Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Lingaa’s Ambitious Rajinikanth Spectacle Becomes an Unintentional Comedy
Lingaa is a 2014 Tamil film starring Rajinikanth in two roles.
One character is a small-time thief, while the other is his grandfather, a dam-building engineer.
The thief travels to a village whose dam and future are in danger.
The movie expects him to become the village’s unlikely hero.
The review says the basic story had plenty of potential.
However, it argues that weak writing, awkward comedy, and poor visual effects damaged the film.
The final action scene, involving a hot-air balloon, is described as especially unrealistic.
Lingaa also performed poorly and disappointed many Rajinikanth fans.
K. S. Ravikumar’s 2014 film Lingaa stars Rajinikanth in dual roles.
The story follows a thief who must protect a village and its vital dam.
The article says the film’s ambitious premise was undermined by weak writing and poor visual effects.
The review particularly criticizes the film’s songs, comedy, romance, makeup, dubbing, and historical setting.
Lingaa’s climactic balloon-and-bike action sequence is described as a major VFX failure.
- Who
- Rajinikanth, director K. S. Ravikumar, and the cast of Lingaa, including Anushka Shetty, Sonakshi Sinha, and Jagapathi Babu.
- What
- Lingaa was criticized as an unsuccessful Rajinikanth action drama despite its large-scale premise and production.
- When
- The film was released in 2014.
- Where
- The story is set partly in the village of Solaiyur and includes scenes in a pre-Independence-era setting.
- Why
- The article attributes the film’s failure to weak writing, poor direction, awkward performances, and low-quality visual effects.
- Film
- Lingaa
- Release year
- 2014
- Director
- K. S. Ravikumar
- Lead actor
- Rajinikanth
- Central premise
- A thief becomes responsible for saving a village and its dam.
- Inspiration cited
- The life of British civil engineer John Pennycuick, according to The Hindu.
- Major criticism
- The climax’s balloon-and-bike sequence was criticized for its poor visual effects.