Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Rajini, the centre of sensation - Deccan Chronicle

Rajini, the centre of sensation
September 29th, 2010

What would you call a man who has been a beacon of hope for nearly four decades and delivers stellar performances that touch global audiences? Who is also worshiped as a champion of the masses and effortlessly stylises even the simplest of screenplays? The name is Rajnikanth. Despite other regional cinemas vacating the space of good samaritan scripts and desi Robin Hood type storyboards, Rajinikanth is perhaps the only phenomena, who just by the sheer fact of being in the film, has made it a success.

This grandfather of two is no bicep-wielding hunk, yet in his veshti-clad avatar manages to make even women, who have crossed the half century mark, whistle with vigour. Rajini might not have consumed the youth potion, but his sex appeal seems to soar as he transforms into this slick superhero. But it is this unconventional look combined with his street-style that gives him the edgy appeal. The nine-yards maamis who secretly wish they dated a bad boy, find him suitably refined. His image is that of a good at heart, quirky and vibrant young man — the perfect package for the one that roars in and out of intimate spaces.

Temple priests have started performing Paal abhishekams in the name of Rajini at the behest of fans.

“Tickets have been sold out for the first week. Even the trailers we are running are receiving a thunderous response,” shares Swaroop Reddy, director of Sathyam Cinemas. He also adds,“We had fans lining up outside our gates from 6 am, the day we opened ticket sales.”

Reality show director, Akhila Prakash, says, “I will ignore my bias against Tamil cinema and still whistle for Rajini. He is a legend who has infused dynamism and a light-hearted way of looking at everyday instances through his histrionics.”

Predicting a blockbuster reputed astrologer P.B. Sethuraman says, “The release date October 1 is not that auspicious but Rajinikanth and his family’s stars outshine any negative aspect. The film will definitely be a superhit.”

The lane in which Rajinikanth lives, which is used to frenzied scenes of sycophancy has once again started seeing fans line the pavements to catch a glimpse of their Robot. High profile neighbours of the star, who requested anonymity share, “It is a tradition we are used to. Some even climb trees to peek into his house.”

And surprisingly no one seems to mind this. “There is none like Rajini in the entire universe and if he is living amongst us, it can only be a good thing,” says a leading industrialist who is also known for his real estate portfolio.

Abhishekam for the idol
T. Ramalingam, who belongs to one of the numerous Rajini fan association says, "Everytime Thalaivar’s movie releases it is like watching God himself on the screen. We make elaborate preparations for the first few day. We all visit the Murugan temple in Vadapalani to offer prayers for the Superstar's success. We have even performed beer-abhishekham and paal abhishekham for our very own hero.”

Abhishekam for the idol
T. Ramalingam, who belongs to one of the numerous Rajini fan association says, "Everytime Thalaivar’s movie releases it is like watching God himself on the screen. We make elaborate preparations for the first few day. We all visit the Murugan temple in Vadapalani to offer prayers for the Superstar's success. We have even performed beer-abhishekham and paal abhishekham for our very own hero.”

Sci fi and Rajini
When creativity soars, the star’s value might diminish. But despite the film being touted as the costliest flick with revolutionary effects, the Rajini pull remains. “He is entertainment personified. Nothing else will outshine his calibre and I am happy to have worked with him,” shares a glamour model, who plays a blink-and-miss part in the film.

Security arrangements
Taking precautionary measures, M. Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) says, “We have deployed additional manpower for the first two days. It is to ensure free-flow of traffic and no clashes for tickets.” He also shares, “I have booked my tickets for the first day, second show and I can’t wait.”

All hail Rajini
His appeal knows no bounds. Adrenaline is at an all time high as youngsters scramble for last minute tickets. “Thanks to my father, I have grown up watching his films. This time Enthiran seems to be sold out and despite standing in queues across the city, I haven’t been lucky,” rues Nikhil Rajasekar, a student. Priya Natraj, a visual communication student shares, “My friends and I paid for five tickets of ` 250 each at a multiplex, the original price was ` 120 but by paying extra we didn’t have to stand in the queue and it was so much easier to get our hands on this.”

Special Shows
Cashing in on the rush, theatres like Kasi have factored in a dawn show. The film will be screened to fans who pay a price at 5 am on the first three days. Theatres outside the city limits have also been sold out and are trying to find out, if they are any cancellations from the bulk bookings. If rumours are to be believed, a private mini-theatre in the city run by the wife of a prominent director is planning to have a special screening for select celebrities.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloids/rajini-centre-sensation-121

Ready to pay Rs5,000 to see Rajinikanth? - DNA India

Ready to pay Rs5,000 to see Rajinikanth?
Published: Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010, 8:26 IST
By Sunayana Suresh | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Are you going to watch Rajinikanth in his Endhiran avatar first day, first show on October 1?

