Robot: Bollywood blockbuster takes on sci-fi

If you need a laugh try watching Rajnikant’s Robot. From start till end this movie makes no sense at all!

Noor Hanif November 18, 2010
If you need a laugh try watching the Hindi version of Rajnikant’s Robot (2010). The film is like a plate of mixed chaat of Hollywood hits Terminator, I Robot and Universal Soldier.  The whole story is completely senseless. After watching it I want to give a suggestion to director of the movie. Please, take some time out to have your mental health checked.

A very unlikely love story

The leads of this film are Rajnikant and Aishwariya Rai. When I heard who the cast was I was shocked and knew I had to watch this movie. Rajnikant is plays two roles in the movie - one of scientist Dr Vasigaran who creates a sentient robot and the second of  Chitthi - the robot. The beautiful Ash portrays Sana in the movie.

Rai looks elegant and seems to grow more beautiful with age. On the other hand Rajnikant sports a beard in the movie which gives him a perfect look for a bear! Besides that his tummy is enhancing with age.

A tale of love, revenge and microchips

Dr Vasigaran invents a robot who can do it all - even love. In a not so Frankenstein like situation Chitti falls madly in love with Vasigaran’s girlfriend Sana. The look-alike robot proposes to Sana who not surprisingly rejects him saying:

“I love Vasigaran, you are my best friend.”

The poor broken hearted (broken motherboard?) robot is enraged and becomes intent on revenge as a result the good doctor destroys him.

But love never dies.

Dr Vasigaran’s arch-nemesis creates an 'evil' Chitthi. (Apparently, installing a red chip inside the robot makes him evil.) In this half of the movie the robot makes his own army to conquer the world and most importantly to marry his beloved Sana.

Evil Chitti's master plan is to:
1) inject his 'electronic genes' into Sana

2)  Sana will become the first lady on earth to give birth to a hybrid baby.

But at the end of all Hindi movies achai ke jeet hoti hai. Chitthi’s army of robots die because of  - yes it's true - low battery. Evil Chitthi remains until Dr Vasigaran successfully plugs out the evil chip and Evil Chitthi turn into Good Chitthi.

Robot 2010: Ridiculousness awards

The mosquito scene: Chitthi, who holds many talents, is also gifted with the ability to communicate with animals and understand what they say. So when Sana (Rai) is bitten by a mosquito in a scene Chitthi runs behind the mosquito and ask it to apologize. Instead, the mosquitoes try to attack the robot and of course fail to bite his metal frame. The offending insect then says sorry to Sana who responds by saying "It's okay."

Baby delivery scene: In the movie Chitthi helps deliver a baby of a pregnant lady and communicates the exact timings of  procedure to doctors simultaneously.

Doctors without morals scene: In another scene our brave robot helps Sana cheat in one of her MBBS exams with the help of microphone.

A handgun: The least ridiculous feature of the film (besides the plot) was  Chitthi's gun. He uses his forefinger as gun and thumb as trigger!

Through out the movie I was wondering why Sana (Rai) was running away from her robot-lover. After all what could he do to her? He wasn't really date rape material.

Creativity is a good thing but...

From start till end this movie makes no sense. I fail to understand why Aishwariya Rai agreed to do this movie?  True, Hollywood movies often show far flung plots and exaggeration but these ideas are backed up with logical sub-plots. Bollywood movies almost always exaggerate. There is nothing wrong with being creative and showcasing unrealistic scenes - the question is how are you doing it.
WRITTEN BY:
Noor Hanif A bachelors student who is studying mass communications and enjoys reading books and listening to music.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (44)

Anoop | 12 years ago | Reply @Nobody: I was just stating the obvious about the state of Movie Industry in both the Countries. Unfortunately truth hurts. But, you gotta admit that while most Countries struggle to maintain one successful Movie Industry, India has it in the dozens! "but are you really going to say he’s a biggER actor than Shah Rukh Khan?" --> Yes, dude. Seriously. He is. I am not a Tamilian, I come from the neighboring state,Karnataka and dont speak Tamil. But, Shahrukh is the flavour of the decade compared to Rajnikanth. (You can say I am a neutral) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjdguZIHmkE Just a glimpse of the kind of status Rajnikanth has in India. The reason I am telling you all this is this: India is multi-dimensional, where several languages, several Religions co-exist. No where in the world can you find such variety of people living together, harmoniously on the most part. Indians were not at all surprised when a Sikh became a Prime Minister(twice in a row now). But, the same cannot be replicated in Pakistan. "do you go onto everyone else’s newspaper sites and make condescending and disdainful remarks there too? " --> If that same Country's people can come to MY country and kill people, then me going to their websites and commenting doesn't seem to be such a bad thing after all does it. I promise you, the day Pakistan stops supporting Terrorism against India and inturn become irrelevant, the day I stop commenting. Knowing Pakistan, that is a little too much to ask for. I suggest, instead of you asking/suggesting me not to comment here, your time will be better employed in countering my arguments based on facts. "Five words…. Shiv Sena & BJP." --> One word- So? Compared to the kind of blood-thirsty animals that inhabit Pakistan, they are harmless creatures. No person from either of these organization has come to Pakistan and killed people.
Nobody | 12 years ago | Reply @Anoop: Five words.... Shiv Sena & BJP.
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