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Posted on 07.21.05 by David @ 7:37 am
Country and Year: India (Tamil) (2005) Review By: David Austin  Chandramukhi is the latest film by “Superstar” Rajnikanth, and lived up to all expectations as far as box office goes. Unfortunately, even measured by the standards of Rajni’s overblown but fun masala films, it is not very good. Still, there’s enough juvenile insanity on display here to make your jaw drop at least once or twice. For those unfamiliar with him, Rajnikanth is the biggest star of Tamil cinema, a regional center of Indian film that often produces more original and interesting work than the more well-known Bollywood stuff. Tamil cinema, though frequently looked down upon by northerners as crass, has produced some truly fascinating and groundbreaking artists, including director Mani Ratnam and actor/producer Kamal Hasan. And then there is Rajni (aka Superstar), the reigning hero of Tamil popular cinema. The man was born to be a crowd-pleaser, and, in return, Tamil audiences love him with a white-hot passion. Rajni makes masala films full of two-fisted action, romance and comedy, and plays working class heroes that always win out over evil. Superstar’s popularity can’t be overstated. I can’t argue with that – his movies are definitely a lot of fun. He also apparently has a following in Osaka. Go figure.  Chandramukhi is his first film in several years and thus arrived freighted with high expectations. The plot is a bit out of the ordinary for a Rajni movie – a haunted house story. Rajni plays Saravanan, a psychiatrist who returns from America and helps his adoptive brother out of a jam. Rajni’s skills as a psychiatrist are demonstrated by his ability to READ PEOPLE’S MINDS!?!? Naturally, he can only do this by carefully judging their facial expressions. Equally naturally, half the time he does this in the movie, the characters whose minds he’s reading are facing away from him. It goes without saying that, like Rudy Ray Moore, this psychiatrist is also a kung-fu fighting ladies’ man. Rajni’s brother Senthilnathan (Prabhu) is moves into a haunted house along with some disgruntled distant relations. After some ominous warnings, his wife Ganga (Jyotika), becomes fascinated with the legend of Chandramukhi, the angry ghost of a courtesan who was betrayed and murdered by a local despot, and whose remains have been locked up ever since in an abandoned corner of the estate. After she opens the room, weird supernatural events begin to occur, and Senthilnathan’s life seems to be in danger. Suspicions fall on the gardener’s daughter (Nayanthara) whom Rajni has been romancing, and it is up to Superstar to clear up the mess. Meanwhile, the matriarch of the family and her man-servant periodically make threatening faces, and Vadivelu, in the role of the comic relief, acts stupid (though not intolerably so).  The high points of the film are the supernatural finale, and an amazingly over-the-top action sequence at the beginning. Rajni tangles with some thugs, and goes Matrix all over their asses. Every punch sends someone flying 20 feet through the air. This is definitely silly stuff though, more Charlie’s Angels than the serious, bruising violence of Run or Yuva. At one point, Rajni knocks someone through a windshield and out the back window of the car. It’s goofy and unrealistic, but it’s a blast. However, the main reason Chandramukhi does not succeed is because the stretches between fun scenes are far too long. The ghost story doesn’t get going in earnest for well over an hour. Between the boffo opening and the wacked-out climax, the film is mostly a typically huge cast of weak characters going through the motions. There is very little action between the first and last ten minutes. Rajni himself actually skips town for a while, leaving the film without any center. Furthermore, the romance between Rajni and Nayanthara is so paint-by-numbers that the filmmakers even treat it as a throwaway in the conclusion. Jyotika, of the high quality Kaaka Kaaka and the appallingly bad Manmadhan, turns in a solid performance as a woman enthralled by the ancient myth which is a bit of change from her usual “quirky girl” roles, though she does tend to chew the scenery a bit.  The music and dance numbers don’t stand out for the most part, except for an excellent number with color-coordinated female dancers, and Jyotika’s creepy solo, which, though good, is not up to the level of Sridevi’s fevered snake dance in Nagina years ago. The comic relief from Vadivelu is not particularly funny, but it isn’t mind-numbingly awful either (Johnny Lever, I’m looking at you). The upshot is that Chandramukhi is decent fare, but nothing special. If you’re looking for a real Superstar experience, try Muthu. Recommended? Only to fans of Rajnikanth, otherwise Indian and Tamil cinema have a lot better films to offer If you like this, you might like: Muthu, Ghunghroo Ki Awaaz, Nagina, Hotel and Aalavandhan (aka Abhay). But not Ram Gopal Varma’s ghost story Bhoot. Bhoot sucked. © David Austin Filed under: Movie Reviews and Contributors: David and Rating: Average ★★ and Movie Reviews: India Comments:
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How can you say this movie is successful..Check out the 200th day celebrations next week.. This single man had brought the family audiences back to theatres..The whole Tamil film industry is grateful to this movie and to this man particular. Long Live Rajni..
Comment by Naren — October 16, 2005 @ 2:00 am
Sorry ! Read as ” this movie is not successful” Typo error.
Comment by Naren — October 16, 2005 @ 2:07 am
I didn’t say it was unsuccessful - I know it was a huge hit and I am glad because that’s good for the Tamil movie industry. I said it wasn’t very good. I thought Muthu was a much, much better movie, and much more fun also. Being a huge success isn’t necessarily a sign of quality - look at Armageddon.
Curious to see how the remake works out.