Tickets are coming with a price that will leave you gasping for breath. Rajini fans are willing to pay nearly Rs5,000 for a ticket for the sci-fi thriller which industry watchers point out as a new record in India.

In Karnataka since the release is limited to 24 theatres there will be a mad scramble for tickets.

Salman Khan’s Dabangg and Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots had forced people shell out Rs1,000 per a ticket in the opening weekend.
While the official pricing for the film seems to be the highest in Bangalore, with the PVR Gold Class charging as much as Rs2,500, single screens seem to be selling tickets in black market for much higher.

A distributor sheds light about the picture in Karnataka. Says he: “For someone to recover as much as Rs10 crore that has been spent on the film in Karnataka from just 24 screens, the film needs to run to packed houses for over 20 weeks. No wonder multiplexes are pricing the tickets as much Rs750 and Rs2,500 at PVR or Rs450 at Inox.”

In Chennai, tickets are priced only above Rs300. In some of the multiplexes, the tickets for the film are priced up to Rs1,000. Says the film’s publicist Nikil Murugun: “Rajinikanth is no less than a phenomenon. People would gladly give an arm or a leg to watch the film in the opening weekend. No wonder the film’s tickets are priced like this.”

And the craze isn’t limited to Tamil Nadu.
The dubbed Telugu version of Endhiran in Andhra Pradesh seems to be attracting all the frenzy. A member of the Rajinikanth Fan Club in Andhra Pradesh says: “The reports for highest priced tickets sold in black range from Rs4,000 and Rs5,000. There were reports of police busting a theatre where tickets were sold for Rs5,000 and above in black.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_ready-to-pay-rs5000-to-see-rajinikanth_1444971

ரஜி‌னி‌யி‌ன்‌ மே‌ஜி‌க்‌ - ஃபு‌ல்‌ ஆனது 'கொலோஸியம்' தியே‌ட்‌டர்‌! - Tamilcinema.com

ரஜி‌னி‌யி‌ன்‌ மே‌ஜி‌க்‌ - ஃபு‌ல்‌ ஆனது 'கொலோஸியம்' தியே‌ட்‌டர்‌!

ஐரோப்பாவிலேயே மிகப் பெரிய திரையரங்கமான கொலோஸியம் Kino-1ல் சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினியின் எந்திரன் சிறப்புக் காட்சி திரையிடப்படுகிறது. கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் இங்கு வெளியாகும் முதல் படம் ரஜினியின் எந்திரன் மட்டுமே. இந்தக் காட்சிக்கான டிக்கெட்டுகள் வேகமாக விற்பனையாகி வருகின்றன.

இந்த அரங்கம் நார்வேயின் தலைநகரமான ஆஸ்லோவில் அமைந்துள்ளது. Matrix, அவதார் போன்ற சரித்திரப் புகழ்பெற்ற படங்கள் இங்கே வெளியாகியுள்ளன.


மேற்கத்திய நாடுகளில் ஒரு திரையரங்கில் 400 முதல் 700 இருக்கைகளே அதிகம் என்ற நிலைதான் இப்போது உள்ளது. அந்த பாணியைத்தான் இன்றைக்கு இந்தியாவிலும் பின்பற்றி வருகிறார்கள். ஆனால் கொலோஸியம் அரங்கம் 975 இருக்கைகள் கொண்டது. அதிநவீன முறையில், சர்வதேச தரத்திலான (THX) ஒலியமைப்புடன் கட்டப்பட்ட இந்த அரங்கம்தான் ஐரோப்பாவிலேயே பெரியதாகும்.

இந்த அரங்கில் ஆங்கிலம் தவிர்த்த பிறமொழிப் படங்களை வெளியிடுவதில்லை. காரணம் அவற்றை ஒரு காட்சி கூட முழுமையாக ஓட்ட முடியாது என்பதே. ஆனால் கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் முதல்முறையாக வெளியாகும் இந்திய/தமிழ் திரைப்படம் என்றால் அது எந்திரன் மட்டுமே.

நார்வேயில் உள்ள தமிழரான வசீகரன் சிவலிங்கத்தின் வி.என் மியூசிக் ட்ரீம்ஸ் நிறுவனமும், அபிராமி கேஷ் அண்ட் கேரி நிறுவனமும் இணைந்து இந்த சிறப்புக் காட்சிக்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளன.

இதுகுறித்து வசீகரன் கூறுகையில், "கொலோசியத்தில் ரஜினி சாரின் எந்திரன் தமிழ்ப் படம் திரையிடுவது மிகுந்த பெருமையாகவும், மகிழ்ச்சியாகவும் உள்ளது.

