It is a daunting task to remake a realistic and sentimental film like Kadha Parayumbol with a superstar like Rajnikanth [Images], and meet the expectations of his fans. But director P Vasu meets the challenge well -- he balances Rajni's larger-than-life images, and the sentimental value of the film perfectly.

The last 20 minutes are worth every penny spent. Those moments will make you forget even the film's low points, and slow scenes.

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Rajni is seen in only in a quarter of the film, but whenever he is there, he has excellent screen presence. The best scenes of the film are when he batters Sundarrajan, and when he responds to Vadivelu's request for a photograph. And of course, his introduction sequence.

For all those who enjoyed watching the Malayalam classic Kadha Parayumbol, some of the sequences in Kuselan [Images] may seem poorly done. For example, the comedy sequences of Vadivelu, Sonu and Manobala and the four comedians. It is a pity that actors like Livingston and Santhana Bharathi are made to act in such roles.

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Like his previous films, Rajnikanth excels in the sequences that show him in the larger-than-life image. But his talent comes out in the climax, where he makes the audience weep. Pasupathy plays the role of an honest barber to perfection. Meena proves once again that she is a perfect choice for complex roles. And Vasu has been able to extract high voltage performances from the child artists, Geetha and others.

Technically, the film is of high standard. Arvind Krishna's camera work and Thota Tharani's art work reach high standards though the graphics work in the film could have been better.

Kuselan may not be a classic like Kadha Parayumbol. But it is certainly watchable for the Rajni's magical presence.

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