[Updated: July 17, 2024] In 2023, Superstar Rajinikanth was gearing up for the release of a movie titled Jailer which was coming on the heels of two back to back flops Darbar (2020), and Annaatthe (2021). Sun Pictures, which had produced Annaatthe and Jailer, was at the receiving end of Rajinikanth's fans, for promoting an 'item number' as Jailer first single, and that too with Tamannaah and not Rajini himself at the forefront [That Kaavaala became a much loved single from Jailer, is another story altogether].
Then on a fateful evening of July 15, 2023, Sun Pictures announced the arrival of Hukum, the Anirudh composer Jailer second single, to no unusual hype or expectations. Jailer is written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, and at that time it was unknown to many that it was composer Anirudh, who pushed for the three and a half minutes of absolute banger-ism i.e. Hukum - Thalaivar Alappara, to be part of Jailer.
"I was doing my dubbing work. Anirudh came to me and said 'Sir there is this mention of the word Hukum in two places in the movie. So I have thought of doing a song with that word. It's a song for your fans. We have to cheer your fans up. It has been 2 years...So I spoke with Nelson and we set the Hukum song at one place. They sent me the lyrics..I said..the lyrics have Superstar in it. Please remove all that. It is not required.. Anirudh said 'no no we are doing it for your fans'." - Rajinikanth speaking at the Jailer audio launch event on July 28, 2023
Not only did composer Anirudh and lyricist Super Subu take the Tamil filmdom by storm, but Hukum which is neither a feature song or nor a montage in Jailer, ended up having a huge impact on the outcome of the movie [The song was more of a promotional number, an extension of the film's score if one will]. Hukum lyrics resonated with a huge crowd of zillenial Rajinikanth fans, who then turned the number into a full blown Superstar anthem.
"Our planet has come one full circle around the sun since these gates opened" - #Jailer lyricist Super Subu joins #Rajinikanth fans in celebrating 1 year of #Hukum @soupersubu @subusays @anirudhofficial @Nelsondilpkumar @sunpictures https://t.co/X7tbDW9Tdq
— MovieCrow (@MovieCrow) July 17, 2024
Beyond the realm of the Rajini fandom, Hukum Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi versions also found place in the hearts of sports, and pop culture lovers. To date, the Hukum song and its famous lyrics, are prevalently used on social media to hype major sports and film favourites.
Anirudh himself has since announced a Hukum tour 2024, banking on the popularity of the Jailer single, and references from the song have made it as Tamil movie titles (Inga Naan Thaan Kingu - a 2024 movie starring Santhanam). Jailer sequel or Jailer 2 by Nelson Dilipkumar is also expected to be titled Hukum.
Rajinikanth's #Jailer dialogue #IngaNaanThaanKingu popularized by Anirudh's viral #Hukum song becomes a film title!
— MovieCrow (@MovieCrow) February 28, 2024
First look feat. #Santhanam out now. Film to release in Summer, 2024https://t.co/pxxK1JDB3P
The Hukum Tour 2024
— Anirudh Ravichander (@anirudhofficial) November 22, 2023
Bigger. Crazier. More Badass.
First city announcement tomorrow :) pic.twitter.com/KshTVGxrhy
Hukum Adipoli Title 🔥
— Aadhy 🌩️ (@Aadhy_offl) June 21, 2024
July 17, 2024 marks one whole year of Hukum - Thalaivar Alappara, and safe to say the impact the song has created, is one for the Kollywood history books. A tiny glimpse of Hukum's takeover over the bygone year:
Though #Kaavaalaa was a sensational hit, #Jailer's monumental success started from #Hukum preview, studded with glimpses of #SuperstarRanijikanth
— Parthiban (@parthispeaks) July 16, 2024
The way Thalaivar check the bullets, flip & load the gun is peak RAJINISM 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
pic.twitter.com/MKJjiXTXeF
Last year's Tamil Cinema saviour😎🔥🔥🔥🔥
— U 🚫 SEE ME!! (@ZealotsMr) July 16, 2024
Many were thought #PS2 & #Leo will create a hurricane at the box office but #Jailer came out of nowhere🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#Vettaiyan should be the saviour of this year💪🔥🔥#Rajinikanth𓃵 #Coolie #Jailer2 #Hukum @rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/PoLTrV7PBM
#MSDhoni Birthday Celebration 🥳
— Ayyappan (@Ayyappan_1504) July 6, 2024
Background #Hukum Song 🫣🔥@anirudhofficial https://t.co/429VmWzeL7
Hukum Template ft. Venumadhav 🐯 pic.twitter.com/U8ubrJDp3h
— Johnnie Walker🚁 (@Johnnie5ir) July 15, 2024
PushpaRaj Ka Hukum ❤️🔥 !#Alluarjun #PushpaTheRule pic.twitter.com/SRoaw0yuTH
— Prsd (@Prsd_aep) July 8, 2024
#VETTAIYAN 🕶️ ku intha maari onu vantha podum
— Agastya🦕 (@Salaar4k) July 15, 2024
Ungoppan whistle ah kaetteven 🔥👑🥱 https://t.co/BB4NZpGous pic.twitter.com/uj6Y9bv3Zq
— ' (@tylerboyKarthik) February 15, 2024
Nanum cr7 fan dha 🏃
— VɑɑTHI ツ (@Dharun__Offl) July 5, 2024
Ungoppan whistle ah ketavan 🥃 https://t.co/oX35P83d3k
— Rasool. (@RasoolEbrahim01) May 12, 2024
Ungoppan whistle ah ketavaruu da 😍😍😍😍😍#HappyBirthdaySachin https://t.co/LqCHw5gt1s
— EZHIL VENDHAN 🇮🇳 (@EZHILVENDHAN1) April 24, 2024
Whenever @anirudhofficial
— Avi_nash (@im_avi_nash_) March 10, 2024
elevates protagonist of the film
Ungoppan whistle ah kettavan
Nayagan meendum varaan
Sila perin peyar oru alumai perumamae
All hail the tiger....devaraaaaaaaa
Kizha irundhu mela eri vandhutane
Running With King Kong....jawan ehhhh https://t.co/1ZFuBl9YbM pic.twitter.com/xss2AUmxk4
Outta nowhere “Un Alumba Paathavan, Ungoppan Whistle ah Ketavan” hits my mouth in the middle of the meeting 😭 pic.twitter.com/WlFcyBPRDz
— Cal D. (@itispascal) August 4, 2023
Missing thalaivan in the last pic.twitter.com/rF7iCei4ZQ
— RickBhar 🇵🇸 #StopColonization (@bhaRvick420) July 28, 2023
Harris ka Hukum! https://t.co/ufCUATxJLo pic.twitter.com/XaiWJUwGL5
— AG (@arunrp555) February 17, 2024
Hukum India ka Hukum 🇮🇳🏆
— Old Monk (@mroldmonkk) June 30, 2024
Alaparai Kelaparom 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
Thalaivar Nirantharam 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0NPAa7YG31
THOR × Jailer(Hukum)#thor #avengers #chrishemsworth#jailer #hukum #anirudhravichander pic.twitter.com/KqSZ4iuCJw
— 𝘿𝙀𝙑𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙃𝘼 (@Santhosh_2506) May 28, 2024
Last year this day post #Hukum #Jailer #Jailer2 #Coolie #vettaiyan https://t.co/vmJihXFGpS
— BAASHA (@BAASHA92932942) July 16, 2024