In 1978, towards the end of the year in Chennai, the walls of the city became a topic of discussion. Yes, social media, television, or even print media were nonexistent, except for “Daily Thanthi.” During those times, there was hardly any medium that could reach the masses. In such an era, wall advertising was the only strategy that could attract people. Among these, posters were something that people would gather to see. Even the size of posters, whether single or double-bit, was considered a big deal. Today’s kids, who see the first look of a movie on their mobile phones in 2K resolution, wouldn’t understand that back then, people had to ride bicycles for several kilometers just to catch a glimpse of a first-look poster. In the 1970s, when modern technology was not available, fans of MGR and Sivaji celebrated, creating excitement and even fights, often starting with these posters. That political drama, where MGR and Sivaji fans clashed, was more intense than the battles between lions and tigers.
During this time, a person named Kalaipuli Thanu triggered, not just an earthquake, but a universal upheaval in Tamil Cinema. MGR and Sivaji fans were internally boiling with anger. A major debate ensued among film makers and distributors of the time. The history of one poster causing so many changes is still talked about today, referred to simply as “Thanu’s poster.” But the poster he created has now become a symbol of victory and a topic of discussion in Indian Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema for the past half-century. It has grown into a single word debated from MGR, Sivaji, and Kamal to Vijayakanth and today’s Vijay. It has become a word uttered by legendary actors like NTR, Nageswara Rao, Rajkumar, Amitabh, Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Chiranjeevi, as well as the next generation of Indian icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Prabhas, and Mahesh Babu.
The poster in question was for the movie “Bairavi,” where Kalaipuli Thanu coined the term “Superstar” for Rajinikanth. That poster, created with the word “Superstar,” has remained at the pinnacle of Indian cinema history. Even after another century, the respect and honor for the title “Superstar” will endure, and Thanu, who identified this, must also be remembered. This article’s purpose is to emphasize that. Kalaipuli Thanu, with a passion for art, was not only involved in cinema distribution and production, but also silently caused many waves in politics. He nurtured Vijayakanth as an actor equal to Rajinikanth, forcefully invited Chief Minister Kalaignar to Vijayakanth’s wedding, and even discussed politics with Rajini on behalf of Vaiko. He was a man of self-respect who lost many political positions because he couldn’t compromise on his self-esteem. Had he wished, he could have reached great heights in politics. It is essential to recognize a historic figure like him, who is now confined to a limited space by society. This is how histories are made, but often the roots of success are forgotten by historians. This is just the beginning of that conversation. More to follow…
– DhravidaJeeva
சிறப்பு🫱🏻🫲🏼
Nice 👏👏