By Ayesha Khan 
New Delhi, November 19: I’ll be honest: days like this don’t come often in Indian journalism. Sometime early this afternoon, word began drifting through reporters’ WhatsApp groups that Hindustan Times had done something almost unheard of in its long, old-school history. They had handed over the entire front page to Rajinikanth. No ads. No headlines. No politics squeezing in at the corners. Just one man, marking 50 years in films.
According to the paper, this is actually the first time in a hundred years that HT has dedicated its full front page to a single individual. If you know anything about how much prestige print space still carries in legacy newsrooms, that alone says everything. You could feel the buzz even from here in Delhi, far from the Tamil Nadu streets where the real frenzy tends to erupt.
A Career That Still Feels Larger Than The Timeline
The page traces his journey from Apoorva Raagangal in 1975 right up to Jailer in 2023. Seeing that arc laid out visually, you realise how long Rajinikanth has been a constant presence in Indian pop culture. Five decades is a number, sure, but the weight of it only really lands when you remember how many different Indias he has performed for. Black-and-white cinema days. VHS-era fandom. Early cable TV crowds. The explosion of multiplexes. And now the streaming generation.
People often repeat the story of the bus conductor who made it. But the reason it never becomes tiresome is because it still feels improbable, even now. Rajinikanth didn’t stumble into stardom. He built it moment by moment, gesture by gesture. Those tiny movements he became famous for weren’t tricks. They were inventions. Little acts of individuality that moviegoers recognised instantly.
OTTplay Leans Into Emotion, Not Spectacle
Alongside the massive newspaper tribute, OTTplay published its own long reflection on his career. Instead of retelling the usual milestones, it tries something different: mapping his films through navarasa, the nine emotional tones. And honestly, it works.
The piece talks about the rawness of Mullum Malarum, the comic ease of Thillu Mullu, the controlled rage of Baashha, the meditative streak in Baba. Rajinikanth has always been an emotional actor before he is a stylish one, which is probably why people respond to him the way they do.
OTTplay also highlighted a curated list of his films across their premium catalogue. It’s partly marketing, of course, but it’s also a reminder that younger viewers now experience stars through streaming platforms rather than theatre lines. For them, a “Rajinikanth festival” happens at home, not outside packed single screens.
A Formal Honour Waiting In Goa
And then there’s the upcoming tribute at the 56th International Film Festival of India. As reported by Cinema Express, IFFI will honour both Rajinikanth and Nandamuri Balakrishna for completing fifty years in cinema. The festival opens on November 20, and you can already sense the anticipation.
IFFI tributes tend to be carefully curated, sometimes even a bit restrained, but this one feels like it might cut through the usual protocol. Not because of pomp, but because Rajinikanth’s fan base doesn’t care about red carpets. Their pride travels across borders, especially in the Gulf and Southeast Asia, where his films played for decades.
Why This Celebration Feels More Personal Than Ceremonial
Many Indian stars have long careers. Very few remain emotionally woven into people’s lives the way Rajinikanth has. Fame alone doesn’t explain it. Longevity doesn’t either.
Part of it comes from the deep contrast between his public persona and his private one. On screen, he is thunder. Off-screen he is almost startlingly low-key. You see that mix reflected in how fans talk about him: half excitement, half affection. And affection ages better than hype.
The timing matters too. We live in a moment where celebrities rise and fall in months. Where trends overwhelm talent. Where visibility matters more than craft. Against that backdrop, fifty uninterrupted years of cultural presence feel like something worth pausing for.
Across The South, The Celebrations Are Already Starting
Even before the official observances begin, fans in parts of Tamil Nadu have started dropping posters, arranging small gatherings, and planning screenings. Nothing too orchestrated. Just the kind of community-driven celebration that happens when an artist becomes part of people’s daily vocabulary.
Something is grounding about the way this milestone is being marked. Not grand speeches or glossy campaigns. Just a newspaper front page, a reflective essay, an upcoming festival honour, and millions of people remembering where they were when they first watched him slow-walk into a frame.
Rajinikanth’s longevity is impressive. His relevance is remarkable. But his ability to stay beloved for this long is something else entirely. Today’s tributes across print, digital, and soon at IFFI simply acknowledge what fans already know: fifty years on, the man still holds the country’s imagination in a way very few ever have.
Stay ahead with Hindustan Herald — bringing you trusted news, sharp analysis, and stories that matter across Politics, Business, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle, and more.
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, and join our Telegram community @hindustanherald for real-time updates.
Covers films, television, streaming, and celebrity culture with a focus on storytelling trends.
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
