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Countdown to `Baba' mystery
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Has there been any other movie that has been hyped as much as `Baba' in Tamil filmdom? Probably, Maruthanayagam, but non-starters don't count.
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A set of good gags? With Manisha, Deepa Venkat and Goundamani.
BABA' HAS arrived.
If half the Tamil-movie followers has been waiting with bated breath for this moment, then, the other half has also been waiting, out of sheer curiosity. And the time has finally come to exchange those coupons for the cassette in theatres.
Has there been any other movie that has been hyped as much as `Baba' in Tamil filmdom? Probably, Maruthanayagam, but non-starters don't count. There is yet no rival to Rajnikant in Kollywood, it does seem.
On to the music tracks. A.R. Rahman had promised, even as he was sending the music for the movie through the Internet, that he was trying innovations with `Baba', giving more than the `jingoistic' music that is a characteristic part of a Rajni movie. His promise has been completely fulfilled in the `Baba' theme song `Ekamevadvitiyam', set to trance-like-rhythms. In that song, melodiously rendered by Srinivas, is contained the crux of the movie: There is only one single entity — the Paramathma.
In direct contrast is the next song, `Dippu Dippu', which starts with a martial beat, slipping into bhangra, and moving on to a beat that sounds extremely familiar Tamil movie music. Something the average Rajni fan will pay to watch. The lively song by Shankar Mahadevan will not disappoint those who are looking for political overtures.
What does this symbol mean?
The other mentionable is the `Sakthi Kodu' song, rendered by Karthik. `Baba Kichchu', and `Maya Maya' are numbers that complete the list; however, they pull the film's music into the realm of the middling tunes. `Rajyame' by Jayachandran, traces the evolution and power of `Baba', but then, which song doesn't? After all, a Rajnikant movie is a Rajnikant movie.
And as usual, it has run into controversy. Even before it has hit the screens. This time, with some followers of E.V. Ramaswami protesting against some of the words in a particular song. They have taken objection to what they have called unfair commentary on Periyar and his ideology.
The stills from the film released show Rajni and Manisha in Switzerland and on a set. Rajnikant is seen in the film with what looks like a Nepali `khukri'. Just what does Baba have up his sleeve?
By Ramya Kannan
in Chennai
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Life
Bangalore
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