'Rajini Murugan': Barely entertaining, mostly regressive (IANS Movie Review, Rating: **)

Film: "Rajini Murugan"; Language: Tamil; Director: Ponram; Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Keerthy Suresh, Soori, Rajkiran and Samuthirakani; Rating: **

Cashing in on the Rajinikanth sentiment to the T, Sivakarthikeyan, a real life Rajinikanth fanboy, saves a very ordinary and regressive film from turning into a boring and unbearable experience. While it is partly entertaining, and thanks to Sivakarthikeyan and Soori for that, this is the kind of film you forget the minute you leave the cinema hall.

Even with its predictable storyline, Sivakarthikeyan makes the film work, and only he can save a film like this. And it goes without saying; he's a man of the masses and knows exactly what will work with his fans. Luckily for him, it works yet again in "Rajini Murugan". It may work again given his immense following among the youngsters.

If there's somebody to watch out for in the film, it has to be Keerthy Suresh. Though she doesn't have much to do, the ease with which she essays her character in her own voice, is an indication of a confident young actress. She's a delight to watch and shines in her scenes but it's sad that talented artistes like her don't get to add much value.

Replete with cliches and almost everything that you may have already seen in Sivakarthikeyan's films - unemployed wastrels, stalking, punchlines that are delivered with great timing and the village milieu - his latest offering "Rajini Murugan" works solely because of the actor's presence.