25 Years of Superstar Rajinikanth's 'Muthu' - A classic film turned into a commercial blockbuster
- IndiaGlitz, [Friday,October 23 2020]
Today (23rd October) marks the 25th anniversary of one of Superstar Rajinikanth's biggest blockbuster films 'Muthu' directed by K.S. Ravikumar. The film has Meena as the heroine while Sarath Babu, Subhashri, Radha Ravi, Raghuvaran, Jayabharathi, Kandhimathi and Vadivelu played important characters.
'Muthu' was based on an emotional classic Malayalam film 'Thenmavin Kombathu' directed by Priyadarshan and starring Mohan Lal, Shobhana and Nedumudi Venu. The theme of the film is that a big landlord treats his servant as a friend but their friendship is spoiled after both fall in love with a street play actress.
Rajini impressed by the film asked K.S. Ravikumar to write the script but forbid him to watch the original. When the final screenplay came up everyone were surprised that only the core theme was taken from 'Thenmavin Kombathu' and the film completely different with heavy commercial values. Especially the elderly Rajinikanth's role in the film was not there in the original but added a strong element of power to the Tamil version.
Rajini then decided that his mentor K. Balachander produce the film under the title 'Muthu' and history was made as audiences enjoyed the perfect masala mix of comedy, romance, sentiments, acting of Rajini in dual roles) and most importantly the hit album of A.R. Rahman in his first collaboration with Rajini.
Even after twenty-five years 'Muthu' continues to figure in the top five of any Rajini's fan's list of favorite Thalaivar movies and it continues to be an example for how a commercial entertainer should be made.