Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; November 21, 2014)

Rajinikanth fans in Mumbai are gearing up for big- time revelry with their star’s, nay, demigod’s film, Linga slated to release on December 12. Like every time, the fireworks will take place at Aurora Talkies in Matunga — a semi-permanent shrine to the actor.

Nambi Rajan, owner of Aurora Talkies, says, “At least five fan clubs have approached me to plan celebrations for Linga’s release. We are working out the modalities. On my part, I paint the cinema halls before the release of every Rajinikanth film.” He reveals that the film producers have been requested to share the poster design for creating a 70-feet cut out of the star. During the release of Robot four years ago, Rajinikanth fans bathed his 60-feet cut out with milk prior to the first day, first show in Mumbai.

Mario Mascarenhas, who heads a Rajini fan club in Mumbai, says: “We will take his digital print to the temple and then bring it back to the theatre. We will burst crackers and like every time, bathe his larger-than-life cut out with 300 to 400 litres of milk.”

Rajini fans will get to see him in flesh and blood in Mumbai after a three- year gap, says Rajan, adding: “Kochadaiiyaan, which released in May this year, did not receive a great response as it was an animation film. But Linga will present Rajini sir the way his fans like.”