In the vast history of world cinema, the reign of leading men and women is rarely long-lived. For most, the coveted “Number One” position lasts just a few years. A decade at the top is a rarity, and a reign stretching to 15 years is celebrated as an extraordinary achievement. From Hollywood to Bollywood, this pattern holds true. Even towering icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jackie Chan saw their peak periods confined within this narrow time frame.Tamil cinema’s own titans — M.K.T. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, P.U. Chinnappa, the revolutionary leader-actor M.G. Ramachandran, the legendary Sivaji Ganesan, and the versatile “Ulaga Nayagan” Kamal Haasan — all experienced this same fate. But from this seemingly unbreakable rule emerged one blazing exception: Rajinikanth.Rajinikanth’s journey is the stuff of cinematic folklore. He entered films as a supporting actor and villain, facing early criticism that he “lacked the qualities of a hero.” Yet, like a rocket shooting from the heavens to the earth, he ascended at a speed and force no one could ignore. Even during the rule of M.G.R. and Sivaji, Rajini pulled audiences toward him like a force of gravity.When Kamal Haasan reigned supreme as the multi-talented “Sakalakala Vallavan,” Rajini carved his own empire through an unmatched combination of style, charisma, quirky screen presence, and electric energy. It was not merely acting skill — it was an aura, a larger-than-life persona that audiences embraced wholeheartedly.He faced and outlasted powerful rivals like K. Bhagyaraj, Vijayakanth, and T. Rajendar, retaining the “Number One” spot without faltering — a Himalayan feat that defied the natural cycles of cinema. Talented stars such as Prabhu, Karthik, Ramarajan, Sarathkumar, Prabhu Deva, and Vikram enjoyed their own waves of success, but none came close to surpassing even 30–40% of Rajini’s box-office dominance. In that era, even Ajith and Vijay had yet to ascend to their later superstardom.The early 2000s saw a new set of challengers — Vikram, Suriya, and Vishal — each delivering a string of commercial blockbusters. Yet, the scale of Rajini’s success remained unreachable. The arrival of social media brought its share of criticism and polarising opinions, but still, no actor could cross his monumental box-office threshold.Today, Rajinikanth stands at the pinnacle after five generations of Tamil cinema. His triumphant run has already crossed 40 years and now races toward the 50-year mark, making it one of the most astonishing success stories in global cinema. For today’s leading men — Sivakarthikeyan, Silambarasan,Simbu and Dhanush — Rajini’s benchmark remains the golden standard they measure themselves against.To have sidelined four entire generations of actors and still compete, on equal footing, with the fifth — daring them to “defeat me if you can” — is something unparalleled anywhere in the world. Ajith and Vijay may walk their own distinct paths, but in pure box-office clout and commercial reach, Rajini remains untouched. His record is a feat worthy of being counted among the “Eight Wonders of the World.”That even today’s fifth-generation stars find themselves following the road Rajini paved speaks volumes about the vast reach of his cinematic influence. His reign is not just a personal achievement — it is a matter of pride for Tamil cinema itself.Rajinikanth’s journey is proof that in an industry where stardom is fleeting, charisma, hard work, and the unwavering love of fans can crown someone a king — not for years, not for decades, but for generations. And as long as cinema lives, the story of the man who ruled five generations will remain etched in golden letters… DHRAVIDA JEEVA
