Today, on December 12, SuperStar Rajinikanth turns 73, and he is fondly called Thalaivar. (Leader) For five decades, Tamil Actor Rajinikanth redefined the stardom and emerged as one of the most celebrated actors in Asia. His style, charisma and mannerisms are sensational. Let’s see the compilation of the top ten movies that highlight the depth and performance of this legendary, great actor.
Mullum Mallarum (1978)
Mullum Malarum is one of Rajinikanth’s most acclaimed films. He plays the role of Kali, a cable trolley operator who locks horns with his boss. The film featured him as an angry young man. This film is considered a cult classic among his fans due to his outstanding performance.
Billa (1980)
Rajini, as Billa, a notorious criminal living in Madras, sustains lethal wounds during an encounter with the police. The police commissioner surreptitiously substitutes him with a doppelgänger to penetrate his criminal gang. He played a Ruthless don facing serious gangsters and this film redefined stardom where ‘swag’ was in every frame.
Johnny (1981)
The movie Johnny tells the tale of the romance between Archana (Sridevi) and her devoted fan, Johnny (Rajinikanth). The course of events changes when Archana learns that Johnny was once a small-time crook. However, Vidyasagar, who goes by Rajinikanth, is accused of killing someone. The events involving Johnny, Vidyasagar, and Archana comprise the remainder of the narrative.
Thalapathi (1991)
Surya, an orphan who grew up in a slum, forms an alliance with Devaraj, a reputable criminal organisation, and eventually begins working for him. A new, trustworthy district collector endangers their very existence. This puts us under pressure to reconsider the definitions of ‘family’ and ‘friend’ as well as the tension between the two, at times causing a rift in what was once an unwavering belief. Occasionally, such interactions may coalesce into a mutually beneficial alliance, thereby fortifying the social tapestry of their local community.
Annamalai (1992)
Even though Ashok and Annamalai come from different backgrounds, they are best friends. Annamalai works as a milkman, whereas Ashok is the wealthy business magnate’s son. On land that belonged to Annamalai, Ashok’s father demolishes his house and constructs a hotel on it. In addition to promising Ashok and his father that he will outperform them in the company and become the richest man in the city, Annamalai swears to exact retribution.
Muthu (1995)
While his cousin is raised as a royal, the true prince, Muthu, is raised as a servant. The actress, who in turn loves Muthu, is loved by the prince. In addition, the uncle of the prince intends to murder everyone for the property. This film created a huge fan base for him in Japan and South East Asia.
Baasha (1995)
Manikam, an auto driver, tries very hard to hide his dark side so he can keep his word to his father. It is very important for Manickam to stay away from crime. But when his brother, a police officer, gets into trouble with a few nefarious guys, it sets off a chain of events that brings Manickam back to his old self. Every movie has some unpleasant points, and Baasha is not an exemption. However, Rajinikanth’s style and presence on screen make you forget about all of his flaws. People think this movie is one of Rajnikanth’s best films.
Padaiyappa (1999)
The main character of the story, Aarupadayappan, is the object of a generations-long vendetta carried out by his vamp cousin Neelambari, who was humiliated when Padayappa turned down his proposal of love and instead fell in love with her shy, kind housemaid Vasundhara. His father’s passing destroys Padaiyappa’s family. But with a turn of events, he is able to live a prosperous life—until his adversary hatches a new scheme to sabotage his happiness. Padayappa is one of the classic Rajinikanth films for the generation that grew up in the 1990s.
Kaala (2010)
The story is about Karikaalan, a Tamil man living in Dharavi and controlling the chawl politics. He consistently fights to keep the people of Dharavi, a slum in Mumbai, safe from the clutches of mighty politicians and the land mafia don, Hari Dhadha, played by Nana Patekar. The fight of personalities of Nana and Rajini is a sight to be behold.
Kabali (2016)
A man uses his connections as a gangster to try to shield his family from harm. He maintains a long-standing feud and takes up his position as gang boss after being released from prison on bogus accusations. This film breaks the social barrier of openly discussing the anti-caste politics in Tamil films.
