From Bharathiraja’s famous shirt-and-zip style to the gold chain Bhagyaraj wore until his final days, Rajinikanth’s tribute was filled with laughter, memories and an unexpectedly profound reflection on life.

Two names that occupy a special place in Tamil cinema…

Bharathiraja.
K. Bhagyaraj.

One transformed the way rural life and ordinary people were portrayed on screen. The other became celebrated as the “King of Screenplay”, creating stories that blended humour, emotion and social observation.

At a special event held in remembrance of the two legendary filmmakers, Superstar Rajinikanth shared memories that went far beyond a conventional tribute.

There was laughter.

There was applause.

There were stories from the early days of cinema.

There was affection between old friends.

And finally, there was a thought about life and ageing that made everyone pause.

Bharathiraja and the making of Rajinikanth’s ‘Parattai’

Rajinikanth’s connection with Bharathiraja goes back to one of the most important films of his early career — 16 Vayathinile.

It was Bharathiraja who brought Rajinikanth into his rural world as Parattai, a character that became one of the most unforgettable performances of Rajini’s early years.

At the time, Rajinikanth was still establishing himself as an actor.

Bharathiraja, however, saw something different in him.

The result was Parattai — a character that combined menace, humour and attitude, and became an enduring part of Tamil cinema history.

For Rajinikanth, therefore, Bharathiraja was not simply another director he had worked with.

He was one of the people who played an important role in shaping the early chapters of his cinematic journey.

The shirt, the zip and Bharathiraja’s unmistakable style

One of the lighter moments in Rajinikanth’s speech came when he recalled Bharathiraja’s distinctive personal style.

Rajini humorously referred to the filmmaker’s habit of wearing his shirt in a particular way, including the way he would tuck it in and maintain his appearance.

That habit, Rajini recalled, remained with Bharathiraja for years.

In fact, he joked that Bharathiraja continued tucking in his shirt right until his final days.

The remark brought laughter from the audience.

It was a small personal habit, but it perfectly captured Bharathiraja’s distinctive personality — something Rajinikanth clearly remembered even after all these years.

Yet, behind that laughter was a painful memory.

“It was difficult to see him like that…”

Rajinikanth then spoke about Bharathiraja’s final days.

For someone who had once been full of energy, constantly involved in filmmaking and known for his commanding presence, seeing him weakened by age and health was deeply painful for Rajinikanth.

The mood of the speech changed.

The laughter gave way to emotion.

Rajinikanth conveyed how difficult it was to see a man he had known for decades in such a condition.

It was a poignant reminder that even the most energetic personalities eventually have to face the passage of time.

And perhaps that is what made Rajini’s later comments about age even more powerful.

Bhagyaraj – the “King of Screenplay”

When Rajinikanth spoke about K. Bhagyaraj, there was a different kind of warmth in his words.

Bhagyaraj was not merely a filmmaker who knew how to tell a story.

According to Rajinikanth, his greatest strength was his ability to think differently about a story.

Give Bhagyaraj a story and he would not simply accept it as it was.

He would immediately start thinking:

How can this be presented differently on screen?

How can the audience be surprised?

Where can humour be introduced?

How can the emotions become stronger?

That ability to look at a familiar story from an unexpected angle was what made Bhagyaraj special.

That is why Rajinikanth affectionately referred to him as:

“The King of Screenplay.”

The gold chain Rajini gave Bhagyaraj

One of the most touching memories Rajinikanth shared was about a gold chain.

Earlier this year, at the celebration marking Bhagyaraj’s 50 years in the film industry, Rajinikanth presented him with a gold chain as a gesture of affection and respect.

But the story did not end on that stage.

Rajinikanth recalled that Bhagyaraj continued wearing the chain.

Until his final days.

That detail gave the gift an entirely different meaning.

It was no longer simply a gold chain presented by a superstar to a veteran filmmaker.

It became a symbol of friendship.

One friend had given it with affection.

The other had treasured it and continued wearing it.

A simple gold chain had become a lasting symbol of a decades-long bond.

“The first bell at 50…”

Then came perhaps the most memorable and thought-provoking part of Rajinikanth’s speech.

In his trademark style, Rajini described life as though God gives us different “bells” as we grow older.

50 – The First Bell

At around 50, the first bell rings.

Its message is simple:

Take care of your health.

Blood pressure, sugar, medical check-ups and the condition of the body suddenly become more important.

Until then, life may have been about work, family, children, property and responsibilities.

At 50, the first bell reminds you:

“Now take care of yourself too.”

60 – The Second Bell

Then comes the second bell at 60.

This is the time to start thinking about the things you have postponed.

Who do you want to meet?

Where do you want to travel?

What do you still want to experience?

What needs to be settled?

Rajini’s message was essentially:

Don’t keep saying, “I’ll do it later.”

Life has already moved a long way.

It is time to live it.

70 – The Third Bell

And then comes the third bell at 70.

This was where Rajinikanth delivered the line that made the audience laugh — but also think deeply:

“Anytime they may call you.”

The laughter in the auditorium could not hide the truth behind those words.

Life is uncertain.

Nobody knows when the final call will come.

And hearing Rajini say this while remembering two friends who had recently passed away gave the words a much deeper emotional weight.

Two legends. One unforgettable generation.

For Rajinikanth, Bharathiraja and Bhagyaraj were much more than names from Tamil cinema history.

They were part of his own journey.

Bharathiraja gave Rajini ‘Parattai’.

Bhagyaraj remained a close friend whose bond with Rajini lasted for decades.

One was remembered through a humorous story about his unmistakable shirt style.

The other through a gold chain that he continued to wear until his final days.

These seemingly small memories reveal something much bigger — the affection and respect Rajinikanth had for both men.

When will the next bell ring?

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Rajinikanth’s speech was that his words were not really about age alone.

They were about life.

We keep postponing things.

We keep saying:

“I’ll go later.”

“I’ll meet them later.”

“I’ll tell them later.”

“I’ll enjoy it later.”

But nobody knows how much “later” we have.

So perhaps Rajinikanth’s three-bell philosophy carries a simple message:

Meet the people you love.
Say what you need to say.
Go where you want to go.
Do the things you have been postponing.
And most importantly — live.

Because, as Rajinikanth reminded everyone in his own unforgettable way:

Nobody knows when the next bell will ring.

Bharathiraja and Bhagyaraj may no longer be with us, but their films, their characters, their stories and their influence remain firmly etched in Tamil cinema.

And through Rajinikanth’s memories, we were reminded not only of two great filmmakers…

but of an entire generation of cinema that shaped the lives of millions.

Their films remain.
Their memories remain.
And their legacy will continue.

```