The Rajnikanth Saga

I have often wondered how it was that a bus conductor of humble roots could become a famous actor with almost absolutely nothing going for him.

Kollywood legend has it that when he came to meet Balachander the first time, Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, an unknown bus conductor was broke, and was probably taking his biggest chance in life. Balachander, by his own account, saw a 'fire' in his eyes, a silent and grim determination, and decided to take him under his wing, rechristening him as Rajnikanth. And the rest, as they say, is history. But what's so special about Rajni? An impassionate observer would note that his dialogue delivery is too fast, sometimes undecipherable, and has a thick accent. He would also say that Rajni does not have the body or training to be an action hero, nor the face or the dance moves to be a heart-throb. He would most importantly note that Rajni's repertoire comes nowhere close to the versatility of Kamal or Nagesh, and that it would drastically limit the range of roles he would get.

It is another point that this impassionate observer would have to be uninitiated with Tamil and India movies, for there is no one in India without an opinion of Rajni. In the 4 South Indian states, he stands unrivaled in fan following and popularity probably by any other actor ever. In North India, he is compared as often with Amitabh Bacchan, as he is with Mithun Chakraborthy and others, and there are others who say he is incomparable to any one there, a one-man circus, shooting cigarettes into his mouth and manhandling rowdies by the dozen. Whatever he might be, there is no doubt that everyone who has heard of him has a strong opinion about him.

So what makes a slightly above average actor, with over-exaggerated actions and 'style', and no other particular skill tick? Is it that once in a while, the common people on the street get tired with the ruling elite and randomly pick one of their own to be deified? Or, like Laloo, does it take more than just fate? And so, with that I leave to watch the night show of his latest fest (for there is no other word), Shivaji.



Just returning from Shivaji, and getting some time to mull over Rajni's unique position, I sense the beginning of an answer, or rather a guess, forming in my mind.

The name Shivaji may be an acknowledgment of his humble beginnings, or a tribute to the recently deceased 'Shivaji' Ganesan, the father figure for all Tamil actors, considered by many (including Rajni) as the greatest Tamil actor ever. But Shivaji, the film, is as much typically Shankar, as it is typically Rajni. There is not much to the story, or for that matter anything else (including a below average A R Rahman score). In Shivaji, even under heavy make-up, Rajni has performed like he has in no other movie. Rajni carries the whole movie on his shoulders all the way through, immersing himself in all the usual themes of fun, comedy, chivalry, morals and altruism. Rajni even takes and allows a few jabs at himself for good measure, and comes out in even better shape.

What really makes Rajni stand apart from any other actor, probably in the whole world, with the exception of Robin Williams, is his ability to take the most ridiculously overblown scenes and perform them with total conviction. If the aim of acting is to model reality as close as possible, Rajni goes the opposite way, taking the most realistic scenes and making them surreal. Like when he is worth a rupee, and he sits on the platform like conquering emperor. And what's more, he carries it out with style, totally enjoying himself in the process. Where the other actors clearly show they are uncomfortable, this guy totally feels at home, his trademark grin in place. And for his many weaknesses, the total uninhibitedness and exuberance with which he plays his part negates any lack of knowledge, or the connections with reality, just making it a distraction-free medium which is used both to entertain the masses away from the grim everyday realities and to give them a moral fable or two.

For acting, which requires that you consistently 'upgrade' yourself with feedback from your audience and peers, Rajni is an anomaly. Unlike most other people, Rajni draws strength and confidence from inside himself - none of it depends on how other people see him. And he has to. For, by feeding that confidence (and sometimes arrogance) into his roles, he not only gets away with it, but provides everyone with the perfect alter-ego - a not-so-impressive-looking person with society-defying confidence, and heroic morals. And while it may appear ridiculous to some, his performance goes straight to the subconscious of most people, bringing out their dreams in the most uncomplicated way possible. In those few hours in a cinema theater, every average person is transported to a world, where he is Rajnikanth, the perfect manifestation of himself... quirky... imperfect... but it doesn't matter, because he doesn't measure himself by those standards. He sees himself free, uninhibited, confident, wronged and bouncing back, burnt and still altruistic, liked and revered by everyone around him.

No wonder, Tamil or Telugu, British or Japanese, everyone loves Rajni.