Topic started by Srini (@ 1cust18.tnt2.sfo3.da.uu.net) on Sat Dec 13 18:02:22 EST 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Rajnikanth was born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1949 in Karnataka. He was a bus conductor with KSRTC and used to impress the commuters with his unique style. He wanted to be an actor and so, moved to Madras and joined the film institute. It was here that K. Balachander, the well known director of the Tamil film industry noticed him and offered him a small role - as the husband of Srividya - in Apoorva Raagangal.

Since then, there was no turning back for this gifted actor. His fan following grew immensely and his fame to success was bigger than anyone could ever imagine!

Rajnikanth soon graduated to playing villain roles. Be it the sadistic husband of Sujatha in Avargal, the villain in Moondru Mudichu or the village rowdy in Bharathiraja's 16 Vayadhinile, Rajnikanth was the kind of villain that people loved to hate! From here, it was a long journey, playing the anti-hero and finally, the hero in Bhairavi.

Rajnikanth slowly became an indispensable part of commercial cinema and in between he also did some meaningful scripts in films like Mullum Malarum, Aval Appadithan and Buvana Oru Kelvikuri. But the fans had already branded him as a firebrand action-hero and he had to stick to his image.

Director Rajasekhar dared to tap the comedy potential in Rajnikanth with Thambikku Endha Ooru, which saw Rajni balance the action and the comedy sequences with equal ease. The film went on to become a huge blockbuster and soon films in such action-comedy genre like Nallavanukku Nallavan, Pokkiri Raja, Murattu Kaalai came his way.

All these were mega-hits and consolidated his status as the number one crowd puller in Tamil movies. There was a brief lull when the much-hyped Maaveeran, his own production, flopped at the box-office. But then came Padikkadhaavan, one of his biggest hits. In his next production Valli, Rajni gave all major responsibilities, including direction, to newcomers while playing a cameo role himself. The movie was received well both critically and commercially.

But it was Annamalai, in which he subtly hinted about his plans to enter politics, that made him a superstar. Rajnikanth frequently denied his political ambitions but the political overtones in the dialogues in movies like Uzhaippaali and Yejamaan did nothing to quell the rumours.

As the elections neared, he directly came out against the then CM, thundering that his only goal was to see her removed from office. The undisputed king of Kollywood changed the course of the 1996 assembly elections in Tamilnadu with his televised plea to the electorate to pick the DMK-TMC combine.

He preferred to be a kingmaker rather than a king! Who can forget his famous TV one liner- "Not even God can save Tamilnadu if she is elected!"

Rajnikanth has acted over 150 films in many languages (including one in English- Blood stone) in a career spanning 27 years. Rajnikanth's last three movies, before Baba - Padayappa, Muthu and Badshah collectively brought in over Rs 50 crore, of these Padayappa alone is estimated to have brought in Rs 27 crore, from theatrical rights.

But the box-office ‘Badshah’ has a king-sized heart or was it just a big match investor? It was a brilliant career move when Rajni gifted cheques totaling a reportedly Rs 18 crore to 110 exhibitors and 10 distributors compensating them for the losses suffered due to Baba's bombing at the box-office.

The secret of Rajnikanth's brand-appeal remains a mystery: it could be his more-eccentric-than-eccentric gestures (an early one was to throw up a cigarette and catch it between his lips); it could be his staccato dialogue delivery peppered with more one liners than Terninator 2 or it could be the campy storyline of his movies. Whatever the reason, Rajnikanth still remains the ultimate superstar of south. Rajnikanth loves to keep his audience in suspense. Every time he does a film he takes along break leaving his fans to ask- "What’s next? And when?"

Responses:

• From: Srini (@ 1cust18.tnt2.sfo3.da.uu.net) on: Sat Dec 13 18:03:43 EST 2003
  
  The news found at:
  http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=13332580
  
  Rajini is the ultimate superstar of tamil films. He is really great.
  
  
• From: joseph (@ 203.199.109.152) on: Mon Dec 22 13:05:57 EST 2003
  
  Rajinikanth is not a great person but the greatest of all great person. I used to hate him thinking that no black person could become a hero in film industry. But truly i was wrong, he has proved that a black person is far better than a white. His followers like vijayakanth, parthiban, murali, vijay , also the present hat-trick hit hero silambarasan etc., all are black and also great. Rajinikanth is not only keeps the audience in suspence but also keeps in good-track the polititians.
  
  
• From: marshal (@ ) on: Thu Apr 15 07:13:53
  
  i need rajini's emailaddress
  by marshal
  
  
• From: Raghu (@ 193.129.245.198) on: Thu Apr 15 13:13:05 EDT 2004
  
  just recently, I have seen Super*'s 'Thillu Mullu', superb comedy, excellent movie!
  
