Superstar Rajinikanth, who on Monday accepted the highly coveted Dadasaheb Phalke award in the National Film Awards ceremony in Mumbai gave the award to the mentor of his and deceased director of films K Balanchander.
The actor, who was a matinee idol throughout the years and often referred to as “Thalaivar’ (leader for a leader in Tamil) was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Indian film’s highest honor for an artist in the year 2019.
The speech he delivered to his audience was a thank you. Rajinikanth was also thankful to his older brother Sathyanarayana Rao his transport co-worker as well as close friend Raj Bahadur, his filmmakers, his fans, colleagues along with his colleagues and the Tamil community for the continuous support over the past five years.
“I’m very happy to have received this award. I’d like to express my appreciation to our government officials for the most highly coveted Dada Saheb Phalke Prize. This award is dedicated to me, my Guru, and my teacher K Balachander sir, I am grateful to my older brother Sathyanarayana Rao who is my dad figure to me, and for inspiring me with his great qualities…
“My driver friend and transportation colleague Raj Bahadur. Raj Bahadur saw the acting potential in me and urged me to go to the film. My producers and directors who have made my films, as well as technicians as well as distributors, artists media, press, and all my fans as well as Tamil the Tamil people …” that the 70-year-old actor declared in the National Film Awards ceremony in Vigyan Bhavan here.
Vice President Vice Venkaiah Naidu declared Rajinikanth “one of the greatest children of this great nation”.
In a speech, the vice president described Rajinikanth as a “great actor of south India but not from south India” The vice president in his address stated that Rajinikanth is a veteran who has put on unforgettable performances in films like “Bhairavi” and “Sivaji in the film ”Sivaji”.
“The legendary thespian’s incomparable acting abilities have brought an entirely new dimension in this Indian cinema business. He has demonstrated how to achieve a flawless balance between aesthetic expression and mass appeal as well,” Naidu said.
From his debut in 1975 with Balachander in “Apoorva Raagangal” and ”MoondruMudichu'” the ”Billa” film, Hindi titles like ”Hum”, ”ChaalBaaz’ and “Bhagwaan Dada” to ”Enthiran’ and ”Kaala” and the forthcoming ”Annatthe” Rajinikanth continues to delight viewers by his swag and style, as well as his unique on-screen presence.
Last December, Rajinikanth had shelved plans to make a foray into electoral politics. In a reversal, the star had declared that he wouldn’t be entering politics because of his ailing health.