Thalapathy is one of the very few movies in Indian cinema, which managed to tell a convincing story with a huge stars like Rajnikant and Mamooty. The movie is based on Mahabarat trio - Arjun playee by Arvind swami, Karna played by Rajnikant and Kunti played by Srividya. The movie is special for it's extraordinary music and BGM by Ilayaraja. The story is a lift and shift of Mahabarat world (with few cinematic touches) in mordern day - primarily portraying Karna 's life. Rajnikant 's acting is at its best, Mamooty and Rajni scene even after several years, does not look like a melodrama. This was one of the first few films to show friendship with few additional layers.
Talking about the layers - Sun, in this film has been used extremely well. Surya, that is Rajnikant is born and Srividhya could not hold her son as she carries him at a very young age, so she decides to discard her son in a train. The sun raises with train in the foreground, along with "China thai avazh" song is a perfect start to show the life of Surya Bhagavan (sun God - Karna). We see the sun again when Shobana (Dhraupati) character breaks up her relationship with Surya. And again a sunset when Jaishankar (Srividhya 's husband) tells that Surya 's mother is in the same city he lives in. Yet another sunset when the mother and son meet. And finally when Surya unites with his mother in the climax. The choreography of songs is top notch, specially "Rakkama" and "kaatu kuyilu", which literally transport us into the world of a small town. The songs and BGM are one of Ilayaraja 's best. "Rakkama" and "Sundari" are magical numbers ; usage of Sundari as BGM is icing on the cake.
While the story could have been narrated better, with slightly interesting screenplay, Thalapathy is one of the rarest movies in Tamil Cinema, where many aspects of film making worked really well.
Talking about the layers - Sun, in this film has been used extremely well. Surya, that is Rajnikant is born and Srividhya could not hold her son as she carries him at a very young age, so she decides to discard her son in a train. The sun raises with train in the foreground, along with "China thai avazh" song is a perfect start to show the life of Surya Bhagavan (sun God - Karna). We see the sun again when Shobana (Dhraupati) character breaks up her relationship with Surya. And again a sunset when Jaishankar (Srividhya 's husband) tells that Surya 's mother is in the same city he lives in. Yet another sunset when the mother and son meet. And finally when Surya unites with his mother in the climax. The choreography of songs is top notch, specially "Rakkama" and "kaatu kuyilu", which literally transport us into the world of a small town. The songs and BGM are one of Ilayaraja 's best. "Rakkama" and "Sundari" are magical numbers ; usage of Sundari as BGM is icing on the cake.
While the story could have been narrated better, with slightly interesting screenplay, Thalapathy is one of the rarest movies in Tamil Cinema, where many aspects of film making worked really well.