Why this CRAZE over Kabali & Pokemon Go?

Currently, only two things seem to matter to humankind- Pokemon Go and Kabali. Be it tea break topics in the office, discussions among friends and coverage in the media, it is unprecedented and mindboggling!

Pokemon Go with over 30 million downloads and Rajini-starred Kabali with fans lining up to get their hands on the tickets even before the release not just in India but across the world have been the talk of the town, nee planet. Apart from wide popularity, these two phenomena have one more thing in common: sense of belonging!

The success of Kabali can be attributed to the lead actor, Rajinikanth but what is the invisible hand which is working apart from hard work and talent? A feeling, the sense of “belonging” and a sense of it being “ours.” A 65-year-old south Indian actor without six packs could mesmerize people. Why? He could strike the right chord with middle class and the strata below it.

What touches one’s heart is the inspiring story behind Thalaivar, a bus conductor who rose to unreachable heights with sheer dedication and perseverance. The titillating mannerisms and punch dialogues brought the star close to the hearts of the fans and audience accepting him as “our” star. Precisely because of this, we take pride in ourselves when we see or hear –“Rajinikanth.”

Having failed in recent attempts, Rajni needs a blockbuster and we can’t fail ‘our’ actor to fail at this critical juncture. It is ‘our’ responsibility to make sure our actor succeeds. The psyche is made to give him a hit, that’s it. You may not like Kabali till the end but you can’t loath our guy as he had already occupied a soft corner in our minds and hearts.

At the same time, the producers need a pat on their back for creating much hoopla about the movie by adopting different kind of marketing strategies. Come to think about it, it could be same with Pokemon Go, which is driving people crazy with virtual gaming. Launched in 1995 as a game before being created as a cartoon show, it was a huge hit among kids, thanks to its creative concepts and feel good characters.

Growing up fascinated by the cartoons and games of Pokemon, Niantic inc. could spark the connection again with the use of technology and innovation at a right time. This time, the former kids, men and women, could be carried away by the sense of same belonging.

On the one hand Kabali and the other Pokeman could surely “connect” themselves properly to the new age customers in their own ways. Both of them wowed the world and shared fun for time being. Till a new phenomenon sweeps them aside, a generation would relish this phenomenon.

By: S Maitreyee