Rajinikanth's films have never failed to rouse audiences with their whistle-worthy moments. But beyond those whistle-worthy scenes, the content in the superstar's films continues to appeal to people of all generations, including Gen Z, whose culture revolves around seeking levity in tough situations. There is a sense of timelessness to the superstar’s unique expressions, style, swag and dialogue delivery that lends itself well to the meme culture. Often, meme makers use the dramatic or cinematic intensity of these moments to bring about a hilarious juxtaposition, allowing them to look at their plight (loneliness) with a sense of humour instead of wallowing it in. Below is a dissection of some iconic moments from Rajinikanth films that still dominate social media culture.

The Breakup from Thalapathi

The classic moment from Mani Ratnam's film, where Subbulakshmi (Shobana) expresses her desire to be with Surya (Rajinikanth) and questions his commitment, but he rejects her because of his life as a gangster, is a desolate one in the film. It is a heart-wrenching decision for Surya because he loves Subbulakshmi so much that he does not want her to be affected by his violent life. The visual of a heartbroken Surya, with the sun in the backdrop, is both poignant and evocative. However, meme creators have often made quirky and often self-depreciating interpretations of the scene. For example, they add to the moment with captions such as: “Me finally telling ‘No’ to my school crush after the first proposal in my life just because I can recreate this scene.”

The Laugh of a Betrayed Man from Jailer

The moment where Rajinikanth's character sits on a sofa, looks up and delivers an enigmatic laugh in Jailer is perfect fodder for meme makers. Here, Muthuvel Pandiyan realises that his son Arjun (Vasanth Ravi) is a corrupt cop and a betrayer. There are various ways to interpret the initial smile that breaks into a laugh. The smile conveys Muthuvel’s sadness, but the laugh conceals his anger. Arguably, this is the tipping point where he drops his facade of being a family man and embraces his dangerous self. Meme creators use it to convey one quietly enjoying another's misfortune or maintaining a deceptively calm aura about them before unleashing sheer chaos.

The ‘Kabali Da’ Moment

Following his release from prison, Kabali makes a stylish return to the world of crime in Malaysia that he once dominated. When a youngster asks Kabali who he is and why he wears a suit, the latter shuts him with a line that essentially means that he is back and means business. Meme makers have since been using this one-liner as a hyperbolic way of announcing a return to something mundane or even embarrassing after a brief break. For example, “The king of last-minute submissions is back! The one who promises to submit the assignment on time but never keeps it. Kabali Da!”

The Rejection from Padaiyappa

Here is another rejection from a Rajinikanth film, one where he has a greater sense of freedom and no sense of dejection over his actions. When Padayappa (Rajinikanth) is at the nadir of his financial situation, Neelambari (Ramya Krishnan) proposes to him. Padayappa, who is already in love with Vasundhara (Soundarya), rejects her by telling her that she is everything he does not want in a life partner—arrogant, rich and obsessive. Rajinikanth’s dignified yet authoritative body language highlights the moral difference between Padayappa and Neelambari. It eventually becomes a powerful move that drives Neelambari to form a lifelong vendetta against him.

Meme interpretations range from everything that signifies a moral high ground to an act of sticking to the basics. For example, “Choosing not to buy a high-end PlayStation device because my old desktop still runs ‘Solitaire’ just fine.”

The Evil Laugh from Enthiran

When Chitti Robot identifies his creator Dr Vaseegaran among a crowd of dopplegangers, it makes for a chilling moment of truth for the scientist and the audience. This is where you finally realise that his programming is corrupted and he is no longer the good-natured robot that he once was. The megalomaniacal laugh that Chitti delivers shows that he now realises his true powers and is about to unleash sheer mayhem.

Among the best memes made with the moment are the ones that reimagine it as a form of guilty pleasure. For example, “Me using my friend's Netflix credentials for the fifth consecutive year despite him asking if I have been streaming anything with it.”

The Digital Invincibility of a Superstar! 

The enduring internet meme culture is a hilarious yet powerful reflection of Rajinikanth's star power. ​The memes, which honour his iconic dialogues, larger-than-life persona and style, ensure that the "Thalaivar" phenomenon remains a relevant and vital part of contemporary pop culture. In a way, it is an extension of the SMS culture, celebrating the superstar's persona with witticisms that made the impossible possible with him. People of a certain vintage should remember old “Rajini jokes,” such as the story of a batter hitting a ball so hard it splits itself into two pieces, each carrying for a six, thus securing twelve runs off the last ball. The punchline is that “Rajinikanth can do what other batters can’t!” After all, he has long been the hero of the masses, having started off as a villain and turning into an actor playing a common man from a humble background capable of doing extraordinary deeds. The memes take the said culture forward, transforming his cinema into a shorthand for cultural expression and taking it into a new millennium.