Birthday of Superstar Rajanikanth (Happy birthday Thalaivar)
Rajinikanth, born on December 12, 1950, is more, much more than a top-ranking actor. He’s a legend, a cultural icon unlike any other, an idol to the masses who worship him and call him ‘Thalaivar’. Even as Rajini turns 64, we turn the spotlight on the phenomenon that is Rajinikanth.
Who would’ve thought the brooding man who made a quiet entry as an antagonist in K Balachander’s 1975 film, ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, would go on to become a veritable demigod of cinema, reigning supreme for three decades and more! Or, that a one-time bus conductor in Bangalore would be one of the highest paid Indian film actors of all time! That’s Rajinikanth for you. A man who’s lived the rags-to-riches story, becoming not only a fantastic entertainer, but a superhero to his fans who are legion.
Humble beginnings
Before he took on the screen name Rajinikanth, he was Shivajirao Gaekwad, child of a lower middle class family, who lost his mother when he was just 9. The young Shivajirao attended the Gavipuram government school in Bangalore and life, for most part, was a struggle. He worked as a coolie for a while and then joined the Bangalore Transport Service as a conductor. Perhaps it was these beginnings that made him take so well to roles in which he played working class hero – such as ‘Baasha’ and ‘Annamalai’.
Remembering the past
Rajinikanth’s success and popularity has spiralled him into the stratosphere, as it were. But he’s a man who’s completely connected to his roots, never forgetting where he came from. Heart-warming stories abound, of how he looks in on his old school teacher when he comes to Bangalore and always finds time for a cutting chai with his former colleagues from the BTS days.
Film school and after
Even while he was plying the bus routes, Shivajirao was drawn to acting. He appeared in stage plays and was then pointed by a well-wisher to the Madras Film Institute. Fresh out of film school, he again took the stage and was noticed by Balachander, one of the top-ranking directors of Tamil cinema. Shivajirao became Rajinikanth, appeared in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, impressing even in his brief appearance, and a remarkable journey in cinema began.
Playing the bad guy
He continued in negative roles in films such as ‘Moondru Mudichu’, ‘Avargal’ and Bharathiraja’s ‘16 Vayathinile’. It was the prolific SP Muthuraman who gave Rajini his first positive role in ‘Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri’. The two would go on to do some 25 films together. ‘Bhairavi’ was his first film as hero.
A flair for comedy
The late 70s and early 80s belonged very much to Rajini. It was during this time that he featured in classics such as Mahendran’s ‘Mullum Malarum', the hugely popular ‘Johnny’ and ‘Ilamai Oonjaladugirathu’. Rajini also displayed his talent for light-hearted roles in ‘Ninaithale Inikkum’ in which he teamed up with Kamal Haasan, and showed off his superb comic skills in Balachander’s ‘Thillu Mullu’. The best of his films are watchable even today.
In Kannada and Telugu
While a bulk of his work has been in Tamil, Rajini has also worked in his mother tongue, Kannada, featuring in films such as ‘Baalu Jenu’, ‘Kumkuma Rakshe’ and ‘Galatte Samsara’ in his early days. His Telugu films include ‘Annadammula Savaal’, ‘Iddaru Asadhyule’ and ‘Kaali’.
When Bollywood beckoned
Rajini went to Bollywood with ‘Andha Kanoon’, in which he featured alongside Amitabh Bachchan. ‘Jeet Hamari’, ‘Meri Adaalat’, ‘Bewafai’, ‘Insaniyat ke Devta’ and ‘Tyagi’ were among his Hindi films. Rajini certainly enjoyed more success than most other South Indian actors who attempt the leap to Bollywood.
The making of a mass hero
After his early years in cinema, when he worked and was moulded by accomplished directors like Balachander, Muthuraman and Mahendran, Rajini took on a distinctive on-screen persona. He was frequently cast in the mould of the underdog, a man of the masses who stood up for what was right and took on the powerful. In-between, he fought, romanced, played the dutiful son and loyal friend and delivered lines that would become part of common lingo.
