Anuradha Varma, TNN, Oct 17, 2010
When Salman Khan did his turn as Chulbul Pandey in Dabanng, he was hailed as North India's Rajinikanth... till the real star decided to stand up and be counted.
And, how! His film Robot (Endhiran) released with an unheard of 2,000 prints worldwide at a Rs 160-crore budget and made Rs 950 million in the opening weekend.
Remarks trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "Rajinikanth is the ultimate star of the masses. It's not as if he's unaware of his stardom but he's warm, friendly and down-to-earth when you meet him. His humility shines through and this is what his fans pick up on."
In the South, which is given to hero worshipping its stars, the actor's larger-than-life persona is comparable only to MG Ramachandran, with his good guy image transcending from reel to real life. Analyses Tamil film writer Gnani Sankaran, "When MGR and Sivaji Ganesan vacated the film scene in late Seventies, Kamal moulded himself after Sivaji, who played unusual roles. Rajini fashioned himself after MGR, playing the do-gooder, Superman hero, protector of women and family values." He adds, "Tamilians have always been involved with the personality cult, since the days of the freedom movement. The personality cult is vital both in politics and cinema for commercial success. Here, the two are married!"
While onscreen, the 'Boss' (Thalaivar) Rajinikanth can split a bullet into two to kill villains, in real life, stands a man who greets guests to his daughter's wedding personally, accompanied by his wife. He could be the elderly, balding, dhoticlad father-next-door. As filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma tweeted, "A star requires great looks, good height, versatile acting, six-pack body, etc. And if one has none of the above he will become superstar Rajini."
Chennai-based film historian Theodore Baskaran believes Tamilians are prone to hero worship, from religious icons to politicians and actors. He, however, doesn't approve of the hype over Rajinikanth. According to him, MGR was the biggest star ever, as his loyal fan base translated into a strong constituency of votes too. "Rajinikanth's fans love him for what he portrays on screen."
However, that doesn't stop fans from turning out at 4 am to catch the first show of Rajinikanth's film, bathing his cutouts with milk, even beer and cola. A fan said on his object of worship, "He is not like any other actor. His biggest movie is out today and he is a superstar, but I am sure he is sitting at home calmly, without even caring to shave his beard. Such is his simplicity."
When Robot released, tongue-incheek sms-es went out proclaiming, "Robot released today. Rajinikanth gave The Times of India four stars." But, for the actor, his simplicity remains his calling card. Starting life as a bus conductor in Bangalore, Rajnikanth, who was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, is the son of Maharashtrian parents. His friend of over 40 years, Raj Bahadur and bus driver of Bangalore's Srinagara to Majestick route, on which the actor was the bus conductor, recalled in an interview, "Shivaji is compassionate and helpful. I have seen him getting out of his car if he sees an old person on the street and give him thousands of rupees. He does all that silently without anyone knowing."
California-based Kamla Bhatt, who hosts an online radio show, analyses the phenomenon, "He always identifies with the underdog and that is a winning formula in Tamil films."
No wonder that he is being hailed as the biggest Asian star after Jackie Chan, particularly after he was paid Rs 26 crore for Sivaji, the Boss. Bachchan, Rajini's co-star of Andha Kanoon, Giraftar and Hum, has generously accepted that the nature of Rajini's fans is incomparable. It's the nature of the fans, he believes, that creates the phenomenon that is Rajinikanth. Adds DT Cinemas director and business head Anant Verma, "His fans make every movie a hit. In North India, you don't have fans who watch a star's movie 15 times, unlike in the South. The fan loyalty is way beyond that for any Bollywood star, including Shah Rukh Khan."
This was also the man who was rejected for marriage as the girl found him "dark, plump and not good looking". As Gayathri Srikanth, ophthalmologist-turned-Rajini biographer said, "He grew up motherless, and had a very bad childhood. Later on, he had to work as a coolie, then a bus conductor and lastly became the superstar. How many people have the guts to come out and say that they have had a nervous break down, had many vices, etc? Not many own up their mistakes, but this man does."
It's this vulnerability that probably connects him to his fans too!
Famous Rajinikanth-isms:
Rajinikanth's larger-than-life persona has given rise to many good-hearted jokes around the man ...
Rajinikanth once kicked a horse in the chin. Its descendants are today called giraffes.
Rajinikanth once ordered a plate of idli in McDonald's, and got it.
