The film was a dud on release, and for the first time, Rajinikanth had to compensate distributors for the losses they incurred.
Published Dec 04, 2022 | 5:12 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 04, 2022 | 5:15 PM
Rajinikanth with his wife. (Supplied)
Flop film Baba’s re-release by Rajinikanth has evoked mixed responses from the public and in the industry.
In Malayalam, Mohanlal announced the re-release of his blockbuster film Spadikam on 9 February.
In Rajinikanth’s career, Baba is the only film that did not even cover theatre rentals. Now the news that Rajinikanth has completed the dubbing and that AR Rahman is reworking the music for the film has created a sense of disbelief in many.
Those who have not seen it are curious to see what the big fuss is all about.
Those on the trade side, however, feel that Rajinikanth has exceeded his confidence level as the film has so many moments that today’s audience will say are “cringe”.
A film that will forever be closest to my heart … #Baba remastered version releasing soon 🤘🏻#BaBaReRelease https://t.co/vUaQahyHlA
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) December 3, 2022
The three-hour film would be cut by 30 minutes and director Suresh Krissna has said Rajinikanth felt that like Kantara and Brahmastra, Baba has the mystical elements and today’s audience who rooted for these films would lap it up.
Now, after shots of Rajini dubbing and reports that the climax has been shot afresh, speculations are rife.
The film in the original version took many digs at the then-ruling party, and fans say that that Rajinikanth put in many loaded political dialogues.
Baba, at the time of its release, was targeted by the PMK for a speech by Rajini on Veearappan at a Bengaluru function. Meanwhile, the posters showed him with cigars and blowing smoke.
The party issued a diktat that no film should publicise smoking. A theatre was also hit by PMK activists and the film’s print was destroyed.
To top it all, fans did not take to the spiritual content of the film when the time came to understand the nuances or themes. Thus, the film was a dud.
As a result, for the first time, Rajinikanth compensated the distributors for the losses they incurred.
Now, by rereleasing the film, Rajini is probably trying to show that Baba was not a bad movie but only ahead of its times, feels some trade analysts.
The only advantage Baba has is that it has not had a TV release, and hence those who have seen some select scenes on TV could turn up at the theatres this time due to the curiosity factor.
The box office figures of his last release Annaatthe were not so great, and the film just about scraped through.
Given this scenario, the rerelease of Baba could take a big blow and it could get yanked off theatres on the first weekend itself.
If this happens, it could have a huge negative impact on the box office numbers of his upcoming film Jailor, feel trade analysts.
But as trolls put it, if the Baba rerelease is a hit, Kamal Haasan would rerelease Mumbai Express.
Incidentally, producer Thanu is getting a trimmed version of Aalvandhaan — also directed by Suresh Krissna — ready.
In Kerala, Mohanlal through his social page announced that the all-time hit 1995 film Spadikam was rereleasing with 4K Atomos sound and digitalisation. The producers have spent ₹1 crore on its modernisation.
Here, too, with the dismal collections of the recently-released Monster, trade analysts feel that Spadikam being telecast umpteen times on TV would not get the crowds to see a digitised version.