Films we love
From family dramas of the black & white era, to haunting love stories, comedies, action flicks, revenge tales, science fantasies and full-on masala films which require the suspension of disbelief, Rajini has done them all. Our pick of Rajini films: ‘Mullum Malarum’ in which he plays a rough factory worker with a tender heart; ‘Johnny’ in which he starred with Sridevi; ‘Padayappa’, the ultimate Kollywood masala flick; ‘Thalapathi’, Maniratnam’s modern day retelling of the Karna story; ‘Thillu Mullu’ which no other comedy since has matched; and ‘Sivaji’ which was utterly enjoyable, despite being completely over-the-top.
Rajini style
Part of the Rajini charisma is his ‘style’. It’s a combination of aspects –from his accented Tamil, to the way he tosses his hair and flips a cigarette into his mouth. Rajini’s mannerisms have spawned scores of imitations and spoofs. The ‘Padayappa’ scene in which he, denied a chair by the arrogant Neelambari, played by Ramya Krishnan, snaps his ‘thundu’ to bring down a swing and sits on it imperiously, is a favourite moment for all Rajni fans.
Famous lines
No one does ‘punch’ dialogue in Kollywood like Rajini does. No wonder so many of his lines are repeated over and over again and become part of the local idiom. Here are some memorable ones:
Pera kettaale chumma adhirudhulla! – ‘Sivaji’ (Aren’t you quaking at the mere mention of my name?)
En Vazhi, Thani Vazhi - ‘Padayappa’ (My way is a unique way)
Naan oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna mathiri – ‘Baasha’ (If I say something once, consider it said it a hundred times)
Andavan Solraan, Arunachalam Mudikkiran – ‘Arunachalam’ (God proposes, Arunachalam (his character) disposes)
Naan eppo varuven, epdi varuvennu yarukkum theriyathu. Aana vara vendiya nerathula kandippa varuven – ‘Muthu’ (No one knows when or how I will arrive. But when I have to, I will)
Kanna, panni dhan Kootama varum. Singam Singleaa dhaan varum – ‘Sivaji’ (Kanna, only pigs come in herds. The lion always comes alone)
All Source and read more at MSN
Who would’ve thought the brooding man who made a quiet entry as an antagonist in K Balachander’s 1975 film, ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, would go on to become a veritable demigod of cinema, reigning supreme for three decades and more! Or, that a one-time bus conductor in Bangalore would be one of the highest paid Indian film actors of all time! That’s Rajinikanth for you. A man who’s lived the rags-to-riches story, becoming not only a fantastic entertainer, but a superhero to his fans who are legion.
Humble beginnings
Before he took on the screen name Rajinikanth, he was Shivajirao Gaekwad, child of a lower middle class family, who lost his mother when he was just 9. The young Shivajirao attended the Gavipuram government school in Bangalore and life, for most part, was a struggle. He worked as a coolie for a while and then joined the Bangalore Transport Service as a conductor. Perhaps it was these beginnings that made him take so well to roles in which he played working class hero – such as ‘Baasha’ and ‘Annamalai’.
Remembering the past
Rajinikanth’s success and popularity has spiralled him into the stratosphere, as it were. But he’s a man who’s completely connected to his roots, never forgetting where he came from. Heart-warming stories abound, of how he looks in on his old school teacher when he comes to Bangalore and always finds time for a cutting chai with his former colleagues from the BTS days.
Film school and after
Even while he was plying the bus routes, Shivajirao was drawn to acting. He appeared in stage plays and was then pointed by a well-wisher to the Madras Film Institute. Fresh out of film school, he again took the stage and was noticed by Balachander, one of the top-ranking directors of Tamil cinema. Shivajirao became Rajinikanth, appeared in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, impressing even in his brief appearance, and a remarkable journey in cinema began.
Playing the bad guy
He continued in negative roles in films such as ‘Moondru Mudichu’, ‘Avargal’ and Bharathiraja’s ‘16 Vayathinile’. It was the prolific SP Muthuraman who gave Rajini his first positive role in ‘Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri’. The two would go on to do some 25 films together. ‘Bhairavi’ was his first film as hero.