Rajinikanth leaves messages before the beep.
Rajinikant is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
Rajinikant doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is.
And, how! His film Robot (Endhiran) released with an unheard of 2,000 prints worldwide at a Rs 160-crore budget and made Rs 950 million in the opening weekend.
Remarks trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "Rajinikanth is the ultimate star of the masses. It's not as if he's unaware of his stardom but he's warm, friendly and down-to-earth when you meet him. His humility shines through and this is what his fans pick up on."
In the South, which is given to hero worshipping its stars, the actor's larger-than-life persona is comparable only to MG Ramachandran, with his good guy image transcending from reel to real life. Analyses Tamil film writer Gnani Sankaran, "When MGR and Sivaji Ganesan vacated the film scene in late Seventies, Kamal moulded himself after Sivaji, who played unusual roles. Rajini fashioned himself after MGR, playing the do-gooder, Superman hero, protector of women and family values." He adds, "Tamilians have always been involved with the personality cult, since the days of the freedom movement. The personality cult is vital both in politics and cinema for commercial success. Here, the two are married!"
While onscreen, the 'Boss' (Thalaivar) Rajinikanth can split a bullet into two to kill villains, in real life, stands a man who greets guests to his daughter's wedding personally, accompanied by his wife. He could be the elderly, balding, dhoticlad father-next-door. As filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma tweeted, "A star requires great looks, good height, versatile acting, six-pack body, etc. And if one has none of the above he will become superstar Rajini."
Chennai-based film historian Theodore Baskaran believes Tamilians are prone to hero worship, from religious icons to politicians and actors. He, however, doesn't approve of the hype over Rajinikanth. According to him, MGR was the biggest star ever, as his loyal fan base translated into a strong constituency of votes too. "Rajinikanth's fans love him for what he portrays on screen."
However, that doesn't stop fans from turning out at 4 am to catch the first show of Rajinikanth's film, bathing his cutouts with milk, even beer and cola. A fan said on his object of worship, "He is not like any other actor. His biggest movie is out today and he is a superstar, but I am sure he is sitting at home calmly, without even caring to shave his beard. Such is his simplicity."
When Robot released, tongue-incheek sms-es went out proclaiming, "Robot released today. Rajinikanth gave The Times of India four stars." But, for the actor, his simplicity remains his calling card. Starting life as a bus conductor in Bangalore, Rajnikanth, who was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, is the son of Maharashtrian parents. His friend of over 40 years, Raj Bahadur and bus driver of Bangalore's Srinagara to Majestick route, on which the actor was the bus conductor, recalled in an interview, "Shivaji is compassionate and helpful. I have seen him getting out of his car if he sees an old person on the street and give him thousands of rupees. He does all that silently without anyone knowing."
California-based Kamla Bhatt, who hosts an online radio show, analyses the phenomenon, "He always identifies with the underdog and that is a winning formula in Tamil films."
No wonder that he is being hailed as the biggest Asian star after Jackie Chan, particularly after he was paid Rs 26 crore for Sivaji, the Boss. Bachchan, Rajini's co-star of Andha Kanoon, Giraftar and Hum, has generously accepted that the nature of Rajini's fans is incomparable. It's the nature of the fans, he believes, that creates the phenomenon that is Rajinikanth. Adds DT Cinemas director and business head Anant Verma, "His fans make every movie a hit. In North India, you don't have fans who watch a star's movie 15 times, unlike in the South. The fan loyalty is way beyond that for any Bollywood star, including Shah Rukh Khan."
This was also the man who was rejected for marriage as the girl found him "dark, plump and not good looking". As Gayathri Srikanth, ophthalmologist-turned-Rajini biographer said, "He grew up motherless, and had a very bad childhood. Later on, he had to work as a coolie, then a bus conductor and lastly became the superstar. How many people have the guts to come out and say that they have had a nervous break down, had many vices, etc? Not many own up their mistakes, but this man does."
It's this vulnerability that probably connects him to his fans too!
Famous Rajinikanth-isms:
Rajinikanth's larger-than-life persona has given rise to many good-hearted jokes around the man ...
Rajinikanth once kicked a horse in the chin. Its descendants are today called giraffes.
Rajinikanth once ordered a plate of idli in McDonald's, and got it.
Rajinikanth leaves messages before the beep.
Rajinikant is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
Rajinikant doesn't wear a watch. He decides what time it is.
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