Chennai’s Super King

This is what happened at the Kochadaiiyaan audio launch when “all the Rajini fans” were in the same room as the Superstar

The stars flanking the Superstar on stage (above); a still from Kochadaiiyaan

Do you know what happens when one thousand Rajini fans clap, whistle and shout out in synchronised ear-splitting decibel levels in a closed auditorium? They don’t even sound like humans. This is not a Rajini joke. This is a true story. You’ve heard of “all the Rajini fans” who live, breathe, tonsure their heads, make temples of their Thalaiva. On Sunday afternoon in Chennai, at the audio launch of the much-awaited, mega-budgeted Kochadaiiyaan, directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin, I witnessed what happens when the Superstar and his screaming fans are in the same room. My ruptured eardrums and a broken toenail will never let me forget the experience.

Sathyam Cinemas was buzzing — while a few hundred people outside the premise waited to get in, 500 heads of Rajini fan clubs (he has more than 70,000 registered fan clubs) were the lucky ones who got balcony seats. The Superstar and his family (special mention to son-in-law Dhanush) sat in the fourth row. Rajinikanth’s wife Lata personally looked after the arrangements. Guest of honour Shah Rukh Khan (uncharacteristically, dot on time) arrived with Deepika Padukone (who co-stars with the Superstar in the film) and the speakers went ballistic blaring Lungi Dance. Rajini’s daughter Soundarya spoke about directing her father in what is India’s first “performance capture photorealistic film”. A clip of the making of the film was shown — the Superstar in a body suit performing in a small room with 40 cameras tracking his every little move-elicited more, yeah you guessed it right, screams. An emotional Saundarya said, “Appa, thank you for your patience. This is all for you.

I am your biggest fan and I have the opportunity to say this in front of your fans.”

The most heartfelt speech was by K Balachander, who discovered Rajini in Apoorva Raagangal. The veteran filmmaker said that when he saw the first shot of Shivaji Rao, “I knew that history is being born. And that history will have no geographies.” He added that, while a superstar’s crown can be handed over, “Rajini’s halo which he has earned with his values would always be his.”

Jackie Shroff, attired like a cowboy, quipped, “All you Rajini fans, my wife is a bigger fan than all of you, man.” Padukone thanked the Superstar and his family for being her “home away from home.” A R Rahman, who has scored the film’s music said, “Kochadaiiyaan will create a new industry.”

Then, it was SRK’s turn to speak. The Badshah issued a disclaimer right at the beginning: “The only Tamil I know is ‘Thalaiva.’” SRK said he came to Chennai for three reasons. “First as a fan. When I came to Mumbai some 24-odd years back, I saw Rajini sir shooting for a Hindi film in Mukesh Mills and he kept practising his cigarette flip in front of the mirror even though he was getting it right every single time. It was one of the early lessons I had in my life. I come here as a friend. I would like to thank him, Soundarya and Shankar for letting me steal Chitti and put him in Ra. One. And finally, I come here as a seeker of knowledge to learn more about the film that will change cinema in this country.” Then he sang, “All the Rajini fans. Don’t you miss the chance. Do This… Kochadaiiyaan, Kochadaiiyaan, Kochadaiiyaan, Kochadaiiyaan…”

And then came the moment nobody present will ever forget — the excitement that was so loud it must have broken the sound barrier. The Superstar spoke. It was all in Tamil but a good friend translated. “I have everything I want at this point – money and name — so I wanted to try something that’s not been done before. That’s how we started with Rana. But then I was admitted in the hospital… My health was not letting me shoot. K S Ravikumar told me he had a story about Rana’s father Kochadaiiyaan. It’s a huge responsibility for Soundarya…

Story continues below this ad

The first time Soundarya said ‘Action’, I burst out laughing. I had to ask Ravikumar to say ‘Action’ to do the scene seriously.” Clearly, the Superstar is also a Super Dad and he spoke with much warmth about how his daughters make him proud.
Super all the way.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Kochadaiiyaan