Rajinikanth turns 74: CM Stalin extends wishes, statue unveiled in Madurai

Rajinikanth with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, a statue of Rajinikanth at Arulmigu Sri Rajini Temple in Madurai
| Photo Credit: X/ @mkstalin, ANI

Superstar Rajinikanth, fondly known as “Thalaiva,” celebrated his 74th birthday on December 12, with fans and admirers across the globe showering him with love and tributes.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media to wish the legendary actor, calling him a “wonderful friend” and praising his unmatched influence in cinema.

In a grand tribute to the icon, a 3-foot-tall, 300-kg statue of Rajinikanth was unveiled at the Arulmigu Sri Rajini Temple in Thirumangalam, Madurai, on the eve of his birthday. The statue, depicting his iconic look from the 1989 film Mappillai, symbolizes his immense contribution to Indian cinema.

Karthik, the retired Army officer who founded the temple out of his admiration for Rajinikanth, described the unveiling as a celebration of the megastar’s legacy. Special rituals and prayers were performed at the temple to mark the occasion.

Rajinikanth’s birthday comes on the heels of the success of his recent film Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel. The October release featured a stellar cast, including Amitabh Bachchan in his Tamil cinema debut and Anirudh Ravichander’s powerful soundtrack.

(With inputs from ANI)