Friday, June 15, 2007

Tinsel boss

Yesterday night, Iqbal told me that film tickets for Rajnikanth's blockbuster Shivaji had been sold out to the tune of Rs.8 crores.
Wow! wasnt it just released today, I asked him. I had seen 18A doubledeckers sheathed in posters of the movie (apart from Chic Shampoo ads, MTC's novel way of earning some revenue) of late.
'Yes, madam. An IT firm's employees have bought all the tickets at Abirami theatre for the next two weeks,' he told me.
If you are wondering who Iqbal is, he is the friendly driver from the Travels firm that arranges cab services for the late-shift people at our company.
I like being chauffered by Iqbal. And he likes chauffering folks from my department every night to their homes. One of the less rash drivers from the Travels, he is enthusiastic, easy-going and smart.
I generally dont venture into a conversation owing to my limitations in speaking and understanding Tamil. And the youngster respects our need for some rest after a day's hard work.
But yesterday, he couldnt contain his excitement. After all, Rajnikanth in his 60s (a superhero chasing the heroine around trees at that age!) is still the one-man industry of Kodambakkam. The bus conductor-turned-superstar is next only to MGR in iconic worship among film-crazy Tamils. In a State ruled by ex-movie stars and script writers, where actresses are the reigning deities in temples built in their honour, this is nothing out-of-the-ordinary.
As for me, I just cant stand Rajnikanth - minus his makeup, he is a horror to look at. Thankfully, he is not likely to make a foray into politics - a senior correspondent covering TN politics tells us that he is an idiot and hence, wouldnt want to make a fool of himself by entering the political arena.

p.s. Ash comes home from school with a candy everyday - must be an inducement to the kids to keep coming to school.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sivaji seems to be booked here in detriot theatres and need advance booking first ..never heard any other indian movie talked about or booked like this..
why my hubby is actually talking with friends to go as fly to watch it..(first time watching a indian movie in theatre.. here experience it will be!)
thats a frist esp since he is not exactly Rajini/tamil movie fan!
must be really good movie..
oh..double deckers ..colorful!
take care
ust

Ladybird said...

I hear it is just an average, run-of-the-mill story about good triumphing over evil - how the rich hero Rajni is made a pauper by the villain and how he wins back his riches. But having Rajni makes all the difference. And apparently he charged Rs. 20 crores as his fee for the movie!

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