Chennai, Oct 15 High decibel celebrations, bursting of firecrackers, ceremonial cake cutting, traditional milk ‘abhishekam’, and folk percussion marked the worldwide theatrical release of superstar Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated action entertainer ‘Jailer 2’ on Thursday.
Fans across age groups thronged theatres to watch Tiger Muthuvel Pandian aka Jailer enthrall them for a second time in the titular role with his trademark swag.
Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, produced by Sun Pictures, and featuring music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, the mega-budget film opened to packed houses across Tamil Nadu, turning cinema halls into carnivalesque grounds as fans, moviegoers, and film fraternity members flocked to catch the first-day-first-shows (FDFS).
In Chennai, star-studded excitement converged with vibrant fan festivities at the iconic Rohini Theatre, where Rajinikanth’s wife, Latha Rajinikanth, and popular actor Dhanush arrived to catch the special opening screening amid roaring cheers from the audience. The atmosphere outside the venue was charged with excitement, drawing not just local admirers but also dedicated fans from across international borders.
Among those attending the Chennai premiere were sisters Loshini and her family members, who travelled all the way from Sydney, Australia, specifically to experience the inimitable FDFS festivities on Tamil soil. Having previously caught Rajinikanth releases overseas in Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, they told PTI Videos that watching the grand celebrations, the array of high-profile cameos, and the unmatched audience frenzy in Chennai was a long-cherished dream.
Local moviegoers at Rohini Theatre echoed the exhilaration, praising direction and pulsating background score. Amid continuous slogans of “one sun, one moon, and only one superstar,” fans proclaimed the veteran actor to be Tamil cinema’s eternal and undisputed icon.
In Tiruchirappalli, enthusiastic fans gathered at the La Maris Theatre to welcome the film with grand visual spectacles. Supporters began queuing outside the complex as early as 6 am, treating the cinematic premiere with the reverence and discipline of an auspicious morning temple visit.
Sanjay, a member of the Srirangam Rajinikanth Fans Club Youth Wing, remarked that the 76-year-old actor continues to captivate multiple generations, describing him as a “mahaan” (great soul) whose enduring presence enriches Tamil cinema. “We shouldn’t miss celebrating him,” he told PTI Videos, highlighting that younger audiences remain just as deeply drawn into the actor’s monumental following.
Addressing commercial prospects, Sanjay maintained that while the original ‘Jailer’ became a massive, unexpected blockbuster, admirers prioritise theatrical entertainment over monetary milestones.
“The Rs 1,000-crore mark is secondary; if the film provides value for the audience’s money, box office milestones will naturally follow for Tamil cinema,” he said, adding that audiences eagerly look forward to seeing the superstar perform with trademark charisma on screen.
In the temple city of Madurai, moviegoers arrived in massive numbers across 22 theatres to catch the opening shows. Organised under the banner of the Madurai District Rajini Fans’ Association, supporters held elaborate celebrations in several parts of the city, including Arasaradi, marked by energetic Nashik Dhol music, long strings of fireworks, and customised ‘Jailer 2’ T-shirts.
Adding striking theatrical flair to the festivities, groups of fans dressed up in striped prisoner uniforms and prison warden costumes arrived at the Solamalai theatre in Arasaradi, dancing joyfully, performing ‘paalabhishekam’ (pouring of milk) on massive hoardings, cutting multi-tiered cakes, and distributing sweets.
Comparing the release to the city’s iconic Chithirai festival, supporters in Madurai noted that ‘Jailer 2’ carries historic weight because Rajinikanth had never previously acted in a direct sequel to his historic blockbusters like ‘Baasha’ or ‘Padayappa’.
Demonstrating extraordinary loyalty, a 54-year-old admirer claimed to have spent over Rs 1 crore across his lifetime solely on putting up Rajinikanth cut-outs, declaring his absolute devotion to the actor. Another follower, Muralidhara Sivachariyar, viewed the star in a spiritual light, calling him a “living saint and mystic” and stating he attended the opening show out of pure reverence. Word-of-mouth spread swiftly as another moviegoer recounted that his son, watching from Germany, called at 7 am to convey that the sequel delivered wholesome family entertainment on par with ‘Baasha.’
In Karur, fans and the general public turned up in large numbers to share their initial reactions, hailing the film’s mass appeal and energetic presentation. Moviegoers, including travellers visiting from distant locations, reiterated that Rajinikanth remains the lone, undisputed superstar whose films guarantee unbridled entertainment. Members of the Karur Santhani Union Rajinikanth Welfare Club offered special prayers for the film’s grand commercial triumph and wished the veteran actor robust health and longevity, noting that the sequel has generated sweeping excitement among both seasoned and younger demographics.
Down south in the coastal hub of Thoothukudi, hundreds of fans queued outside theatres from the early hours of dawn. Giant cut-outs were adorned with oversized floral garlands and bathed in streams of milk amid continuous sloganeering. Local fans equated the event to major festivals like Deepavali, Pongal, Christmas, and New Year arriving simultaneously.
The celebration drew lifelong supporters such as 61-year-old S Anbudurai, who recounted his long association with the actor’s fan clubs, as well as younger viewers like Lavanya, who credited her father for introducing her to the first-day-first-show tradition. Ramesh of the Thoothukudi District Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Association and other admirers praised the actor’s enduring simplicity, screen presence, and charitable work away from the public gaze.
In Thanjavur, scenes of jubilation played out at the Sri Pathi Theatre, where fans conducted milk ‘abhishekam’ on cut-outs, broke ceremonial coconuts, set off firecrackers, and danced to drum rhythms. Rajini Ganesh, District President of the Rajinikanth Fans Club in Thanjavur, predicted record box-office collections and a silver-jubilee run, stating, “Our Superstar will remain 18 years young forever, and we too will continue to act like 18-year-olds!”
In Dindigul, premiere venues echoed with rhythmic dance performances to traditional ‘tharai thappattai’ percussion, paired with elaborate fireworks and cake cutting, as fans across all age brackets came together to celebrate the superstar’s grand theatrical return.
Jailer 2 has an expansive cast including SJ Surya, Sooraj Venjaramoodu, Vidya Balan and others. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, top Kannada star Shivarajkumar and Hindi cinema star Jackie Shroff, all of whom played key cameos in ‘Jailer,’ have acted in the sequel too.
The plot of ‘Jailer’ revolved around a retired prison official’s fight to save his police officer son from the clutches of a merciless idol-theft gang, with a twist in the tale ending with an unexpected climax.
(PTI News)
