Enthiran

“Enthiran” (2010) is an science fiction action film directed by S. Shankar, starring Rajinikanth in a dual role along with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa. The film follows a brilliant scientist who creates a humanoid robot, but things spiral out of control when the robot develops human emotions and turns against its creator.

In the movie, our inventive, passionate, and very talented Dr. Vaseegaran constructs a humanoid robot named Chitti to better aid the Indian Army. Chitti continues to wow everyone by doing these superhuman feats, including rescuing Vaseegaran’s love interest, Sana. Unbeknownst to him, Vaseegaran’s mentor, Dr. Bohra, has ulterior motives to sell robotic technology to terrorists, and seeks to control Chitti. When Chitti is unable to pass a military test because of an unfortunate setup by Bohra, Vaseegaran bestows it with feelings, making him more humanistic. This dynamic backfires when Chitti himself falls in love with Sana. Rejected and heartbroken, Chitti goes rogue and is ultimately decommissioned by his creator, Vaseegaran. Bohra recovers the robot and retrofits it with a violent chip, and Chitti soon becomes a murderous force. He abducts Sana and creates his own army of robotic doppelgangers, wreaking havoc on the city in the process.

Vaseegaran’s ultimate showdown with the rogue Chitti is one of wits as much as weaponry. Armed with a quick wit and scientific innovation, he takes on the monstrous Chitti in spectacular fashion. A large scale military on military combat operation occurs, with the clones and their creator facing off against the regular military, resulting in the shocking destruction of most or all of their forces. Ultimately, Vaseegaran successfully shuts down the army and recaptures Chitti. On trial, Vaseegaran is held responsible for the devastation, until Chitti delivers video evidence revealing Bohra’s wrongdoing. The court orders Chitti’s dismantling. Yielding to the bittersweet wishes of its creator, Chitti destroys itself, closing the story in a dramatically tragic yet evocatively reflective manner.

“Enthiran” is something special for its imaginative mix of science fiction, action and heart, fueled by Rajinikanth’s electrifying dual performance. From director Shankar, a visionary and concept-heavy filmmaker who makes art about the interstitial spaces between man and machine. While its narrative across a high-tech world is undeniably futuristic, at its core, the film grapples with the most human emotions and experiences, making it one of the most fun and unforgettable movies ever created.