WHO IS THE NEXT SUPERSTAR ?

We love our heroes in this part of the world, particularly in the Tamil film industry. And they simply do not make them bigger than our very own ‘Thalaivaaaaaa’, Rajnikanth. Every time a Rajni movie releases, most true – blooded fans are caught up in the hysteria that is generated and allow themselves to be enveloped by the Superstar juggernaut. Which Tamilian has not basked in the reflected glory when accolade after accolade is showered on him from being the highest paid actor in Asia and certainly the most beloved one to the recent ‘NDTV Entertainer of the Year’ award? But what if the unthinkable happens and the Superstar decides to take off his acting boots and retire to the Himalayas or something? For fans of Tamil Cinema, it would be a terrible loss comparable to the grief every Indian must experience if Sachin Tendulkar were to retire from International cricket. There has been considerable debate and a spate of controversy over a worthy successor to Rajnikanth.
 

1.VIJAY

Vijay or ‘Ilaya Thalapathi’ as he is lovingly called by his adoring fans is an established star in his own right and one of the stalwarts of the industry. He is Superstar material simply because he does not blindly emulate the original Superstar and brings his own particular style to his portrayals. The man is charismatic, has screen presence, fantastic voice modulation, can totally rock a fight sequence, shake a leg with the best of them, and romance the pants off his heroines. And he sings pretty decently. In movies like “Gilli” and “Pokkiri”, he managed to find his groove and a permanent place in the hearts of the audiences.

The promising actor has faced his share of problems from a string of flops to clashes with political head honchos. But he has made a strong comeback with his latest “Kaavalan” which has been declared a smash hit and also won him critical acclaim for his restrained performance. Here’s hoping he picks his scripts with a little more care and makes great films that will do the industry proud.

AJITH KUMAR

There is no denying that ‘Thala’ has style, attitude, and oodles of charm. There are hordes of fans across the length and breadth of the state who simply refuse to give up on him, despite an unenviable string of colossal flops. Movies like “Vaali”, “Villain”, and “Varalaru” showcased his acting chops and proved that as an actor he has a wealth of potential.

However, Ajith seems to attract controversy like an industrial strength magnet. From his much publicized disagreements with producers and directors which have resulted in his being forced out of promising projects to inflammatory speeches on political harassment which led to him being hounded, he is no stranger to trouble.

If he were to simply focus on making awesome movies with talented people and steers clear of controversy and alternative career paths, he will be doing himself and his fans a big favor. “Mankatha” with Venkat Prabhu promises to be exactly what the doctor ordered for this beleaguered star.