Here is an excerpt of an interview with an ophthalmologist Dr Gayathri Srikanth, author of yet another biography on superstar megastar Rajnikanth. This one is called, ‘The Name is Rajnikanth’.
Why did you zero in on Rajnikanth and not Kamal Haasan for your first book?
I felt he was the obvious choice because he was the superstar, and the hype surrounding Sivaji was so immense. When I searched for him on the Internet, I found out that he grew up motherless as a child, and had a very bad childhood. Later on, he had to work as a coolie, then a bus conductor and lastly became the superstar. I found the stories had so many gaps. But I thought the rags-to-riches story of Rajni was very fascinating. So, I decided to write a biography on Rajnikanth and started my work in March 2007.
How did you begin your work? Did you contact Rajniknath first?
No, I couldn’t contact him. He was shooting for Sultan in Holland. So, I met his wife through a common friend. I told her, ‘Ma’am I want to write a book on your husband’. She said there are a million books on him. She first thought I was yet another fan. When she came to know that I was an ophthalmologist, she was amused and gave me permission to go ahead.
I went to Bangalore and the first person I met was Bahadur. He then helped me meet all of Rajni’s school friends. I also met his brother, a very simple man. I think simplicity runs in the family. Then I went to Mumbai to meet the friends he had befriended as a teenager but they wanted to remain anonymous
The book was launched at Taj Connemera in Chennai last evening. Soundharaya Rajinikanth was the only person who was there from Superstar’s family. It was already known that other family members including Superstar would not be there since it would look like self-proclaiming. Soundharya too didn’t speak much in the event. Just a small speech, “I am proud to be the daughter of a great man.’
Veteran journalist Cho S Ramaswamy handed over the first copy of the book to the superstar’s daughter Soundarya Rajnikanth. Cho was being mischievous, ‘Rajnikanth is a believer in spiritualism but he is not a spiritualist, an observer of politics but not a politician and an actor but not a showman.’
Megastar Rajnikanth was a spoilt brat when he was five-years-old, bullied people when he was 10 and tied cycle chains around his neck at 20…Rajni, along with his friends, used to play marbles and if anybody else other than him won the game, he used to beat him up.
Here are the exclusive pictures from the event.
The 34-year-old doctor turned writer said, “Another reason I decided to write on Rajnikanth is that there are so many books on the north Indian counterparts of the star like Amitabh (Bachchan) and Shah Rukh Khan, but none on the southern stars.”
It is surprising that Gayathri completed research and writing of the book without meeting or interviewing Rajnikanth even once. Perhaps it is only a compilation of already written information floating around.
“After completing the book, I presented it to Rajni sir in November. He didn’t say a word and just took it. What unnerved me more was that for next 10 days I didn’t get any response from his side. And then a letter arrived,” she said. The letter said:
This is a result of extraordinary effort made by Dr. Gayatri. She has gone through many trials and trouble to put together this book. She has woven together numerous incidents into a kind of screenplay, which is stylish and beautifully presented. I am overwhelmed with the book. I hope readers would enjoy it.
“The first edition(384 pages, 100 pictures- priced at Rs 495) would see nearly 20,000 copies in English hitting the bookshelves across the country March 6. By year the book will be published in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi and Japanese. ,” said publisher Ajay Mago of Om Books International.
thank u very much for writting the super star babilography…
thanks a lot for writing super stars babilogarhy…
by
fan of super star
thank you very much…in simple words..rajni is as simple as simple
Dear P. Satish, Dorai,
I am glad that you liked the post, and that we were able to provide you with all the latest on Rajnikanth.
I read the book “The Name is Rajnikanth” last week (english version).
The book is full of mistakes. Both factual mistakes as well as spelling mistakes.
I am really surprised that the author has no knowledge on Rajnikanth’s films or its titles. I am really surprised that the publisher has not taken any efforts to run the book through some ardent rajnikanth fans to check some facts relating to his movies.
It was sad reading the book with so many mistakes. I am going to send the book back to the publisher and ask for a refund of Rs 490. (some sample of mistakes: a) Rajni’s role as police Alex Pandian is in movie called Moondru Mugam and not Moondru Mudichu. b) Rajni was not the hero of Aboorva Raagangal. It was Kamal. c) Rajni’s movie Moondru Mudichu is not a slap stick comedy. Its a serious story and Rajni is a serious villain in that movie. Rajni’s slap stick comedy with K.Balachander was Thillu Mullu and not Moondru Mudichu. d) Rajni and Sivakumar acted in Bhuvana oru Kelvikurri and not in Bhuvana oru kavi Kuyil. Kavi Kuyil is a different movie by itself. e) Director Shankar had nothing to do with the movie Johnny. Johnny was directed by Mr Mahendran. The list of mistakes is endless. It was frustrating to read the book. Hope Mr and Mrs Rajnikanth read this book fully before they attend various functions and launch the book in other parts of the world.
Dear Tiger Ramesh,
Thank you for sharing first hand information on the book. We do appreciate your review. I hope the author and publisher takes note of these errors and correct these in the forthcoming editions. Once again, thank you.
ver very good
Yes. The books has factual errors – but the errors are so apparent that it won’t make a difference to our knowledge of Rajini – there are some lesser know facts that make the book interesting. It would have really helped if the publisher had hired a good editor. I liked the book simply bcoz I enjoy Rajini.
slalm to all…. the book is good to look…reading somethikes like this … i don like this… me only like THE BOSS… so i happy..
