Kaala (2018)
Director: Pa. Ranjith
Cast: Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar, Samuthirakani, Easwari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil, K. Manikandan, Dileepan, Nitish Veera, Sampath Raj, Ravi Kale
Kaala is a gritty, socio-political Tamil-language action drama directed by Pa. Ranjith. The film stars Rajinikanth as Karikalan—affectionately known as “Kaala”—a powerful don and leader of the oppressed Tamil migrant community in Dharavi, Mumbai.
Set against the backdrop of the sprawling Dharavi slum, Kaala portrays the struggle of marginalized Tamils who face systemic injustices and an existential battle to retain their homes and identity. Karikalan emerges from the slums of Tirunelveli to become the moral bulwark of his community, rejecting the pervasive corruption and land-grabbing politics that threaten to uproot the very people who look up to him.
The antagonist, Haridev “Hari Dhadha,” portrayed by Nana Patekar, is a ruthless politician who spearheads a land-clearance scheme under the guise of development—only to serve his own sinister motives. The central conflict escalates as Kaala rallies his people, leveraging charisma, grit, and collective resistance to defend their right to exist.
Pa. Ranjith weaves a tapestry of class struggle, identity politics, and urban disenfranchisement, all while delivering signature mass-movie elements tailored for Rajinikanth’s fanbase. Enhanced by Santhosh Narayanan’s evocative music and score, Murali G.’s cinematography, and A.Sreekar Prasad’s editing, Kaala blends social relevance with compelling cinematic form.
Despite high anticipation, the film received a mixed critical response for its screenplay pacing, especially in the second half WikipediaThe Times of IndiaIMDb. Nonetheless, its thematic depth, powerful confrontations, and Rajinikanth’s nuanced portrayal have made it a standout entry in recent Tamil cinema. Notably, it was recognized in 2024 by the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound magazine on its list of “25 Films of the 21st Century,” the only Indian film to be featured
Kaala is a gritty, socio-political Tamil-language action drama directed by Pa. Ranjith. The film stars Rajinikanth as Karikalan—affectionately known as “Kaala”—a powerful don and leader of the oppressed Tamil migrant community in Dharavi, Mumbai.
Set against the backdrop of the sprawling Dharavi slum, Kaala portrays the struggle of marginalized Tamils who face systemic injustices and an existential battle to retain their homes and identity. Karikalan emerges from the slums of Tirunelveli to become the moral bulwark of his community, rejecting the pervasive corruption and land-grabbing politics that threaten to uproot the very people who look up to him.
The antagonist, Haridev “Hari Dhadha,” portrayed by Nana Patekar, is a ruthless politician who spearheads a land-clearance scheme under the guise of development—only to serve his own sinister motives. The central conflict escalates as Kaala rallies his people, leveraging charisma, grit, and collective resistance to defend their right to exist.
Pa. Ranjith weaves a tapestry of class struggle, identity politics, and urban disenfranchisement, all while delivering signature mass-movie elements tailored for Rajinikanth’s fanbase. Enhanced by Santhosh Narayanan’s evocative music and score, Murali G.’s cinematography, and A.Sreekar Prasad’s editing, Kaala blends social relevance with compelling cinematic form.
Despite high anticipation, the film received a mixed critical response for its screenplay pacing, especially in the second half WikipediaThe Times of IndiaIMDb. Nonetheless, its thematic depth, powerful confrontations, and Rajinikanth’s nuanced portrayal have made it a standout entry in recent Tamil cinema. Notably, it was recognized in 2024 by the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound magazine on its list of “25 Films of the 21st Century,” the only Indian film to be featured