Saturday, October 28, 2006

Rajini appears in seven roles in 'Shivaji'

The storyline of AVM's Rajini starrer "Shivaji" is at least out after months of speculation. The puja for the new project was performed last month. It is gathered that Rajini is to play multiple roles - at least seven in the film. The theme is about higher education and how it has been commercialised by interested parties, making it unaffordable for many. Director Shanker had already touched on this subject in 'Gentleman' which was a run-away success, and this time in "Shivaji", the subject will be gone into deeply with high=profile Rajini playing the central role with his wellknown aplomb and characteristic style. What inspired Shankar is said to be a recent real-life incident in which a former MP was done to death in a southern district of Tamil Nadu at the instance of an engineering college owner out of rivalry.

In "Shivaji", Rajini returns from abroad with the objective of establishing a college where he intends providing higher education charging the same fees as in government-run colleges do without capitation fees. He gets the backing of the State machinery in his venture. But the vested interests and the lobby controlling higher education are up in arms against Rajini and waiting to strike at him. In the meantime, the elections come and the ministry is voted out. With the new ministry being formed, anti-Rajini lobby becomes very active and makes things difficult for Rajini. With the result, the college project gets delayed and Rajini faces several hardships. He abandons the idea of taking legal steps and adopts his own methods to fight the lobby and he ultimately succeeds.

It is learned that Director Shanker himself outlined the story to his 20-odd assistants whom he has selected through an advertisement. The response to the ad was overwhelming and as many as 2000 applications were received. Shankar selected 20 of them after he heard from them how they would end the story.
A leading Mumbai-based portfolio photographer has shot the promos and publicity stills with Rajini and Shriya at a special set erected at a Mumbai studio. The teasers and promos are expected to be released in due course.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Rajini has directed his "Thalapathi" Satyanarayana not to participate in any functions of his fans till the State Assembly elections scheduled for May next year, are over in order to avoid unnecessary political controversies.

This Rajini's directive has come as a dampener to his multitude of fans who are planning to celebrate the actor's birthday on Dec.12 with great fanfare all over the State. The fans wanted to utilise the occasion also to give a boost to the making of "Shivaji" .

Vijay TV has undertaken to telecast the birthday celebrations of Rajini . To cheer up his fans, who are otherwise feeling downcast following Rajini's directive to their captain, Satyanarayana, to keep off all functions organised by fan clubs or individual fans, Vijay TV has sent 55-metre-long silk cloth banners to 'Rajini Rasigar Manrams' (fan clubs) in all the 30 districts asking them to collect signatures from the fans. The banners with the signatures will be displayed for Rajini who will view them as part of the celebrations.


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