I was really elated to have my article published in visitors' column, but was a little sad to see the point having been misinterpreted by most readers as attacking other actors. In that I had mentioned that I hoped Suriya the actor did not suffer like Rajini the actor. Here's why i felt so.
I belong to the third generation of Rajini movie lovers. I grew up in the 90s when the superstar was churning out superhits after superhits, every film breaking the collection records set by the previous. But for some reason I found my dad not enjoying any of his films. At first i thought he was a Kamal fan (Which he definitely is) and didn't like Rajini ,until i got to watch chandramukhi in 2005 with my whole extended family in coimbatore. I saw my dad sitting there with a rather cynical outlook of Rajini films (This was just the third time my dad saw a movie in a theatre in 19 years of my lifetime then). I was thoroughly enjoying the fan reactions, the aura etc etc of the star and his style. After the movie, I happened to ask my dad how he liked it, for which he replied, he saw the Rajini he loved in 'vettaiyan raja'! The arrogance, the cunning looks, the 'devil may care' attitude and the irritable feel he gave the female audience. I was rather shocked to hear any thing positive about Rajini from my dad's mouth! He then told me how he liked the bad man act of the brilliant 'actor' that Rajini was even in his earlier days. MyEndhiran
mom also joined my dad in praising Rajini's acting, stating how Rajini's villain roles used to churn the stomach of girls and irritate them during her college days! I was left thinking how come no more fodder was being given to such an actor who was only repeating his act in innumerable movies! Cut to 2010, recently i saw the Rajini movies that released before i was born. I was awestruck at the personality he changed into in some of his movies. The Netrikkan Rajini (father role) was mind blowing.Right from the opening song, the heavy headed millionaire, to the shameless womanizer,to the scenes he's irritated by his son and daughter in law, he was absolutely brilliant. Playing villain looked so easy! So were the roles portrayed in Aval Appadithan, Moondru Mudichu, Ilamai oonjal aaduthu.Each role was a gem, and he was 'Au naturale'. His comic timing in Thillumullu, Ninaithale inikkum, etc were impeccable. in fact, he stole the show right under kamal's nose in some of the scenes! Imagine doing that to such an actor of calibre, even back then. I felt really bad for my generation considering the crap movies we grew up watching compared to my dad's generation and was really angry on my uncle's generation to have encouraged a genre of mindless movies which such a brilliant actor succumbed to!
Sadly, Rajini has ended up creating a larger than life image for himself as he strayed into a 'one way' stardom, somewhere losing the brilliant actor in him on the way! Here's hoping to see Rajini- in all his brilliance playing a role with shades of grey in endhiran. I would like to wind up with a famous Kamal dialogue from Devar magan which goes like 'Unakulla muzhichittirukkura mirugam dhaan enakkulla thoongittu irukku'. As far as I'm concerned, Rajini must atleast now be given his due fodder in acting. Avarukulla irukkura andha mirugatha yaaraavadhu thatti ezhuppanum!
Cheers and Best Regards
Yashwanth C Shekhar
yashwanthcshekhar@gmail.com
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