My Name is Rajnikanth

By

Gayathri Sreekanth

 

This book has been penned by an ardent Rajnikanth fan, in fact by a  blind, Rajni-worshipping devotee enchanted by his filmi swashbuckling style  in the Reel world to be true of the Real world as well.  Rajnikanth, with his trade mark Rajni-Style tantrums has introduced a new dynamic into the Tamil film world and, therefore, a phenomenon no doubt;  but to consider him a Godly avataar who could do no wrong and a protector of the weak - most of the times  in his films - is a feature that has been hosted upon many other matinee idols of Tamil film industry, most notably on M.G. Ramachandran, who launched a successful political career based on his film life.

The rags to riches story of Shivaji Rao started in Bangalore in a economically-lower class, religious family under the protective embrace of Satyanarayana (Rajni’s elder brother). The first job he got was as a traffic constable.  There he displayed the “Rajni-Style” movements of his hands and body which came in handy in his film career.  This goes out to prove the fact that whatever a person possesses naturally helps him as he goes along in his life.

His life took a sudden turn for the better when decided to join an acting school at Madras.  His knowledge of Tamil was minimal for he knew only his mother tongue, Kannada.  Rajni stayed at a crowded  mess  and pursued his acting school-training. He was noticed by the noted by Mr. K. Balachander, the Tamil film director who also suggested the name Rajnikanth and introduced him in films.  The rest, they say, is history.

The book delves into his religious belief, philanthropy and upholding causes dear to him.  One notable failure of his life is his lack of success in politics, unlike his many predecessors in Tamil film industry, who swung on their  film careers and rode to success in politics.   Even though he tried it twice, once coming close to success and the second time shelving the attempt owing to ill-health, his failure to succeed in politics would remain a black mark.

Rajnikant succeeded immensely owing to natural in-born talent of stylistics and the permissive culture of film hero worship which pervaded Tamil culture.