Why do we love Rajini?

Rajinikanth, has been ruling the Tamil film world for the past three decades and at sixty years of age, even after becoming a grandpa, he is going stronger than ever. He still remains as the young, stylist, action hero who thrashes tens of villains at a single punch of his powerful arm. He still runs around the trees with women of age young enough to be his daughters. In the last movie Enthiran he romanced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan while in the movie Rana on shoot, he has Deepika Padukone as his pair.


But though we want him to be a super human always, he is also after all a human. Rajini is now recuperating in a Singapore hospital after a sudden kidney ailment. His sudden illness caught his fans off guard as they are readying themselves for a next grand celebration while his movie Rana comes to Screen. Rajini was admitted in hospital on the first day of shooting of Rana.


"I am recovering, my fans. Thanks for your prayers. I shall continue to entertain you'' -Rajini wrote from the hospital bed in Singapore to his fans. The world knows how Rajini has a magical sway on his fans in Tamil Nadu. It is not only in films, Rajini's word has played key roles in determining change of rules in the state.


''In the last assembly elections, He voted openly for AIADMK and allowed that to be captured in the television cameras. The news went to all of his fans. This was a symbolic gesture to fans to vote for AIADMK. This was one of the reasons for DMK to lose", said Thol.Thirumavalavan, the president of Viduthalai Chiruthaikal party. This is the testimony to the enormous power wielded by Rajini. His party, aligned with DMK, lost badly in the just concluded assembly elections.


But on the same day evening after he allegedly voted for AIADMK, he was seen watching a preview of Ponnar Sankar, a film penned by Karunanidhi sitting near to him. An unbelievable scene indeed, given the loaded political environment in the state.


In the last five years of DMK's rule, Rajini was seen very close to Karunanidhi, never missing a single opportunity to be with him. At the same time, Rajini who lives in a bungalow next to Jayalalithaa's residence in the Poes garden of Chennai, has maintained friendship with the powerful neighbour.


After recovery, Rajini made the first call from Singapore to Jayalalithaa to congratulate her on her victory. The press release from the AIADMK claimed that Rajini told Jayalalithaa that she had saved Tamil Nadu by her victory. This carefully worded statement has a deep connotations as Rajini himself famously said in 1996: ''If Jayalalithaa comes to power next time, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu.”


When this press release was debated in the political circles, the next day a press release from the DMK claimed that Rajini telephoned Karunanidhi and inquired about his health.


How is Rajini at ease with both the leaders?


The reason lies in the biggest reputation Rajini enjoys in the Tamil society transcending age, politics and caste divisions. So all bigwigs in the public life wants to show that they are close to him.


A careful look at the career graph of Rajini may unlock the mysterious sway he has on the Tamils. In 1975, August Rajinikanth's first film Apoorva Ragankal was released. In this movie directed by K Balachander, Rajini was not a hero. It was a small but important role. For the next five years, Rajini acted in every kind of role, not waiting for Hero characters. He was mostly in negative villain roles. He acted as thief, gangster, village goon, drunkard and every negative role possible. But what he strictly followed was his unique style, mannerisms and dialogue deliveries which were keenly followed by the fans.


After few years only, Rajini got his star status. When Amitabh was the angry young man in Hindi cinema, Rajini took Amitabh's roles in Tamil and became an instant hit. In the following years, he became the 'Superstar'. Then in the nineties, he carefully cultivated his image choosing the stories with protagonists from the subaltern class which appealed to the different sections of the society. Meanwhile, he transformed himself from a macho man to a simple hero who can effortlessly do comic roles too which made him close to the children. His films like Anpulla Rajinikanth and Raja Chinna Roja came out aiming children and received well.


While his popularity has grown to new heights, Rajini started to show interest in religion. He often visits the Himalayas in simple Saffron garbs. His wearing of Rudraksha, his reading of philosophical books, his philosophical punch dialogues and his public speeches peppered with philosophical stories- all have given Rajinikanth an extra glow over his head.


A biggest turning point happened in 1995 in the form of a public spat with Jayalalithaa, the then CM, which pushed him beyond the boundaries of film goers and his fans to the common people. In the function to celebrate the victory of his film 'Badsha', he criticised Jayalalithaa for her misrule, which instantly gave him a much needed political face. In the run up to the assembly elections in 1996, Narasimha Rao, the then prime minister reportedly offered him the chief ministership of Tamil Nadu if he join hands with the Congress. But he refused. Instead he gave his voice for DMK- Tamil Manila Congress alliance which emerged as winner.


Following this, his fans and well-wishers are continuously appealing to him to enter into politics. He is always evasive. '' When and how I will come, nobody knows. But I will come in the right time”-This is his famous punch dialogue that keeps his fans always on the toes.


While his fans are still expecting his entry, Rajini has grown off the limits of Tamil cinema lately with his recent films like Muthu, Padayappa. Now he has a huge fan clubs in Japan. In the US and European countries, the Tamil Diaspora makes it as a big event when his films are released.


His latest film Enthiran, simultaneously dubbed in to Telugu and Hindi, had a budget of 150 crores, which made it the costliest film in India. This was simultaneously released into 2,500 screens worldwide.


Though Rajini is a Maharashtrian from Karnataka, he is being liked by three generations of Tamils across the state.


''May be some aspects of Tamil aesthetics is strongly imbibed in the image of Rajinikanth which made him very popular. It may be his black complexion or his unique mannerisms or may be some trait yet unknown,” said Shanmugaraja, actor and an alumni of National School of Drama, New Delhi.


Rajini, though a superstar, has had his much hyped films bombed only to give a super hit next time. Likewise, though he has a superhuman image, he too became ill now. Only to bounce back, very soon, may be stronger than ever.