'There was a time when a movie star could win an election just by stepping into politics. That era is over.'
"Some are creating an impression that Rajinikanth is to launch a party at the instigation of people who intend to decimate the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu. "Let me tell you, this is the land of Periyar (Dravidar Kazhagam founder E V Ramasamy Naicker), Anna (C N Annadurai) and Kalaignar (Karunanidhi)... such efforts in the past have ended in a fiasco," Stalin said.
Vijay has a lot of young and middle-aged women fans, but as voters, they are possibly now with the DMK, or remain with the AIADMK. Recapturing this constituency would have helped Vijay's political launch and the GOAT script and dialogues could have gone a long way in helping out. But the kind of script and screenplay and the unusually and equally unnecessary long run-time (3 hours, 3 minutes) that GOAT offers takes the film experience over the heads of those that are not familiar with secret agents and uranium theft in Tamil cinema, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
Joginder Tuteja lists our theatrical entertainment for the month.
A relatively quiet foray by actor Vijay into politics through the TN rural local body elections last month has captured the attention of many, reports Shine Jacob.
In private, questions are being raised about the wisdom of a 'dual-SIM' leadership during the long run-up to the 2026 assembly polls where 'family rule' could become an election issue, reports N Sathiya Moorthy.
'But he needs to go easy on the work front. The doctors have advised him not to overdo it.'
Lal Salaam is not a movie A Ganesh Nadar would recommend.
If you'd like to know more about Rajini the actor, Saisuresh Sivaswamy offers a wide selection.
He called for an "uprising" by youth, after which he would make his formal political entry.
"Been a long journey but I'm super grateful to the people who stood by my side to help me to get where I am today. Thank you Nitin bhai, Rajini sir and everyone at the NCA, who've been tirelessly helping me. Much love and much appreciated," Shreyas said on Twitter.
Vellore is one of the two seats that the DMK alliance won by the narrowest of margins in 2019. For the DMK's vote-score to be so low in a constituency with a substantial Muslim population has not missed the BJP strategists' eyes, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
Warner swapped the superstar's face with his and posted a funny video on Instagram.
Mersal is the first Vijay film to make Rs 200 crores. Some say credit for the star's most successful film goes to the BJP and its opponents.
Where do Vijay and his TVK expect to get their votes from? Vijay has a huge fan following among women, but will they automatically become his voters like they had done for MGR's AIADMK, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.
In July, Karate Thiagarajan, former deputy mayor of Chennai and close aide of Rajinikanth, had revealed that the actor will launch his party in November, this year.
Rajinikanth seems to have ended the recently-revived speculation about his imminent launch into direct politics, unlike in the past, when he had expressed specific or indirect support one or the other of the two 'Dravidian majors', says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Sidharth Roy Kapur, president of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India, Vivek Oberoi, Anupam Kher, Madhur Bhandarkar and producer Boney Kapoor were also a part of the event, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At 70, going by hospital records made public, most age and health-related arguments put out against super-star Rajinikanth's entry into politics, before he withdrew citing a 2016 kidney-transplant, hold good for Sasikala, too, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
If Muslims face trouble I will be the first person to raise voice for them, says the Tamil superstar.
Here's what a Rajinikanth movie screening looks like.
'I am a spontaneous actor. I follow what works for the character.'
Rajinikanth's Kaala Karikalan releases on June 7.
Indicators are that there has been little enthusiasm for Rajinikanth's entry into politics, owing possibly to his 'hide-and-seek' game over the subject since the early to mid-nineties. That was when Rajinikanth was already a superstar, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Rajnikanth spoke at the trailer launch of his forthcoming film Darbar in Mumbai.
Gukesh aims to keep improving after becoming India No 1 without sponsorship support
British adventurer Bear Grylls shared an intriguing motion poster marking superstar Rajinikanth's blockbuster TV debut in Discovery's 'Into the Wild'. Grylls also shared that it was a special experience for him to work with the Padma Vibhushan awardee.
The famed survivalist and adventurer will shoot the episode in Karnataka's Bandipur National Park, established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. The shooting is scheduled for six hours on Tuesday and again on Thursday.
Rajinikanth said he stood by his comments made on Periyar, maintaining that they were factual and refused to apologise as demanded by fringe Dravidian outfits. DMK chief advised him to exercise caution while expressing views on Periyar.
The veteran star likened Modi to tall leaders of India, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, A B Vajpayee, K Kamaraj, C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa.
The megastar has okayed his next film, so what happens to politics?
'Rajini sir has taken his daughter's break-up very badly.'
"If a situation arises wherein me and Kamal have to join hands for the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu, we will surely come together," Rajinikanth said.
Greater Chennai Corporation said the actor paid Rs 6,56,000 towards property tax for his marriage hall at Kodambakkam. The Rs 6 lakh plus tax for 2020-21 first half year includes 'late pay penalty' of Rs 9,386, the civic body said, adding it was paid by way of a cheque.
'He just said that those who cannot control the violence should go. He did not name the BJP.'
However, "we don't know who is Krishna and who is Arjuna," added the actor, who has said he would launch his political party and contest the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
The elegance of Rajinikanth's elder daughter Aishwarya.
The Makkal Needhi Maiam founder-president said he would prefer to 'stay in the centre' and talk about things benefiting women.
