIVAJI yet, so may be if some one seen all 3 can comment?

Sivaji is basically the typical Shankar story of one man fighting against corruption. This time he's fighting black money. The villain is pretty weak. Not memorable at all. I don't know how much someone not very familiar with Rajini's Tamil films would enjoy Sivaji, since it is in a similar vein, but on a grander scale (due to Shankar) and even references other Rajini films as well as his superstar status. Instead of his usual cigarette tricks we get some tricks with a coin and, IIRC, chewing gum. In that way its sort of a meta-Rajini film.

The songs are good, but most of the picturizations (except Athiradee) were disappointing. A lot of the comedy is pretty dumb, but I remember some of it being okay. Shriya has little to do besides being eye candy. Its also very creepy to see a 50-something Rajini romancing a 20-something Shriya

I thought Baba was a big mess. I haven't seen it in a few years, but the story was a mess, and Rajini and Manisha looked unenthused. Not even AR Rahman brought his A-game to this film.

I didn't see Chandramukhi.

Dragun

Chandramukhi had very good story line, so you will like it. Music was decent enough. Comedy also was decent and acting by Jo was excellent. Overall Chandramukhi is far better than baba & sivaji.

Sivaji - Shankar messed it up. I agree with you entirely.