Endrendrum Thalaivar Superstar Rajinikanth - News & Updates

[Murali Srinivas]

Bagyaraj further developed his role with help of parthiban from what SAC was initially planned it. That's why one can see a typical bagyaraj under other's direction.

Naan Sigappu Manidhan was not written by SAC. It was a remake of a Hindi Film. The Hindi film was Aaj Ki Aawaaz that had Raj Babbar in the lead. If I remember correctly this was released in 1984. It was a huge hit in Hindi which prompted Telugu producer A.Poornachandra Rao to buy the remake rights of the movie in all South Indian languages. If I my memory serves me right.he produced the films in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam [Not sure of Kannada]. While Suman acted in Telugu it was Mammootty in Malayalam [Ee Sabtham Innathe Sabtham] and Rajini in Tamil.

But though all were remakes there were variations as for as Tamil and Malayalam were concerned. For that matter even Hindi. Bagiyaraj's role was not much of an important character in the original but since Bagiyaraj was roped in [He was at his peak and it was rumoured that Poornachandra Rao paid a bomb to make him agree to do the side role and since he and Rajini had already shared screen space in Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984) the casting went without any issues] his role was made bigger to accommodate his image.

But during release, theatres witnessed clashes at least in the initial days. I for one saw it in person. The movie was released on 12th April 1985 and I had gone for the opening show at Madhu theatre in Madurai. The crowd was mammoth and in spite of having the tickets we friends found it very difficult to even get in. The opening credits itself created a ruckus. Neither Rajini's name nor Bagiyaraj's name would be shown and instead both would be shown standing together with folded hands.

Bagiyaraj's introduction would happen during interval [with the transistor carried by him would be blaring a MGR song] and Rajini fans got wild and interval time saw people exchanging blows. It took a great effort to bring peace. Though Rajini fans easily outnumbered the other fans [in fact Bagiyaraj's fans were only a handful but tactical support from theatre employees who were ADMK supporters helped them]. It was a 100 day movie, I remember.

That Tamil New Year period saw multiple releases and I, who was working outside Tamilnadu had come down to Madurai for the Tamil New Year function and saw all the movies and in fact saw the opening shows of movies by Kamal, Rajini and NT.

April 11th Thursday - Khakki Sattai - Central - Morining Opening Show

April 12th Friday - Naan Sigappu Manidhan - Madhu - Morning Opening Show

April 13th Saturday - Neethiyin Nizhal - Meenakshi - Morning Opening Show

April 13th Saturday - Udhaya Geetham - Sundaram - Night show

April 14th Sunday - Kalyana Agathigal - Sakthi - Night Show

April 15th Monday - Pillai Nila - Minipriya - Matinee Show

April 16th Tuesday - Padikkadha Pannaiyaar - Nadana - Matinee.

Leave was over and went back to work place on that Tuesday night.

அது ஒரு காலம்!

Regards