Tamil filmdom’s icon Rajnikanth turned 64 on Friday as people from all walks life extended birthday greetings to him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the early wishers and extended Tamil greetings through Twitter.
“On his birthday I extend greetings to the legendary Rajanikanthji. May he remain in the best of health and have a long life,” the PM said in his birthday wishes.
The Raghavendra Temple at T Nagar in Chennai saw hundreds of fans of the superstar thronging the shrine to participate in special pujas since Friday morning.
“We held Kanakadhara Abhishekam (offering with gold coins to the presiding deity for the health and prosperity of Thalaivar,” Rajagopal, convener of Rajnikanth Fans Association told The Pioneer. The pujas were preceded by distribution of food to all the devotees. “Elsewhere in Tamil Nadu fans association representatives conducted anna daanam (free distribution of food) in orphanages, old-age homes and in schools, according to Rajagopal.
The superstar remained inaccessible to others for the whole day. “He is at an undisclosed place in Chennai itself. He never interacts with fans or anybody on birthdays. That has been his custom, for the last quarter of a century,” explained Rajagopal.
This birthday happens to be special for Rajnikanth as his movie lighaa was released early in the day in theatres all over the State. lighaa is the first movie of Rajnikanth to be released in four years and the industry is expecting it to turn into a blockbuster, especially ln the backdrop of the failure of the last two movies featuring him.