Petta storms into theatres across world; Rajini dazzles

The good-old Rajinikanth clad in a stylish outfit whose mere presence on the screen electrifies the theatres was back after a long gap in Petta – the masala entertainer which opened to the full house across the globe.

In Chennai, Rajinikanth’s bastion, fans erected giant cut-outs of Thalaivar, whistled, danced and distributed sweets to mark the release of Petta outside every theatre that screened the movie. Most screens in suburbs had special shows for Rajinikanth fans and the initial feedback was that Petta is a quintessential Thalaivar movie with all ingredients for a blockbuster.

Outside Albert and Kasi theatres in the heart of Chennai, known for celebrations on the day of release of Rajinikanth movie, fans from Japan made a beeline to watch the movie. Celebrations that began late on Wednesday evening continued through the night.

As their Thalaivar made a grand entry on the silver screen – the moment for which Rajinikanth fans keep yearning – fingers turned into a whistle, papers and chocolates lay scattered across the large hall and some even performed an arti with coconut and camphor to ward off evils.

Revelry at the Rohini Silver Screens in Koyambedu, Vetri Theatre in Chromepet and other single screens on the outskirts of Chennai were of a different level as hundreds of fans spent the night sleepless after word spread from abroad that Kaala was truly a Rajinikanth movie.

And for the first time in five years, movies of two hugely popular actors are releasing on the same day – Petta and Ajith Kumar’s Viswasam -- last was when Jilla by Vijay and Veeram by Ajith opened during 2014 Pongal.

Almost all tickets for the first two days in screens in and around Chennai for both Petta and Viswasam have been booked, reinforcing the actors’ sway over their fans.

There was greater excitement over Petta since the trailer promises the ingredients for a trademark Rajinikanth movie – a stylish Rajini, punch dialogues and the love scenes – unlike his previous ventures Kabali and Kaala which were critically-acclaimed but did not perform well at the box office.