Rajnikanth Unarguable ‘Thaliavaa’ Of Indian Cinema - Part 1

En vazni, thani vazni, seendaathe! 

(My path is diverse; do not dare to come in between!) 

As Rajnikant, the Southern Superstar and unarguably the ‘Thalivaa’ of Indian Cinema, delivers this power packed punch line in the Tamil movie PADAYAPPA, with his irresistible signature style, cinegoers go fanatical and the cinema house is brought down with echoes of claps and whistles!!

Listen to Rajnikanth Songs on Raaga.com

Superstar Rajinikanth, considered as a Demi - God especially when it comes to his huge fan following down south completed four decades in the film industry recently. The superstar along with actress Sonakshi Sinha, who is working with the living legend in ‘LINGAA’, celebrated the occasion on the films’ sets in Chennai.

Raaga.Com saluting the legendary actor presents a series of articles to celebrate the magnums event.

Rajinikanth born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad has come a long way from being a bus conductor to the heart throb of the nation. The magic of Rajnikant is such that he is considered as a Demi-God in South. His fans are so obsessed with the star that to ensure success of each of his movies they perform poojas on the opening day of his movie and huge cutouts of Rajnikant are garlanded with flowers. And what’s more his fans buy tickets in black at exorbitant prices!

Rajinikanth made his debut in Tamil cinema with ‘APOORVA RAAGANGAL’ in 1975, where he played a supporting role of an abusive husband opposite Srividya. However, it was well received and went on to win three National Awards. The following year he forayed into Kannada films with ‘KATHA SANGAMA’, directed by Puttanna Kanagal.

Listen to Rajnikanth Songs on Raaga.com

Some of his hits in the 80’s included ‘PADIKKATHAVAN’, ‘THEE’, ‘VELAIKARAN’, ‘DHARMATHIN THALAIVAN’, ‘MR. BHARATH’, AND ‘MAAVEERAN’. His 100th film ‘SRI RAGHAVENDRA’ saw him playing the Hindu Saint Raghavendra Swami.

Rajnikant’s phenomenal success soon became so intense that even film directors feared to ‘Kill Off’ his character in the movie for fear that the theatre would be burnt down by his crazy fans as was noticed in a one of a rare case in a village in south. 

Recalling the incident the theater owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “Rajnikant explodes like a tiger on screen but if the actor is shown in bad light as was shown during a scene in the movie PADAYAPPA where the villain insults Rajnikant by not offering him a chair to sit! The audience in the cinema hall went berserk abusing the director and torching the cinema hall! Ever since that ghastly episode, directors think twice before calling the shots.”

NOTE: In the next episode read about Rajnikant’s trademark gestures and his style.

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