WHEN it comes to celebrating their favourite actor's birthday, nobody does it quite like Rajnikanth fans.
When the Tamil cinema superstar celebrated his 57th birthday on 12 Dec, his fans across the globe celebrated it in the only way they knew how - by going over the top.
Across Tamil Nadu, fans spent thousands of rupees holding special prayer sessions at temples and pouring litres of milk over cardboard standees of their idol.
Others offered prayers by pulling a golden chariot in the temple city of Kanchipuram, reported the Indian newspapers.
Others decided to spend their money making a 61m-long birthday banner.
Their efforts were filmed and posted on the video-sharing website, YouTube.
The banner was made up of Rajnikanth's film posters from his three decades in the South Indian movie business.
Some clubs screened eight Rajnikanth blockbusters at movie theatres in Chennai.
In countries like the US, Dubai and Malaysia, fans who are part of Rajinifans.com - a portal dedicated to the superstar- organised special concerts as part of the celebrations.
His die-hard fans take his birthday so seriously that they get seriously offended if anyone snubs their cinematic god.
Indian media reported that fans threw cow dung and mud at banners put up by the production company that made Rajnikanth's latest blockbuster, Sivaji - The Boss.
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| A screen shot taken from the Rajnikanth Japanese fan website. |
The reason? The company did not put up the customary television and newspaper advertisements to wish the star on his birthday.
Chennai-based fan TVSundaram told The New Paper that this was hardly surprising behaviour from Rajnikanth's devotees.
'It is their way of showing their love and loyalty to him,' said the 32-year-old graphic designer.
But he pointed out that these fans do not represent the majority.
CHARITABLE APPROACH
This year, some fans took a different approach with the celebrations.
'They were doing more charity work, like feeding the poor and organising charity events,' said Mr Sundaram.
Entertainment news website Indiaglitz reported that thousands of fans handed out free food, bought educational books and stationery for poor children and donated blood.
Some even donated water tanks to poor villages.
Said Mr Sundaram: 'Thalaivar (Big Boss) has always encouraged his fans through his films to do good to others.
'I think many fans are finally listening to him and deciding to do charity work instead of spending money on parties and banners.'
Rajnikanth, whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, has charmed millions by playing the street-smart anti-hero and rabble rouser.
His fans affectionately call him Thalaivar, after one of his film roles.
The former bus conductor and carpenter has made close to 200 films including Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam.
He is also the highest-paid actor in India with a salary of 160 million rupees ($6m) per film - more than Hindi cinema star, Shah Rukh Khan, who rakes in 80m rupees.
The Tamil cinema star even has fans in Japan who celebrated his birthday with an Indian meal and a screening of his films at a Tokyo movie theatre.
There are several blogs and an unofficial fan website in Japanese, which had about 10 birthday messages posted.
One fan said that the superstar's films gave him inspiration.
Rajnikanth is the first Tamil actor to have Japanese fans.
They call him Odori Maharajah (The Dancing Maharajah) after his 1995 film, Muthu Maharaja, which was a hit in Japan, earning more than US$3million ($4.5m).
But the man himself never celebrates his birthday in Chennai.
He flees the city to escape the annual hysteria that surrounds the day, instead spending it quietly with his family in Bangalore.
Fans are especially happy this year because his film Sivaji - The Boss is still showing in cinemas.
J Ramki co-founder of Rajinifans.com, told The Hindu: 'This birthday is special as Sivaji is set to complete 200 days in over 50 theatres in a week's time.'
Fans are also looking forward to next year
WHEN it comes to celebrating their favourite actor's birthday, nobody does it quite like Rajnikanth fans.
When the Tamil cinema superstar celebrated his 57th birthday on 12 Dec, his fans across the globe celebrated it in the only way they knew how - by going over the top.
Across Tamil Nadu, fans spent thousands of rupees holding special prayer sessions at temples and pouring litres of milk over cardboard standees of their idol.
Others offered prayers by pulling a golden chariot in the temple city of Kanchipuram, reported the Indian newspapers.
Others decided to spend their money making a 61m-long birthday banner.
Their efforts were filmed and posted on the video-sharing website, YouTube.
The banner was made up of Rajnikanth's film posters from his three decades in the South Indian movie business.
Some clubs screened eight Rajnikanth blockbusters at movie theatres in Chennai.
In countries like the US, Dubai and Malaysia, fans who are part of Rajinifans.com - a portal dedicated to the superstar- organised special concerts as part of the celebrations.
His die-hard fans take his birthday so seriously that they get seriously offended if anyone snubs their cinematic god.
Indian media reported that fans threw cow dung and mud at banners put up by the production company that made Rajnikanth's latest blockbuster, Sivaji - The Boss.
| |
| A screen shot taken from the Rajnikanth Japanese fan website. |
The reason? The company did not put up the customary television and newspaper advertisements to wish the star on his birthday.
Chennai-based fan TVSundaram told The New Paper that this was hardly surprising behaviour from Rajnikanth's devotees.
'It is their way of showing their love and loyalty to him,' said the 32-year-old graphic designer.
But he pointed out that these fans do not represent the majority.
CHARITABLE APPROACH
This year, some fans took a different approach with the celebrations.
'They were doing more charity work, like feeding the poor and organising charity events,' said Mr Sundaram.
Entertainment news website Indiaglitz reported that thousands of fans handed out free food, bought educational books and stationery for poor children and donated blood.
Some even donated water tanks to poor villages.
Said Mr Sundaram: 'Thalaivar (Big Boss) has always encouraged his fans through his films to do good to others.
'I think many fans are finally listening to him and deciding to do charity work instead of spending money on parties and banners.'
Rajnikanth, whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, has charmed millions by playing the street-smart anti-hero and rabble rouser.
His fans affectionately call him Thalaivar, after one of his film roles.
The former bus conductor and carpenter has made close to 200 films including Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam.
He is also the highest-paid actor in India with a salary of 160 million rupees ($6m) per film - more than Hindi cinema star, Shah Rukh Khan, who rakes in 80m rupees.
The Tamil cinema star even has fans in Japan who celebrated his birthday with an Indian meal and a screening of his films at a Tokyo movie theatre.
There are several blogs and an unofficial fan website in Japanese, which had about 10 birthday messages posted.
One fan said that the superstar's films gave him inspiration.
Rajnikanth is the first Tamil actor to have Japanese fans.
They call him Odori Maharajah (The Dancing Maharajah) after his 1995 film, Muthu Maharaja, which was a hit in Japan, earning more than US$3million ($4.5m).
But the man himself never celebrates his birthday in Chennai.
He flees the city to escape the annual hysteria that surrounds the day, instead spending it quietly with his family in Bangalore.
Fans are especially happy this year because his film Sivaji - The Boss is still showing in cinemas.
J Ramki co-founder of Rajinifans.com, told The Hindu: 'This birthday is special as Sivaji is set to complete 200 days in over 50 theatres in a week's time.'
Fans are also looking forward to next year
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There is a new Billa in town. And he's all set to unleash his power on December 14. 
Billa was directed by R Krishnamurthy (who later came to be known as 'Billa' Krishnamurthy) and produced by thespian producer-director-actor K Balaji who also did one of the most significant roles in the film -- that of DSP Alexander. 
Billa's stupendous success was too much for Rajni. He even contemplated bidding farewell to the celluloid world. But thanks to good counselling by his guru and mentor K Balachander and colleagues like Kamal Hasaan, better sense prevailed. 
