Rajnikanth’s Robot sweeps Indians

Robot has taken over the film-going average Indian, literally.

It is not some steel-and-machine robot that has captured the imagination of the nation’s cinelovers, but superstar Rajnikanth’s latest flick ‘Robot’ (Endhiran, in Tamil) that has swept across the mad tide.

If the film’s second day collections are any indication, the producers can safely sit back and relax as their whooping investments of Rs 175 crores in this nation’s most-expensive movie till date are sure to return several times over.

Former Miss World and Bollywood top actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is paired opposite Rajnikanth in the film.

The southern cities have witnessed a mad rush for advance bookings, with tickets sold out in several leading halls more than a week before the release.

Screening started from the wee hours on Friday and all shows are reportedly sold-out in all major halls, particularly in Tamil Nadu capital Chennai where the Rajni-craze is phenomenal.

The state’s chief minister, M Karunanidhi, too watched the movie at a special screening at Sathyam Cinemas in Chennai, along with Rajnikant and the film’s director Shankar.

Fans of the megastar burst out in jubilation as their three-year-long wait finally came to an end on Friday. The last Rajni release was ‘Sivaji: The Boss’ in 2007.

People performed pujas, poured milk oblations, chanted his names and burst fire crackers as the screenings started on Friday.

Huge cut-outs of the star were placed across southern cities, which were garlanded by his fans.

The people lapped up every second of the film, which film critics had said was a tad too long. But instead of complaining the fans seemed merrier as a longer film meant more of their beloved actor.

‘Robot’ or ‘Edhiran’ craze has also reached the overseas Indian crowd as it was released worldwide on Friday.

It was also released at Europe’s biggest cinema hall Colosseum Kino, at Oslo (Norway).