Mustard is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. This philosophy suits best to Rajinikanth more than anyone. What was an Abaswaram in 1975 has grown to be a most beautiful, harmonious and melodious ragam in 2010.
Super Star Rajinikanth is no less than a phenomenon now. The era of Rajinikanth is one of the most determining years. What can you say of a man who was introduced in a minor role among stalwarts and later becomes a one man industry himself?
He is Rajinikanth, the true blue star who speaks only with successes. He transcends borders and captures hearts like no Indian actor ever could. His films are carnivals not just in the Americas but also across Australasia.
When Shivaji Rao Gaikwad became Rajinikanth except his mentor K. Balachander no one thought the terminally ill patient in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ will one day become an enduring ‘Endhiran’. If you look back the climb to super stardom was neither planned nor influenced. Rajinikanth became Super Star on merits and the glory just came searching for him.
If look at the initial years of Rajinikanth, he never worked aiming for super stardom. All he wanted was good roles that too negative roles that will make him clutter breaker. The man who understood the real Rajinikanth gave him some scintillating negative characters in films like Moondru Mudichu, Avargal and Antuleni Katha (Telugu) which set Rajini apart from the ordinary. In fact Rajini is the first ever villain in Tamil cinema who commanded applause. A cigarette or a sunglass, any property behaved differently when it was handled by the style king.
The style king was evolving as a star. For a new comer in 1975 who did 6 films in 1976 doing 15 films 1977 is nothing but paranormal. That means Rajini has been growing by over 300% every year. Films like Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri, 16 Vayathinile, Gayathri, Aayiram Janmangal and Mangudi Minor built on the fact that Rajinikanth is no ordinary star.
His meteoric rise got him the first solo hero role in ‘Bairavi’. It was in this film Rajini was addressed as Super Star for the first time. Kalaipuli Thanu who was the distributor of ‘Bairavi’ advertised him as the Super Star. The title was realistic and it stayed.
By this time Rajini was able to dictate good films. Films like Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu, Mullum Malarum, Priya and Ninaithale Inikkum showed Rajini with style and substance. Thai Meethu Sathiyam made Rajini enter the camp of Devar Films which was constructed by MGR. When Dharmayutham happened Rajini took a conscious decision of reducing style and concentrate more on his action.
The style king became an actor with Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai. Billa which came in January 1980 established Rajini as the box office king. Murattukalai which released in December 1980 redefined the rules of commercial cinema and set new trends for others. The in between release ‘Netrikan’ trumpeted Rajini is one of the finest wholesome actors of Tamil cinema. The emperor of Tamil cinema has taken his position.
After 80s Rajini became a one man industry. He was the first choice of the biggest production
Houses and was a dream of all. Although he did films for the iconic banners he never failed to prove his individuality. Thillu Mullu, Pokkiri Raja, Puthukavithai, Engeyo Ketta Kural, Moondru Mugam, Nallavanukku Nallavan, Thambikku Entha Ooru are all made by profit inclined studios but they also happened to be some of the best films of the Super Star.
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