Ananth Narayan Mahadevan

(National Award-winning actor and filmmaker)

Rajinikanth’s 1975 debut film, K. Balachander’s romantic drama Apoorva Raagangal about unconventional relationships, remains evergreen. I really like the song Athisaya Raagam from the film as also Kaatril Endhan Geetham from Trama Rao’s 1984 John Jani Janardhan (1984).

Then there’s Thalapathi, Mani Ratnam’s (1991) epic and his most stylishly artistic mainstream film. Rajinikanth’s portrayal of Surya — a tragic underworld hero — is iconic!

Another Tamil drama, Mullum Malarum (1978), is often considered his best performance. He plays Kaali, an ego-driven winch operator, with raw intensity and vulnerability.

Also memorable is the 1985 Tamil historical, Sri Raghavendrar , a meditative retelling of the life

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