1939. With India tormented by WWII and in the throes of the independence movement led by Gandhi, the rich proprietor Raja Lingeswaran decides utilize his resources and expertise to construct a dam that will help the population. But the corrupt British intervene and force him to flee. Years later in modern India, his grandson Lingaa is a thief, but nevertheless leads a battle against corruption to save what his grandfather built.

Picture gallery

The uninitiated should know that Rajnikanth is to Bollywood what Tom Cruise is to Hollywood: an absolute superstar who hams his way through every movie, each one more of a star vehicle than the next. Lingaa more than continues in this vein. Running at almost three hours, with a plethora of twists and turns and a total of two roles for its star, K.S. Ravikumar’s movie is targeted at a public that knows exactly what to expect – laughter, some tears and over-the-top enthusiasm. Unsurprisingly, it’s not something to be recommended to anyone else – who will scratch their heads and wonder what all the fuss is about.