Rajinikanth's mass masala film Paydayappa entered the silver jubilee this year; it hit theatres on April 10 1999. Two decades later, it remains one of Rajinikanth's most popular films and has high recall value among Tamil audiences. It also gave us a woman villain who is still unsurpassed, Ramya Krishnan's Neelambari. The family action entertainer carries misogynistic dialogues, which haven’t aged that well. Rajini’s style-loaded avatar - philosophical dialogues - massy punches have turned into evergreen classics. 

Rajinikanth's iconic role

Director KS Ravikumar masterfully crafted Rajinikanth's character in 'Padayappa', From portraying a young man driven by ambition to succeed his father, Rajinikanth's performance exuded charisma, blending elements of both class and mass appeal.

Ramya Krishnan's Stellar Performance

Padayappa is also remembered by the audience because of the actress Ramya Krishnan’s character. She played the anti-heroine character. Her impeccable acting brought depth to the negative role, establishing her as one of the finest villainesses in Tamil cinema. Even after 25 years, Ramya Krishnan's role in 'Padayappa' stands unrivalled in brilliance.

Sivaji Ganesan's Memorable Presence

Veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan portrayed Rajinikanth's father in the film, creating unforgettable moments on screen. The chemistry between Sivaji Ganesan and Rajinikanth resonated deeply with fans, mirroring a genuine father-son bond. Despite Sivaji Ganesan's character having a limited presence in the second half, his towering performance left a lasting impact on audiences.

AR Rahman's musical magic

Isai Puyal AR Rahman's enchanting music Complementing the stellar cast and gripping screenplay.  His background score breathed life into pivotal scenes, elevating the film's impact.

Nagma was the first choice  to star opposite Thalaivar 

Another interesting fact related to this film is that the first choice for the female lead opposite Rajinikanth was not Soundarya. Nagma was the first choice to star opposite Thalaivar in the film later She dropped out of the film when she found that Ramya Krishnan’s role was meatier. 

Soundarya also did an excellent job of dancing around Rajni in their songs together. She often has a cheeky smile on her face, so Vasundhara might have a colourful fantasy life to balance her dutiful side. Padayappa was a milestone film in the sense that it was the last movie of Tamil cinema legend Shivaji Ganesan.

Read Also: introducing raashi khanna as maaya, vennele kishore as tiger from sundar c, avni cinemax p ltd, asian suresh entertainment llp’s baak