Yet another living person is celebrating his birthday today. Actually an entire industry - the entertainment industry is celebrating his birthday today. His birthday is a monetizing event for agencies. Hundreds of people work to celebrate his birthday. In that sense he has created jobs every year. The whole industry looks to him when he makes a statement. Who is he? Where did he come from? How is he doing all this? There are several questions like this and trying to find answers to these questions would lead me to write a book on him. But, I cannot do it right now coz I am hungry and I am going to fill my stomach. So, I re-post what I had previously written.
According to Dictionaries, Superstar mean;
1. A widely acclaimed star, as in movies or sports, who has great popular appeal.
2. One that is extremely popular or prominent or that is a major attraction.
• noun an extremely famous and successful performer or sports player
A widely acclaimed celebrity, such as a star of motion pictures or music, who has great popular appeal and is prominent, or who is a major attraction. These celebrities may include actors, actresses, musicians and athletes.
For the people in Tamilnadu, a southern state in India, Superstar means one single person - rajinikanth. Rajinikanth is not the real name of that person, still if u ask anyone in the state "Who is superstar?", there will be a prompt answer. I am actually trying to understand how this unreal name of that person has become almost a household name. I will be using both the names Superstar and Rajinikanth exchangingly because I too hail from Tamilnadu, the state which knows Superstar means Rajinikanth & Rajinikanth means Superstar.
Rajinikanth is a cine star in Tamilnadu for over 25 years. He has a huge fan following which almost considers him as demigod. His potrayal in films was of an angry man fighting for justice, standing up for honesty, devotional son to mother, honest lover boy, affectionate brother mostly. He was doing the same kind of roles for 25 yrs. That was a reel image of his, which has gained him such admiration from his fans.
I am also doing the same kind of activities, same thought process for past 15 yrs.
Ok..Ok.. Cool down.. Was jus kidding..
BTW, apart from his reel life, he is admired by the industry people much as like as his fans. Now, he acts in 1 movie in a year or two. Still, that movie will be the biggest hit in the box-office in the history of Tamil Cinema. Rajinikanth himself has returned the losses occurred to the distributors who had immense faith in his films. He has also acted in few films without any remuneration.
I am a die-hard fan of his characters in films. On his real life I like the simplicity, respect and his style in doing things. One of my friend had a experience working with him closely during Baba. He is usually humourous in sets and keeps everyone cool everytime, a keen lover of solitude, does not expect hi-fi provisions for his proceedings and so on.
Superstar after his tenure of 25 yrs in the Cine Industry attributed his success to co-star Kamal Haasan saying "If u think I am successful in the field for all these years, its all because of Kamal". He uttered this statement in front of over 10000 people on stage. I dont think no other big shot will rememeber the good old days. Such is his modesty. As his dialogue in a movie goes "I do what I say, I say what I do", he is a man of deeds.
All the above mentioned characteristics of his are not to highlight the traits of the person. All these are the base behind the charm, a brand called Superstar. Its a brand now. A trustable, lovable, admirable brand.
"Superstar yaarnu kaetta, Chinna kozhandaiyum sollum"
This recent photograph of Rajinikanth inspired me much to write this article.
He is seen enjoying a speech on stage during the release of Ilaiyaraja's Thiruvaasagam.
This is a modification done to facilitate the transporatation of materials for laying BG track between Salem-Attur-Virudhachalam in Tamilnadu. This lorry on rails reaches with ballasts to places where normal lorries cant reach.
