Kabali runs to packed houses; thrills `Thalaiva’ fans

It was Kabali Da day in Mangaluru. Almost all the 54 shows in the city in the three multiplexes and a single screen ran to packed house on Friday, making evident the power of Thalaiva on the audiences. Nagaraj Davangere and Munna Kadur, two physically challenged persons, who watched the first show at Jyothi Talkies said: He is our ``Annai.'' We never miss Rajini Sir's movie. As far as possible we see it on the first day and the first show.

Naveen Kurinja from Puttur, a sales representative, applied for leave and came to watch Kabali in Mangaluru. ``I told my boss that I will take leave to watch Kabali and work on Sunday,'' said the Rajini fan from 15 years. It all started with Annamalai, which he saw in Kasaragod because of his brother Prashanth, a lawyer in Mangaluru, a bigger fan than him. ``Because of Rajini, I learnt Tamil. Now I can read and write.

This was to understand his movies better. He is action King and is superb in in dialogue delivery. His every dialogue has many meanings,'' he said adding Kabali was ``sooper movie''. Rajesh Kumar T, a poultry farm employee, is another fan who claims to be his biggest fan. Both Naveen and he came from Puttur though a local theatre was screening his movie as they had booked online. ``I like his simplicity.

This movie is both for class and mass,'' he declared. Gavi Siddanagouda from Ballari, is not a fan but crazy about Thalaiva because of his unique style. A networking engineer by profession, he applied for sick leave to see Kabali on the first day. ``The movie will definitely please Rajini fans. But for those who go for curiosity sake and with a lot of expectation, it may disappoint as it's a one-man show,'' said Gavi.