A flair for comedy
The late 70s and early 80s belonged very much to Rajini. It was during this time that he featured in classics such as Mahendran’s ‘Mullum Malarum', the hugely popular ‘Johnny’ and ‘Ilamai Oonjaladugirathu’. Rajini also displayed his talent for light-hearted roles in ‘Ninaithale Inikkum’ in which he teamed up with Kamal Haasan, and showed off his superb comic skills in Balachander’s ‘Thillu Mullu’. The best of his films are watchable even today.
In Kannada and Telugu
While a bulk of his work has been in Tamil, Rajini has also worked in his mother tongue, Kannada, featuring in films such as ‘Baalu Jenu’, ‘Kumkuma Rakshe’ and ‘Galatte Samsara’ in his early days. His Telugu films include ‘Annadammula Savaal’, ‘Iddaru Asadhyule’ and ‘Kaali’.
When Bollywood beckoned
Rajini went to Bollywood with ‘Andha Kanoon’, in which he featured alongside Amitabh Bachchan. ‘Jeet Hamari’, ‘Meri Adaalat’, ‘Bewafai’, ‘Insaniyat ke Devta’ and ‘Tyagi’ were among his Hindi films. Rajini certainly enjoyed more success than most other South Indian actors who attempt the leap to Bollywood.
The making of a mass hero
After his early years in cinema, when he worked and was moulded by accomplished directors like Balachander, Muthuraman and Mahendran, Rajini took on a distinctive on-screen persona. He was frequently cast in the mould of the underdog, a man of the masses who stood up for what was right and took on the powerful. In-between, he fought, romanced, played the dutiful son and loyal friend and delivered lines that would become part of common lingo.
Films we love
From family dramas of the black & white era, to haunting love stories, comedies, action flicks, revenge tales, science fantasies and full-on masala films which require the suspension of disbelief, Rajini has done them all. Our pick of Rajini films: ‘Mullum Malarum’ in which he plays a rough factory worker with a tender heart; ‘Johnny’ in which he starred with Sridevi; ‘Padayappa’, the ultimate Kollywood masala flick; ‘Thalapathi’, Maniratnam’s modern day retelling of the Karna story; ‘Thillu Mullu’ which no other comedy since has matched; and ‘Sivaji’ which was utterly enjoyable, despite being completely over-the-top.
Rajini style
Part of the Rajini charisma is his ‘style’. It’s a combination of aspects –from his accented Tamil, to the way he tosses his hair and flips a cigarette into his mouth. Rajini’s mannerisms have spawned scores of imitations and spoofs. The ‘Padayappa’ scene in which he, denied a chair by the arrogant Neelambari, played by Ramya Krishnan, snaps his ‘thundu’ to bring down a swing and sits on it imperiously, is a favourite moment for all Rajni fans.
Famous lines
No one does ‘punch’ dialogue in Kollywood like Rajini does. No wonder so many of his lines are repeated over and over again and become part of the local idiom. Here are some memorable ones:
Pera kettaale chumma adhirudhulla! – ‘Sivaji’ (Aren’t you quaking at the mere mention of my name?)
En Vazhi, Thani Vazhi - ‘Padayappa’ (My way is a unique way)
Naan oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna mathiri – ‘Baasha’ (If I say something once, consider it said it a hundred times)
Andavan Solraan, Arunachalam Mudikkiran – ‘Arunachalam’ (God proposes, Arunachalam (his character) disposes)
Naan eppo varuven, epdi varuvennu yarukkum theriyathu. Aana vara vendiya nerathula kandippa varuven – ‘Muthu’ (No one knows when or how I will arrive. But when I have to, I will)
Kanna, panni dhan Kootama varum. Singam Singleaa dhaan varum – ‘Sivaji’ (Kanna, only pigs come in herds. The lion always comes alone)
All Source and read more at MSN
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