Blog: Rajinikanth Is the One and Only Sultan, ‘Kabali’ Day Or Not!
The Quint brings you LIVE updates from the opening day of Rajinikanth’s ‘Kabali’
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Rajinikanth’s Kabali has unveiled a whole new level of fan mania. But what has become clear on Kabali’s first day at the theatres, at least for those north of the Vindhyas, is that Rajini’s fandom remains unmatched, even if you put together the three Khans of Bollywood and Amitabh Bachchan. What a star!
Mumbai’s verdict on Kabali is unexpected but clear- Rajinikanth ke saamne Salman kuchh bhi nahin! If you thought the buzz around Salman’s Sultan was over the top, Kabali will make your jaw drop. To be honest even the Khans of Bollywood together can’t match Rajini’s superstardom.
Rajini fans in Bengaluru tell The Quint how they managed to get tickets to watch the superstar’s Kabali avatar.
Nothing has united India so much in recent times like the Kabali mania. As fans go virtually wild for Thalaivar in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, we bring you the craziest moments in a nutshell.
The dichotomy of superstardom in India is visible all over the country on Kabali day. Rajinikanth fans distribute in free food but also waste tons of milk.
Mumbai audiences only have three words for Rajinikanth’s Kabali- Just too good!
Is your head spinning with Kabali fever already? Well this 360 degree video of Rajini posters in Bengaluru will make it just a tad bit worse :P Enjoy!
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar is a big fan of Rajinikanth too and was spotted enjoying the 9am show of Kabali at Aurora theatre. He tweeted a video from inside the hall and can’t seem to get enough of this unprecedented euphoria.
Rajinikanth is a global phenomenon and Kabali is taking France by storm too!
Some famous south stars are cheering for Kabali too. Music composer Anirudh, film actor Siva Karthikeyan and Rang De Basanti actor Siddharth pose for a ‘Rajini fan club’ click.
Twitter is having a field day with Kabali jokes. Here’s another one-
While Mumbai is buzzing with Rajini mania, Chennai is still a bit sleepy. The Quint’s Vikram Venkateswaran shares a feel of Rajinikanth’s home town on the day one of Kabali.
Finally, Chennai cheers as a giant cut out of Thalaivar (70 feet or more) stands tall. Check out that fan behind Rajini’s head pouring milk on the poster.
So far, Rajini mania in Mumbai seems to be winning over Chennai and Bengaluru, which is a bit unexpected to be honest. The Quint’s Suresh Mathew and Abira Dhar are making the most of the opportunity and managed to get tickets for the 9am show at Aurora theatre. It’s interval and they’re loving it!
This bunch of fans in Bengaluru love Rajinikanth but don’t have much patience for other fans screaming and shouting inside the theatre.
Chennai may do what it likes, but Bangalore is not to be left behind in the Kabali madness. From giant cut-outs erected all over the town to distributing free food to politicians seizing the moment for a bit of self-promotion - they are doing it all!
It’s Rajini cut-outs all the way in namma Bengaluru!
Strangely enough there’s not much Rajini madness to see on the streets in Chennai, as tickets for Kabali are completely sold out.
While the superstar himself is out of town, we spotted the film’s director Pa Ranjith at an early morning screening at Albert theatre.
Policemen on duty at the Albert theatre make sure fans behave themselves and sadly they did :P
We bumped in filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar at the 9 am Kabali show at Aurora thatre in Maumbai and he can’t stop raving about Thalaivar already!
In Mumbai Kabali madness continues in the second show of day 1 at Aurora theatre.
In Mumbai Kabali’s first show (6-9 am) is over and the city’s now getting in line for the 9 pm show at Matunga’s Aurora theatre. By the way, Mumbaikars loved it! Kabali audience verdict is out! Don’t miss the Rajini fan in this video who says “I came to watch Rajinikanth, I’ll watch the film next time!”
It’s not only Rajinikanth but his fans too do their own stunts. We spotted these Thalaivar fans in Mumbai riding a bike through the city with a giant cut-out of the star. Kabali fever is on!
#Thalaivar fans in Mumbai believe in doing their own stunts too!
We’re pretty sure that Rajinikanth himself wouldn’t approve of his fans wasting litres of milk on his film posters as a way of showing their love. But clearly, Rajini mania defies all logic.
We’re pretty sure this isn’t making Rajinikanth happy, but his fans are unstoppable on day one of Kabali. Thalaivar fans offer litres of milk to his posters in Mumbai.
The Quint’s Abira Dhar joins a group of Rajini bhakts for Kabali first day first show prayers at Matunga’s shiva temple in Mumbai, and all the madness that follows. Watch this Facebook live video to see their elaborate rituals and love for Thalaivar.
What’s clearly unbeatable about Rajinikanth as a star is that he creates equal drama and excitement both inside and outside theatres. In a Shiva temple in Mumbai, Rajinikanth fans celebrate and offer prayers.
Kabali day is no less than a festival. Fans in Mumbai celebrate right outside Aurora theatre’s packed ticket window.
Where on earth do you get these t-shirts?! Fans show their love for Rajinikanth as Kabali fever rages in Mumbai.
Just by chance, if you haven’t seen the making of Rajini’s Kabali, here it is-
Aaaannndd the first reviews of Kabali at half time start rolling in! The fans seem to be on a roller coaster ride.
Erm...
Hey, Rajini haters are trying to make their voices heard, but is anyone listening?
Everything looks good in slow motion and the spirit of this Thalaivar fan is simply wow!
Here’s a special message in Tamil from a Rajini fan... his favourite words, Kabali da!
That Rajinikanth fans would do anything for him is hardly news. But this guy here has come all dressed as Thalaivar for the first day first show of Kabali in Mumbai at six in the morning. Hats off!
An artists’s impression of Thalaivar as the Kabali madness begins.
Rs 1,200 for a single movie ticket of Kabali? Wow!
#KabaliFDFS is serious business. Leave toh banta hai na boss!
Mumbai’s waking up to loud cheer and celebrations on Kabali day. Check our these Rajini fans outside Aurora theatre in Mumbai’s Matunga area. Check out this Rajini fan showing off his lungi dance :P
Some reviews of Kabali’s first day first show coming in already!
Rajini fans are in celebration mode at Mumbai’s Aurora theatre on Kabali day.
The Quint is reporting live from Chennai and the madness around Rajinikanth’s much awaited Kabali has already begun.
On its opening day, the film’s 4 am show already looks houseful, and we are not surprised.
Some fans are dejected as the tickets have run out already.
This is how Chennai’s Kasi theatre is looking at 4 am in the morning.
Rajinikanth’s much awaited Kabali is just a few hours away from release. If you’re sad about not getting tickets for the film’s first day first show, don’t you worry.
You can join the madness with our live updates starting 6 AM on 22 July, coming straight from Chennai’s Sathyam theatre and Mumbai’s Aurora cinema, two of the biggest hubs for Rajini fans in the two cities.
And while you wait, here are some fun reads about Kabali da!
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