Five reasons why the signs are not good for Kabali

Considering that the hype for Kabali is reaching insane levels, one wonders if this is a sign that the fans should be nervous about Kabali. 

Here are five other signs to worry over as well. 

1) Since 2000, Rajinikanth has released seven films - Baba (flop), Chandramukhi (hit), Sivaji (hit), Kuselan (average), Enthiran (hit), Kochadaiiyaan (massive flop) and Lingaa (flop). Chandramukhi was a re-make of a Malayalam film (Manichitrathazhu), and Sivaji and Enthiran were directed by Shankar. 

So the films that were made based on Rajini's strength alone - Baba, Kochadaiiyaan and Lingaa were all flops. Kabali too is another such 'stand-alone' film. Be worried...

2) Speaking of connections to flops, notice a trend in the names? All these flops are names of Lord Shiva. Rajinikanth is apparently a big devotee of the Lord in the Himalayas. 

But this has not helped the films very much. Kabali too, incidentally, is a name of Lord Shiva. If you want to get all statistical about it - since 2000 only 25% of the films (a.k.a Sivaji) named after Lord Shiva were a hit. Our worries increase...

3) The most amusing aspect of Rajinikanth films are not the fans, though they are highly entertaining. Rather, it is the film distributors. 

From the moment rumours of the next Rajini film emerges, distributers line up to cut a piece of the cake. And they pay through the nose for this pie, hoping that the icing on the cake (ticket sales) will make up for temporary distress. This is not always the case. 

Thrice since 2000, Rajinikanth has had to compensate distributors for their losses, because for some insensible and illogical reason they hold the actor responsible for the fate of the film, instead of accepting that loss is a part of the film game. 

While this is a shameful abuse of Rajinikanth, it is a reality and one that we have to add to our Kabali woes. 

4) As if Kabali worries were not enough, another sign for the superstitious is the lack of SP Balasubrahmanyam. For those who may not be aware, SP has sung the intro songs for most Rajinikanth films. 

Now as per the official story, SP was not available in the city during the recording of the song. Which feels like a flimsy excuse, to be honest. 

Fact is he was not hired for the role. And if that isn't a sign, one wonders what else is. 

5) And if the oddities aren't enough, we have some more. For example, this is the first time in 21 years that he is playing a gangster. Not since Basha in 1995 has he played such a role. 

The long gap could be a good sign since Basha was a massive hit. But on the other hand, perhaps there was a reason why the gap exists. 

To be honest, even the white beard worries us. Think Raghavendra and Valli, two films in which he sported a white beard, and they didn't do very well either. 

All in all, it is best to keep expectations within some restraint.