இந்த வாய்ப்பை எங்களுக்குத் தந்த ஜாக் ஏ ராஜசேகரின் ஃப்யூஷன் எட்ஜ் மீடியா மற்றும் ஐங்கரன் நிறுவனத்துக்கு நன்றியைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறோம்.." என்றார்.

அவரிடம் எந்திரன் படத்துக்கான வரவேற்பு எப்படி உள்ளது என்று கேட்ட போது, 'பிரமிபக்கத்தக்க வகையில் உள்ளது. நார்வேயில் மொத்தம் 14000 தமிழர்கள் வசிக்கிறார்கள். இவர்களில் அதிகபட்சம் 20 சதவீதத்தினர்தான் திரையரங்குகளுக்குப் போய் படம் பார்ப்பார்கள். பொதுவாக தமிழ்ப் படம் போட்டால் 1400 பேர் வரை வருவார்கள். இதனால் சின்ன தியேட்டர்களாகப் பார்த்து ரிலீஸ் பண்ணுவோம்.

ஆனால் இது சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் படமாச்சே. எதிர்ப்பார்ப்பும் எக்கச்சக்கம். எனவேதான் இந்த பெரிய தியேட்டரில் வெளியிடுகிறோம். மிகக் குறுகிய நேரத்தில் 75 சதவீதம் டிக்கெட்டுகளை விற்றுவிட்டோம். அட, சில நார்வே மக்கள் கூட எந்திரனுக்கு டிக்கெட் வாங்கியுள்ளார்கள் என்றால் பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள். நார்வேயைப் பொறுத்தவரை இது முன்னெப்போதும் நிகழாத சாதனைதான்..." என்றார்.

இந்த கொலோஸியம் அரங்கில் சிறப்புக் காட்சி முடிந்ததும், 300 இருக்கைகள் கொண்ட வேறு திரையரங்கில் எந்திரன் காட்சிகள் தொடரும் என்றும் அவர் கூறினார்.

எந்திரன் படம் குறித்து வசீகரன் கூறுகையில், "நிச்சயம் இந்தப் படத்தால் தமிழ் சினிமாவுக்குப் பெருமை. சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ரஜினியின் மேஜிக் குறிப்பிட்ட எல்லைக்குட்பட்டதல்ல. உலகம் முழுவதையும் வசீகரப் படுத்தும் சக்தி கொண்டவர் அவர். இந்தப் படம் மிகச் சிறந்த படைப்பாக வந்திருக்கிறது. நிச்சயம் உலக சினிமாவில் எந்திரன் புதிய சாதனைப் படைக்கும் என்பதில் சந்தேகமே இல்லை," என்றார்.

http://www.tamilcinema.com/CINENEWS/Hotnews/2010/september/280910d.asp

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Enthiran Table on Spring-Deccan Chronicle


A dinner table designed around the movie is receiving all the attention at a city-based hotel
With Enthiran frenzy reaching fever-pitch all over the state, a hot favourite with city youngsters is the dedicated `Enthiran Table' at The Movies, a theme-based restaurant. Known as Arunachala Inn earlier, this Rajinikanth-owned property was taken on lease last year by Ravi of the Vasantha Bhavan group, who turned it into a posh, designer hotel named The Spring.


The `Enthiran Table' is the latest addition to the theme restaurant. It's a table for two, with Rajinikanth's image embossed on both sides of one vinyl chair and Aishwarya Rai's on the other chair. Completing the picture is the table top, which provides a sneak peek of Enthiran. The restaurant, which has 23 designer tables, all based on Hollywood themes like Harry Potter, Slumdog Millionaire, Directors' Table, Legendary Actors, also has two screens for the projection of global movies.

R. Anand Krishnan, Ravi's son and one of the directors of the swanky hotel, says the entire hotel was redesigned as a "tribute to Rajinikanth sir." He explains, "I saw a moviethemed hotel in Switzerland shortly after we had taken Arunachala on lease. It was like a movie set with stage, camera, and arc lights. Back home, when I suggested this to my mother Swarnalatha, she felt the idea was a good one, but that we didn't have enough space to create a simi lar format. After care ful thought we finally came up with the idea of `dedicated tables.'" Adds Swarnalatha, the managing director of the hotel, "We have plans to screen the trailers of Enthiran after consulting its producers, Sun Pictures."

The Superstar actually dined at the `Enthiran Table' a few days ago and was all praise for the young entrepreneur. "We redesigned the entire hotel after consulting the superstar at each and every stage. And whenever he has time to spare, he prefers to dine here.
Even Rajini sir's daughter Soundaraya's mehendi ceremony was conducted here," she revealed.

