Bigil movie review

With a name like Bigil, what else can you expect from a movie, which at trailer release itself, made it amply clear of its intentions. The movie gives fan made videos a run for their production money and is a three hour long record of hero worship. Vijay dons dual role of dad and son and has two mass hero entry, one each per character. There are so many scenes cramped into the running time that, right from initial name reels till end name reels its one scene after another. Wonder if anyone would’ve left the theater had they included blooper reels and making videos, which I believe would be one and the same. The plight of women’s football could actually be worse in reality, but the movie makes literal mockery of the procedures and practices. As expected, the core theme of the movie, which is supposedly women’s football and about the challenges faced by women players, it obviously takes a back seat and with Vijay’s adulation occupying 3/4th of the running time, it is a miracle that even these scenes managed to get a space. But undoubtedly the movie is a full meals buffet for vijay fans, with “Verithanam” song happening within first 15 minutes and the lovely duet immediately following it. First half sticks to the age old formulaic approach of fight-song-comedy-song-fight, which can very well fit into any masala movie. Probably the most dated interval block ever in recent Vijay releases. Second half actually “kick” starts the theme and it all rushes in so easy that makes one wonder what is the “challenge” for the hero in this movie at all. The super powerful villains are made caricatures just like that and the ease with which vijay pitches in as back up coach and makes the team a match winning unit would put Jose Mourinho to shame. For a movie that is supposedly for glorifying women sports, it could’ve had its own “Satthar minute” sequence a la “Chak de India”. It only gets screwed up big time by body shaming taunt replacing such an emotionally charged and power packed scene from the original version. Wonder if the writer (who also was the director I believe) had any brains to have kept such a dumb scene for such a crucial moment, with such idiotic message getting conveyed. Maybe the reason for choosing “Robot Shankar”’s daughter was just to have this trigger dialogue I guess. Pity such scenes don’t get censored and may be the certification guys should watch out for these kind of crap as well, down the line. Nayanthara tries to look young and stays with Vijay through most of running time but hardly has any meat in her role. Comedy is so and so with Vivek also thrown in for good measure in second half. Daddy Vijay, with his stammer and get up makes good connect with audience.

Gils verdict – had the movie focused on the emotions in right mix along with the mass elements, this movie could’ve come out much better. Sports movies start with distinct advantage that the scenes involving the sports would automatically set the tempo. Chak de india managed it beautifully. Chuck this Bigil would be the option for neutral fans. For vijay fans – paisa vasool.