Happy 75th Birthday Rajinikanth: 5 Best Films Of The Superstar

December 12, 2025, will be remembered as a historic day in Indian cinema, as it marks the 75th birth anniversary of the incomparable Rajinikanth. Commonly referred to as ‘Thalaivar’, perhaps his own life itself has been his biggest hit. From being a bus conductor with the name Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, he is an icon today.

With an illustrious career spanning more than five decades, Rajinikanth’s career is a tutorial on unique style, unmatched charisma, and humility. His mannerisms: the cigarette flip, the flip of his hair, and punch dialogues, have gone beyond languages and made him a phenomenon who is worshipped by millions across the world. As he marks the diamond jubilee event, it becomes an occasion for picturising not just longevity but also some unforgettable cinematic experiences that have made his career legendary.

5 Best Movies Of Rajnikanth

To distil the enormous cinematic repertoire he boasts into five films is no easy feat. Nevertheless, these pictures display various sides of his brilliant mind: the committed actor, the ultimate ‘mass’ hero, and the avant-garde visionary.

1. Mullum Malarum (1978)

This film brought him recognition as an actor because it featured Rajinikanth as the stubborn yet loving winch operator named Kali. It was also here that he obtained perhaps his most famous dialogue from director J. Mahendran, who said, ‘Ketta paiyan sir indha Kaali', meaning ‘He’s a bad boy, sir, this Kaali’.

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2. Thalapathi (1991)

Designed and directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Thalapathy’ is a crime drama exploring the ‘Mahabharat’ legends Karna and Duryodhana with today’s interpretation. As Surya, a devoted ‘common man’ hero character, Rajinikanth acted with great subtlety and impact jointly with Malayalam superstar Mammootty.

3. Baashha (1995)

This action-thriller is the definitive Rajinikanth film that cemented his ‘Superstar’ status across India. As the seemingly simple auto-driver Manickam with an explosive, gangster past, the film created a template for the dual-role, good-guy-with-a-dark-past formula. It's a gold standard for 'mass entertainment' and gave birth to countless punchlines.

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4. Padayappa (1999)

A classic ‘Rajinikanth’ film, it perfectly blends family drama, action, love, and philosophy. It broke box office records and included an unforgettable scene with the strong and assertive female villain, Neelambari, played by Ramya Krishnan. The fact that it marked a recent re-release in theatres as a tribute to Rajinikanth’s 75th birthday points towards its popularity.

5. Enthiran (Robot) (2010)

A sci-fi film directed by Shankar, it featured Rajnikanth as a dual character: the composed scientist, Dr Vaseegaran, and the ill-behaved robot, Chitti. Its exemplary graphics and record-breaking performance at the box office were ample proof that Superstar Rajinikanth wanted to try something new and that he had no problems being a solo superstar on an enormous scale.

Image courtesy: IMDb

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