5 Rajinikanth Films To Watch As Legendary Actor Completes 50 Years In Cinema
It was in 1975 when Rajinikanth stepped into the world of cinema and took the entertainment industry by storm. His debut came with the film Apoorva Raagangal by K Balachander. While it wasn't a grand hero entry, something about him caught everyone's attention, and the rest is history.
Through the late 70s and 80s, Rajinikanth rose to superstardom, expanding his reach into Hindi films and even Hollywood. Over the decades, he gave us unforgettable characters and became the legend that he is today. Even now, with his latest film Coolie, which has been released today in theatres, the superstar shows no signs of slowing down.
As Rajinikanth completes five decades in films, here is a list of his films you absolutely must watch.
Baasha (1995)
For those who have never watched a Rajini film, Baasha is the film to start with. In the actioner drama, he plays an auto driver with a mysterious past, and what follows further in the plot is sure to give you goosebumps. The dialogues, the swagger, the style, everything about the film became iconic. Want proof? It ran in theatres for nearly 15 months.
Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
A perfect blend of action, humour, and style, this film was one of Rajinikanth's best works. As a software architect turned social campaigner, he takes on corruption in ways that will leave you hooked. With Shankar's grand direction and AR Rahman's unforgettable songs, this one also stars Shriya Sharan in the lead role.
Kabali (2016)
In the film, Rajinikanth plays an ageing gangster who has just been released from prison and is on a mission to reunite with his wife and daughter. Directed by Pa Ranjith, the film's star cast includes Radhika Apte as his wife Kumudhavalli, Dhansika, Dinesh Ravi and Winston Chao as the antagonist.
Annamalai (1992)
Directed by Suresh Krissna, the film was the Tamil remake of the 1987 Jeetendra starrer Khudgarz, which was further inspired by Jeffrey Archer's novel Kane and Abel. Featuring Sarath Babu as Ashok and Radha Ravi as his father, the movie became a massive box-office success, running for 175 days in theatres. FYI, it emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film of its time, but the record was later broken by Baasha.
Muthu (1995)
Released in 1995 and directed by KS Ravikumar, Muthu featured Rajinikanth as a loyal servant whose life takes unexpected turns when secrets about his past are revealed. The film also stars Meena and Sarath Babu, with AR Rahman composing a chart-topping soundtrack that became a sensation. Interestingly, Muthu achieved cult status in Japan besides winning the hearts of the Tamil audience.
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