Sep 20, 2024 : Superstar Rajinikanth was given a rousing welcome by his fans at the audio launch event of his next Vettaiyan on Friday.

Before making his speech, the Thalaivar performed the 'Manasilayo' hookstep from the film to claps and whistles at the venue. Despite saying he liked TJ Gnanavel's Jai Bhim, he asked the director to make a film that people would celebrate as he doesn't see himself in the "message space."

Rajinikanth added, saying that Gnanavel took 10 more days and agreed to his condition while making a counter-condition that he can't make films like Nelson or Lokesh Kanagaraj, to which Rajini responded, saying he wants a commercial film in Gnanavel's style; if he wanted a Nelson-style or Lokesh-style film, he'll go directly to them and won't insist Gnanavel on making one such film.

Rajinikanth described this moment as a tense one. "If you deliver a flop, there is tension because you'll be expected to bounce back with a hit. Likewise, even after you make a hit film, then you'll be expected to maintain consistency. That is the kind of tension that has built up after the hit of Jailer," he said.

Superstar said he was so particular in roping in Anirudh as the music director that when Gnanavel said he would 100 percent go for Anirudh, he replied that he is 1000 percent sure he wants to go with Anirudh. Rajini left the music composer's eyes welled as he said, "Anirudh is like my son."

Clearing the air around the release date of Vettaiyan, the announcement of which forced Suriya's Kanguva to move its release, Rajinikanth said, "We had planned an October 10 release as early as the commencement of filming with pooja, but we couldn't announce it back then as Lyca was under financial pressure."

Rajinikanth recounted some of the challenges Amitabh faced in his early career, saying, "When Amit ji was producing films, he faced huge losses. He couldn’t even pay his watchman, and his Juhu home went into public bidding. At that time, the whole Bollywood was laughing at him. The world waits for your downfall." He went on to highlight Amitabh’s incredible comeback: "In just three years, he took on all those ads and KBC, earned back all the money, and even reclaimed his three homes, including the one in Juhu. He is such an inspiration. At 82 years old, he works for ten hours a day."

Big B Calls Rajinikanth 'Supreme of All Stars'

Amitabh Bachchan's admiration for Rajinikanth is well-known, and it took center stage at the prevue and audio launch of the much-anticipated film Vettaiyan held in Chennai on September 20. Although Big B was unable to attend in person, he made sure to connect with fans and the film’s team through a heartfelt video message. Here are some of the highlights from Vettaiyan prevue and audio launch.

In his video, Amitabh Bachchan referred to Rajinikanth as the "supreme of all stars," prompting cheers and applause from the audience. He shared, "Vettaiyan is my first Tamil film, and I'm very honored. Rajinikanth is the supreme of all stars."

Bachchan reminisced about their time together on the sets of Hum, the 1991 blockbuster where Rajinikanth played his younger brother. He recalled how while he would rest in the comfort of his air-conditioned vanity van, Rajinikanth opted for simplicity, choosing to lie on the floor during breaks. "I used to rest in my AC vehicle while shooting for Hum, and Rajini slept on the floor during breaks. Watching him be so simple, I came out of the vehicle and rested outside," he said.

Thalaivar and Anirudh Grooved to Manasilaayo

The audio launch and preview of Vettaiyan was a star-studded affair, featuring notable personalities like Manju Warrier, Rana Daggubati, and others. One of the most talked-about moments was when music director Anirudh Ravichander invited Rajinikanth to join him on stage to perform the signature steps of the catchy song Manasilaayo. The superstar, dressed in an all-black outfit, danced along without a moment's hesitation, showcasing his infectious energy.

Actress Manju Warrier also stole the spotlight at the audio launch of Rajinikanth's film 'Vettaiyan'. Her dynamic entrance during the performance of the song 'Manasilayo' has captured the hearts of fans and quickly gone viral. Manju wowed the audience by showcasing the catchy hook step from the song, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

Anticipation Builds for Vettaiyan

Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Vettaiyan is set to release on October 10. The recently unveiled prevue has left fans eagerly awaiting its premiere. It features an impressive cast, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Fahadh Faasil, and Manju Warrier.

The prevue hints at serious themes, such as the ethics surrounding police encounters. The narrative appears to explore a conflict between Bachchan’s character, Sathyadev, who disapproves of encounters being glamorized as heroism, and Rajinikanth’s character, who sees them as a necessary means of justice.

Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Vettaiyan stars an ensemble cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan (in his Tamil debut), Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan and VJ Rakshan. Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth are reuniting for this film after 33 years. Their last film was Hum, which was released in 1991.

The cast had recently finished dubbing for their portions in the film.

On the technical crew, Vettaiyan has music by Anirudh. This marks Anirudh's fourth collaboration with Rajinikanth after Petta (2019), Darbar (2020), and Jailer (2023). Other members include cinematographer SR Kathir and editor Philomin Raj.

Vettaiyan is scheduled to hit theatres on October 10 in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada.