Super quotes from the Superstar

There is a joke about Rajnikanth that is doing the rounds in Kollywood and beyond: “When SUPERSTAR does a pushup, he does not lift himself up; he just pushes the Earth down”.

More jokes on these lines are in the making, thanks to the curtains of invincibility that have been woven around the Superstar by his fan-filmmakers. Writers too have contributed in building up the Rajni legend. It’s a habit among Rajni’s writers to jot in a few one-liners, which the star happily shoots off, on screen. No Rajni movie is complete without “the Rajnikanth Punch line”.

Each of these lines is taken in as a commandment by the zealous Rajni fan. Rajni does an MGR with these cleverly poised words. He uses it to communicate to his fans and detractors as to who he “really” is, what he likes, who he loves, who he hates and what his plans are. Here are 10 selected one-liners from the Superstar Rajnikanth encyclopedia.

Enjoy!

'Moondru Mugam' (1982): Rajni plays Alex Pandiyan, a righteous cop.

Ekambaram, the villain, dares to say this to Alex: “Ekambaramnu sonna vayithula irukura kozhandhai kooda vaaya moodum.” (“Say the name ‘Ekambaram’ and even an unborn child will shut its mouth and hush up.”)

Alex retorts: “Adhe kozhandhai kitta Alex Pandiyannu sonna, innoru kaiyale avanga amma vaayayum moodum!” ( “Well, if you say the name ‘Alex Pandian’ to that particular unborn child, it will close its mother’s mouth with the other hand!”)

'Annamalai' (1992): Rajni plays Annamalai, who starts out as a cowherd, and becomes a millionaire by selling milk.(!) He even sings in praise of the cow divine. About his style of functioning, he has this to say: Naan solrathaiyum seiven, sollathathiyum seiven.” ( “I will do what I say, I will also do what I don’t say.”)

'Uzhaippali' (1993): Rajni is the King of Proletarians here.

“Nethu naan coolie.. enniku naan nadigan.. naalaikku... Sila per solranga naan eppadi varuven appadi varuven.. naan eppadi varuvennu andavanukkum mattum thaan theriyum.. (Yesterday, I was a coolie, today I'm an actor; people have different ideas about my future. Only god knows what I will become!!)

'Baasha' (1995): In this cult classic, Rajni plays the undercover Don, who had once roamed the streets of Mumbai, in a car sandwiched by two SUVs. “Manik Basha” always walks in slow motion, with three doting assistants following him, three paces behind.

Apparently, Basha does not want to waste his words on lowlifes and trivialities: ““Naan oru dhadavai sonna nooru dhadavai sonna madhiri.” (If I say it once, it is equal to saying it a hundred times.”)


'Muthu' (1996): Rajni plays Muthu, a village simpleton who is the real “Vaaris” to a millionaire (also played by Rajni) who had given up his castle and all the riches thereof to lead the life of an ascetic!

“Naan eppa varuven, eppadi varuvennu yarukkum theriyadhu, aana varavendiya neratthil correct-aga varuven.” (“No one knows when I will come, or how I will, but when I come I will come in the right time.”)—No pun intented!

'Arunachalam' (1997): Rajni plays Arunachalam, who is given Rs. 30 crore in cash and the golden opportunity to squander it within a month’s time:

“Andavan solran. Arunachalam seiran.” (“God commands, Arunachalam obeys.”)

Padayappa (1999): Padayappa is a Mechanical engineer, who is brave enough to take a Cobra out of its pit. Unfortunately, a scheming uncle deprives Padayappa’s dad of all the wealth. Padayappa is left only with a throw-away real estate, which has a barren hill for an investment. Rajni discovers that it is a “granite malai” (granite hill!!!). He sells all the granite, becomes a millionaire, and avenges his dad.

“En vazhi , thani vazhi.” (“My way is the original (a unique) way!)

To women, who roam the village in min-skirts and flaunt their attitude, Padayappa has this to say (before he quits the scene in slow motion): “Adikamaa aasikkira aanum adhikamaa kopikkira ponnum vazhntha sarithirame kedaythth” (The overtly ambitious man and the overtly angry woman have never succeeded on earth!!!)

Baba (2003)

Plays Baba, who is destined for “bigger things”! Rajni himself has written the screenplay, but he forgets to tell people what the “bigger things” really are!

Baba: Naan leytta vanthalum leyttestta than varuvaan…. (Even if I come late, I will be the latest one to come!). Again, no pun intended.

'Chandramukhi' (2005)

Plays Saravanan, a super psychiatrist who “tames” a schizophrenic shrew. The plot demands Saravanan to play an Andhraite King, who says “Lagalagalagalagalagalaga” every time he enters the shot. The meaning of this word (phrase, idiom) is unknown to this day.

'Sivaji, The Boss' (2007)

Sivaji is a US-returnee, who nurtures the dream of civilizing India’s educational sector. He starts a medical college, gets trapped in huge debts and is rendered penniless. He is offered a One-rupee coin by the villain, just before “Interval”. Sivaji uses this coin to become a millionaire; the screen-time taken for this manoeuvre is not more than 10 minutes.

To the king of goons, who is surprised at the fact that Sivaji had landed alone to fight his monster herd, Sivaji says this: “Panni than daa koottama varum; Singam single aa than varum” (“Only the swine comes in herds; The Lion will always come alone”)

The ‘Discovery Channel’ truth: It’s the lion who always attacks in groups!

To those who literally tremble at the mention of his name, Sivaji roars: Summa peru sonnale adhiruthille???!!! (Doesn’t my name send a shiver down your spine? Ha!)

And when they swoon to his charms, Sivaji says: “Kkkhooooool” (“Cool”)!