While I was a child, my parents took me to watch one movie a year. Yes, Just one movie a year. Same goes for my cousins too…. No prizes for guessing. It used to be a Rajini movie. This was a festival to us. Like Diwali or Pongal-but way more entertaining. The epitome of his greatness is the fact that my grandmother, my mother and I are all huge fans. And I know two year old kids who love his songs. He has entertained four generations and his work would inspire many more. He definitely is the greatest entertainer this country has seen.
If you’re Tamil or grew up in Tamil Nadu, the probability that you’re a Thalaivar fan is going to be pretty high. You might love him. You might hate him. But you just can’t resist his charisma. Be it a fan or a non-Rajini fan
, each and every person has their own Rajini moment. That split second in which he steals the show and makes your heart skip a beat. His songs are the best anti depressants. He makes you laugh, cry and tells you in his own unrealistic way that all it takes is a 5 minute song to melt your sorrows away and go from rags to riches : Rajini Style. What defines the magnitude of this man has to be the fact that he doesn’t mind walking around in public without a wig-And we don’t mind him romancing 20 year olds on screen. The mutual star-fan loyalty at its peak, I must say.
, each and every person has their own Rajini moment. That split second in which he steals the show and makes your heart skip a beat. His songs are the best anti depressants. He makes you laugh, cry and tells you in his own unrealistic way that all it takes is a 5 minute song to melt your sorrows away and go from rags to riches : Rajini Style. What defines the magnitude of this man has to be the fact that he doesn’t mind walking around in public without a wig-And we don’t mind him romancing 20 year olds on screen. The mutual star-fan loyalty at its peak, I must say.
Here’s my pick of the best Thalaivar moments of all time. Those moments that gave you goosebumps/made you laugh/cry or just stayed with you even after years. My own special way of saying Happy Birthday and Thank You for everything.
12. Raja Chinna Roja Song:
You maybe a Pixar or Disney fan. But common, who doesn’t like this cute animated song that put a smile on all our faces. Made us jump up with joy, all the while teaching us a sweet lesson on morality.
Also this movie had that “Supestaru yaarunu ketta china kuzhandhayum sollum”(Even a small child knows who the super star is!) song. Remember all the colourful confetti and bombs going off in the background?!?! Made you thank God for having a colour television in those days. They’ve moved onto motion capture with Kochadaiyaan, but I think we love this song more than that entire movie xP
11. Johnny:
When you say Rajinikanth, what comes to your mind is his charisma, the way he walks, the way he talks and off course the way he runs. There have been numerous movies in which he’s made to run especially wearing a blazer. That’s got to be one of the most majestic sites.
In movies we see him run to save a temple from blowing up or to catch a snake, but my pick of his “runs” would be him running towards his ladylove- the gorgeous Sridevi in Kaatril Enthan Geetham. What a lilting Ilaiyaraja classic and Janaki’s voice haunts you forever! And Indians are a sucker for romance in the rain and the drama of cops chasing Rajini. Should I go on? This is one of those stand out moments.
In movies we see him run to save a temple from blowing up or to catch a snake, but my pick of his “runs” would be him running towards his ladylove- the gorgeous Sridevi in Kaatril Enthan Geetham. What a lilting Ilaiyaraja classic and Janaki’s voice haunts you forever! And Indians are a sucker for romance in the rain and the drama of cops chasing Rajini. Should I go on? This is one of those stand out moments.
10. Shiva Sambo:
While on the topic of songs, all of us have a favourite Rajini song. Maybe we’ve even advised/motivated our friends with a few lines from his classics. “Vetri Nitchayam” “Vetri Kodi Kattu” “Oruvan Oruvan Mudhalaali” and all these are inspirational gems.
We’ve also probably grown up listening to stories of how KB decided to cast Rajini as a male lead after his “thuru thuru” antics in Ninaithaale Innikum, a movie where he shared screen space with probably the best actor the world has ever seen. Forget overshadowing, but to even get noticed in a movie starring Kamal Haasan is a huge achievement and he managed that. Testimony to this fact is this song.
9. Thillu Mullu:
The greatest quality to be admired in Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth is their ability to don the angry-young-man and the comic caper avatars and own both these roles. This movie is a laugh riot. Yes. It is indeed a remake of a Hindi classic but this is how classics should be remade with a hint of originality.
This scene wherein Thengai Sreenivasan interviews the Superstar sets the tone for the entire film. Ably directed by the legendary KB, this movie brought to us our Thalaivar who started his career doing negative roles in a full fledged comedy performance and how he won our hearts. Aiyyampettai Arivudai Nambi Kaliaperumal Chandru, you stay in our hearts forever <3
8. Arunachalam:
Nothing gets bigger and better than a Thalaivar film. Just imagine who could’ve pulled off a premise as silly as spend 3000 crores in 30 days? And that too, in such style! High octane drama ensues when Raghuvaran brings in a sum of 20,000 to be spent in 5 minutes and surprise, surprise he manages to!!!!!
That quick wit in paying his assistant and then beating up the thugs, “Aandavan solran, Arunachalam seiran” style with the lizard in the BGM. This is one of those moments you’d rewind again and again.