  Super* was extremley funny in that movie :))
  
  
• From: Surya (@ adsl-64-166-143-81.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net) on: Thu Apr 15 18:57:25 EDT 2004
  
  On Saturday, April 10th. Our Thalaivar Super Star Rajinikanth had a press meet, where he announced that his vote was for the Barathiya Janata Party. (BJP)
  
  
• From: geno (@ 61.2.225.232) on: Fri Apr 16 19:06:58 EDT 2004
  
  Rajini's "Innocent & MR. Clean" Lies are Exposed
  ======================================================
  
  Barathiraaja and all other ADMK actors openly abused and denigrated Rajinikanth during the Neyveli pOrAttam in oct. 2002.
  
  
  Infact Rajini's 'uruva pommaikaL' were burnt all over thamizhnaadu during that period - some spontaneously and some under ADMK's sponsorship!..
  
  Rajini's fans know all these stuff for sure.
  
  And many ADMK ministers and speakers have said far worse things about rajini than what is being attributed to Dr. Ramadoss.
  
  And right from 1990 - rajini has been personally haressed by JJ and ADMK - which Rajini vented out thru his films from that period.
  
  Now Rajini's fans if they wanted to oppose - PMK's candidates in this election - fine by me.
  
  But, PMK is contesting in Tindivanam, Pondicherry, Vanthavaasi, Arakkonam, Dharmapuri and Chidambaram...
  
  Where do you see 'Madurai' in this list???
  
  They should have tried to show 'black flag' in those constitiencies -which would be justifiable but what was the need to show black flag in a distant place??
  
  It simply means that rajini's fans intended to raise unnecessary pandemonium to harass the DMK-front.
  
  Now - after Election Commission's strict orders - police have arrested Rajinis fans for showing black flag in an area under sec.144 (prohibitory orders) where - in the first place none should have protested at all!!!
  
  Rajini's fans
  
  1. DID NOT have police permission to show black flag
  
  2. violated sec. 144 by unlawfully assembling in a public place prohibited.
  
  3. unnecessarily protested in a NON-PMK constitueny
  
  4. It is CLEAR that the ADMK and the Local Police were involved in the protest drama and the subsequent lathi-charge
  
  If Rajini is opposing PMK only in those 6 constituenciews then what were those fans doig in Madurai???
  
  Either Rajinikanth should start a new party (or) he should join in the BJP - which he naturally aligns with - what all with his "sAmiyAr" conncections - and the 'brahmanical' connections.
  
  I am in no way supporting either ramadoss or condemining rajini - but i would like Rajini's Fans to think about the "Social Dynamics" involved in this issue - rather than being taken for a ride.
  
  If Rajini HATES "oozhal"(corruption) and "vannmuRai"(Violence) -
  
  What is he doing by voting for ADMK - in CENTRAL MADRAS - his residing constituency in chennai???!!
  
  ISNT THIS BLATANT HYPOCRISY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS of JJ & ADMK BASHING????
  
  What does the Rajini & Rajini fans - want to imply by this decision??
  
  1. JJ & ADMK are "non-violent"!!!
  
  2. JJ & ADMK are non-corrupt and honest!!!
  
  Its upto you to decide - but remember the "Innocent & Pure" game's up for rajini
  
  :=))
  
  
• From: Surya (@ adsl-64-166-143-81.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net) on: Fri Apr 16 22:43:21 EDT 2004
  
  ///Its upto you to decide.///
  Decide what idiot geno?????
  
  ////If Rajini HATES "oozhal"(corruption) and "vannmuRai"(Violence) -
  
  What is he doing by voting for ADMK///
  ADMK is doing and has done in the past many many many more good things than DMK has! I agree that ADMK has done Uzhal in the past, but its far far better now than it used to be in JJ's last atchi. And also now its far far better than DMK.
  
  
• From: Surya (@ adsl-64-166-143-81.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net) on: Fri Apr 16 23:02:48 EDT 2004
  
  what is wrong in voting for BJP?
  
  After becoming the Prime Minister of India in March 1998, Shri Atalji has written one of the proudest chapters in the post-Independence history of India. To the entire democratic world, he has presented a model of how to successfully run a coalition government of over twenty parties. The people have seen how he has steered the ship of the nation through troubled waters with courage, confidence, and wisdom. He is seen as a “Great Unifier”, who can take all sections of our diverse society in the common endeavour for nation-building. He has ended the costly era of the Congress party’s destabilization by making India an abode of stability and good governance. Between 1985 and 1998, India had seven Prime Ministers. However, during the past six years, India has had only one Prime Minister.
  
  
  
  Shri Atalji’s is already the third longest tenure as Prime Minister, after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He is the only non-Congress Prime Minister who has never depended on Congress support for occupying the country’s highest executive office. He has thus demolished the Congress party’s self-serving myth that it alone can provide a stable government at the Centre and only a person from the Nehru dynasty can provide leadership to the country. Today the common perception among the people about Shri Atalji is: “Pradhan Mantri ho to aisa”.
  
