Page 7 - Seniorstoday July 2024 Issue
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setting him on a path of prayer and fasting. not get a good
“That night I had a dream where the saint enough script.
appeared with a white beard and he was It is a director
sitting on the other side of a river. He asked who makes script
me to come to him and I didn’t swim but work and helps
ran to him,” Rajinikanth recounted. The the artists as
next day, upon inquiry, he discovered the well as the other
godman was Sri Raghavendra, further technicians. If
deepening his spiritual resolve. you look at the
Reflecting on his transition into cinema, legendary Sivaji
Rajinikanth credited his journey to pivotal Ganesan, he has had filmmakers like A
moments like joining the film institute and BhimSingh, AP Nagarajan, P Madhavan
catching the eye of Balachander sir. “Then and A Thirulogachander making films
I became a bus conductor, then joined with him. If he did not have these kinds of
the film institute, was then identified by makers with him, he would not have ever
Balachander sir, and became a star,” he got the title of Nadigar Thilagam. Ditto
acknowledged, tracing the milestones with MGR Sir, but then he was more than
that shaped his career. A poignant visit what a director even was. Even in my
to Mantralaayam reinforced his belief in career it is the directors who have shaped
destiny when he encountered the same my career and made me who I am. I started
river from his dream. “So, he and the shooting for films around 50 years ago and
people of Tamil Nadu had made me a star, I have to admit that the directors are the
and that’s how a conductor is standing ones who have given my career an impetus
before you in a suit,” Rajinikanth expresses and a direction,” says Rajinikanth.
gratitude for the path his life had taken. Rajini also mentions how directors have
clearly shaped his career.
“It started with SP Muthuraman sir and
then it was Mahendran Sir who changed
the way I was doing my films and roles. It
was Raj Shekhar who gave me a variety of
KS K Balachander with Kamal and Rajni
Rajinikanth adds that the director is
the most important person in the film
industry. “The producer is like a father
and the director is like a mother. Often I
choose films based on the subject and a
director. There are a lot of times when I do
not sign a film for months together as I do
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #61 | JULY 2024 7
