The legendary 1999 film Padayappa, directed by K.S. Ravikumar and featuring Rajinikanth in one of his most iconic roles alongside Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya, returned to theatres in a digitally restored format on December 12, 2025. The re-release strategically aligned with Rajinikanth's 75th birthday and his golden jubilee in cinema, triggering an extraordinary surge in demand that saw advance bookings shatter records across multiple centres.

In Chennai alone, Rohini Silver Screens achieved an unprecedented milestone by selling 15,000 tickets prior to the first show, establishing a new benchmark for pre-release sales of any re-released film in India. Kamala Cinemas followed closely with over 10,000 tickets dispensed in advance, while other venues like Rakki Cinemas in Ambattur were compelled to schedule additional screenings to manage the influx of enthusiastic patrons.

The phenomenon extended prominently to Madurai, where Ritzy Cinemas reported consecutive housefull shows from the morning, with management noting that audience energy mirrored the film's original run 25 years prior. The unexpected postponement of competing releases, including Karthi's Vaa Vaathiyaar, further amplified availability, enabling Padayappa to command a dominant share of screens and rapidly fill capacities across Tamil Nadu.

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Theatres transformed into vibrant celebration hubs as fans engaged in traditional rituals, including milk abhishekams on massive cut-outs, bursting crackers, dancing to chart-topping tracks, and showering confetti during pivotal scenes. Similar exuberance was witnessed in Bengaluru at venues like Swagath Poornima Theatre, where screenings resembled festival gatherings complete with coordinated cheers and recorded tributes circulating widely on social media.

Rajinikanth's enduring supremacy remains evident through this overwhelming response, reinforcing his status as an irreplaceable force in Indian cinema. With recent success in Coolie and anticipated appearances in Jailer 2 alongside a project produced by Kamal Haasan, the re-release serves as a powerful testament to the superstar's timeless influence spanning generations.

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