The ‘a’ in Rajinikanth‘s name probably stands for ‘action’ as there is no one that does the job better. There must be some truth in the saying, “Started from the bottom, now we’re here” and the Thalaiva’s entire existence is testament to that.
Trading jobs from coolie and bus conductor to the A-list in Indian cinema has been a long but successful journey and with his character in 2023 action-comedy Jailer, it looks like he’s on the rollercoaster ride up.
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Rajinikanth in Jailer: The Casting
Jailer follows the story of Muthuvel Pandian, who is later dubbed as ‘Tiger’, a name showcasing the immense reverence that he gathers in the process of upholding law and order. It is the story of a father and also a retired police officer. Rajinikanth’s onscreen persona brings to life the dynamics of the upright civil servant who is not swayed by worldly matters. What makes it sensational is that the actor is seen portraying a character that aligns with his biological age group, a phenomenon quite frowned upon in Indian Cinema.
While being a guest at the Film Companion Directors Adda 2023, director Nelson Dilipkumar talked about facing a similar dilemma.
He said, “I have always wanted to do a film with Rajini sir. So when I had those doubts, I used to convince myself that somehow I had to do this film.” However, the doubts crept in even during the production process because of different reasons. One of the main challenges was getting people to accept a Rajinikanth who played his age. “That was the major doubt because a lot of people in the industry told me not to have Rajini sir play his age and instead, let him do whatever he has already done. I had this confidence that it would work, but I was also under-confident at times.”
With an end result that good, it is safe to say that all his doubts were put to rest!
For the viewers
Achieving the distinction of being the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2023 and the second-highest grossing Tamil film in history, Jailer is an immense success. A confirmed sequel is also in the works and that only speaks so much about its popularity with the audience.
As a personal milestone, Rajinikanth is one of the highest-grossing actors in Tamil cinema history. His name is a household term in India. Rajinikanth’s ability to embody larger-than-life characters remains unparalleled, and Jailer further solidifies his reputation.
For more articles on the superstar, read here.
