 Rajni -- Back to the past
 It was an unusual Rajnikant that one saw at the launch of the Ilayaraja's Thiruvasagam CD at the Music Academy in
Chennai.
For one thing, Rajni was a doubtful starter for the event. He had spoken to the Isaignani a few weeks earlier and informed the maestro that he would be unable to attend the function. Yet, a couple of days before the launch event, when Raja spoke to him over the phone, Rajni said, "Sami (that's how the Superstar addresses Ilayaraja), I thought I will not be in town. However, my programme has undergone a change and I will be in Chennai on June 30. Varren (I will come)."
For many of the organisers, the news that Rajni would attend the launch evoked mixed feelings. The
participation of the normally elusive Rajni meant that the event would assume large proportions. It also meant that traffic arrangements, logistics at the hall and the programme as such would go for a six as restless fans would not listen to anyone else.
 (Belying the critics who felt that Rajni would not make it, he was there on the dot. It was a rare moment for the fans to see Ilayaraja, Rajnikant and Kamal Hassan come together -- all three of them in white but the attire was different. Raja was in khadi as ever, a neat veshti and a small jibba, and white slippers. Rajni was in white veshti too but he wore what looked like a white shirt, with sleeves partially rolled up, backed by black slippers. Kamal was in white pant and shirt. All white but different they looked too.)
Normally, Rajni is restless at any event. He can't wait till the moment arrives for his speech and a quick departure, dodging the attempts of his fans to shake hands or get close to him. This was a relaxed Rajni, who sat in his chair, just didn't move, laughed, cried and exclaimed in appreciation of what was being spoken at the function. He was among the first to arrive and among the last to leave.
 So much so, he was so carried away by the oratory of MDMK leader Vaiko (he was brilliant in recalling the verses of Manickavasagar's Thiruvasagam or in analysing why Raja chose some verses or omitted some lines), that Rajni at one stage, used his fingers to whistle! A pleasantly surprised Ilayaraja laughed aloud on seeing Rajni's reaction to Vaiko's speech.
Fr Vincent Chinnadurai, (president of Tamil Maiyam) who was seated behind Rajni at that time, too was wonderstruck by Rajni's response. "It showed that Rajni was totally involved in the function and with the speech. I even asked Rajni whether he was reliving the moments of his youth when he was probably a great whistler."
Rajni was found smiling often, in a relaxed mood. Was it the success of Chandramukhi? Not really. Rajni partially gave the answer when he said that initial reports that Chandramukhi was running to full houses made him happy. He was more happy when after a few weeks, it was still running full. Subsequent reports that it was continuing to run to packed houses, did not enthuse him at all. Joy and sorrow are things like that -- they are temporary phenomena. They must be treated as such. We should not get carried away by joy or become despondent when there is sorrow, was his message. Listening to Ilayaraja's Thiruvasagam would give one the sense of being close to God, of understanding and assimilating spirituality, and of being calm and peaceful at all times.
 "Ilayaraja is a man going in search of peace. I am also following him", said Rajni at the end of his speech. What did he mean by that? That he too was on the spiritual path? That he would retire to the peace of the Himalayas? That his next project would be spiritual? "Good God, not another Baba, I hope", his fans would pray.
For over four hours, Rajni sat by Raja's side, sharing the maestro's joyful experience on receiving a standing ovation, the moments of adulation from his fans, the maestro's emotional outpourings -- and perhaps reliving the association he had with the Isaignani for over 25 years.
Everytime someone spoke praising Isaignani that evening, Rajni's face would light up and show delight. For those four hours, Raja, 'the king of music' and Rajni 'the superstar' were mere friends, and nothing more.
R Rangaraj
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