In the annals of Tamil cinema, few partnerships have been as consequential as that of superstar Rajinikanth and the late RM Veerappan — producer, politician and AIADMK stalwart. Veerappan, known for his sharp political instincts and ability to spot cinematic gold, was instrumental in shaping Rajinikanth’s film trajectory during the 1980s and ’90s through his production banner, Sathya Movies. Their collaboration gave Tamil cinema several iconic hits, none more culturally impactful than Baashha (1995).
A new documentary, RMV: The Kingmaker, has prompted Rajinikanth to publicly revisit a pivotal and politically charged moment in their shared history — the 100th-day celebration of Baashha. At the star-studded event held in Chennai, Rajinikanth, flanked by RM Veerappan on stage, made a speech criticising then-Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Without naming her directly, he condemned what he described as “hereditary politics,” spoke out against the rising “bomb culture,” and warned that Tamil Nadu could risk becoming a “graveyard” if the trend continued.
In a video shared by the filmmakers, Rajinikanth said, “RMV sir was one among a very select few like K Balanchander sir, Cho Ramasamy sir and Panchu Arunachalam sir. I miss them all.” He added, “While he was on stage, I spoke against the then prevailing bomb culture. With a minister by my side, I should not have spoken like that, and I didn’t have the clarity back then. AIADMK head Jayalalithaa removed him from his post for not objecting to the talk against the government.”
The fallout was immediate and severe. Veerappan, who already shared a tense relationship with Jayalalithaa, was summarily dropped from her cabinet. The move deeply upset Rajinikanth, who revealed in the documentary that he called RMV the very next day, distraught over the consequences of his words. But the veteran politician, with characteristic calm, brushed it off, urging Rajinikanth not to lose his self-respect by apologising. “I am not attached to [my position],” Veerappan reportedly told him.
The episode, Rajinikanth admits, left a lasting impact. In the documentary, an emotional Rajinikanth reflects on how the incident shaped his political stance against Jayalalithaa in the years that followed. He also credits Veerappan’s political acumen and humility as qualities that left a deep impression on him. As the title suggests, RM Veerappan may never have sought the limelight, but his influence — both behind the scenes and on stage — continues to shape Tamil Nadu’s cultural and political memory.
