Duopoly is a reality in Tamil Nadu, be it in popular culture or politics. Think Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman, DMK and AIADMK, and the list goes on. It is a social construct that keeps the fans both invested in their idol or party, and at the same time goads them to fight against the followers of the rival individual or entity.
Seen in this context, the reunion of Rajini and Kamal in a film helmed by Nelson Dilipkumar will register a massive bump in the Kollywood Richter Scale. Two of Tamil tinseltown’s biggest stars are getting back together after 47 years. The last time the two did parallel lead roles was in the 1979 hit Ninaithale Inikkum, a venture directed by their common guru K. Balachander.
