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Sivaji Rao @ Rajinikanth
Entry into the gates of Tamizh Cinema |
A bus conductor from karnataka entered tamizh nadu in 1975,
and as usual "Vanthaara vaazha veikum Tamizhnaadu". When tamizh cinema
was being ruled by fair-and-handsome heroes, no one would have thought
of a superstar-entry in his form. The gates of tamizh cinema opened to
welcome a dark complexioned, rustic looking man in apoorva ragangal.
Yes, the voice of tamizh cinema was the apoorva raaga from then on.
The moment he entered the tamizh film industry, he lost his
identity - There can't be two sivajis. Sivaji Rao had only two choices -
two character names from KB's stage drama - Major Chandrakanth. On Holi
day, tamizh cinema found its colour - Rajinikanth was born. Many of his
performances were overshadowed by stalwart kamalhaasan, during their
collaboration in earlier years. After playing the villain opposite
kamalhaasan in many movies, he changed shades to play the hero in
Bairavi, which fetched him the superstar title from then-distributor
now-producer Kalaipuli S.Dhanu.
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| Mala da! Anna Mala! Style at its peak! |
The audience went crazy over his cigarette style. There is
nothing he can't do with a cigarette - A flip of a cigarette from a one
arm distance to his mouth, lighting a flying cigar with a bullet shot
from the gun, taking out a cigarette from a folded tongue, lighting a
cigar with just his eyes and what not. Everyone would have tried the
signature cigarette style atleast once. The gap between "audience" and
"fans" suddenly became a cigarette's length and Rajinikanth had no
trouble filling it. His audience turned into his fans. His speed and
style became his USP and he became unstoppable. The mere mention of his
character name can trigger the "mass-appeal" he has - Alex Pandian,
Maanick Baadshah, Kaali, Kabali.
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Sivaji - The Boss Coin Toss Scene
Perfect Interval Block Transformation |
Evident from the last lines of the previous stanza, he has
often had dialogues which raised questions on his entry into politics.
My stanzas are now taking an anthaathi format. In 1995, there raised a
huge speculation on his entry into politics. It did not happen.
Rajinikanth's "Padayappa" had dialogues which looked to be directed
against politicians. But, once again, he shut the doors for his
political entry. There has always been a suspense about his political
entry. This "suspense" only adds to his personality both in reel as well
as real life.
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Ayyaa.. En paeru maanickam...
Enaku inoru paerum iruku...
The marana maass level! |
Yes, the reel and real life. Again, the "anthaathi" format.
There is stark difference in his on-screen and off-screen appearances.
He is always seen in public sans his makeup. He takes a huge
transformation from off-screen to on-screen and this transformation
again adds weight to his personality. Transformation is BAU for him as
evident from the epic transformation scenes in Baadshah, Annamalai, Sivaji and Enthiran. Transformation from a bus conductor to a superstar
is just another sample. His on-screen persona transfers energy to the
already-high voltage audience. A Rajini movie never ever disappoints.
There is no suspense in his movies, the next scene of his is always
evident. How does he sustain the audience in theatres then? Though the
next scene in his movie is evident, there is always a Rajini stamp in it
which makes the audience erupt with whistles and screams. This connect
he has with the theatre going crowd sets the box office on fire. His
screen presence is brilliant and he grabs the audience's eyes in every
frame of his. What does a Rajini movie give you? What more do you need
other than the man himself? - "Neenga vanthaa mattum poathum... Neenga
vanthaaaaaa mattummm poathum".
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| Kochadaiyaan - Rajinikanth conveying his thanks to fans |
The songs in his movies have lyrics written for his fans,
especially the opening song. His intro itself is a dharisanam for his
fans. Adding to this, are the intelligent lyrics of vairamuthu and
vaali. "En kadaisi varai kooda varum kootaniyum neethaan" from
arunachalam, "Maalaigal ida vaendam, thanga magudam thara vaendam,
tamizh thaai naadu thantha anbu pothumae... En oru sottu vaervaiku oru
poun thanga kaasu koduthathu tamizh allava, en udal porul aaviyai
tamizhukum, tamizharkum kodupathu murai allavaa" from padayappa, "Annai
vaari koduthathu thaai paalu, ennai vaazha veithathu tamizh paalu" from
annamalai have added to his "connect" factor with his fans. He uses
cinema as a medium to interact with his fans - "Ungalin vaazhthukkalaal
uyir kondu ezhunthu vitaen, vaazhthia manangalukku en vaazhkaiyai
vazhangivitaen" - from kochadaiyaan as a thanks to his fans.
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| Kabali - Swag Redefined |
After a point of time, there was nothing Rajini can't do.
His image transformed from a man-next-door to God-next-door. His fans
celebrate him. These are not mere celebrations, but this is the famous
hero-worship of tamizh naadu. The tradition of tamizh naadu has had live
instances of saviours, elders, leaders worshipped as God. Their
on-screen idol has now turned into an off-screen paramaathmaa. He is
only next to MGR to achieve this status. The news of a Rajini film not
faring well at the box office makes crores of people unhappy. His
illness after enthiran showed the world what hero worship is. When he
bounced back with kochadaiyaan and lingaa, Rajini's fans were the
happiest in the world. Lingaa might be a so-called flop, but...
Rajinikanth is always a hit. Yea, he is a phoenix, he is going to bounce
back again. "Poada... Aandavanae namma pakkam irukaan.."
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The off-screen person he is... Simple & Humble.
Yet, his style never vanishes! |
Many might doubt the actor within Rajinikanth. But, there
are some movies where he clears off the doubt with ease - mullum
malarum, aarilirunthu arubadhu varai are testimonies. The hidden acting
potential within him is hidden because of his fan's expectations. -
"(Signature laugh) Sivaajiyum naan thaan MGR-um naan thaan".
A Rajini movie release is a festival in tamizh naadu.
"Theatre kootamaa irunthaa aetho star padam release-u. Theatre ae
theriyaatha alavukku kootamaa irunthaa athu superstar padam release-u."
Yes, punch dialogues are nothing new to his fans. They are what he is.
He is what they are. Ruling a cinema industry for 40 long years
sustaining a huge fan base is no mean achievement.
He has become an identity for Tamil Nadu in his 40 year career, a humongous effort!
- Arun Bharathi, a member of the "Anbu saamraajyam".
P.S. - Kannuu... Ithu summa trailer thaan ma... Main picture inum nee paakalayae... Iniku kulla mudiyathu....
Article (edited) published in behindwoods - Behindwoods Article
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