Awwwsome !!!!!!!! Keep going ……….
Salam Jackson,
Well said jack we are fans of the superstar and we collect anything associated with the superstar and promote it and not
find faults in it.
You get the best offer for this book on Indiaplaza.in. You get a 10% off on the book and also get the DVDs of “Baasha” and “Thalapathi” Free. You can use the link below to reach this site
http://www.indiaplaza.in/finalpage.aspx?storename=books&sku=9788187108443&ct=2
A good beginning makes a good ending.
Good Effort
I am sure that she will write a book about me in a few years.
I am SHARAN and only SHARAN.
hi all
i felt so happy to reveal these things to u.The Name is RajniKanth is really excellent one.But one thing i requested to all of u are please publish in telugu version also ….Crores of telugu fans of Rajni disappoined with this.I am personally requesting for this.Some of the incidents in that book is very impressive.The incident @ bengalore temple rajni took 10 rs(amount not sure) from the young lady as a saint getup is too good.I am really impressed with that… to explain Rajni is simple …Simple Simple……………………..
Thanks,
Ram
Rajni should have stopped the book from being released. Dr Gayathri has exploited Rajni’s popularity by publishing a half past six book.
The factual and typo errors cannot be tolerated, whatmore with the millions of fans who have very detailed information on the icon.
Dr Gayathri should do both of these:
a. aplogise to Rajni’s fans
b. end her writing career.
The God, The Boss, The way of life,, Rajni
We here in Andhra Pradesh would be very happy if the book is also published in Telugu,,
Really this book is fine, as per my conclusion we have to follow his behaviour, simplicity , spirutality , old life rememberance and lot of good things. I especially thanks to Gayathri Srikanth for this superb boo.
A gud initiative frm an Opthalmologist. No Probs regrding errors. Really we came to know some unknown facts f Superstar(Thalapathi). I really enjoy “THE NAME IS RAJNIKANTH”. Keep going. Hatsoff to everyone for Publishing our Legend’s life as a buk.
pls publish book in telugu…
Check out below link for great discounts for Rajini fans on this book –
http://www.thestorez.com/index.php/the-name-is-rajinikanth-8187108444-lnggmbirho.html
Please tell me the contact details of the author Dr. Gayathri, Iam interested for making the telugu translation of the book if they permit, as the lot of readers are asking for telugu copy.
This is a lousy effort. However our great our adulation may be for the Super star the writer cannot be let off the hook for factual errors which are in abundance . Even names of films are mixed up. As a matter of fact the book brings out the portrait of a spoiled brat, a street lumpen roaming with cycle chain, unrepentant liar, , eve teaser and visitor to lodges of ill repute even before growing a mustache. Certainly he is not a good example for young kids who are brought up on the kool-aid of mass adulation for the star.
His spiritualism belongs to that variety of belief in an interventionist God who will help the prosperity and well being of the worshiper, his family and his near and dear ones and nothing more. . His wavering between spiritualism and spirituality, politics and becoming a politician, actor and being a showman- he refused to appear in Ads for Coco Cola,- shows him as a very well calculative marketing man or he is narcissistic or as an irresolute . .
It is indeed amazing luck favours an odd ball like Rajnikanth who had nothing to boast of, no film producer father, no conventional hero looks, no knowledge or correct pronunciation of Tamil and so on. One is compelled to believe in astrology or numerology or such occult theories. It appears he has powerful eyes on which this reviewer cannot comment as he has never seen him in person. Other than that his legerdemain , or sleight of hand in flipping the cigarette and catching the non burning end by his lips and twirling the sunglasses in a rapid movement which impressed his friends and later his film directors there seems to be nothing special about him. .To be fair , he is a trained actor and done his many faceted roles with consummate skill under great South Indian film directors. He is indefatigable and had to be hospitalised for psychoneurosis when he had seventeen films shooting almost simultaneously. .
His portrayal of Swami raghvaendra and shooting the film of Baba are a part of presenting a particular reverential image for his mass following. But it is remiss on his part to neglect heroines like Sri Priya and Radha who paired with him in his early career . In fact I am surprised Meena is not even mentioned at all when one of the great hit pair in the nineties even in the remote Japan was films like Muthu , which featured them both.
His drinking, smoking and other vices strained his marriage but thanks to his wife and well wishers like Director K Balachander there was a turn around in his conjugal life in the early nineties from which period he is reported to be behaving sensibly. Even his millions of fans it appears expressed disapproval of Thaliavar forsaking Anni. I wonder what makes even a well educated and accomplished woman like Lata Rajnikanth to stick by . Two reasons I guess. the Indian society still looks down on divorced woman even if the fault is not hers. Secondly she has more to lose than the film industry is a male dominated one and his fan clubs will continue to worship him.
Although the first few chapters are well presented hopping alternately between the early childhood and his adult past , the author slackens the tight narrative as she goes along. The whole book looks like a hasty effort written under pressure of deadline.
I have not read books or biographies on Hindi actors. If this is all the quality there too I think publishers should do better talent hunt for selecting biographers of film personalities who are an important part of the society in our nation.
Gayathri Madam,
Thank you very much for writing the biography of our simple, ever loved superstar of India Rajani Kanth. (In my view). May be I should thank you personally. With tons of love, for you and your family.