Editing Rajinikanth (section)

=== 1974–1977: Early career ===
{{quote box
| quote = "Rajinikanth claims that I am his school. But I must admit that this wasn't the Rajinikanth I introduced. He has evolved on his own merits and strengths. I gave him an opportunity and unveiled him to the world. He went and conquered it."
| source = — K. Balachander about Rajinikanth{{Sfn|Hindu|2012|p=12}}
| align = right
| width = 25em
}}

Rajinikanth began his film career with the Tamil film ''[[Apoorva Raagangal]]'' (1975), directed by [[K. Balachander]].<ref name="firstbreak">{{Cite news |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/12/12/super-star-rajnikanth-turns-61-fans-celebrates-enthusiastically |title=Super Star Rajnikanth turns 61: Fans celebrates enthusiastically |last=Sathyalaya Ramakrishnan |date=13 December 2010 |work=Asian Tribune |access-date=18 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215013133/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/12/12/super-star-rajnikanth-turns-61-fans-celebrates-enthusiastically |archive-date=15 December 2010}}</ref> He was cast in a small role as the ex-husband of the female lead played by [[Srividya]].<ref name=firstbreak/><ref name="pioneer">{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/agenda/150th-anniversary-issue/the-other-rajinikanth.html |title=The other Rajinikanth |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=5 January 2014 |work=[[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]] |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418113701/http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/agenda/150th-anniversary-issue/the-other-rajinikanth.html |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="express">{{Cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fans-celebrate-rajinikanths-61st-birthday/723665/ |title=Fans celebrate Rajinikanth's 61st birthday |last=C Raja Mohan |date=12 December 2010 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=23 April 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120060826/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fans-celebrate-rajinikanths-61st-birthday/723665 |archive-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> The film explored [[Age disparity in sexual relationships|relationships between people with wide age differences]] and was deemed controversial upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/experiments-in-tamil-cinema/photostory/29651841.cms |title=Experiments in Tamil cinema&nbsp;— Apoorva Raagangal (1975) |work=The Times of India |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509033249/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Experiments-in-Tamil-cinema/photostory/29651841.cms |archive-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> However, it received critical acclaim and won three [[National Film Awards]] including the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil|Award for the Best Tamil Feature]] at the [[23rd National Film Awards]] in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=23NFA.pdf |title=23rd National Film Awards |publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526091043/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=23NFA.pdf |archive-date=26 May 2011 |access-date=23 April 2011}}</ref> A review from ''[[The Hindu]]'' noted that, "Newcomer Rajinikanth is dignified and impressive."{{Sfn|Hindu|2012|p=67}} His next release was [[Puttanna Kanagal]]'s Kannada [[anthology film]] ''[[Katha Sangama (1976 film)|Katha Sangama]]'' (1976).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008101851261100.htm&date=2008/10/18/&prd=mp& |title=Blast from the past: Naagarahaavu- 1972 |date=18 October 2008 |work=The Hindu |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110055318/http://hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008101851261100.htm&date=2008%2F10%2F18%2F&prd=mp& |archive-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> Rajinikanth appeared in the last segment of the film; he played the role as a village ruffian who rapes a blind woman in the absence of her husband.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 3}} Balachander cast him in a pivotal role in ''[[Anthuleni Katha]]'' (1976), the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] remake of his own Tamil film ''[[Aval Oru Thodar Kathai]]'' (1974).{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 3}} In ''[[Moondru Mudichu]]''{{em dash}}the first Tamil film to feature him in a prominent role{{em dash}}he played a character that "blithely row[s] away" when his friend drowns accidentally in the lake only to fulfill his desire to marry the former's girlfriend.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 4}} His style of flipping the cigarette in the film made him popular among the audience.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-12-19/news/35912468_1_new-flavours-asin-rajinikanth |title=Mirinda advertisement: Can Asin match the charisma of Rajinikanth, Sridevi and Kamal Hassan |last=Chamikutty |first=Preethi |date=19 December 2012 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=7 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011059/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-12-19/news/35912468_1_new-flavours-asin-rajinikanth |archive-date=5 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In his final release of the year, ''[[Baalu Jenu]]'', he was cast as the main antagonist who troubles the female lead.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 3}} He played similar roles in Balachander's ''[[Avargal]]'' (1977),<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/04/10/stories/2011041050170800.htm |title=We will miss you, Sujatha |last=Malathi Rangarajan |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=23 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810024423/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/04/10/stories/2011041050170800.htm |archive-date=10 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> and [[Bharathiraja]]'s ''[[16 Vayathinile|16 Vayadhinile]]'' (1977).{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 3}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/815331.aspx |title=Return of Rajinikanth |date=22 February 2012 |work=The Hindustan Times |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140205182315/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/815331.aspx |archive-date=5 February 2014}}</ref> The same year, he made his first-ever appearance as a lead actor in the Telugu film ''[[Chilakamma Cheppindi]]'' (1977), which earned him his only nomination for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-9-life-lessons-to-learn-from-rajinikanth/20121212.htm#3 |title=Success has humble beginnings |date=12 December 2012 |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225021844/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-9-life-lessons-to-learn-from-rajinikanth/20121212.htm |archive-date=25 February 2013 |access-date=24 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/04/stories/2010090464702000.htm |title=Fusion of culture at celebrity wedding |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=4 September 2010 |access-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020140220/http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/04/stories/2010090464702000.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> [[S. P. Muthuraman]] experimented Rajinikanth in a positive role in ''[[Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri]]'' (1977).<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/22muthu.htm |title=Rajini acts in front of the camera, never behind it |last=Rajitha |date=22 December 1999 |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107121339/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/22muthu.htm |archive-date=7 January 2017 |access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref> The success of the film brought the duo together for 24 more films till the 1990s.<ref name="rediff1" /> Rajinikanth played supporting and "villainous" roles in most of the films released during the year.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 4}} In ''[[Gaayathri]]'' he was cast as a pornographer who secretly films his relationship with his wife without her knowledge and in ''[[Galate Samsara]]'' he played the role of a married man who develops an affair with a [[Cabaret|cabaret dancer]].{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|loc=chpt. 5}} He had 15 of his films released during the year.{{Sfn|Sreekanth|2008|p=370}}