Hail Mr. Gaekwad !
What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘Kollywood’. For the Non South Indians it’s a joke. You think weird colorful outfits, voluptuous item song dancers and poorly directed, humongously exaggerated action sequences. But for a South Indian, it’s a world of its own,.
I’m no different! Born and brought up in the North and in spite of being a tamilian by origin, I have mocked the lungi clad men, the bedizened, flower adorned women and not to mention the movies. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I’ll land up in the place I detested, and hell watch God forsaken tamil movies. Well living in Chennai for 7 years now, things’ve changed.
Its sad how I’d come to alienate my own origins.
Anyways coming to the movies, I hated everything about them, the songs, the plots, the actors, the whole ensemble. Can you blame me? They are ridiculously hilarious. Have you noticed how every actor has a prefix that is now a part of their name, superstar, megastar, littlestar, phuleeease. And how the introduction scenes for the main protagonist have to be exaggerated, comedians who have nothing to do with the plot are used as reel fillers and the sans logic plots. But the thing that got me the most was the fan following. How crazy can people possibly get? It’s almost as good as worship.
It usually got crazier around one man who goes by the name Shivaji Rao Gaekwad alias Superstar Rajnikanth. (the ‘Superstar’ is important, mind it) I mean people who are absolutely in no way related to him would be willing to kill for him. I am not exaggerating this. Walk into any theater in the south running a Rajni film (irrespective of whether its a new release or an old one) and you’ll know what I mean.
I still don’t know what the fans see in him, however he’s grown on me the last few years. One thing I’ve learnt is that he is not touted as the most popular Indian film actor of his time for nothing.
Over a 170 films old, there is absolutely nothing that deters this 60 year old. I don’t know him personally, but when you see him at events, interviews or functions, he comes across as a really humble man. You can’t miss it. Now this man is extremely famous for his patent dialogues, trademark mannerisms or style; people just can’t get enough of it. Frankly I find it really funny. He is probably the only male actor who wears more makeup than any of his leading actresses. He often jokes about it himself.
But then it got me thinking… This man is not obsessed with his looks; his fans are. Pull him out of the frame and the facade is off. He looks shocking, but otherwise a typical 60 year old grandfather and is least bothered. The makeup is for the fans. They need to see him 20 years younger. They need to hear as the locals call it punch dialogues. They need to see the trademark cigarette trick in every movie and the larger than life characterizations. He needs to maintain the onscreen image for them and the best part is that he lets it remain as an on onscreen image. He is aware of how unreal it really is. He is aware that he is not drop dead gorgeous, he knows he is too old to be romancing Aishwarya and how ridiculous the action sequences are. That’s probably why I’ve a new found respect for the object of my mockery. He KNOWS and is humble enough to admit it in front of the media. Now that is not a common sight.
All said and done, he is what he is today for what he does best and that is Entertaining. He is one man who redefined the term ENTERTAINMENT. Critics probably don’t even find him or his films worthy of mention, but he is one man who can still hold his own any day and that is the mark of a true legend.
He created a style and it clicked. People liked it, they still do and want more. So why blame him for choosing to continue entertaining his fans? Isn’t that why we watch movies in the first place. We have life teaching us enough lessons otherwise.
I have watched only 3 of his films. But might watch more just to let him surprise me again.
Watch this. It is funny 
See what I mean
Karen Xavier said,
September 20, 2010 at 1:01 pm
I rarely watch hindi / tamil movies and never watch Rajni’s movies… don’t really like him or his movies and I don’t know what people see in him. The video was pretty funny though, he’s a good human being from what I’ve heard… but I wouldn’t voluntary watch any of his movies. I would rather watch a Kamal Hassan movie… very choosy when it comes to movies in general. Nice post though… you’ve touched upon his crazy fan base, gotta hand it to the man… he’s one whose star power is unparalleled in this world.