The much anticipated first look and title of Superstar Rajinikanth’s next, so far referred to as Thalaivar 167 is finally out. Darbar is the title of the flick, officially announced by the makers, Lyca Productions. The film marks the collaboration of Rajini and AR Murugadoss for the first time.
The first look poster where we see a jubilant Rajini taking the centre-stage gives plenty of hints about the actor’s role in the movie. As we reported earlier, Darbar is a cop drama as made clear in the symbolism of the force — from a cop’s uniform to a belt to a cap and an epaulet on the shoulder replete with a police dog around him. There’s also a crime scene barricade tape in yellow with words ‘Caution’ written on in it.
The shooting begins in Mumbai today (April 10) and the backdrop of the famous ‘Gateway of India’ suggests the story is set in the commercial capital of India. It may be recalled that one of Rajini’s recent movies Kaala was also set in Mumbai, where the Superstar portrayed a do-gooder don from the slums of Dharavi.
Darbar (Durbar) refers to a King’s Court as well, which also hints that the film could be dealing with politics. Rajini may not be into full time politics yet despite having stated his desire to enter the field more than a year ago. The title is once again teasingly suggestive of his ambitions in this direction, which may not have taken shape before the 2019 general elections but which could find expression soon enough.
The message to the right of Rajini on the poster reads, ‘You decide whether you want me to be good, bad or worse’ and could either be aimed at antagonists in the cop story or his own opponents in the industry.
While the buzz was that Rajini will be seen in a dual role of a cop and a social activist in the movie, the mention of number ‘3’ might also indicate that the 68 year-old-actor will essay a triple role. And the poster even reveals the release date of Darbar, which is set to hit the marquee on Pongal 2020.
Nayanthara will be romancing Rajini in Darbar. Santhosh Sivan joins hands with Rajinikanth after a gap of 28 years, their earlier film together having been the cult classic Thalapathi in 1991. Anirudh teams up with Rajini for music for the second time after Petta, which was a runaway hit as a pure Rajini entertainer with him re-emerging as a hostel warden in a college in the hills from an earlier background of gangsterism in his village, which comes to haunt him in his new avatar of a popular college warden.
