On Friday in Chennai, superstar Rajinikanth captivated the audience at a celebration for Su. Venkatesan's acclaimed novel, Velpari. The event, held to mark over 100,000 copies sold, featured prominent personalities like filmmaker Shankar and TV anchor Gopinath, all praising the book and author.

Rajinikanth's Humorous Address

Rajinikanth, known for his charismatic speaking, delivered a witty speech. He began by saying, "Knowledge tells you what to speak, talent tells you how to speak, the stage tells you whether to speak, but only experience tells you what should and shouldn't be spoken."

He then shared a humorous anecdote from a previous event at the same venue, where a book on Kalaignar Karunanidhi was released. Rajinikanth recalled attempting to praise senior leaders as "pillars and summit of any movement or organization," but his opening line, "Old students are tough to handle, they don't leave the class easily," drew so much laughter that he lost his train of thought. This incident subtly referenced a past controversy in 2024 where his remarks about Chief Minister MK Stalin "managing" senior leaders had upset some DMK members.

Self-Deprecating Humor and Love for Literature

Continuing his playful style, Rajinikanth joked about his presence at a literary event. "While coming here today, I reminded myself—speak carefully, Mr. Rajinikanth. Not everyone here is your fan. Some people might wonder, for a literary event like this, couldn't they have invited someone like Sivakumar, who can speak about the Mahabharata and Thirukkural for hours? Or Kamal Haasan, such an intellectual? But no—they invited this guy who, even at 75, wears cooling glasses and walks in slow motion!" This self-deprecating humor delighted the audience.

The superstar also spoke of his passion for literature, recalling how Jayakanthan's novel Yaarukkaga Azhudhaan  moved him to tears for "three minutes."

Praise for Shankar and Art's Role

Rajinikanth lauded director Shankar, placing him alongside Bharathiraja and Mani Ratnam as a filmmaker who transformed Tamil cinema. He also extended his best wishes for Shankar's upcoming film adaptation of Velpari.

Reflecting on art's societal impact, Rajinikanth stated, "Art knows no caste, no religion. The world of art stands beyond such boundaries. And the people of Tamil Nadu have always supported the artistic community wholeheartedly."

Velpari's Success

He also shared a personal anecdote about author Su. Venkatesan inviting him to the event, proudly informing him of Velpari's sales milestone. Rajinikanth playfully asked, "Has it sold more than Ponniyin Selvan?" to which Venkatesan happily confirmed it had.

Su. Venkatesan, an acclaimed Tamil writer and Member of Parliament, was honored for Velpari's phenomenal success, which has made it a significant literary achievement.