Six years of Kabali: Everything you need to know about the Rajinikanth-starrer

Rajinikanth's Kabali, directed by Pa Ranjith, was released on July 22, 2016. The film lived up to the high expectation and opened to packed houses across India; thanks to the star power of Rajinikanth. Multiple reports suggest that at the US box office, the film created history by becoming the highest-collecting Indian project, grossing a whopping $4.05 million in four days. Pa Ranjith wanted to create the 'performer' Rajinikanth that everyone saw in Mullum Malarum. He, in fact, brought Superstar into his script. For instance, in case you observed, the actor walks slowly in Kabali throughout, and the film is devoid of clichéd scenes.

More facts follow:

• In contrast to Kamal Haasan, who is known for experimentation, Rajinikanth typically keeps to the formula that has made him famous. In reality, anytime Rajini tried something new, such as Baba in 2002, he has failed. That is why, regardless of how well Kabali performed at the box office, it is a significant film in the actor's career.
• Anu Vardhan, who was responsible for Ajith’s wardrobe in Billa and Arrambam, is also the costume designer for Kabali. If a man can make a salt and pepper beard appear this stylish, he must be a man who has a complex about Rajinikanth's age!
• Designer Heeba Sait of Chennai-based Gatsby Collection and luxury menswear brand Aliph put together some of the stylish pieces Rajinikanth sported in Kabali.
• The film didn't have the trademark Rajini histrionics, which sort of disappointed Thalaivar fans, and reviews for Kabali were not all that positive. The usual verve and punch of a Rajini movie was missing, felt film-goers, although V Creations created a huge pre-release hype.
• Kabali was dubbed in other languages, including Hindi, Telugu and even Malay.

• The high point of the film was seeing the Superstar play his age, for the most part. 
• There's a decent plot about a do-gooder mobster mourning the death of his wife and kid and having to restore his power, over the Kuala Lumpur underworld. How much one relates to the film is determined by how well we understand Malaysia's socio-political situation.
• For Kamal Haasan fans, Kabali reminds them of Mani Ratnam's Nayagan. For instance, what if Velu Naicker's daughter wasn't against him? What if Velu Naicker's wife lived? Kabali seems to have answers to these.
• Hearsay is that the actor approved of Kabali as he felt the script resembled Nayagan. Easily, Kabali could have been Rajini's Nayagan. However, it ends up being a boring gangster picture!

• Kabali saw Rajinikanth go into don mode after the 1994 flick Baashha. Part of the problem was a dragged storyline! Pa Ranjith not only killed "Superstar" Rajinikanth but also didn't do full justice to the "performer" Rajinikanth.
• Apparently, Pa Ranjith narrated two stories to Rajini's daughter Soundarya. One was a gangster story, and the other one was a Sci-fi supernatural drama. She chose one that formed the basis of the script, which was Kabali.
• Kabali caused an absolute shake-up in South India, with brands tying up to provide special Rajini flight tickets, cars, silver coins etc. The Puducherry Government used the tickets to Kabali to incentivise residents of the Sellipet panchayat to build toilets in their homes.
• Offices in Tamil Nadu declared a holiday, and the release day of the film was called 'Kabali Day'. How cool!
• Rajini and the Kabali producer Thanu of V Creations have a long history together. He was the distributor of Rajinikanth's debut solo film as hero Bairavi. Way back then, the latter created a 40-foot towering cut-out of Rajinikanth at Plaza Theatre in Madras, to proclaim the advent of the new star.

• The late singer SP Balasubrahmanyam had been associated with Rajinikanth in all his movies, since 1992. But Kabali was the first film that didn’t have SPB sing an opening number.
• Kabali had two different climax scenes shot. One was released in India, and the other version was screened in Malaysia.
• Kabali had a powerful opening song that helped in setting up the mood of the film. Debutant lyricist Arunraja Kamaraj penned the lyrics and it, which went on to become a rage.
• Rajinikanth appears on the screen after the first 15 minutes. This makes it the second Rajini film where his character gets introduced late. The first was Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi, which also had Mammootty in a crucial role.
• Kabali opted to have a straight theatrical release, with no official trailer!