When Rajini’s last film Petta released, my little son was as excited as I was. He was trying to ape Thalaivar, even as I was trying to get FDFS tickets. That’s Rajinikanth for you.
I’ve been a regular to most of his films first-day-first-show and been a fan of his since the days of Mullum Malarum. That released in 1978, and I’ve changed so much as a person since then. But one thing hasn’t changed: I continue to be a huge Rajinikanth fan.
My biggest moment in life was when I got a chance to meet him once, just after the release of Kabali. The first thing he asked me was, “Did your family like the film?” I was taken aback. Here was a man who knew his market well; he knew that for a film to become a blockbuster, it had to appeal to all age groups. Rajinikanth has that I’m-one-among-you vibe that fans can instantly relate to.
We now have Ajith and Vijay ruling the box-office. But Rajinikanth is still the Boss. The frenzy over tickets for Petta and 2.0 proves that. Just wait for Darbar, his next film. People say Kamal Haasan is the better actor, but Rajini has proved his histrionic skills as well. Mullum Malarum and Annamalai are all-time favourites. Rajinikanth gives you the sort of goosebumps that no other actor can.
— Sathyanarayanan N is a finance professional who can have hour-long conversations over Tamil films
I was 10 when my uncle took me to a theatre in Chidambaram to watch Aalavandhan. I loved the bald ‘Nandu’ character, and since then, have been smitten by Kamal Haasan. He is different from every actor that Kollywood has produced because he attempts things that no one has. Sometimes, I feel that he thinks, ‘Adi pattalum paravala, ezhundu oduven’ (“Even if I get hurt, I’ll get up and run”).
Tell me, how many other actors can claim to be an all-rounder? Kamal is one. He can write, direct and...sing! My favourite song of his is ‘Pottu Vaitha Kadhal’; it’s set in a pitch that even established singers would find difficult to scale.
I’ve been educated more by watching Kamal films than studying. I heard the word ‘tsunami’ for the first time in his film (Anbe Sivam); this was many years before it struck our shores. I heard about Ebola virus in Dasavatharam. Of course, our Ulaga Nayagan will not take any credit for these, and he’s awesome like that.
My all-time favourite Kamal film is Virumaandi, because of how it spoke about life sentence. Though he’s today entered politics, I feel cinema will never leave him. I wish he keeps acting!
— Sundaravelu B, works in IT
and is mostly staring at a monitor that has, well, a Kamal Haasan wallpaper