”Naan Vizhven Endru Ninaithaayo?”

‘Superstar’u yaarunu ketta, chinna kozhandhaiyum sollum’. A song from the late 80’s, that still holds good. One man, different generations. Rajinikanth is the name. Well, it’s not just a name, it’s a cinema fanatic’s emotion. With Petta fulfilling the promise as to #Rajinify the fans, only more can be expected of the star in the future.
If you had seen Petta, the first 5 minutes would tell you how big of a Rajini fan Karthik Subbaraj is. Or if you had seen Kaala, the rain fight would suggest how Ranjith is also a Thalaivar fan. While the movies are out now and their performances amazing, times will not be easy for the directors in the future.
Karthik Subbaraj, directed his 5th film with Rajinikanth. Pa.Ranjith directed his 3rd and 4th with Rajinikanth. Even though the big star had experimented with the new-age directors, what lies next for them is not a bed of roses. It has its share of thorns too.
Even in the past, any director’s goal would have been to direct a film with Rajini, major reason being the huge craze for the man, and his wide market of audience. Many directors have given massive hits with Rajinikanth, and have continued to do many films with the icon.
However, in the recent times, a director’s career graph is at its peak if the movie has a star cast in it, or performs extremely well. With Rajinikanth in the movie, both the conditions are a given. While Kabali and Kaala might have failed to garner the expected numbers at the box-office, his next 2 films went on to become out-of-the-park blockbusters.

“பல வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போலே
நான் வீழ்வே னென்று நினைத் தாயோ?”

First case, Ranjith. His first film was Attakathi. The plot – A roadside guy, wanting to fall in love and failing miserably, portrayed comically. His next gig being Madras, and as everyone knows, was a racy red-blooded movie with fierce sequences. Again, he moved a notch up in the snake and ladder board. Back to back films with Rajini in the form of Kabali and Kaala, he has of course reached the final stages of the board game.
Next case, Karthik Subbaraj. Pizza, Jigarthanda, Iraivi and Mercury materialized before Rajinikanth happened. Karthik Subbaraj has already earned the name ‘Versatile Director’, with just after five films to his kitty. His career graph has also been going higher at a steady pace, and with a film with Rajini, the pace only increases.

Karthik Subbaraj directed an out and out Rajinikanth film. It was a celebration of the Thalaivar of Kollywood. However, Ranjith directed a Pa.Ranjith film, which had Rajinikanth playing the lead. Note the difference. Nonetheless, the phenomenon is the same. Rajinikanth. He was the Messiah of the masses in all the three films from these directors.
While a film with Rajini maybe a dream come true for some, it is a known fact that the final stages of the board game is the most immense part. One wrong move, and bam. You’re back where you started. With a Rajinikanth’s film to their name, the new-age directors have of course reached the final stages. But is this actually the final stage in the board game?
Cinema, just like a T20 game, could very well be a thriller. When an opening batsman rampages the opposition attack, only more or at least the same is expected from the one-down batsman. Rajinikanth, the opener has taken it to a different level, and anything delivered a notch less is nothing short of a disappointment. The phrase “Idhu Mudivu illa. Aarambam” (This is not the end. Just the beginning) would be perfectly apt for the current situation.