Star-studded night for Tamil movie fans

IT WAS a surprise for many Malaysians when the producers of the highly-anticipated Tamil movie Enthiran carried out their audio launch in the country over Astro Vanavil.

The sci-fi flick, deemed the most expensive Indian movie ever made, features superstar Rajinikanth and Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachan as the lead actors.

The launch drew the Indian stars to Malaysian shores with the Putrajaya International Convention Centre playing host to the event recently.

Music man: Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman being escorted down the red carpet before the event.

Rai, the former Miss World, was camera shy and skipped the red carpet event much to everyone’s disappointment.

Other stars including Rajinikanth and his daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya, director Shankar, Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman, actors Jayam Ravi, Ramyakrishnan and lyricist Vairamuthu, however, had no qualms traipsing down the red carpet, even stopping for a photograph or two.

The launch was telecast live for more than five hours and included the premier of the enigmatic Enthiran trailer and music from the movie.

Rahman appeared calm with a serene smile on his face as he faced the hordes of fans who had come to see him in person.

The man of few words opened his speech with his signature quote ellam puzhugum iraivannike (All praises to God).

Song and dance: A special tribute was staged for musical genius A. R. Rahman.

He then shared a story of how a child’s voice was needed for a particular song, which his daughter Khatijah managed to sing in three languages.

“After she had finished singing, she said there was school tomorrow and went to bed,” he said after thanking her.

Rai only made it to the event during the official launch of the audio release.

She, however, dazzled the audience with a few Malay phrases she has picked up by saying Selamat Petang and Apa Khabar?

Bollywood’s sweetheart sputtered an enthusiastic, energised and jovial speech amidst shouts of “I love you, Aishu!” from star-struck fans.

Class act: Simbhu gave an impromptu performance during the audio launch of Enthiran.

Heaping praises on Rajini, Rai said it was difficult to know what was going on in the superstar’s head as he usually sat in a corner quietly watching everybody.

“But, when the camera rolls, it is magic. He is truly a superstar,” she said.

When it was time for Rajinikanth to take centre stage, the fans could not control themselves as they inched closer to the VIP seating area to get a better glimpse of him.

Rajikanth seemed grounded and humble despite his huge popularity here in Malaysia.

He spoke highly of Rahman as a man who has no ego and has chosen the path of love.

Rajinikanth, fondly known as Shivaji the Boss, said that although he had worked hard for the movie, credit had to go to the director Shankar.

“Every thing from my movements and even my dialogue was thought out by Shankar, I did nothing but act.

girls: Aishwarya (left) and Soundarya Rajinikanth sashaying down the red carpet.

“The movie is the first of its kind in India and is very unique,” he said.

Enthiran, which means Robot, has been Shankar’s baby for 10 years and was kept on the shelf for many reasons.

The movie, which took two years to complete, is a romantic science fiction flick.

Shankar hoped that much like his 1998 movie Jeans, Enthiran would have a run of 100 days in the cinemas.

Meanwhile, photographers covering the event were not pleased with the arrangements as they were not allowed to take any photos during the live show. Members of the media were also led on a wild goose chase for more than an hour looking for the red carpet event.

The gag order did not serve its purpose as most people were already distributing pictures and uploading the trailers via their camera phones.

No interviews or press conference were given either.

Also seen at the event were Malaysian personalities Yogi B, who sings a song in Enthiran, Datuk S. Subramaniam and Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan.