Rajini to hold 'Darbar' at 71

This year’s birthday of Superstar Rajinikanth is expected to be extra special for Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) cadres and his jubilant fans as the actor not only decided to float his party but is also likely to stay in the city on Saturday.

Though the actor, who will turn 71 on December 12, had asked his fans and RMM functionaries not to throng his residence and celebrate his birthday in a grand manner, many cadres have chalked out a series of plans for their leader’s birthday that includes organising an “Annadhanam” (special feast), setting up blood donation camps, carrying out rehabilitation measures for the flood-affected people and performing special poojas in various temples across the State. With the prospect of Rajini, expected to stay in Chennai this time, fans and cadres are eagerly waiting to visit his residence for a glimpse of their leader. Ahead of Rajini’s birthday, his elder brother Sathyanarayana also performed special poojas for him at the Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple and Arunagirinathar temple. RMM sources here told DT Next that the birthday celebrations have already started since Friday and it would continue till Saturday evening.

RMM Chennai district secretary AVK Raja has also organised a special pooja at the Shri Ragavendra temple at Triplicane in the city, besides launching welfare measures for the people in his area.

As RMM functionaries and die-hard fans were expected to throng Rajini’s house in large numbers, security has been beefed up in and around the Poes Garden area in the city, where the actor resides.“Even if our ‘Thalaivar’ leaves for his farmhouse at Kellambakkam tomorrow, we will go there to wish him,” proclaimed P Venkatesan, an RMM cadre, staying at Pallavaram. Hoardings, posters, and banners, carrying “decorative words” praising Rajini on his birthday have already been erected across the State, more visible in the city.

Wishes also poured in from the star’s Kollywood colleagues. Director Suresh krissna (Annamalai, Veera, Baasha, and Baba) wished Rajinikanth success in all his endeavours. Recalling his association, Suresh Krissna said, “I met Rajinikanth less than 48 hours prior to the Annamalai shoot. I wasn’t originally the director of the film. And I hadn’t worked with him before even when I assisted my mentor K Balachander. When I was given this opportunity by Kavithalaya films, all I knew was Rajini is a Superstar and enjoys a demi-god status. Being a workaholic, I have hardly seen him on the big screen. Hence, my mind was blank even as Shanmugasundaram was narrating the scenes to me. He is a hard-working, humble, and an amiable person. These are the qualities that have made him iconic.” Rajini’s ability to appeal to the current generation has baffled many Kollywood veterans who now watch their former colleague still ruling the silver screen among actors old enough to be his children. “I was a teenager cheering loud for him in theatres and was swayed by his aura and the charm. I never imagined I would be sharing screen space with the same man in Annaatthe,” said actor Soori, who is set to act with the Superstar.