Baashha - Revisiting Tamil Films 4

This is everyone’s favorite. Released in 1995, this film took the gangster genre into a different level. This film became Rajinikanth’ pinnacle in his film career till now.

Along with song & romance, Baashha had all the elements of Hollywood Italian gangster films- the hero is invincible. The suspense of Manikam’ past will travel at least half way through the film and it was like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. And, when it did, it was pure authentic masala magic, which was tailor made for Rajini’ star image. Later, many films were made with this Baashha-type template, but couldn't replace or even replicate the original.

Sathya, made by Suresh Krishna was a raw gangster film. It was a story of a angry unemployed youth (Kamal was 34 then!), while Baashha was more of a revenge drama laced with gangster-ism as a backdrop.

This was the first film for Deva to score for a Rajini film. The songs became super dooper hit. As always Nagma as a new arrival heroine ( not her first film ) became a sensation.

Punch line after punch line kept coming in the film. Every line became legendary. Until now I didn't realise the dialogues were written by the veteran Tamil writer Balakumaran!.

Some serious scenes you might find funny now, thats not because its outdated, but because of movies which came after Baashha, which tried to replicate it and ended up dumb.

In Tamil cinema, the director had to have a wild imagination in the hero introduction scene. Usually, hero’ introduction will start from their leg\foot either walking or running. Baashha had that, but it went a bit further in making Rajini to smash a poosanikai using his head!, just like a header in football.

A film to watch anytime.. anyday.

Other Revisiting Tamil Films. - 1. Michael Madana Kama Rajan | 2. May Maadham | 3. Taj Mahal