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It is true that prominent celebrities' cameos may significantly boost the elegance and excitement of a movie. These cameos may be pleasant surprises for the audience and frequently increase interest in the film. By attracting larger crowds, they can improve the whole movie-going experience and add to the films' success and this is what happened in Rajinikanth’s recently released film ‘Jailer’. Though the success of Jailer is truly credited to Rajinikanth’s charm, one can’t deny the importance of multiple cameos in the movie.

Shiva Rajkumar’s Character Adds Depth To Jailer

Shiva Rajkumar's influence from his little appearance in ‘Jailer’ is praise-worthy. The superstar, often known by his stage name Shivanna, is a well-known and adored personality in the Kannada cinema industry. He has a sizable fan base and has contributed significantly to Kannada films throughout the years.

ALSO READ: Jailer: Malayalam Star Mohanlal's Cameo Generates Interest In Character's Spinoff; Check Reactions

In the movie Jailer, Shivarajkumar plays the role of Narasimha, a once violent criminal who later assists the lead character Tiger Muthuvel Pandian (Rajinikanth), a former guard at the Tihar prison. In the last act, Muthuvel Pandian's family is just in time to be saved from the thugs by Narasimha. The craze surrounding theatre reactions of Shiva Rajkumar was witnessed in the viral videos on social media. Take a look:

Is Mohanlal Major Factor Behind The Success Of Jailer?

Not only Shiva Rajkumar, in the climax of 'Jailer', Mohanlal portrays the character Mathew, a crime lord and a close associate of Muthuvel Pandian, who, like Narasimha, extends his support to the film's hero. This culminating scene features a powerful moment where Rajinikanth, Shiva Rajkumar, and Mohanlal share the screen. Such moments in films, especially when popular actors come together for a powerful scene, can be a major draw for fans and contribute significantly to the film's excitement and entertainment value.

Theatre Owner Suresh Shenoy, who runs the Shenoy Theatre Chain in Ernakulam, claimed that Mohanlal’s character in Jailer is a major factor behind the success of Jailer in Kerala. In a conversation with Cue Studio, the exhibitor said, “Mohanlal may have had just two scenes in Jailer, but they are both very powerful. They are outstanding and Mohanlal hasn’t got such a great intro scene even in his recent Malayalam films.” Another factor that is helping Jailer in Kerala is the fact that Mohanlal himself is coming out of a low point. “Be it Monster, Alone or 12th Man, they were all films that were made for the OTT. They didn’t work and they also dented his image. But the intro in ‘Jailer’ was so good that they overlooked the disappointment of these flops and were happy to see their star back in form.”

Film producer and historian G Dhananjayan believes that Jailer’s success in Karnataka and Kerala are because of the cameos. According to a report in Film Companion, he said, “These two people have made a significant contribution. I’m not discounting other actors, but when stars like Mohanlal sir and Shiva Rajkumar come on screen and contribute to the story in a dramatic way, it’s simply magic. What would happen to those scenes if they featured other actors? Their presence elevated the film to greater heights. If Jailer is setting new records for Tamil films in those territories, the credit goes to them. Of course, Rajini sir is there, but these two made a tremendous difference.”

A Possible Spin-Off For Mohanlal's Character In Jailer?

Mohanlal's cameo in 'Jailer' has received widespread acclaim in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. His acting skills and charismatic presence on screen are evident from the fact that his little appearance had such an impact.The impact of Mohanlal’s role is such that fans and followers have been demanding a spin-off of his role.

But Cameos Should Be Utilised Well…

A cameo should make sense in the context of the story being told in the movie. It should have a purpose, whether that be to further the story, strengthen character development, or support the overarching theme. Cameos work best when they appeal to the audience's emotions or intellect. A forced or jarring appearance might make the audience lose interest in the narrative. When done well, cameos can contribute significantly to a movie's success and leave a lasting impact on the audience, same as what they did in ‘Jailer’.

About Jailer

The 2023 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film 'Jailer' has been directed by Nelson and produced by Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures. Apart from Rajinikanth, 'Jailer' also stars Vinayakan, Ramya Krishnan, Vasanth Ravi, Sunil, Mirnaa Menon in supporting roles. Mohanlal, Jackie Shroff, Shiva Rajkumar and Tamannaah Bhatia make cameo appearances.

Jailer: Box Office

Rajinikanth's film 'Jailer' has crossed ₹550 crore worldwide in just 12 days of release. 'Jailer' has become the highest-grossing Tamil movie in India after outpacing Mani Ratnam's "Ponniyin Selvan 1" in box office receipts.