How Much Important Leo Is For Vijay? (image:instagram/lokesh.kanagaraj)
As Vijay’s much-awaited film, Leo hit theatres on Thursday, the moviegoers are excited more than ever. The fan-made theories, speculations on Lokesh Kanagaraj Universe, and calculations on the box office collections are trending on the internet, Lokesh Kanagaraj-Thalapathy reunion definitely carries high hopes.
When Mr Kanagaraj directed Master, he was only two films old. There was anticipation on how, a comparatively new director going to treat Thalapathy’s mode of works, his stardom, and the celebrated, masala formula in the movie. Vijay is seen in an entirely new image in Master, dismantling the heralded, and tries-and-tested templates worked till then. Vijay in Lokesh’s Master is flawed, an agitator, and not an epitome of compassion and virtue. It opened new phase in Vijay’s movie career, a break from the shield that his fans lovingly put on him. Similarly, it also gave Thalapthy much-needed restart from his usual templates.
So, when Thalapathy and Kanagaraj comes for his second outing, it would definitely worthwhile. For Vijay, being the market leader in Kollywood, renewing his career is must with the choices he makes. Since the conventional templates works for each actor till a moment, even if it worked commercially, Vijay also needs to be careful on such choices. Mr Kanagaraj, who with his couple of releases proven that he excels at breaking stereotypes, therefore, Thalapathy is in right place. Leo’s trailer in fact, unravels the elements proving his cinematic mettle. Another feature of Lokesh’s movies is the well-thought, and narrated characters. The character arc is significant in his movies, which proves beneficial for the actor.
When the makers hint that Leo is a gangster drama, it is expected to stay true to the genre and a spectacle to behold. And not just in the case of Thalapathy, but Rajinikanth’s Jailer, and Kamal Haasan’s Vikram testified that aging superstars needed projects that need solid and matured threads to carry forward. Lokesh’s view of Vijay, definitely improves the Vijay’s canon, and leads him as a star, and an actor to a new path, which Tamil Cinema is witnessing now.
