Kabali: Here is what Rajinikanth-starrer movie name means!

Rajinikanth plays a don based in Malaysia in Kabali

Kabali is currently the theme of Rajinikanth fans. From posters of Kabali on aircraft, cars, buses to graffiti on walls, it’s like a festival down South. With the movie releasing today, Rajini fans across the world are going crazy. One of Mumbai’s popular theater had scheduled its first show at 5 am in the morning. The movie also stars Taiwanese actor Winston Chao, Radhika Apte, Dhansika, Dinesh Ravi, Kalaiyarasan, and John Vijay in various roles.

In between all the craziness around the movie, there are a lot of non-Tamil speaking fans who have been wanting to know what exactly the word ‘Kabali’ means.Well, Kabali is the short name of the lead role Kabaleeshwaran played by Rajinikanth in the movie. He portrays a Malayasia-based don which is said to be inspired from a true story. A lot of Tamil movies name their movies after the lead roles in it and ‘Kabali’ just follows the suit. But, here Kabali is not just the name of the male protagonist played by Rajinikanth, it has another meaning too. (ALSO READ- Kabali first movie review: Kabali is total paisa vasool for Rajinikanth fans!)

In Tamil movies from the 60s and 70s, sidekicks to the villains have been addressed to as Kabalis in Tamil. The villains are seen calling out to their associate as Kabali asking them to do things. (ALSO READ: Rajinikanth’s Kabali shows to begin from 3 am at Mumbai’s Aurora theatre!)

In the trailer, Rajni explains why he is not a Kabali when he is addressed as one by the villain and says, “Tamil films have these side kicks who have a mole in the cheek, a twirling moustache, wearing a lungi, and when the villain calls ‘Hey Kabali’ he comes stooping down to him with folded hands and respectfully asks “What is it that I can dom master?’ Do you think I’m that kind of a Kabali. No. I’m the ‘Kabali’.”