“It was Rajinikanth’s calculated ploy”, director confesses

Director K S Ravikumar’s films are commercial entertainers and if one wants to forget their worries and get engrossed in unadulterated entertainers for two and a half hours, Ravikumar’s films fit the condition perfectly. He has completed twenty five years in the industry and has directed blockbusters like Nattamai, Muthu, Avvai Shanmugi, Thenali, Padayappa to name a few.

It is also Ravikumar’s signature style to appear in a few frames in his movies but in Padayappa, he had also danced in ‘kick yerudhe’ number along with Superstar. When asked about this, the Cheran Pandian director honestly admits that it was all a calculated ploy by Rajinikanth.

Rajinikanth had apparently asked KSR to dance with him in the number and the latter had also agreed to just blend with the group dancers at the background. When he came to the shooting spot the next day, his costumes, exactly like that of the Superstar, were ready and he also took dancing rehearsals and went for the shot.

But apparently it took 12 takes and Ravikumar was downright exhausted. Later the dance master spilled the beans that it was all Rajini’s ploy and actually the 1^st take in itself was perfect. Afterwards Superstar jokingly had said, “You extract work from us for the entire film. We just want you to understand how it feels like on the other side of the megaphone. That’s why we took 12 takes.” Quite delightful indeed!