Superstar Rajinikanth’s birthday (Dec 12) re-release celebration, which began strongly with well-planned rollouts for Annamalai, Baashha, Yajaman, and Sivaji, has stumbled with Padayappa. While earlier titles were announced well in advance, the sudden, last-minute reveal of Padayappa — coming directly from Rajinikanth himself — split audience interest and disrupted the build-up.

For a good chunk of 2025, vintage Rajini Tamil movie Annamalai (1992) was expected to have a grand re-release in India marking Rajinikanth's 75th birthday, and the Superstar completing 50 years in the Indian film industry. Annamalai is re-releasing on a grand scale however only in overseas locations like USA, and France. Bookings for Annamalai rerelease in India hasn't opened yet, so it remains unclear whether the remastered version of the movie will be hitting theater screens in Tamil Nadu or other states. 

In the USA, both Annamalai and Padayappa re-releases are seeing strong demand, and in Tamil Nadu Padayappa has sold out in several key centres. But in other overseas locations, the reception for Padayappa is weak, largely due to unclear schedules, minimal communication, and lack of coordinated marketing. The result: fans are torn between excitement for the Superstar’s birthday celebration, and frustration over poor planning that has overshadowed one of the season’s marquee re-releases.

Besides USA, France, and Malaysia will see the remastered 4K version of Padayappa (1999), and a remastered 8K version of Annamalai clashing at the Tamil box-office. Malaysia additionally will also see the re-release of Baasha (1995), a Tamil movie that frequently re-releases in the Malay country. 

3 cult classic movie releasing on same day. #SuperstarRajinikanth #Padayappa - 3dot#Baasha - Fst#Annamalai - Poketplay

Not a wise idea to have 3 rerelease on same day. pic.twitter.com/qnZVyoRlEP

— Malaysia Tickets (@MalaysiaTickets) December 9, 2025

Padayappa is also re-releasing in Singapore, Australia, and in Tamil Nadu, India. Outside Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth fans are making do with the re-release of Sivaji: The Boss (2007) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Yajaman (1993) in Kerala.

AVM productions did initially announce the re-release of Yajaman in Tamil Nadu as well, but with Padayappa re-releasing hitting theater screens, and the recent December 4 passing away of AVM producer M Saravanan, it remains unclear of Yajaman will re-release in TN movie theaters.