Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 170 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. He is widely regarded to be one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. Known for his uniquely styled mannerism and one liners in films, he has a huge fan base internationally and has a cult following. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 2000, Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second highest civilian honours, and the highest award in the field of cinema Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the 67th National Film Awards ceremony (2019) for his contributions to Indian cinema. He has won numerous film awards including seven Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Nandi Award and one Filmfare Award.
Kailasam Balachandar was an Indian playwright, film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor who worked mainly in the Tamil cinema. He was well known for his distinct film-making style, and the Indian film industry knew him as a master of unconventional themes and hard-hitting contemporary subject matter. Balachander's films are well known for their portrayal of women as bold personalities and central characters. Popularly referred to as Iyakkunar Sigaram, his films are usually centred on unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He started his film career in 1964 as a screenwriter and graduated to a director with Neerkumizhi (1965).
Janagaraj is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 240 films predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He also starred in few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films.
Baashha is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language gangster action film written and directed by Suresh Krissna. The film stars Rajinikanth, Nagma and Raghuvaran, with Janagaraj, Devan, Shashi Kumar, Vijayakumar, Anandaraj, Charan Raj, Kitty, Sathyapriya, Shenbaga and Yuvarani in supporting roles. It revolves around an auto-driver who maintains a humble exterior and avoids violence but conceals a dark past from his family.
Rudraveena is a 1988 Indian Telugu-language musical-drama film directed and co-written by K. Balachander. Produced by Nagendra Babu's Anjana Productions, the film stars Chiranjeevi alongside Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Shobana. It also marked the acting debut of Kannada actor and filmmaker Ramesh Aravind in Telugu cinema. P. L. Narayana, Prasad Babu, Sumithra, Devilalitha, and Brahmanandam play supporting roles.
Veera (transl. Valour) is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by Suresh Krissna and written by Panchu Arunachalam. It is a remake of the Telugu film Allari Mogudu (1992) and stars Rajinikanth, Meena and Roja with Janagaraj, Senthil, Vadivukkarasi, J. Livingston, Mahesh Anand, Vinu Chakravarthy, Ajay Rathnam, Vivek and Charuhasan in supporting roles. The film is about a man who marries twice because of circumstances beyond his control and is forced to live a double life to cover his tracks.
Annaamalai is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by Suresh Krissna and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions. A remake of the 1987 Hindi film Khudgarz, itself based on Jeffrey Archer's 1979 novel Kane and Abel, it stars Rajinikanth, Khushbu and Sarath Babu with Radha Ravi, Nizhalgal Ravi and Manorama in supporting roles. The film revolves around Annaamalai, a poor milkman, and Ashok, a wealthy hotelier, who have been friends since childhood, a friendship opposed by Ashok's father who attempts to create a rift between the two.
Anthuleni Katha is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by K. Balachander, starring Jaya Prada, with Fatafat Jayalaxmi, Rajinikanth and Sripriya in supporting roles. Kamal Haasan played a cameo.
Rajinikanth is an Indian actor, film producer, screenwriter and also a playback singer who has appeared predominantly in Tamil cinema. He began his film career by playing antagonistic and supporting roles before graduating to a lead actor. After starring in numerous commercially successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he has continued to hold a matinée idol status in the popular culture of Tamil Nadu. Writing for Slate, Grady Hendrix called him the "biggest movie star you've probably never heard of." Rajinikanth has also worked in other Indian film industries such as Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Punnagai Mannan is a 1986 Indian Tamil-language musical romantic drama film written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Revathi in the lead roles, with Srividya, Rekha, Delhi Ganesh, Sudarshan and Sundar Krishna Urs in supporting roles. Its plot revolves around a dance instructor whose student falls in love with him.
Sathyam Babu Dixithulu, known by his stage name Sarath Babu, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. He appeared in more than 300 films, including in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and a few Malayalam and Hindi films. He has received eight state Nandi Awards.
Harish Kumar is an Indian actor and film producer. He is known for his works in Telugu and Hindi movies, including Prem Qaidi, Coolie No. 1, Tirangaa, Prema Khaidi, Kranti Kshetra, Ravan Raaj: A True Story and Daisy. He has won two Nandi Awards.
Arumugam is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by Suresh Krishna and written by Rashid Premji. The film stars Bharath and Priyamani, while Ramya Krishnan, Saranya Mohan, Sathya, and Karunas play supporting roles. The music was composed by Deva. This movie was based on the Rajinikanth film Annaamalai (1992), also directed by Suresh Krishna. The film released on 25 September 2009 and was panned by critics as well as audience.
Idi Katha Kaadu is a 1979 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by K. Balachander starring Jayasudha, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, Sarath Babu and, Saritha. It is a remake of Balachander's own Tamil film Avargal (1977). Jayasudha reprised the role of Sujatha in the original. Kamal Haasan starred in the same role in both languages. This film also had Chiranjeevi as the villainous husband of Jayasudha. The film was shot in Black and white. Jayasudha won the Nandi Award for Best Actress.
Rakshasudu (transl. Demon) is a 1986 Telugu-language action crime film directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy, starring Chiranjeevi in the lead role. Produced by K. S. Rama Rao under the Creative Commercials banner, the film features Radha and Suhasini as the female leads, with Nagendra Babu making his acting debut in a supporting role. The film is based on Yandamuri Veerendranath's novel of the same name.
Kotigobba is a 2001 Indian Kannada-language action film starring Vishnuvardhan, Priyanka Upendra and Ashish Vidyarthi. The film was a remake of Rajinikanth's 1995 Tamil film Baashha which itself was inspired from the 1991 Hindi movie Hum. This movie was directed by Naganna and features soundtrack from Deva who also composed the music for the Tamil version. Vishnuvardhan was nominated for Filmfare Best Actor category.
The 40th Filmfare Awards South Ceremony honouring the winners of the best of South Indian cinema in 1992 is an event held on 13 October 1993 was an event held at the Kamaraj Hall, Madras.
R. Sundaramoorthy is an Indian make-up artist and actor known for his work in Tamil films apart from some Hindi and Telugu films. He is best known for his work in the film Padayappa (1999). Sundaramoorthy is notably the first make-up artist for Rajinikanth.
Annaamalai is the soundtrack album, composed by Deva with lyrics by Vairamuthu, for the 1992 Tamil film of the same name, starring Rajinikanth and directed by Suresh Krissna. It marks the beginning of a collaboration between Rajinikanth and Deva, replacing Ilaiyaraaja, who was the norm composer for Rajinikanth's films. The soundtrack was released on 8 May 1992, under Lahari Music label.