7. Polladhavan:
Not the best of movies, nor the most heroic. But I fixated with its title track. I love the Rajni-SPB-Rahman combo that started from Muthu and gave us blockbuster songs one after the other. The “Naan Polladhavan” track however is a different ballgame all together.
This is raw attitude at display and the camera angles that focuses on a drunk Rajinikanth, the lyrics that personify “Who the hell gives a damn!” This is a rare gem.
I like it better than “Raaman aandalum, Raavanan aandalum” which is hailed as an arrogant man’s anthem. Pay attention to the lyrics. This is better.
This is raw attitude at display and the camera angles that focuses on a drunk Rajinikanth, the lyrics that personify “Who the hell gives a damn!” This is a rare gem.
I like it better than “Raaman aandalum, Raavanan aandalum” which is hailed as an arrogant man’s anthem. Pay attention to the lyrics. This is better.
Now we’re halfway through the list. And if you’ve persisted thus far, you surely should be wondering why I’ve not touched upon those things that make Rajini, Rajini. Thus far it has been an ode to the quirky thalaivar moments. Henceforth, let’s get down to serious fangirl business.
6. Shivaji:
The director known for his larger than life movies meets the person who defined larger than life in our country. This is what happens when a tornado meets a volcano. And sparks flew in the theatre. Be it “Singam singlah dha varum” or that “Coin Toss”, this was a pucca mass masala movie. I love that Thee Thee song, a tribute to Rajinikanth.
.jpg)
That scene where the bullet moves back on its own frightened by thalaivar stare, catches fire and falls down is sheer AWESOMENESS. You get kids to like you. That’s half the battle won. When this movie released, my then 5 year old cousin described this scene to my Mom and made her watch it. Can anyone ever beat that extent of love?
5. Moondru Mugam
“Naangellam Rajini padam posteraye moonu mani neram paapom. Moonu Rajini irundha kekava vennum”(We’d stare at a Rajini poster for three hours. Should you even ask about a movie with Rajini in a triple role!)
That walk in the police uniform. That policekaran arrogance and that epic “ Ashe kozhandha kitta poi Alex Pandian nu sonna Amma vaayayum sethu moodum”dialogue. ENOUGH SAID!
4. Thalapathi:
The movie that defined class meets mass. Thalaivar in a Kadavul(God) film. Each scene is like a piece of sculpture. Sculpted to perfection. The scene where Jayshankar tells Rajini his parentage with the sun fading in and out of his face(He was called Surya in the move if you didn’t already know).
But the scene that defined mass was that “Thodra paakalaam” scene in the police officer’s room. Thalaivar thalaiar dhaan. Also, don’t you think he looked smoking hot in this film!!!
But the scene that defined mass was that “Thodra paakalaam” scene in the police officer’s room. Thalaivar thalaiar dhaan. Also, don’t you think he looked smoking hot in this film!!!
3. Annamalai:
“nee epdi yen vita idichi….. indha naal un calendar la kurichi vachiko”
Please tell me you read that in Rajinikanth’s voice. That same way he says “epdi”. Generations of actors who are now stars in the industry have admitted that they auditioned for their movies using this monologue. Probably, the best monologue in Tamil cinema (I don’t really care for the Parashakti time monologues).
Legend goes that he did movie for a total salary of a rupee. Says a lot his devotion to his guru whose company he saved from bankruptcy due to this gesture. And he was the coolest “Paalkaran” EVER. Watch closely. He wears a pair of Reebok shoes in the song “Vandhedaan paalkaran” xP
2. Padayappa:
Everybody loves this movie. Most diehard fans would consider this to be their most favourite Rajini movie amongst his commercial films. I like this film but wouldn’t put it on the pedestal. Yes. A self obsessed arrogant female lead, wonderfully portrayed by a super awesome Ramya Krishnan. But, come to think of it, all Rajini does in this movie is keep her at bay when she plays him like an instrument. Or that’s how I saw it.
Being a feminist, thalaivar telling a woman her place isn’t my favourite form of art.
Being a feminist, thalaivar telling a woman her place isn’t my favourite form of art.
Having said that, “the oonjal scene” in this movie has got to be one the most heroic Rajini moments of all time. Followed by the, “Koodave porandhadhu eppovum pogadhu” dialogue. The salute. Style Quotient =BIG WIN.
*drum rolls please*
1.Baasha:
This is the Bible of anyone who wants to make a mass masala movie that doesn’t insult the intelligence of the audience. The intermission scene has got to be the best intermission ever written in the history of Indian cinema. That lamb like auto driver transforms into a lion. From that classic “Ulle po” to that turn, stare, beat up all the thugs. I’ve seen this movie 37 times till date and make it a point to see it on every birthday. I still remember my parents taking me to this movie and considering I’d have just started school then, this is an example of subconscious love, awe and respect.
No matter the number of times, my heart still skips a beat when he pulls that pipe out of the ground and says, “Oru dhadava sonna, nooru dhadava sonna madhiri” in the movie for the first time. This movie was India’s ode to organized crime, in all its swag. Blazers, sunglasses in the night and autodrivers wearing Nike. “Orey oru Baasha dha oorkellam”(Only one king to rule all the cities) And that would be Thalaivar forever.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
My own way of paying my respects, love and admiration.
