Happy Birthday Thalaiva! As he turns 65, here are our favourite Rajinikanth films

When all things end, Rajinikanth’s success story begins. In a career spanning 40 years, superstar Rajni has acted in nearly 160 films, a majority of them being huge successes. Paradoxically his career in Hindi cinema never took off in a big way, barring supporting roles to Amitabh Bachchan in Hum, Rajesh Khanna in Bewafai, Zeenat Aman in Daku Hasina and Sridevi in Chaalbaaz and Rekha in Phool Bane Angaaray. His success and popularity in Tamil cinema defy analysis. As he turns 65 on December, 12 we look at his 10 most viewer-friendly films: Apoorva Raagangal (1975)

Kamal Haasan starred in this incestuously plotted film, while Rajinikanth, who made his debut in Apoorva Raangangal, makes a very late entry in the plot in a villainous role. The film is directed by Rajnikanth’s mentor, and still holds up well as a precursor to Rajni’s future superstardom. Mondru Modichu (1976)

While pretending to be Kamal Haasan’s friend, Rajinikanth actually plots to separate Kamal from his girlfriend Sridevi in Mondru Modichu. The film was remade by David Dhawan as Mujhse Shaadi Karoge with Akshay Kumar in Rajni’s role. Wickedly funny, K Balachander directed this hilarious love triangle. Kazhugu (1981)

One of Rajinikanth’s biggest hits in the 1980s, Kazhugu is a crime drama replete with the most outlandish of twists and turns. One can see in this ferociously hero-driven film how far and effective the superstar’s stylised avatar had evolved. Also evident was the rapid redundancy of Rajni’s leading ladies in his films. Thillu Mullu (1981)

  A complete change of image for the action star, in this comedy directed by K Balchander, Rajni reprised Amol Palekar’s role from Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Gol Maal. There was fear that he may not be able to pull off the stunt-free avatar. But Rajni did. Nothing is impossible for this miracle maker. Pokkiri Raja (1982)

Rajni in a double role with Sridevi for company: Pokiri Raja is great fun to watch even today specially for the scenes in jail where Rajni meets his own double. Mondru Mugham(1982)

Triple bonanza for Rajni fans, as in Mondru Mugham, a comedy of errors_,_ he plays Arun, John and Alex. The film was remade in Hindi as John Johnny Janardhan with Rajni reprising his 3 roles. Somehow triple roles don’t work in Hindi cinema, therefore it didn’t do too well. See Dilip Kumar in Bairaag, Amitabh Bachchan in Mahaan and Rajinikanth in John Johnny Janardhan. In the South, it’s clearly more the merrier. Chandramukhi (2005)

Chandramukhi is a comedy horror directed by P Vasu, which broke records all over the world. The film was remade in Hindi as Bhool Bhulaiya with Akshay Kumar in Rajni’s role. Rajni’s version of the gothically-giggly tale was far more enrapturing. Muthu (1995)

Rajinikanth in a double role of a Zamindar who renounces his wealth and retires into the Himalayas leaving his son(Rajni, again) behind in Muthu was a roaring success in India and Japan. Sivaji (2007)

One of Rajinikanth’s most influential film, Sivaji features him as an NRI software engineer who returns home to dreams of changing the country’s economy. Enthiran(2010)

Shankar directed this SFX-driven spectacle, which saw Rajni plays a scientist and a robot. The film’s spectacular look was unprecedented. It was Rajni like never before. (All images are screen grabs from Youtube)