CHENNAI: Worry over his health condition and the doubts lurking over his future in films has caused several diehard fans of the superstar Rajinikanth to watch his films with a renewed vigour these days, with films like Thalapathi, Padayappa and Baasha being their common favourites. Nearly a fortnight ago, when the superstar was admitted to a hospital in Porur, certain fans were peeved that television channels were trying to ‘sell’ his illness by playing scenes and songs of films that the superstar starred in, in order to grab more eyeballs. There is another large section of Rajini fans, however, that believes that seeing the actor in his element in his evergreen classics is a good way to reassure themselves that all is well with the superstar. Says Nivedhana, a writer, “Nearly everyday, there is media speculation that Rajini might not do any more films. This is very depressing because he has carved a niche for himself that is so hard to replicate even among the upcoming big stars. So I felt compelled to watch Annamalai, which marked a new beginning of style for the actor in a clean grey-haired look.” Chandru, another 27-year-old Rajini fan, said he had been wanting to watch a Rajini’s film ever since he first heard that the superstar was admitted to an ICU. “On my weekly day off, I caught up with Padayappa, one of my favourite Rajini films in which the actor does an interesting mix of comedy and action,” says Chandru. While his films of the last two decades are extremely popular, certain classics of the actor like Mullum Malarum, Aarilirundhu Arubadhu Varai, Johnny, Thillu Mullu and Sri Raghavendra are some of the films that Rajini fans are watching more often than earlier.These, however, are not necessarily translating to higher sale of Rajini films these days, say DVD sellers in the city. “Rajini is a name that sells everyday. Even today, films of his like the evergreen Anbulla Rajinikanth, Paayum Puli and Raanuva Veeran find takers of a daily basis. His demand has no season and Rajini fans invariably have a complete collection of all his films so they don’t have to buy films only when he is sick,” said DVD-sellers in Royapettah and Nungambakkam, on condition of anonymity.
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