Rajinikanth vs Kamal Haasan: The Ultimate Showdown!

Rajini Vs Kamal: Two superheroes. No super-villain to fight anymore. Is it Hero vs Hero? Or will they join hands?

Now that’s what I call a ‘Hero’ image! With Kamal having confirmed his entry, will they fight or join hands?

(Photo: Rahul Gupta/The Quint)

Read till the end for a twist in the climax!!

Superman and Batman may be world famous. But they aren’t real. And in Tamil Nadu it’s Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan who are deified, worshipped and bathed in full cream Aavin milk. Now that they’ve ruled the silver screen for over four decades, they both wish to jump out of the screen, and on to the political stage.

But who will Tamil Nadu vote for? Rajini and Kamal are as different as day and night! What will the people do? Read on!!!

(Disclaimer: This article consists of an overdose of exclamations, question marks, and hyperbole. Copy editors, keep off, or I will make you watch Abhay and Lingaa back to back.)

The stark (no MARVEL pun intended) differences between the two are quite....stark!!Photo: Rahul Gupta / The Quint

Afraid to Take the Plunge?

Rajinikanth burnt his fingers bad, over 21 years ago, when he tried to enter politics. Kamal self-admittedly had his tail between his legs, as long as Amma was alive.

Net net, they have both been waiting a loooong time for this.

Their interpretation of courage on screen is completely different. But when you read the dialogue with their off-screen personas in mind, it feels kind of similar.

Rajini’s dialogue in Tamil sounds like THIS. And THIS is Kamal’s dialogue in Tamil.Photo: Vibhushita Singh / The Quint

Superstar’s Political Vehicle Is Cinema

Ulaganayagan’s Political Vehicle? Twitter!

But When it Comes to THE Question; When?

Tamil Nadu’s people have been living with this suspense for over two decades now. Photo: Rahul Gupta / The Quint

Satisfyingly Indirect Vs Confusingly Direct

Rajini is devout. He eschews controversy. He even abhors dressing up or make-up off screen, when he’s meeting his fans. He’s as direct and down-to-earth as a movie star that a fan can hope for. Except of course, when the ‘P’ word is mentioned. Then he goes all mysterious, quotes ‘God’ and leaves.

Kamal Haasan says he is direct, and that he speaks his mind. But who knows? Who knows what those tweets contain? Those who speak English wonder if it’s cerebral wordplay or spelling mistakes. Those who speak Tamil wonder if it’s a lost dialect, or maybe a Tamil transcript of Igbo or Yoruba.

Years later, when my children ask me and my other TN friends if Rajini and Kamal wanted to join politics, we will have only one clear answer:

I. Don’t. Know.

It’s always a yes, followed by thunderous applause...and then a pregnant pause that makes us all go ‘damnit! not again!’ inside our minds. Photo: Vibhushita / The Quint

Rajinikanth (heart) Kamal Haasan?

In a world, where TN is divided into Superstar fans and Ulaganayagan fans...the two superheroes join forces, to fight the evil system, rain justice upon other politicians, and make bigger, Bigger, BIGGER movies!

Excerpt from a (possible) screenplay of the (not necessarily) upcoming blockbuster; Rajini-man V Kamal-man.

Ah! The dream of an utopian TN, where ALL fans hold hands. The stuff of legend! Cue inspirational music! Cue item song!Photo: Vibhushita Singh / The Quint

The Twist in the Tale!! Are You Ready?!

Despite their differences of opinion, beliefs, modes of communication / campaigning and hairstyles, they have always been good friends. And that’s because they share the same roots. They are apples of the same tree, pineapples of the same bush, grapes of the same vine...etc.

Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are brothers. They have the same mother and father!

Cinema is their mother, and their (god) father is director K Balachander. And birds of a feather....