Originally Posted by
Bala (Karthik)
BM
Please allow me to insert a qualifier to this. Ajith is #2 to Rajini in terms of fans, fan activity, opening capacity etc but not in terms of business or collections. At least not yet. He definitely has the potential to be the next Rajini (*). Billa 2 field activity parameters padi paatha (almost) on par with Endhiran (in some places even better than Endhiran). This after disbanding fan clubs. Opening pathi sollave venaam. Shankar, ARR combination 'laam vandhaa i leave it to the reader's imagination as to what the scale of that opening will be - bhava bayaharam. Sustenance, general fublic varaverppu is the problem now. Others see it as a negative i see it as a bomb waiting to explode. I think it's only a matter of time before he scores big with public audience also, unless he prevents that from happening. Of course, his hits would not have been possible without public response but like Anban Karthi put it, the gulf between his opening and "back-running" proportion is too big. Highly polarised towards youth.
(*): I hold an extremely critical view of Ajith as an actor. To the extent that, i see a film as miserable if the biggest negative of the film is not Ajith's acting. So, next Rajini does not literally mean next Rajini. Adhu vera vishayam
While we are at it, please allow me to also plug this in :razz: The media always reports as though one little guy is retired or hibernating. The media at least acknowledges and popularizes Ajith's opening prowess but mentions virtually nothing about this guy's BO performances. The media even forgets what it writes about his film by the time the next film from other actors come. For example, the blackout and pushing into oblivion of a film made after Sivaji and before Endhiran. "Appadi oru sambavam nadandhadhaagavo neengalum marandhuranum, naangalum marandhuruvom" range. 4 successful films out of 5 (including Kannada) and still, he is never mentioned in the same sentence as box office. This, while having ridiculously less number of active fans on the field, a criminal to head the fan welfare clubs (fortunately replaced), fans who are non-performers on the field. If i can be a bit immodest, his films solely ride on content (i mean clicking with the public) and his name or what HE brings to the table. Forget associating with Himesh, KSR, DSP etc in the recent past. What is the one single familiar (famous) name that has a semblance of a guarantee in a film like Viswaroopam, given its budget? If i can be a bit more immodest, i will add that it takes balls to even attempt this, forget whether he pulls it off or bites the dust. On hind sight, we might say it is more of stupidity and less of balls - though i am confident about the product, might well turn out to be commercially unsuccessful - doesn't change what he has earned over the years or what he sure will in future. An opening pull that can rival Rajini's, even if only for certain "special" films he makes, in spite of an active fan count which is a joke, potential to put/get funds for budgets as big as they get in the state, to do business of the order that he does, for the collections he has garnered over the years, i think deserves a note here and there from fans like me to remind people now and then :) Trusting the media is perhaps futile
