Sivaji: South India's Superstar in India's Costliest Movie Ever

In India, where Bollywood dominates the more than a half-dozen mainstream commercial movie industries, Kollywood, which is how the Chennai-based Tamil movie industry is often referred to, has largely been a poorer cousin. It is therefore, all the more remarkable how Rajnikanth (Rajni) has over the space of a few decades, captured the collective imagination and psyche of the South Indian movie aficionados to such an extent that he is the one truly undisputable superstar in all of India: his larger-than-life persona is arguably unequalled by any other actor in India, and perhaps, even in celebrity-obsessed Hollywood. Where most other celebrities and stars' appeal relies heavily on the glamour quotient, Rajni has endeared himself to his fans by virtue of his style, flair and for want of a better word, magic.

It should come as no surprise then, that Rajni's 100th movie in Tamil cinema, "Sivaji:The Boss", which released worldwide June 15 would likely be extra special. It is rumored to be the costliest movie ever made in India, with varying reports suggesting upwards of $12 million. The movie that was reportedly shot over the course of nearly two years, also boasts of highly reputed team of core artists and technicians, including director Shankar, music director, A.R.Rahman to go along with a big banner production house, AVM Studios. As if these ingredients were not enough to catapult the movie into potentially breath-taking box office success, the movie promotions hit the fever pitch well over a few months ago, with the first whispers being heard right from the beginning of the year. The plot - which is now known to deal with a socially relevant message against corruption and redtape in India - was kept as a closely guarded secret right until the premiere, resulting in the interest in the movie ranging not just from casual to passionate to fanatical, but speculative and even restless.

As per initial reviews - and there's quite a bunch of them out there in only the third day after the movie's release - the movie is all Rajni. While the reviews themselves will no doubt differ in terms of the overall entertainment value of the movie, few will dispute the fact that the man they call Thalaivar (leader) has cast a spell on them, again. From a critic's point of view, Rajni's movies have always bordered the realms of the incredulous and the superhuman, with copious doses of gravity defying acrobatics and mind-boggling physical strength. This one will likely be no different, but isn't that what superheroes are all about, anyway?

Rajni's characteristic gusto and towering on-screen presence betrays his real life personality, where he is unanimously regarded as a very kind, compassionate and humble human being. His rise from a poor bus conductor in Bangalore into a fledgling actor, and ultimately into the biggest star in South India is the stuff of legends. The enigma around his persona also comes from his origins: he was born as Sivaji Rao Gaekwad (and it wouldn't seem that the title of the movie would be a huge coincidence there, now, would it?), a native Marathi speaker, whose acting aspirations brought him South into the heartland of the Tamil industry.

While this movie is more or less guaranteed to be a success, if this does indeed turn out to be Rajni's last movie, much to the dismay of his countless fans, it will be an entirely befitting farewell. The spirit of hardwork and rectitude that his real-life personality and many of his movie characters inspire will be a true legacy in the times to come. To be the subject of so much adulation in a completely different linguistic environment, and to be welcomed so heartily into the fabric of that community, bear witness as much to his grace and gratitude as to the strong all-encompassing cross-cultural foundations that underlie the superficial maze of communal disharmony in India.

If on the other hand, Rajni continues to act,probably with his next movie coming when he would be close to sixty, the rest of the variables in the equation may change: another role, another perspective and another hit. But, the magic will stay the same.