It was a wide angle shot. A man dressed in rags opens a gate. He smokes a beedi. In the background comes Sruthi bedam and an offscreen voice. The man was on screen for fifteen minutes and after muttering a few apologies he left. Later he died with no one to cry for him. This was Rajnikant’s first screen appearance in 1975 in the film Apporva Raagangal directed by K Balchander. Twenty-nine years later Rajnikant still continues to excite the audience and as trade says only a Rajnikant film can break another Rajnikant film record. With imitators galore the Superstardom remains intact.

In Mundru Mudichu again by KB the film had Rajni in the role of a person who killed his friend out of jealousy. This was the first film which introduced the Rajni style of cigarette lighting and smoking. This started off the Rajni style which continues even now. KB used Rajni for negative roles like a sadist husband in Avargal or a vagabond in Thappu Thalangal. Producers cashed in his anti hero image and he got busy. SPM cast him as a man who accepted a girl with her child ditched by her lover. Devoid of any mannerisms the film clicked and it was Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri. Next was Arulirunthu Aruvathuvarai a tearjerker which was a hit. Again an SPM film. Mullum Mallarum a film by Mahendran was a smash hit.

Flooded with offers and instant stardom Rajni experienced a mental breakdown. He could not digest the stardom and was worried about losing it. He feared for the producers . He was admitted for treatment. He wanted to quit films. KB then advised him a new career strategy. He was told to accept films of only reputed banners and work with established directors. This way the burden was less on him. K Balaji came forward to produce Billa with Krishnamurthy as director. The film marked the Second Coming. Several hits notable among them was Moondru Mugham a triple role was the highest grosser..

The next phase as Superstar began with Baasha. The collections of this surpassed every film in Tamil history. From then a Rajni film turned into a project which fetched Rs 20- 30 crores. Seeing that investments were high and so also returns Rajni decided to turn producer. Now all films are produced by him. The last film of his was Baba. Though Baba is termed a flop the collections are higher than of any current hero’s film. The film faced opposition from PMK activists and Rajni style was missing in the film. Now Rajni after a long gap acts in Sivaji productions an outside banner with P Vasu who directed him in Mannan( produced by Sivaji productions) and Uzhaipalli.

Personally Rajni is a recluse but as an actor he demands very little from the producer. He does not need trailor vans nor fancy food. He sticks to just high protien diet ( only fried chicken pieces) and vegetables. He is also very devout. Earlier he used to drive his own Fiat car but now he comes in ambassador car. Even today when an announcement of a Rajni film makes the media go in a tizzy shows that `Thailvar’ continues to rule. He cannot be ignored nor forgotten.