Anbulla Rajinikanth

Rosy, a girl with a left arm paralysed and weak cardiac health, lives at an orphanage (Karunai Illam) along with others that were dumped by their parents due to disabilities or having no parents, or for other reasons. The fact that she had been disowned by her parents for untold reasons since her birth and her disability to be like other normal children attributes to her rudeness, being uncaring and ignorant towards anyone. She even ill-treats all her caretakers in the orphanage, which leads to hatefulness towards her by almost all other orphanage workers and orphan children, except the kind Mother Superior, who heads the Karunai Illam. Mother Superior is always kind to everyone regardless of one's age. Lalitha arrives at Karunai Illam as a babysitter. She is assigned to take care of Rosy by Mother Superior. She, unlike any other caretakers, takes care of Rosy despite her rudeness and shows extra care for her like a real mother herself, which even surprises Mother Superior as the older caretakers gave up and sidelined when it came to taking care of Rosy, owing to her arrogance.

It is informed that actor Rajinikanth would one day visit the orphanage as a guest to entertain children on a special occasion under the permission of Mother Superior, who thought it would be a good chance to bring change to everyone in the orphanage. Rajinikanth arrives and gives a speech and distributes sweets to every little child and staff kindly, and everyone receives it with pleasure. But when Rajini's turn came to Rosy, she, as usual, shows anger and disregards Rajini's gifts. While this infuriates everyone around, even children, Rajini imbibes ignominy caused by the little girl Rosy's behaviour, since her being a child and still continues being calm and positive. He announces he will freely showcase his newly released film Annai Oru Aalayam. Rosy however not only earned everyone's disgust for her actions, but on the inside also feels saddened that she herself did this, which even made her more grumpy.

Later that night, Rosy, as usual, stayed isolated from the film screening that was shown as promised by Rajinikanth. But she, however, got interested in the movie hearing it over the window. After a glimpse of a few scenes of it from her window, she goes on to watch the whole movie, wherein the hero of it saves a baby elephant from poachers and re-unites it with its mother elephant displaying parental love, which affects Rosy in terms of sentiments that makes her want to apologize for her unkind acts. Next day, she displays a change, to everyone's awe. She apologises to Rajinikanth through a letter, saying that this film was the reason for her to change her perspective towards her nature, which Rajinikanth swiftly agrees to and replies to her, reciprocating his kindness. Having found herself to have become a bigger fan of Rajinikanth, Rosy obsesses about her favourite superstar-uncle as she would love to call him. Mother Superior, happy on this change of Rosy, requests to Rajinikanth herself, to which Rajinikanth kindly obliges.

Rajinikanth again returns one day and sets up a little drama with K. Bhagyaraj, obliging for Mother Superior's request to please the kids. There he and his young little fan, Rosy, bond with each other, which extends to limits where Rajinikanth takes Rosy almost everywhere, even to his shoots of new films considering the little child Rosie's love for him as to reciprocate it. One day, while having a fun time with Rosie at the illam, in front of Rajinikanth, Rosie coughs up blood then faints. This panics everyone playing around, and soon the doctor is consulted. The doctor comes to become aware that Rosie has a weak heart and she has just a few days left to live, reveals it – and this shocks Lalitha and Rajinikanth himself. Rajinikanth vows to keep his little fan happy for the rest of her life and approaches senior doctors for help. While Ambika confronts Mother Superior in private regarding this, she reveals she is the real mother of Rosie. She had to dump Rosie due to unnatural reasons because of her family and loss of her husband Raju. She interrogates Mother Superior as to why she did not tell her about this. Mother Superior reveals she was aware of this condition, Rosy has had and consulted doctors (shown earlier in the beginning) earlier than Rosie was even able to speak as a child, only to know the problem could not be eradicated by modern medical amenities, but only be cured by god and his grace himself.

Knowing that Rosy was reaching the end of her life, Mother Superior seeks the help of Rosy's idol – Rajnikanth, so that she finds solace in him that she remains happy, let alone the fact of how long she would survive. Rosie demands Rajinikanth once to come and celebrate Christmas as Santa, such that no-one realises. On Christmas Eve, Rajini does as Rosy's wish, soon after which he reveals himself. Overjoyed, Rosy laughs so hard out of happiness, she once again coughed up blood and faints in front of everyone in the middle of a happy occasion. Realizing that night was her last, everyone gathers around crying, especially Rosy's friends, who started to like her ever since the change in her attitude, (after Rajnikanth's arrival) that they were going to miss her forever. On that sad moment, she also reveals, that she was aware that Ambika was her real mother, which makes everyone go into shock. Holding her idol's hand, Rosy dies. It is later shown, Rajinikanth paying tribute to his little fan and he sadly leaves Karunai illam in the memory of the cute little girl that changed because of him, Rosy.

• Rajinikanth as himself
• Meena as Rosy[1]
• Ambika as Lalitha[2]
• Rajkumar Sethupathi as Raju[2]
• Tinku as J. C. Peter[3]
• Sulakshana as Stella
• Manimala

Supporting roles

• Jaishankar as himself
• K. Bhagyaraj as himself[3]
• Raadhika as herself
• R. Parthiban as K. Bhagyaraj's assistant director
• K. Natraj as passport officer

Producer Azhagan Thamizhmani and writer Thooyavan saw a film called Touched by Love (also known as To Elvis, with Love), in 1980 which had Elvis Presley in a guest appearance at a film festival, both got emotional while watching the film, which prompted them to attempt a similar story in Tamil. Thooyavan finished writing the screenplay within a month. He wanted to cast M. G. Ramachandran as the hero, but could not do so.[4] Thooyavan narrated the story to K. Natraj who was working as one of the assistant directors in Devar Films. Natraj agreed to work on the film and Rajinikanth accepted to act in the film for free of charge. Rajinikanth initially agreed to give callsheet of 6 days then extended for 10 days since he wanted the film to come out well. The film was entirely shot in a school with 300 students. Rajkumar Sethupathi, brother of actress Latha and husband of actress Sripriya did a small role as Ambika's husband. Meena appeared as one of the main characters.[2] A scene where Rosy visits Rajinikanth's house for tea was filmed at the actual location.[5] The budget of the film was ₹2.3 million.[6]

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[7]

Anbulla Rajinikanth was released on 2 August 1984.[8] The film was a Box-office bomb.[9] The following day, The Hindu said, "For one making his debut as director Natraj deserves accolades for the near-to-the-heart treatment of the situations in which the performance of a six-member-group of orphans will make even elder artistes sit up" and concluded, "Babu's camera embellishes the frames".[3] The film ran for 100 days in theatres.[6]

The film's title inspired a film titled Anbulla Ghilli.[10]

• Rajinikanth 12.12.12: A Birthday Special. The Hindu.

• Anbulla Rajinikanth on IMDb