Siva: I seek happiness over appreciation

The filmmaker, for whom directing actor Rajinikanth in Annaatthe is a dream realised, talks about the experience and the film  Little Siva was 10 years old when he got the enviable chance to meet his idol, Rajinikanth. His family was already into the business of filmmaking, and hence came this opportunity. Thirty-odd years later, Siva…

Darbar: An enthusiastic Rajinikanth propels this passable ‘bad cop’ film

“His Aaditya Arunasalam is a fairly hands-on cop, defined by his willingness to put himself in harm’s way first. But I suppose that’s because he’s a bit like Breaking Bad’s Walter White in a sense. He is not in danger; he is the danger. Notice that opening underwhelming introduction scene as he descends on rowdies from above, literally—this ‘god of commercial cinema’ armed with a trademark Murugadoss weapon (of which there’s a more inventive variety that comes later on in the film). Aaditya is shown to be revelling in these murders—that are shot like video game kills. He calls himself a “baaad cop” (a reference to Annamalai, of course). The newspapers, meanwhile, more accurately, call him a ‘mad cop’.”

The actor beneath the Superstar

“Almost every memorable mass film of Rajini’s has at least one scene in which his excellent performance has not been given its due, even if the scene itself is popular.”