Another highlight of the hotel is its Rajini-themed coffee shop, Caffeine, where the walls are lined with murals of major Rajinikanth films right from the time of his debut Kollywood flick -Aboorva Ragangal. "We have recently added a painting of Rajini sir from Enthiran to the list of 23 avatars (murals of the Superstar from his milestone films) on the wall. Artist Santhanam is the man behind these sketches," Anand reveals.

Rajini's portrait from his upcoming film, Sultan The Warrior, also finds a place here.

Plans are being set in motion to open a similar-themed chain of hotels in Coimbatore and Tirupathi, where the global icon's popularity is phenomenal.

Could this be called the `Total Rajini Experience'?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Indian Express News on Thalaivar fans celebration


CELEBRATION the screens this Friday, Venkadesan S takes a look at what the fan clubs have in store With Enthiran set to hit theatres

THE wait is finally over with the much-hyped Enthiran soon set to hit the screens. Having successfully booked tickets for the first show on the first day for almost triple the usual fare, they are now preparing to glorify the Enthiran.

"Major celebration begins a day before the release," says Ravi, head of Saidapet Rajini Fan Club Association. "We've arranged for a special pooja at the Saidapet Karumaariyamman temple on September 30. It'll be followed by free meals for differently-abled children."

The celebrations around Kasi Theatre will continue through the night. "We have arranged for music bands, mayilattam and oyilaatam groups. We've purchased `40,000 worth crackers," says Ravi. The hike in the price of the ticket doesn't seem to affect them. "We're ready to pay even `5,000 to watch his film," he adds.

While these celebrations are in South Chennai, other sectors are not idle.
"We're taking the Enthiran reel box on procession after the pooja," says Ezhil, head of Pursawalkam Rajini Fan Club Association.

Not just Chennai, Kancheepuram too is gearing up for the robot. "We've planned to give an apple to audience on the first day as Rajini is seen with an apple in one of the scenes in the trailer," says Rajini Babu, District Secretary, Kanchipuram Rajini Fan Clubs.

The fans seem to be in a frenzy . And, who's to blame them. After all, it's after two years that they're going to watch their thalaivar on the big screen.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Enthiran- The hottest movie in US - Sify.com


Enthiran- The hottest movie in US
By Moviebuzz | Sunday, 26 September , 2010, 06:39.

The Enthiran wave has hit US and tickets are fast selling out all major releasing stations.

The tickets for the first week were sold out a sell out at the Jackson Heights in New York. Rajinikanth is the biggest Tamil star in America.

Superstar is the only legend who can give continuous excitement to his fans. Seattle is the one of his largest fans hub in the USA. Mayuri Videos, Redmond, the only store in Seattle which sells the exclusive Collector's edition tickets for Enthiran.

Local fans from Washington state have come and celebrated and bought the premier show tickets. Tickets for Enthiran premiere in cities across US are selling like hot cakes. The ticket price for premier show itself has created a new record, as they are selling at $ 40.

Please note that Rajinikanth’s last release Sivaji premiere tickets were sold at $25.

http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14957528

Enthiran’s tickets sold out within minutes in Tamil Nadu - DNA India

Enthiran’s tickets sold out within minutes in Tamil Nadu
Published: Sunday, Sep 26, 2010, 0:18 IST
By D Ram Raj | Place: Chennai | Agency: DNA

Science fiction film Enthiran (Robot), which is to release on October 1, is living up to every bit of its hype. Theatres across Tamil Nadu have closed their ‘advance bookings’, just hours after the counters were opened. Huge queues of young and old, men and women were seen in theatres across the state, all trying to get a ticket to see the latest Rajinikanth film.

“People have already booked for all advanced tickets to up to a week. A lot of bookings happened online, so much so that many servers crashed,” a film industry source said. In some of the state’s districts, Rajinikanth fans were seen performing aarathis to the film’s posters and breaking coconuts to wish the film good luck.

Fans who were able to get tickets for the first show were seen rejoicing, sharing sweets and in some places even bursting crackers. “I have been watching Rajini movies on the first day of their release. And I will also be watching Enthiran’s first show,” Sathish, a staunch Rajini fan, remarked. And there was heart-break for those who could not get tickets. “I was hoping to get a ticket for the first show, tickets were sold out within minutes,” a young girl in Chennai, who identified herself as Mala said.

According to sources, a record 2,250 prints have been made for the simultaneous launch of the film directed by S Shankar. The film is expected to be released in over 2,000 theatres in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. AR Rahman has scored the background music and Aishwarya Rai co-stars with Rajinikanth in the film.

Theatre officials were seen remarking that they expected a huge turnout for advance bookings, but this exceeded all expectations.

Some, like a popular multiplex on the East Coast Road, Chennai is expected to screen up to 60 shows a day, the highest ever for a single film in India.