To be happy seeing the Superstar in this new avatar where he absolutely kicks ass transporting us to his ‘raw-actor’ days or feel frustrated thinking about the innumerable ways the movie could have been scripted and staged better… the choice is yours!

On the whole Kabali is one-time watch, as Rajinikanth has tried his best to rise above the insipid script.

Kabali doesn’t pander to his fans. No comedy. No punch lines. And yet, it must be said that Rajinikanth does more for the movie than the movie does for him.

This is not a movie for the die-hard Rajni fans expecting their hero to whoop the baddies, bring the roof down with his comic sense or play the universe savior – but this is one for those who would love to see Rajni in a matured role that prognosticates his abilities on screen – what the star is capable of at this stage of his career in a well-presented story. Is our movie-watching public mature enough to understand and accept that this is one of the better performances of a star who does more than enough even without doing what he usually does? – that is something that the money coffers will answer.