Action heroes are the preferred lot and are worshipped all over the world. Their films are in demand and action-oriented films create wonders at the box-office,” remarked Superstar Rajinikanth at the golden jubilee celebration of South Indian Film Stunts Union, which was started by legendary MGR, 50 years ago.
Speaking at the star-studded, event he said, “When I was young, I wanted to know how many fights were there in a film before going to the sets. Like how producers and directors are important for a film, stunt artistes are equally essential. I am here because of the stunt union. And it is apt that they are celebrating its 50th year in the centenary celebration of iconic MGR, who was the brain behind the inception of this union. In fact, MGR was giving monthly salary to many stuntmen even after he quit acting. All of us shed our sweat for a movie, only stunt people shed sweat and blood and put their lives at stake. They are the real heroes,” he said. Recalling his famous fight atop a train in Murattu Kaalai, which was filmed 37 years ago, he said, “I was trained under Ambur Babu and Judo Ratnam when I came to films. Later, when producers of AVM banner wanted to hire foreign or Bollywood technicians for the risky train fight in Murattu Kaalai (which was their comeback movie after 12 years), my director SP Muthuraman and stunt master Judo Ratnam were not for it. Ratnam felt that when he has conceived all other fights for MM, why outsiders for the train fight? He took it as a challenge and at a time when there were no hi-tech facilities like ropes, CG, he proved that we were no less than anyone else then. I am doing 2.0 now. If we give the same kind of hi-end facilities to our men, they will also excel (smiles).”
The Enthiran star also advised them to show the same kind of concern, which they show during stunt scenes to their children’s education and rearing up.
“My doors are always open to the stuntmen. I am ready to lend my support to you,” he concluded.
