Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film ‘Kaala’ just hit the theatres last week. In the film, the superstar is doing exactly what he does the best – ‘A godfather who fights for the poor in the slums of Mumbai’s Dharavi’.
But did you know that his character has been inspired by a ‘real-life Kaala’?
The film is said to be loosely based on the life of Thiraviam Nadar, a Tamilian who moved to Dharavi in the 1950s and later went on to become ‘Kaala Seth’. Nadar, who held a strong clout among the masses is said to have fought for the poor and the oppressed. He was also close to Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar, the two infamous underworld dons of Mumbai at the time.
Although filmmaker PA Ranjith has denied the claims, Nadar’s family says that many references in the movies have been taken from his real-life experiences. And 15 years after his death, his family wants credit for using the story of his life for making the film.
