A red letter day for millions of Rajini fans

July 13 was a red letter day for millions of Rajinikant fans all over the globe fot it was on that day that a star was literally reborn. It was on this day last year when Rajinikant landed in Chennai airport after undergoing over a month’s treatment for his reported kidney ailment.

The day had been celebrated like a carnival at the airport. Sporting T-shirts embossed with the actor’s images, fans from across the state had danced with joy, as bands played various musical hits of the matinee idol.

In April 2011, the 61-year-old actor had been hospitalised after he complained of exhaustion on the first day of shoot for his movie Rana. He was hospitalised twice at SRMH for treatment of allergic bronchitis and high fever after which he flew to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital and was reportedly treated for acute renal problems.

On Thursday the Sivaji star completed his daughter Soundarya’s magnum opus Kochadaiyaan, which is in the post-production stage and is gearing up for release as a birthday gift to his fans. Apparently, the actor had acknowledged earlier to his fans that “there was money, science, healthcare and the world’s best doctors on one side. But it was the love, prayers and pujas that were performed on the other side by fans which saved my life”.

To mark the first anniversary of Baasha’s return, fans from all over the state are performing special pujas and undertaking annadhanam at various temples, churches and mosques like Thiruverkadu, Velainkanni, Nagerkovil and Chidambaram.

“Though my thalaivar was given world-class treatment, it was his self-confidence and devotion to God which saved his life,” said Sundar who runs a dedicated website, Onlysuperstar.com. Sundar is doing special pujas at the Tirupati Balaji temple in Chennai and distributing food to the poor. Some have even planned to tonsure their heads Friday at various shrines.

“It was as if the whole world was praying for one person,” remarked Lata Rajinikant .
“Life should have challenge. It will not be rosy always. Ups and downs are very common. I don’t wish that one should go and seek trouble, but one has to face it and should not get distressed.

But, yes, there should be thrills and frills in one’s life. Only then you will have an interesting story to tell to your future generations and grandchildren at a later stage,” that was the superstar’s message to everyone at his first public function after the ordeal.