Superstar Rajinikanth is ticking off several milestones in style as he turns 75.
The Kollywood legend who is also marking his 50th year in the film industry is re-releasing his 1999 cult classic film Padayappa to coincide with his 75th birthday on December 12.
In addition to bringing the blockbuster back to the cinema – 25 years after its release – he also announced a sequel titled Neelambari.
With so much excitement around the iconic actor’s cinematic journey, his milestone birthday and one of his most celebrated films, here’s a look at 10 films that allowed him to showcase his acting range beyond his hugely popular, larger-than-life roles.
Mullum Malarum
Written and directed by Mahendran, 1978’s Mullum Malarum which was partly based on Uma Chandran’s novel of the same name, tells the story of orphaned siblings Kali – played by Rajinikanth- Valli (Shoba).
Mahendran’s directorial debut, this film swerved away from the formulaic melodrama of Tamil cinema focusing on visual storytelling rooted in realism.
Considered a milestone for Tamil cinema for its refreshing narrative approach, the movie also became a breakthrough for Rajinikanth with his raw portrayal of a protective brother with a rough personality establishing his versatility.
Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
This 1979 drama film directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam follows the life of Santhanam, who spends a lifetime struggling to make ends meet.
With Rajinikanth’s portrayal of a man’s struggles to give his younger siblings a comfortable life only to be confronted with how opportunistic and self-centred people can be, Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai is a relatable story grounded in introspection and reality.
Netrikkan
Directed by S. P. Muthuraman and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions, Netrikkan which revolved around middle-aged, womanising businessman and his son’s attempts to mend his father’s ways achieved both box office numbers and critical acclaim.
With Rajinikanth playing dual roles of father and son, this 1981 drama film followed textile tycoon Chakravarthy and his son Santhosh – with Rajini’s performance as a middle-aged womaniser receiving wide praise.
Thillu Mullu
A remake of 1979 Hindi film, Gol Maal, this 1981 comedy film directed by K. Balachander and written by Visu is about Chandran (Rajinikanth) who is caught in a hilarious conundrum after lying about having a twin brother to save his job.
Rajinikanth who had mainly carved out a space for himself in action films till that point in his career, established his comedic prowess with critics praising his performance.
Thee
1981 proved to be a year of solid remakes for Rajinikanth with Thee – the remake Amitabh Bachchan‘s hit film Deewaar – cementing both his mass appeal and his acting prowess
This underrated gem saw Rajinikanth essay the role of Raja, a smuggler with a troubled past. The morally complex character showcased Rajini’s ability to carry emotionally intense roles and established his strong screen presence.
Enkeyo Ketta Kural
This 1982 drama film directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam came to life after the latter’s wish to do a softer story with Rajini following two action-heavy films Murattu Kaalai (1980) and Pokkiri Raja (1982).
The film – which was later remade in Telugu, Hindi and Kannada – follows the story of a hardworking and righteous man Kumaran . The movie also starred Ambika and Radha as his love interests and Meena as their daughter.
Thambikku Entha Ooru
Thambikku Entha Ooru is a 1984 romantic comedy about a carefree and spoilt rich man’s journey to becoming more responsible.
Directed by Rajasekhar and written by Panchu Arunachalam, Rajini plays Balu, a young man with a lavish lifestyle who is forced to live in a village for one year to learn discipline.
Nallavanukku Nallavan
This 1984 action-drama film directed by S. P. Muthuraman and produced by AVM Productions, Nallavanukku Nallavan revolves around Manickam, a well-meaning rogue who is handed all of his late boss’ wealth thus earning the wrath of his boss’ son.
A remake 1983 Telugu film Dharmaatmudu, this film was not only a major box office hit -running for over 150 days in theatres – but also saw Rajinikanth winning multiple awards for his performance including Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil.
Kai Kodukkum Kai
Directed by Mahendran, Kai Kodukkum Kai is an extended version of Munithayi written by Eeswarachandra – a segment of 1976 Kannada anthology film Katha Sangama – in which Rajinikanth had played the antagonist.
Starring Revathi as a blind woman, this 1984 film’s interesting climax rooted in forgiveness stands out as a memorable one.
Sri Raghavendrar
A historical biopic based on the life of Hindu saint Raghavendra Tirtha, 1985 film Sri Raghavendrar in which Rajinikanth portrayed the titular role, showcased the actor in completely different role than his typical larger-than-life characters.
Directed by S. P. Muthuraman and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions, this was Rajini’s 100th film and he received widespread praise for his performance as a saint.
Dharmathin Thalaivan
With Rajinikanth once again tackling dual roles, 1988 film Dharmathin Thalaivan saw him playing kind-hearted college professor Balu and rowdy and thief Shankar.
Directed by S. P. Muthuraman and marking Rajinikanth’s 21st collaboration with him, the film which was a remake of 1978 Hindi film Kasme Vaade delivered an entertaining mix of action and family drama steeped in humour, emotion and style.
Thalapathi
One of Rajinikanth’s most iconic roles, that allowed the nuances of his craft to shine, Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi is a gangster drama film that drew inspiration from the friendship between Karna and Duryodhana in the Mahabharat.
With a star cast including Mollywood icon Mammootty – Arvind Swamy in his feature-film debut – Jaishankar, Amrish Puri, Srividya, Bhanupriya, Shobana and Geetha, the 1991 film is a tale of loyalty and friendship between courageous slum dweller Surya and powerful gangster Devaraj amidst a district collector’s efforts to thwart their violent influence.
Fondly remembered for its evergreen soundtrack, stunning cinematography and powerful performances, Thalapathi won several awards with Rajinikanth’s grounded portrayal of love and friendship continuing to be celebrated.
Images via IMDb/Wikipedia
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