Superstar Rajinikanth is celebrating his 75th birthday on December 12, 2025. With his iconic blockbuster Padayappa re-releasing in theatres, here are some lesser-discovered gems from the actor’s filmography that you need to watch on OTT.
Pinkvilla Recommendations: 7 lesser known Rajinikanth movies on OTT
1. Thillu Mullu (1981)
- Mould: Rajinikanth, Thengai Srinivasan, Nagesh, Purnam Vishwanathan, Sowkar Janaki, Madhavi
- Director: K Balachander
- Style: comedy drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
- Where to watch: youtube
Thillu Mullu follows Chandran, a spunky young man in search of a job. She learns that the owner of the mineral water company, Mr. Sriramchandramurthy, is very traditional and dislikes modern fashion, sports and men without mustaches. To secure a marketing job, Chandran transforms himself into a simple, serious, pious man who follows traditional values.
When his boss spots him having fun at a football match, a desperate Chandran invents a story about having a morally inferior twin brother. How he handles these identities, and how it affects his personal life, is shown in the film.
Although the film is an official remake of the 1979 Hindi classic Gol Maal, Rajinikanth’s light-hearted and humorous performance makes it an unforgettable watch.
2. Ninaithale Inikkum (1979)
- Mould: Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Jaya Prada, Geeta
- Director: K Balachander
- Style: romantic musical drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 21 minutes
- Where to watch: youtube
Ninaithale Inikkam narrates the stories of Chandru and Deepak as they visit Singapore with a musical troupe. Chandru falls in love with Sona, a young singer who is terminally ill.
Meanwhile, Deepak becomes infatuated with an anonymous admirer who sends him love tapes, causing him to fall in love without even seeing her face. The film traces how their lives change in search of romance.
Haasan plays the role of Chandru, Rajinikanth appears as the co-lead Deepak, making it one of the few films in which the two legends have shared the screen.
3. Sri Raghavendra (1985)
- Mould: Rajinikanth, Lakshmi, Vishnuvardhan, Satyaraj, Mohan, Ambika, Somayajulu
- Director: SP Muthuraman
- Style: historical spiritual drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Where to watch: amazon prime video
In contrast to his commercial ventures, Sri Raghavendra showcases Rajinikanth’s range as he plays Raghavendra Tirtha, a revered theologian and saint.
The film traces the saint’s journey from birth to death, exploring his philosophy and values. Although it failed at the box-office, it remains memorable among fans due to Rajinikanth’s unique and soulful performance.
4. Black (2018)
- Mould: Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar, Ishwari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Samuthirakani, Anjali Patil, Manikandan
- Director: Pa. Ranjit
- Style: social action drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 42 minutes
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video/JioHotstar
Kaala is a social action drama that remains under-explored despite its recent release. The film is based on Karikalan, a leader of Mumbai’s Dharavi slum who saves his Tamil community from a corrupt, land-grabbing politician, Hari Dhadha.
As the fight is about land, justice and identity, Kaala must use all his strength to protect his people. The film is one of Rajinikanth’s most socially impactful ventures.
5. They (1981)
- Mould: Rajinikanth, Suman, Sovkar Janaki, Sripriya, Shoba, Major Sundararajan, Thengai Srinivasan
- Director: R Krishnamurthy
- Style: action crime drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Where to watch: youtube
If you think Rajinikanth first played the role of a laborer in Coolie, then you probably haven’t seen the iconic action film Thee. A remake of the Amitabh Bachchan-Shashi Kapoor classic Deewar, written by Salim-Javed, the film is based on two brothers from a poor family whose father is wrongly framed as a thief.
The elder brother, Raja, becomes a powerful smuggler to support the family, while the younger one, Ravi, grows up to be an honest police officer and leads them on a collision course. Ravi’s quest for justice against his own brother is the emotional center of the film.
6. 16 Vayathinile (1977)
- Mould: Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sridevi, Gandhimathi, Satyajit
- Director: bhartiraja
- Style: romantic drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 19 minutes
- Where to watch: amazon prime video
It’s always compelling to see a superstar playing an iconic villain, and 16 Vayathinile offers exactly that. Starring Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sridevi, the story follows a 16-year-old village girl Mayil through love, exploitation and the harsh realities of rural life.
A local crook pursues her, while her disabled cousin is secretly in love with her. However, Mayil herself goes to a doctor. The film is based on a sad but realistic story highlighting female vulnerability.
7. Annamalai (1992)
- Mould: Rajinikanth, Khushboo Sundar, Sarath Babu, Radha Ravi, Nizalgal Ravi
- Director: Suresh Krishna
- Style: action drama
- Runtime: 2 hours 44 minutes
- Where to watch: amazon prime video
Annamalai tells the story of the strong friendship between a poor milkman, Annamalai, and his rich best friend, Ashok. Their bond breaks due to class differences instigated by Ashoka’s father, causing Annamalai to lose everything and a feud begins.
Determined to regain his honor, he rises from poverty to become a successful businessman, and teaches a powerful lesson about greed, friendship, and resilience.
Amidst Rajinikanth’s extensive filmography, these are some of the iconic gems that continue to celebrate both the actor and the superstar.
Happy 75th Birthday, Thalaivaa!
Also read: Is Marathi film Dashavatar going to be the first film to be dubbed in Malayalam? Know when to watch it in theaters