Directors tend to follow the voice of hype rather than the qualities that initially brought them praise, as expectations start to build. But Lokesh Kanagaraj is well aware of this inclination and continuously stays out of it. Lokesh’s approach departs greatly from the conventional masala formula, which introduces public appeal at regular intervals based on the star’s level of popularity. Rather, the unique stories and focus points give his films their “mass,” which adds to their uniqueness.
His most recent film, “Thalapathy,” starring Vijay, is a combination of all of these characteristics and much more, but it is devoid of the strong screenplay that Lokesh used to ensure.
Thalapathy “Leo” Vijay, a typical town kid, rose to become one of India’s top stars.
Uncovering the reasons behind Shah Rukh Khan’s stardom is a challenging task, as the ‘Vijay’ brand, established in 1992, is set to break Khan’s record, highlighting the complexity of his stardom. Leo, starring Vijay, has reverberated with global excitement, earning Rs 34 crore from bookings, surpassing Nelson’s Jailer. The film, which began its theatrical run without Vijay’s promotional events, showcases his indomitable presence in the cinema realm. The film’s success is a testament to the immense popularity of Vijay in the industry.
Parthiban, an animal rescuer and café owner, faces challenges and media attention after his story is discovered. He becomes a suspect for former gangster Leo Das, son of warlord Antony Das. The film revolves around their attempts to uncover the truth, while Parthiban struggles to protect himself and his family.
Although Vijay doesn’t follow the conventional Thalapathy format for his introduction, Lokesh gives him something even more fascinating.
Viewers Not able to locate Leo, starring Vijay-Lokesh Kanagaraj, on TV in North India? Blame OTT.
The reason Vijay’s much-awaited action movie Leo isn’t showing in North India’s national multiplex networks and how the producers feel they lost out on a “missed opportunity” In contrast to many Indian directors who frequently plagiarize without providing proper acknowledgment, Lokesh unabashedly introduces Leo by referring to it as an homage to David Cronenberg’s action picture A History of Violence from 2005.
Leo differs from the original in that Lokesh crafts a unique world by modifying the plot to reflect the spirit of Tamil/Indian aesthetics, rather than just copying it word by word. The story is told from the perspective of Parthiban, an animal rescuer and café owner who resides in Himachal Pradesh with his family, which includes his two children and wife Sathya (Trisha). As Lokesh previously stated, the movie emphasizes Thalapathy’s simple, everyday life by not giving him a big screen debut or memorable lines at first.
However as the story goes on, he gets entangled in several situations that garner media interest.
Leo box office earnings Day 1 early reports: Vijay’s film earns Rs 145 crore globally, setting a record for the highest Tamil film opening of 2023.
In contrast to Vikram (2022), the movie discloses midway that it is a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) without providing many meaningful references. However, the attempts at integration felt incredibly forced and artificial, lacking the organic aspect observed in the Kamal Haasan-starring picture.
This could give rise to the argument that Leo would have been a better film if it had been a stand-alone Lokesh production. In addition, some parts in the film seem to be abruptly cut off, especially around the middle. Even with the script’s flaws, Vijay’s outstanding performance is what makes Leo stand out. The actor does a fantastic job of avoiding his Vijay-ness and gives a sensitive, nuanced performance.
Undoubtedly, Vijay’s performance in Leo is among his best to date, demonstrating the full range of his abilities when he embraces his inner star.
The controversy surrounding Vijay’s Leo reminds us of the release issue of Viswaroopam, starring Kamal Haasan.
Analyzing whether controversy helps or hinders the film industry in light of Leo’s release and its challenges. It was unclear up to the very last minute whether the movie would be released. Ticket holders gathered outside theaters early in the morning (not the early hours as these days). Then word leaked out that the movie would not be released. I am referring to Viswaroopam (2018), directed by Kamal Haasan. Supporters, led by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, felt that Kamal had been wronged by the government of Tamil Nadu as they returned home in tears. Seven days passed before Viswaroopam, which was scheduled to be released in Tamil Nadu on January 25, 2013, was finally released.
The movie became a phenomenon across the country, and Kamal Haasan said he would leave the country like iconic artist MF Husain hurt his fans. Viswaroopam, when finally released, became one of the biggest successes of Kamal. It remained unbeaten as his career-best until Vikram (2021).
Although Kamal had encountered a similar circumstance previously, the Viswaroopam dilemma forced him to act. The issue started when a Muslim organization objected to the movie’s publication, saying it damaged the community’s feelings and painted it in a negative light.
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