  
  
  India’s standing in the world at an all-time high
  
  
  
  Under his visionary leadership, India has recorded historic achievements in national security, socio-economic development, and foreign policy. Making India a nuclear weapons power, winning the Kargil War, containing cross-border terrorism, bringing about a turnaround in the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, and putting the North-Eastern region on a path of peace and development – all these testify to the high caliber and competence of Shri Atalji’s leadership.
  
  
  
  Given Pakistan’s long record of hostility towards India, it seemed impossible that any change in its policies or attitude would ever be possible. Yet, our Statesman-Prime Minister persisted with his sincere search for peace with Pakistan, never deviating from our basic principles and never adopting a position of weakness. Pakistan has had to declare that it will not allow its territory for terrorist activities against India. Today India’s stature and prestige in the international arena has risen to an all-time high.
  
  
  
  “Our five years versus Their fifty years”
  
  
  
  During the past five years India has made unprecedented progress towards prosperity. Increasingly, the world is talking about India as an economic powerhouse. The NDA Government’s performance in diverse fields of development outshines those of the previous governments. This has prompted ordinary people to make the comparison between “BJP’s five years versus Congress’ fifty years”. For example, the Rs. 54,000-crore National Highway Development Project and the Rs. 60,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are NDA Government’s response to the prolonged neglect of the road infrastructure in the past.
  
  
  
  Similarly, never in the past were as many as 1.5 crore poor families given sufficient quantities of rice and wheat at such low prices as under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is the largest educational program since Independence, ensuring that no child is deprived of elementary education.
  
  
  
  The Rs. 10,000-crore Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana is the largest Food-for-Work program since Independence. The housing sector has witnessed the biggest ever boom in the past five years. Never in the past had housing for weaker sections of society received so much focused attention as now. The Government has launched major schemes for drinking water, rural sanitation, slum improvement, and control of communicable diseases. The Government has unveiled a new fund of Rs. 50,000 crore for the development of agriculture and rural infrastructure. As many as 3.5 crore farmers have been given Kisan Credit Cards, through which farm credit worth Rs. 60,000 crore has been disbursed. A similar scheme of Artisan Credit Cards has been launched for over 2.5 crore artisans and handloom weavers. The rate of interest for bank loans for farmers and artisans has been reduced to a maximum of 9 per cent.
  
  
  
  India’s shining economic achievements
  
  
  
  As against the annual addition of only 39 lakh employment opportunities till 1998, the NDA Government has created 84 lakh new employment and self-employment opportunities each year. These include altogether new kinds of employment opportunities as in the IT and telecom sector, in which India has emerged as a global power. For the Congress, “Garibi Hatao” was a mere slogan for vote-catching. However, it is during the NDA Government that there has been the deepest and fastest reduction in poverty, thanks to a faster rate of economic growth and well-directed poverty alleviation programmes.
  
  
  
  In the early 1990s, India had to pledge her gold abroad because her forex reserves had dipped to below one billion dollars. Now, our forex reserves are at an all-time high of $ 105 billion. India has started to prepay her external loans. From an aid-seeking country, India has now become an aid-giving country. There was a time, not long ago, when India imported food grains to feed her people. Now, thanks to our hard-working kisans, India exports food grains worth Rs. 7,000 crore to 25 countries.
  
  
  
  The NDA Government has taken major steps for the empowerment and development of SC, STs, OBCs and women. Five Office Memoranda, issued by the previous Congress-backed UF Governments, which had placed restrictions on SCs and STs getting full benefit of reservation in government jobs, have been withdrawn. For the first time since Independence, a separate Ministry and a National Commission for Tribals have been set up. The country as a whole has seen a significant reduction in communal and caste violence during the NDA rule. The Opposition’s motivated propaganda that the BJP in power would spell discrimination and danger for the minorities has been completely belied.
  
  
  
  The Prime Minister’s vision for India’s future
  
  
  
  Although a lot has been accomplished in the past five years, the BJP is acutely aware of the enormity of the challenges ahead. Five years is too short a time to undo the failures and faults of nearly five decades of Congress misrule. More time is needed to spread the effect of the “Feel Good Factor” in the economy to the poorest and weakest sections of our society. The people have also come to the conclusion that Shri Atalji’s Government has not got sufficient time to accomplish its mission. They are convinced that the BJP alone is capable of resolving the several intractable problems created and left behind by the Congress misrule.
  
  
  
  The people are also convinced that the BJP is the only party that has a clear vision for India’s future, as encapsulated in the Prime Minister’s energising call to make India a Developed Nation by 2020. He has said, “India is marching towards a bright future. We have our share of problems. But these cannot hide the brightness on the horizon. It will be a future free of poverty, unemployment and all other vestiges of underdevelopment. The day is not far when every region, every community and every citizen in our country shall enjoy the fruits of India’s prosperity and progress. If we want, and if we act unitedly to get what we want, then this energizing goal can be achieved within the span of a generation. Is this a dream? Yes. It is an impossible dream? No, it is not.”
  
  
  

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