Padayappa returns after 25 years: Why Rajinikanth kept this Tamil blockbuster elusive

Weekends are incomplete without watching Rajinikanth films on television.

For many Tamil households, in Tamil Nadu or elsewhere in the world, a relaxing day would invariably mean catching a Superstar film on the telly. The man could be taking on a dreaded don (Baasha) or his own mother-in-law (Maapilai), but the comedy and action sequences would serve as wholesome entertainment for the family.

While many such Rajinikanth films have regaled TV audiences — some even decades after their theatrical release — Padayapparemained elusive. The 1999 blockbuster was telecast just a couple of times. It was not available on any OTT platform. All this because Rajinikanth — the lead actor, producer and story writer of Padayappa — carefully shielded it from public eye. “I did not give the rights to any telecast player, despite multiple requests. I wanted people to watch it only on the big screen. It should be a kondattam (celebration) for fans on my 50th year in cinema,” Rajinikanth said, in a special video released recently.

Twenty five years after its theatrical run, Padayappa re-releases on Rajinikanth’s birthday (December 12). Directed by KS Ravikumar, the film also starred Sivaji Ganesan, Ramya Krishnan, Soundarya and Abbas, among others, in main roles. Apart from being celebrated for Rajinikanth’s style and panache, Padayappa remains unforgettable for the role of the scheming Neelambari (played by Ramya Krishnan), whose face-off with Rajinikanth forms the most crucial part of the storyline.

‘Aishwarya Rai was not interested’

Kalki Krishnamurthy’s trailblazing Ponniyin Selvanhas long served as an inspiration to many creative personalities. Rajinikanth is no exception. The superstar was so smitten by the novel — and the writing of one of the female leads Nandhini — that he wanted to shape something similar. Padayappa was a result of that itch. “Every time I thought of the villainous female lead we had written (Neelambari), Aishwarya Rai kept coming to mind,” said Rajinikanth, “I really wanted her to play it. She was extremely busy at that time, but I realised that she was not interested in it.”

The team even considered other names like Sridevi, Meena and Madhuri Dixit, but they were scouting for someone whose eyes reflected arrogance and temerity. “One day, he (director Ravikumar) called me up from Hyderabad and suggested Ramya Krishnan’s name. I was not convinced initially, but after the look test, we felt that she would pull it off.” It was a decision that would not only change Ramya Krishnan’s fortunes in the film industry, but also give Tamil cinema one of its best female villains.

And what about Aishwarya Rai? She not only went on to act with Rajinikanth in Shankar’s Enthiran (2010), but also played Nandhini in Mani Ratnam’s cinematic version of Ponniyin Selvan.

Memories of a hit

Padayappa, which had music by AR Rahman, was completed within 70 days, thanks to the efforts of director Ravikumar and production manager PL Thenappan. The climax featured more than 10,000 people, a sequence shot with much difficulty in Mysore. “Padayappa is close to my heart,” added Rajini, “It gave me the chance to closely interact with Sivaji Ganesan, who praised me saying that I was doing multiple things in life, like visiting the Himalayas and doing only one project at a time, despite having the chance to make a lot of money. The days I spent shooting for this film is close to my heart. I like the punch dialogues in the film. In fact, right now, we are trying to work out its sequel, titled Neelambari. If things fall in place, that project will be announced soon for fans.”

That might take time, but this Friday (December 12), Padayappa will return to the big screen after 25 years. With Rajinikanth completing 50 years in the industry — a feat for which he was honoured at the recent IFFI 2025 — fans will get a chance to celebrate the Superstar’s style and performance on the big screen, yet again.