Rajinikanth's film "Kaala," directed by Pa Ranjith, has achieved a notable accolade in Tamil cinema by being listed among the Films of the Century by the British Film Institute (BFI). This recognition positions the Tamil socio-political drama alongside esteemed global cinematic works such as "Artificial Intelligence," "Old Boy," and "Divine Intervention." The list was featured in BFI's Sight and Sound Summer Issue 2024.
Released in 2018, "Kaala" delves into themes of social justice, power dynamics, and urban politics. Rajinikanth portrays the titular character, a leader among the oppressed in Mumbai's Dharavi slums. The film's compelling narrative, coupled with Rajinikanth's performance, garnered praise from both audiences and critics, achieving commercial success and critical acclaim. Its inclusion in BFI's prestigious list highlights "Kaala's" significant impact and its contribution to global cinema.
“From our vantage point in 2024, we sit one quarter of the way through the 21st century. To acknowledge this milestone, Sight and Sound have enlisted the help of 25 critics, asking each to nominate a film that is significant within our cinematic era – the kind of film that could be put into a time capsule for the cinephiles of the 22nd century and beyond to marvel at, a movie that is both representative of and a high watermark of the years 2000 to 2024,” read the post on BFI about the 25 films.