Chennai, Aug 14 (PTI) Firecrackers, drums, sweets, confetti, cake, and milk. Fans of the legendary Rajinikanth celebrated with full fervor on Thursday, marking the 50th anniversary of their adored superstar and the release of his latest film, "Coolie."
Rajinikanth made his debut with K Balachander’s Tamil film "Apoorva Raagangal," released on August 15, 1975, alongside stars like Kamal Haasan, Sunddarrajan, Srividya, and Jayasudha.
"Celebrating 50 years of cinematic excellence, my dear friend Rajinikanth marks a significant milestone today," said a prominent admirer. Theaters across the state, packed with fervent fans, witnessed crowds eager to see the superstar's latest portrayal of a coolie who takes on villains in his signature style, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
At Chennai’s Rohini theatres, fans erupted with joy as they celebrated the film’s release, showering the venue with colorful confetti and breaking into energetic dances to the beat of dhol, turning the venue into a festival.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reportedly enjoyed a special screening of the movie, produced by Sun Pictures, on Wednesday. "Thank you so much for your wishes and love for #Coolie sir," Lokesh Kanagaraj expressed in a social media post.
Among the Tamil cinema stars who watched the film on its release day were Dhanush and Sivakarthikeyan. A fan after watching the first day, first show remarked, "When Thalaivar appears on screen, that’s enough. Lokesh Kanagaraj's direction is commendable, and Nagarjuna's performance is extraordinary." Another ardent fan praised, "The movie was impressive, especially the climax scenes. It maintained its pace without any lags. Anirudh, as always, delivered remarkable music." In Thanjavur, large crowds gathered outside Vijaya Theatre and eight other spots. Fans also orchestrated a procession, chanting “Long live Rajinikanth.”
A celebratory cake marked Rajinikanth’s 50 years in cinema, while the superstar's cutout was honored with rituals, including pouring milk over it, lighting lamps, breaking coconuts, and setting off firecrackers. Sweets were distributed, and devotees offered prayers to the towering cutout of their beloved star.
In Karnataka, similar fanfare was witnessed. In Bengaluru, fans thronged Mukunda Theatre for the first show. Early hours saw an electrifying atmosphere, with Thalaivar banners fluttering, paper showers in the sky, and jubilant crowds hailing him as their unrivaled superstar. A fan enthusiastically claimed, "This is the most anticipated movie. Rajini fans in Bengaluru are on a different excitement level. This movie promises a record-breaking opening."
Another cinegoer passionately shared, "I've cherished Thalaivar for 30 years, ever since school days. I was involved in putting up banners at all theaters and now, I'm here for the movie.""I'm fifty, the same as Thalaivar's cinematic journey. Rajini is my inspiration," commented a dedicated fan. "He's the quintessential superstar. To surpass him, another superstar has to be born." Filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj, who collaborated with Rajinikanth for the 2019 hit "Petta," was among those in attendance for "Coolie." "It's always a joy seeing Rajini sir on the big screen," he told PTI.
"Coolie" is Rajinikanth's first collaboration with Lokesh Kanagaraj, the mind behind blockbusters like Karthi’s "Kaithi," Vijay’s "Master" and "Leo," and Kamal Haasan’s "Vikram." The film features Rajinikanth in the titular role as a coolie standing against a corrupt syndicate that exploits his former colleagues in a port town.
The movie stars a powerful lineup, including Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Sathyaraj, with Nagarjuna portraying the antagonist and Aamir Khan making a special appearance. "Coolie" marks Rajinikanth's 171st film as a lead actor, coming 50 years after "Apoorva Raagangal," in which he had a minor role alongside Kamal Haasan and others.
Born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad on December 12, 1950, in Bengaluru, Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor before enrolling at the Madras Film Institute for acting. In Chennai, filmmaker Balachander spotted him and cast him in "Apoorva Raagangal." During his early career, he mostly played negative and supporting roles in films like "Moondru Mudichu" (1976), "Avargal" (1977), and "16 Vayathinile" (1977).
The 1980s transformed Rajinikanth into a mass hero, starting with "Billa," a remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s "Don," which became a game-changer, fortifying his stylish on-screen persona, followed by successes in movies like "Murattu Kaalai" (1980), "Thillu Mullu" (1981), "Moondru Mugam" (1982), "Paayum Puli" (1983), and "Nallavanukku Nallavan" (1984).
He also enjoyed popularity in Hindi cinema with films such as "Andhaa Kaanoon" (1983), "Giraftaar" (1985), "Chaalbaaz" (1989), "Hum" (1991), and "Bulandi" (2000), giving him pan-India appeal.
After a brief break following 2002's "Baba," which did poorly at the box office, Rajinikanth made a grand comeback with 2005's "Chandramukhi." In 2007, he featured in Shankar's "Sivaji," setting new box office records and reportedly becoming the highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan. He re-teamed with Shankar in 2010 for "Enthiran," playing the dual role of scientist Vaseegaran and his creation, the robot Chitti.
In the 2010s, he starred in movies like "Lingaa," "Kabali," "Kaala," and "Petta." His 2023 film "Jailer" was a box office juggernaut, grossing over Rs 600 crore globally. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the action-comedy presented a more subdued yet compelling performance, appealing to both younger viewers and long-time fans.
In his illustrious five-decade career, Rajinikanth has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan (2000), Padma Vibhushan (2016), and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2019).
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