Bollywood biopics, be they hagiographies or hatchet jobs, rarely get their act right. Thalaivi does nothing to change the scenario. It ties itself up in knots in trying to get the hang of six-time Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's life and times and craft a coherent tale. It hurtles around aimlessly - and futilely - in search of a plank that can hold its weight.

The life of J Jayalalithaa makes for a good story. A misfit in an unforgiving industry who turned into an iron-fisted politician, Jayalalithaa's life come pre-punctuated by dramatic highs and personal lows. So it should be no surprise that a spate of biopics was announced following her death in 2016. Of all of them, director AL Vijay's Thalaivi has regularly made news, in part because of Kangana Ranaut, who plays the late politician, keeping the buzz alive.

That J Jayalalitha's life was tailor-made for a movie, no can dispute. And now, having watched Kangana Ranaut play this version of Jaya in Thalaivii with a perfectly-judged mixture of vulnerability and hauteur, there's no question that she owns the part. Would a Tamil leading lady, more conversant with the language and the body language, have done a better job? The question is now moot.

THALAIVII is the story of a girl's journey from being a prominent heroine to a prominent political figure. The story begins in 1965. Jayalalithaa aka Jaya (Kangana Ranaut) is an upcoming actress in Tamil cinema. She has been coaxed into joining the profession by her mother (Bhagyashree) so that they can have a steady means of income. In no time, Jaya gets a chance to star opposite MJR (Arvind Swamy), one of the biggest superstars of Tamil cinema.

The story depicts the journey of J. Jayalalithaa (played by Kangana Ranaut), from making a mark as a no-nonsense actress to the most important person for millions in her entire state. Makers hint they're taking a controversial route when they start the film with the scene of Jayalalithaa (fondly known as Amma to many) getting manhandled in the parliament, but it's all 'ruko zara, sabar karo' moment since then.

It's hard to remain neutral when it comes to J Jayalalithaa. The actress-politician was a devout protector of Tamil Nadu, yet managed to have dramatically cinematic moments in all her pursuits. Director AL Vijay took on the challenge of bringing the life of a woman who was not only a superstar and an influential figure but an indomitable Amma that everybody loved.

I went into Thalaivii thinking I'd get to see Jayalalithaa's turbulent journey as a politician who held power for years while serving six times as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. But, as it turns out, this Kangana Ranaut-starrer is about how a naive Jaya transformed into someone more formidable -- an Amma to millions. Staying true to the story he set out to tell, director Vijay tackles aspects of her life that Jaya's followers may have never got to see up close.

An iconic figure in Indian politics, Jayalalithaa's political journey is known to most. Director Vijay attempts to unravel her icy cold persona and look at her as a woman passionately driven by love. Make no mistake, a woman's fight for self respect and battle against patriarchy are integral to the story. However, what lies at the heart of the tale is her unconditional love for MGR, despite the societal contempt of her.

Bollywood biopics, be they hagiographies or hatchet jobs, rarely get their act right. Thalaivi does nothing to change the scenario. It ties itself up in knots in trying to get the hang of six-time Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's life and times and craft a coherent tale. It hurtles around aimlessly - and futilely - in search of a plank that can hold its weight.

One Word Review... THALAIVII: POWERFUL. One of the most powerful biopics to release on the #Hindi screen... Loads of drama + strong emotions + bravura performances [#KanganaRanaut and #ArvindSwami pitch in award-worthy acts] are major aces. #ThalaiviiReview