Comment by David — October 16, 2005 @ 8:01 am
What are we talking about, Rajni is the only artist who gives so much weightage to the storyline of any film, even his last but one flick Baba which was supposed to be a flop did grip audience in all states with its tight story line and captivating Screen Play. Chandra Mukhi is by far the best movie that has hit the Indian Screens in the last 5 to 8 years one would reckon, all the artists involved gave a breathtaking performance and the comedy track by Vadivelu is much better than few of those movies released all over India and which later became a hit. Yes one has to play to the galleries and that could be Rajni’s way of playing for the masses by hitting the goons all over,but then even the very best of Indian Cinema with the likes of the great Bachan Saab, did implement such action shots when he was at his prime.
Coming back, Chandra Mukhi did well in Andhra too and am sure the heroes in my state, specially the seasoned ones should start thinking about quality and originality in film making. The greatest tribute to the movies astonishing success is the fact that it has drawn the class audiences to the theatres. Lets stop over rating the heroes who are more inclined at doing at least one smooch sequence per movie with a heroine rather than concentrate on the story line, who make torrid movies with a sole aim of getting noticed by the Oscars, (luckily they failed miserably). And minor issues like reading of face without looking at it, hitting the goons only to a distance of one inch doesn’t add naturality to the cinema when it is being screened, but it would only confuse the audience further because we do not have peripheral vision and anything done should be done in front of the camera. Stop making mockery of classy stuff people, if you are so critical about such scenes then never appreciate a Matrix or any action based Hollywood movie, which is even more unrealistic and unimaginable.
I sum up stating that the actor in the lead role if taken in comparison with the other lead heroes of South India, is the only performer who was peaking with age and was consistently delivering hit after hit, similar to what Sir Richard Hadlee did in his cricketing career, peaking at his end.
Comment by Stefano Pescosolido — October 16, 2005 @ 9:57 pm
East or West…… Thalaivar (Leader) is the best
No one in any industry either it be film industry or some other, can give such a big hype even before the release of a new film (or product). A rajini’s film is a big hit and is spoke widely through out the period preceeding its release. Some actions of his may be unbelievable and unlikely. But lots of people are agreeing that and in a democratic country any one who has the support of common man is the head
Comment by Vinu — December 13, 2005 @ 2:41 am
Even if Mr. Rajinikanth acts as a dog in a film, people will come out saying here’s the man who has united India into animal lovers. I guess ‘fan-hood’ has no logic. Rajinikanth’s reign proves it.
Comment by A K Srikanth — December 21, 2005 @ 11:05 pm
Its the best film in the last 5 - 8 years???? Oh my God!!! Seriously, there are 2 kinds of people in this world. The Normal man, and the Rajini fan. To a Rajini fan, even if there is a 3 hour movie on Rajini using a toilet, he would claim, waah, look at the style with which thalaivar does it!! Grow up guys. He’s a aging fart.
Comment by Suresh Kumar — December 23, 2005 @ 7:17 am
Obviously Rajni’s performance is ultimately good, but jyothika’s action was fabulous, it is a very good movie.
Comment by sandhya — June 22, 2006 @ 10:31 pm
thalaivar is realy the man of style……..
Comment by selvan — August 13, 2006 @ 10:16 pm
Thalaivar always great. No one match with thalaivar. He is really a collection king in the Indian Cinema History.
Comment by madhan — September 18, 2006 @ 7:54 am
—- all them who says crap abt thalaivar!!
[edited by management]
Comment by raju — January 6, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
There’s a movie where Superstar has three bad guys after him and just one knife and a gun with one bullet. He throws the knife, shoots the gun at it, and the bullet splits in two on the knife, and each of the three projectiles kills one of the baddies. Which movie is this, because I need to learn this technique? Anyone know? And yes, I know I’m posting a comment here like two years after the fact.
Comment by Keith — January 17, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Keith,
Dave and I are not sure what Rajni movie features this amazing-sounding scene, but it is not in Chandramukhi, Muthu or Thalapathy (the three Rajni movies I have seen). A Google search suggests that Mithun Chakraborty pulls off the same bullet-splitting feat in one of his movies. Tantalizing, to say the least.
Comment by Jeff — January 17, 2007 @ 10:51 am
this moovie is very nice
good acting rajni very very good acting jothika
Comment by anand — January 30, 2007 @ 7:48 am
great movie my goal is to take Jyothika Saravanan’s place for acting
Comment by natasha — April 9, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
dear superstar your’s chandramukhi is very nice and the first stunt is very coverfull we are very
happy in seeing the music’s of A.R.Rahman and vidhya sagar
Comment by m.s.aravind — June 10, 2007 @ 5:30 am
What superstar??..u ppl seem to belong to Andher Nagar with ur Caupat Raja (Rajni). Those super imposed and edited shots are what u - ppl think he is doing. To me Rajni looks like a upside down form of a cone….head and shoulder length same and tappering thin legs…hi hi hi …he is idli-dosa star.
Comment by Joydeep — November 14, 2008 @ 12:20 am
Mr.Joydeep - Whether u agree or not Rajinikanth is the biggest Indian superstar and he has proved it multiple times.even though he belongs to a regional film industry the so called bollywood badshah’s cannot even come near the collections made by his movies and it is common sense that his movies are creating records not only because tamil people are watching…He has no barriers..he is the real superstar
Comment by Ajay — April 27, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Mr.Look-My-Hero-Killed-Two-Men-With-One-Bullet-Hence-He-Must-Be-The-Best, your comment requires a huge corrective. Rajnikant is the biggest SOUTH Indian superstar. And by the way, have you seen his photographs without make-up? I am sorry but he looks like a raped eagle.
Comment by Shaz — May 11, 2009 @ 7:44 am