As Superstar Rajinikanth celebrates his 64th birthday today we look at some of the biggest successes in his 40-year career. He started his exciting career with Apoorva Rangangal in 1975 and today his biggest release ever, Lingaa, is set to hit screens worldwide. Rajinikanth’s milestones are like no other actor’s – he went from bus conductor to actor, villain to hero, and today, the highest paid actor in India with allegedly a salary of Rs 60 crore for Lingaa!
As fans queue up to watch Superstar in double action in this flick directed by K S Ravikumar, Lingaa is supposedly set to break all Tamil box office records. Rajini’s Muthu is Japan’s all-time favourite film and grossed Rs 6 crore when it released there in 1998. Meanwhile, here’s a quick recap of his five biggest box office hits so far:
Enthiran
Starring ex-Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opposite the Superstar who played the role of Chitti, the robot, and Dr Vaseekaran, this movie rocked the box office. This Sun Pictures film with music by A R Rahman and directed by Shankar was the second highest-grossing Indian film at that time after Aamir Khan’s 3 idiots and in fact, was the top-grossing film in India at the box office in 2010. According to Box Office India, the movie netted Rs 186.5 crore in India in addition to the overseas earnings of about US $12 million. With total revenues of about Rs 260 crore, this movie is in a league of its own in Kollywood! Songs from Enthiran like Pudhiya Manidha, Kilimanjaro, Kadhal Anukkal and Arima Arima still remain hot on radio.
Sivaji: The Boss
Directed by Shankar, this Tamil flick released in 2007 was a superhit too. With Shriya Saran (Tamizhselvi) on his arm in this film, Rajinikanth avenged his enemies with élan and made India successful with his foundation. Again, it was A R Rahman’s musical genius that gave it some wonderful hit tracks like Vaa Ji Vaa Ji, Balleilakka and Sahana. Produced by AVM, the movie is widely reported to have grossed about Rs 130 crore. The movie was re-released in 3D as Sivaji 3D and thirty minutes were edited out to make it crisper in this release. It is the first Indian film to be released in Dolby Atmos and this was a new milestone again in Tamil cinema and for the Superstar. This flick was released on Rajinikanth’s birthday in 2012.
Chandramukhi
A remake of Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu , Chandramukhi was a film that had Rajinikanth fans in a comical tizzy and frightened as well. Released in 2005, the comedy-horror film starred the Superstar – as Dr Saravanan and King Vettaiyan – with Jyothika and Nayanthara. The 50th film to be produced by Sivaji Productions, it was a runaway hit. Grossing about Rs 65 crore, this flick had music by Vidyasagar that turned out to be a big plus for it. Raa Raa and Konjam Neram were most sought-after by music lovers.
Padayappa
Who can forget this 1999 film where Nilambari challenges Padayappa with her razor-sharp tongue and penetrating eyes? It released for Tamil New Year and took the biggest ever opening at the time in Kollywood. A R Rahman was part of this hit combo and his numbers like En Peru Padayappa, Minsara Kanna and Suthi Suthi rocked the charts. Ramya Krishnan, who replaced Simran, is till today known for her fantastic portrayal of Nilambari. Grossing around Rs 30 crore at the box office, this was another big film in Rajinikanth’s career.
Baashha
In 1995, there was one word on every Tamilian’s lips. Baashha. Starring the Superstar with Naghma, Baashha was directed by Suresh Krissna. Playing a simple autodriver called Manikkam who then becomes a don called Manikk Baashha, Rajini won the hearts of the masses and classes alike. Deva scored the music for this film and the numbers Azhagu Azhagu, Style Style Thaan and Naan Autokaaran, is still on everyone’s lips. This movie grossed Rs 25 crore in 1995 and till today is considered one of Rajinikanth’s top five movies.
As fans queue up to watch Superstar in double action in this flick directed by K S Ravikumar, Lingaa is supposedly set to break all Tamil box office records. Rajini’s Muthu is Japan’s all-time favourite film and grossed Rs 6 crore when it released there in 1998. Meanwhile, here’s a quick recap of his five biggest box office hits so far:
Enthiran
Starring ex-Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opposite the Superstar who played the role of Chitti, the robot, and Dr Vaseekaran, this movie rocked the box office. This Sun Pictures film with music by A R Rahman and directed by Shankar was the second highest-grossing Indian film at that time after Aamir Khan’s 3 idiots and in fact, was the top-grossing film in India at the box office in 2010. According to Box Office India, the movie netted Rs 186.5 crore in India in addition to the overseas earnings of about US $12 million. With total revenues of about Rs 260 crore, this movie is in a league of its own in Kollywood! Songs from Enthiran like Pudhiya Manidha, Kilimanjaro, Kadhal Anukkal and Arima Arima still remain hot on radio.
Sivaji: The Boss
Directed by Shankar, this Tamil flick released in 2007 was a superhit too. With Shriya Saran (Tamizhselvi) on his arm in this film, Rajinikanth avenged his enemies with élan and made India successful with his foundation. Again, it was A R Rahman’s musical genius that gave it some wonderful hit tracks like Vaa Ji Vaa Ji, Balleilakka and Sahana. Produced by AVM, the movie is widely reported to have grossed about Rs 130 crore. The movie was re-released in 3D as Sivaji 3D and thirty minutes were edited out to make it crisper in this release. It is the first Indian film to be released in Dolby Atmos and this was a new milestone again in Tamil cinema and for the Superstar. This flick was released on Rajinikanth’s birthday in 2012.
Chandramukhi
A remake of Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu , Chandramukhi was a film that had Rajinikanth fans in a comical tizzy and frightened as well. Released in 2005, the comedy-horror film starred the Superstar – as Dr Saravanan and King Vettaiyan – with Jyothika and Nayanthara. The 50th film to be produced by Sivaji Productions, it was a runaway hit. Grossing about Rs 65 crore, this flick had music by Vidyasagar that turned out to be a big plus for it. Raa Raa and Konjam Neram were most sought-after by music lovers.
Padayappa
Who can forget this 1999 film where Nilambari challenges Padayappa with her razor-sharp tongue and penetrating eyes? It released for Tamil New Year and took the biggest ever opening at the time in Kollywood. A R Rahman was part of this hit combo and his numbers like En Peru Padayappa, Minsara Kanna and Suthi Suthi rocked the charts. Ramya Krishnan, who replaced Simran, is till today known for her fantastic portrayal of Nilambari. Grossing around Rs 30 crore at the box office, this was another big film in Rajinikanth’s career.
Baashha
In 1995, there was one word on every Tamilian’s lips. Baashha. Starring the Superstar with Naghma, Baashha was directed by Suresh Krissna. Playing a simple autodriver called Manikkam who then becomes a don called Manikk Baashha, Rajini won the hearts of the masses and classes alike. Deva scored the music for this film and the numbers Azhagu Azhagu, Style Style Thaan and Naan Autokaaran, is still on everyone’s lips. This movie grossed Rs 25 crore in 1995 and till today is considered one of Rajinikanth’s top five movies.
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