When Superstar Rajinikanth made his entrance on screen in Kabali, the audience went wild throwing popcorn – usually, it will be rose petals and colour papers. The celebration was on for the first 15 minutes at the Satyam Cinemas before the fans settled down to watch the movie.

But, the usual verve and punch of a Rajini movie was missing.

The movie was like watching a 20-20 match for the first 20 minutes with lot of action; for the next 90 minutes like a test match and a documentary and as a 20-20 match for the remaining 30 minutes with lot of action.

The huge pre-release hype was thanks to phenomenal marketing blitz by film production house VCreations. However, on the first day, it failed to create a major buzz in the city.

Poor movie reviews on social media and leakage of full film on Internet also spoiled the show.

It was not Rajinikanth’s movie, said S Deepak, a die-hard fan of Superstar, who expected Kabali to be on par with Rajini’s earlier blockbusters like Baasha and Padayappa, but was disappointed.

But for 160 die-hard Rajini fans who flew to Chennai from Bengaluru to watch the movie at Satyam Cinemas in an AirAsia aircraft with Kabali livery, it was a day to remember. There was fun, drama, emotion and entertainment on landing at 7.10 am.

Having spent ₹8,000, they were fully charged to watch the movie and boarded buses that were painted with Kabali stills. However, to their shock, they were driven to a preview theatre instead of Satyam to watch the movie. What followed for the next two hours was chaos and commotion. Agitated fans refused to watch the movie at the preview theatre and insisted that they be taken to Satyam Cinemas, as promised.

“I paid ₹8,000 not to see the movie in a preview theatre. I could have seen it in Bengaluru in a large multiplex. I wanted to be part of local crowd to see the movie,” said J Sudarshan. “Please don’t disappoint. We have been waiting for this day for over a month,” he pleaded with the organisers.

Indhumathi said if organisers had told her that movie was to be shown in a preview theatre, she would not have booked the ticket at all.

Passengers protested against the organisers and did not enter the hall and kept shouting ‘Satyam, Satyam’. Organisers pacified the passengers and arranged to watch the movie at Satyam.

Last night, the production house informed that the movie could not be arranged at Satyam and offered to show at Prasad. “It was our fault that we did not inform the passengers. I take full responsibility for this unfortunate turn of events,” Amar Abrol, CEO, AirAsia India, told newspersons.

However, after watching the movie at Satyam, everybody was happy. “I am happy that I watched Thailavar’s movie with the local audience. I will remember this for ever,” said Sudarshan.

“For us, it is a tribute to Rajinikanth, and having an association with him is beyond monetary gain. We started the day with a smile, watched the movie with a smile and will leave with a smile,” said Abrol who travelled with the aircraft from Bengaluru.

Barefoot fan

Among those who loved the movie Kabali was barefooted H Shhivpriya, 42, from a Mumbai. A Rajini fan and mother of a grown-up boy, she says, “Rajini is like God to me. I am involved in spiritual tourism and I feel I am closely associated with Rajini due to his spiritual association.”

Disappointed with the events in the morning, she could not hide her excitement after watching her Thalaivar’s movie on first day. “For the last five years, I have never missed Rajini’s movie first show,” she said.

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