Superstar Rajinikanth will get Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Rajinikanth, the larger-than-life celebrity whose near-mythical presence within the consciousness of the cinemagoing public has few parallels, shall be bestowed the federal government’s highest honour for Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The announcement, made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday, could have raised some eyebrows—coming because it did amid a heated election season. But few would dispute Rajini’s declare to the nation’s most prestigious honour for a cinema artiste, which shall be conferred upon him on May 3.
And certain sufficient, the congratulatory messages poured in swiftly, even from political rivals. DMK chief and Chief Minister candidate M Okay Stalin stated it was a delayed honour for the celebrity—an “unparalleled performer” and a “dear friend”. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan stated Rajini was probably the most acceptable artiste to get the award. He tweeted that Rajini had “proven that he can win over fans by appearing on screen”—a comment many interpreted as a delicate jibe on the actors’s on once more, off once more flirtation with politics.

🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/WwOHRNhLwF
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 1, 2021
Rajini thanked all of them. His buddy, the bus driver Raj Bahadur (who he devoted the award to), for encouraging him to journey to Chennai, then Madras, to pursue appearing. His brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaikwad, for the “many sacrifices” he made to fulfil his desires amid the difficulties in formative years. His mentor, the late Tamil filmmaker Okay Balachander, who gave him his “first break”, catalysing his transformation from Shivaji Rao Gaikwad to ‘Rajinikanth’. His “friend”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Producers, administrators, technicians, distributors, theatre house owners and the media. And, particularly, the “Tamil people who have helped me thrive, and my fans all over the world”.
Rajinikanth’s path to the very high of the pantheon of Indian cinema was something however typical. After his formative years as a bus conductor in Karnataka, he joined movies at 25. His first huge industrial hit got here along with his twenty fifth outing. On display, he carried out in black and white, color, 3D and movement seize. Off it, he by no means hid his balding pate and greying beard.
According to R Kannan, the writer of MGR: A Life, Rajinikanth was an actor who defied the grammar of charisma.
He stated Rajini was an equal to M G Ramachandran in his appearing profession. But the distinction lay within the former’s reluctance in consciously constructing a picture.