Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

When the cable TV boom happened down South, every channel made a scramble to lay hands on any available title of Superstar Rajinikanth. The best ones were grabbed by the rich guys and their poorer brethren had to be content with airing films like this one. That's why many forgotten early Rajini movies, like Aaru Pushpangal and Bhairavi, end up being shown on TV, again and again. Still, I am yet to see Sivappu Sooriyan, Kuppathu Raja, or Aayiram Jenmangal, on the small screen. Bhairavi is certainly not a rotten film; just not very engaging. Tired old tale of master betraying henchman. I guess it was different for its time, and of course, anything with Rajini was a hit in the late 70s. I am told that this was the first film in which Rajini had a positive "heroic" role. Any fans around who can verify this?