Rajini mania heightened with <i>Endhiran</i>

Superstar Rajinikanth's mania was at its peak as the much-awaited <i>Endhiran</i> released in 2000 screens.

Superstar Rajinikanth's mania was at its peak as the much-awaited Endhiran released in 2000 screens.

The exhilarated masses waited patiently through the night to catch the first show in the wee hours of the morning.

With Rajinikanth's three-year hiatus since his last film Sivaji - The Boss, plus the hype created with the release of the Rs 162crore budget Endhiran, there was no stopping the Rajini-crazed fans.

In Mumbai, there was equal excitement where his poster was bathed in milk and worshiped.

Fans also burst crackers to celebrate the return of their hero to the silver screen.

The movie even had Rajinikanth's daughters, Soundarya and Aishwarya, awestruck with their father's new film as they fearlessly shouted, "Endhiran Rocks" and "We love you Pa!"

In Chennai, scores of fans were queued outside theatres, sporting Rajini T Shirts.

Endhiran opened to rave reviews with the film lovers referring to the southern superstar as their God and guarantees from the public that the film will break all the records set by any film before. Special prayers were offered in temples.

Fans were seen offering prayers almost everywhere. There was little that Rajinikanth couldn't do, but as a robot, Rajini can apparently do anything.

Here's a look at some of the stills from Endhiran.

Rajinikanth is working opposite Aishwarya Rai for the first time.

It will release alongside its dubbed versions: <i>Robot</i> in Hindi and <i>Robo</i> in Telugu.

It will release alongside its dubbed versions: Robot in Hindi and Robo in Telugu.

After meticulous filming and production that lasted over two years, the film is touted as the most expensive Asian film with a budget of Rs 190 crores.

One of the highlights of this film is that Rajinikanth will be seen without his famed moustache in most parts of the movie.

According to reports, the film is through-and-through science fiction flick brought out by maestro director Shankar.

The film is said to have been made with the highest budget among all films made so far on Indian soil.

The director could not have a better star-cast than that of south Indian super star Rajinikanth and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles.

Rajnikanth thinks that it is destiny that made him to be part of magnum opus <i>Enthiran</i>. The superstar confirmed that Bollywood's King Khan, Shah Rukh, was the first choice as both, an actor and producer. When creative differences arose between SRK and Shankar, Kamal Hassan was approached.

Rajnikanth thinks that it is destiny that made him to be part of magnum opus Enthiran. The superstar confirmed that Bollywood's King Khan, Shah Rukh, was the first choice as both, an actor and producer. When creative differences arose between SRK and Shankar, Kamal Hassan was approached.

After SRK and Hassan refusing the part, Rajinikanth took on this project and claims it was written somewhere in destiny that he has to be a part of <i>Enthiran</i>.

After SRK and Hassan refusing the part, Rajinikanth took on this project and claims it was written somewhere in destiny that he has to be a part of Enthiran.

Rajnikanth also added that the only reason he accepted the film was due to Shankar. He said, “Shankar is one of the best filmmakers in the country. He was the only reason behind me agreeing to play the role. I would have declined the offer otherwise”.

The trailer was released among the cast and crew of <i>Enthiran</i> by superstar Rajinikanth, director Shankar and producer of the film, Kalanidhi Maran.

The trailer was released among the cast and crew of Enthiran by superstar Rajinikanth, director Shankar and producer of the film, Kalanidhi Maran.

The event was graced by several dignitaries from Tollywood including Rama Narayanan, president Tamil Film Producers Council, theatre owner Abirami Ramnathan and actors like Lawerence, Arya, Arun, Karan, Vijay and Sibiraj. Rajnikanth's wife Latha along with their daughters and sons-in law were present there.

As the trailer was released, Rajnikanth's fans celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and having sweets. His fans are looking forward to the release of his movie that is coming to the cinema halls in later part of this month.

Rajnikanth is also geared up to live up to the expectations of his admirers. He guaranteed that the cast enjoyed doing the film and he is hopeful that the audiences will certainly like it.

In an exclusive NDTV snippet, Rajinikanth said he was very happy with the movie and that the fans should "expect excitement!"

Rajnikanth found this role a bit difficult to perform as he is playing a robot for which he also spent two weeks in USA along with Shankar for the preparation technical aspects of his character.

Rajinikanth has a double role in this film.

One is a scientist Vaseegaran and the other is a robot called Chitti.

The scientist Rajinikanth creates an android man with artificial intelligence –like that of sixth sense in humans – which looks exactly like him and behaves too like a human to help mankind. But the robot later acquires more human characters.

Through technical upgrades, the robot becomes almost human. It falls in love with Aishwarya Rai and writes romantic poems besides doing many other things.

Knowing about the extraordinary intelligence of the robot the villains, led by Danny Denzongpa, try to get control of the robot. Scientist Rajinikanth then fights to save the robot falling into the hands of the enemies and destroys the evil forces using the robot itself.

Legendary music director and Oscar Award winner A R Rahman scored music for the flick and the audio was officially released on July 31.

This film was announced by Shankar soon after completing his blockbuster <i>Sivaji - The Boss</i> in 2007. Though he wanted to go ahead with the project, no producer had come forward keeping in view the expenditure and budget the film needs.

This film was announced by Shankar soon after completing his blockbuster Sivaji - The Boss in 2007. Though he wanted to go ahead with the project, no producer had come forward keeping in view the expenditure and budget the film needs.

Yuen Woo Ping who designed action scenes for films like <i>The Matrix</i>, <i>Crouching Tiger</i>, Hidden Dragon</i> and <i>The Forbidden Kingdom</i> is the stunt co-ordinator, along with Peter Haynes.

Yuen Woo Ping who designed action scenes for films like The Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Forbidden Kingdom is the stunt co-ordinator, along with Peter Haynes.

Stan Winston Studios, which handled visual effects for films like <i>Aliens</i>, <i>Terminator 2</i> and <i>Jurassic Park</i>, worked on the animatronics of the film.

Stan Winston Studios, which handled visual effects for films like Aliens, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, worked on the animatronics of the film.

It was the late author and script-writer Sujata who wrote a science fiction novel <i>En Iniya Iyanthira</i>, after getting inspired by Isaac Asimov's robot story <i>Bicentennial Man</i> published in 1975. However, the script was completed by Shankar and Balakumaran due to the sudden demise of Sujatha.

It was the late author and script-writer Sujata who wrote a science fiction novel En Iniya Iyanthira, after getting inspired by Isaac Asimov's robot story Bicentennial Man published in 1975. However, the script was completed by Shankar and Balakumaran due to the sudden demise of Sujatha.

The film has a technical crew which worked for world class Hollywood films who made a mark in World Cinema.

The shooting locations include the historic Machu Picchu in Peru.

Two songs of this high budget movie have been shot in America.

<i>Enthiran</i> is Rahman's second project with Rajinikanth and Shankar, after <i>Sivaji - The Boss</i>.

Enthiran is Rahman's second project with Rajinikanth and Shankar, after Sivaji - The Boss.

The soundtrack of Robot begins with <i>O naye insaan</i>, sung by Rahman's daughter Khatija Rahman and Srinivas D.

The soundtrack of Robot begins with O naye insaan, sung by Rahman's daughter Khatija Rahman and Srinivas D.

A still from the film.

Rajini mania heightened with Endhiran

Rajini mania was at its peak as the much-awaited Endhiran released on 2000 screens. The exhilarated masses waited patiently through the night to catch the first show in the wee hours of the morning.