The highly anticipated second single from Superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Vettaiyan, titled “Hunter Vantaar,” composed by Anirudh Ravichander, has been stirring quite the buzz on social media. However, the song has also ignited another fan war between Rajinikanth and Vijay’s fanbases. Vijay’s ardent supporters have taken to social media platforms to troll the song, accusing it of being yet another attempt to reaffirm Rajinikanth’s long-standing title of “Superstar,” similar to Anirudh’s previous success with the song “Hukum” from Nelson’s Jailer.
The Controversy: Fans Compare Themes
“Hunter Vantaar,” which features bold and electrifying beats, is being labeled by Rajinikanth’s fans as a new anthem for the Superstar. The lyrics and the larger-than-life presentation of the song echo the sentiment of Jailer’s “Hukum,” which hailed Rajinikanth as the ‘one and only Superstar,’ reaffirming his iconic status in Tamil cinema. However, this theme seems to have sparked a backlash from Vijay’s fanbase.
Vijay fans, many of whom have been vocal about their admiration for the actor’s rise as “Thalapathy” in the industry, quickly began trolling the song on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube comments. They mocked the song as a desperate attempt to reinforce Rajinikanth’s status, insinuating that the Superstar’s legacy no longer holds the same dominance, especially in the current era where younger stars like Vijay have taken the spotlight.
Some memes circulated by Vijay fans targeted the recurring nature of these Rajini-centric anthems, suggesting that Anirudh is merely recycling themes from Jailer and past Rajini films. They also highlighted how Vijay, through his fanbase and political ambitions, has begun carving his own path, distancing himself from comparisons with Rajinikanth.
Rajini Fans Strike Back: ‘Thalapathy’ References in Vijay Films
Rajinikanth fans, never ones to shy away from defending their Superstar, retaliated quickly. In response to the trolling, they posted several clips from Vijay’s older movies, pointing out how the title of “Thalapathy” was often bestowed upon him within the scripts, much like how Rajinikanth was referred to as “Superstar” in his films. These references, Rajini fans argue, suggest that even Vijay’s claim to the title of “Thalapathy” was an attempt to mirror Rajinikanth’s larger-than-life persona.
One popular scene circulating among Rajini fans is from Vijay’s film Sura, where the actor is directly referred to as “Thalapathy” in a mass dialogue, with many pointing out how Vijay’s team has often used Rajinikanth’s signature mass style to build his image. Several fans also shared how Vijay’s recent films, including Master and Leo, have drawn inspiration from Rajinikanth’s earlier blockbusters.
Anirudh’s Role: The Musical Connection
Anirudh Ravichander, who has been a frequent collaborator with both Rajinikanth and Vijay, has found himself at the center of the storm. While his composition “Hukum” for Jailer became an anthem that reinforced Rajinikanth’s invincible superstar image, “Hunter Vantaar” follows the same trajectory, much to the ire of Vijay fans who view the repetitive style as unnecessary.
Interestingly, Anirudh also worked on Vijay’s Leo, adding fuel to the fire as fans of both stars debated whose music collaborations were more impactful. Many Rajini fans defended Anirudh’s work, calling him the perfect composer to represent Rajinikanth’s energy on screen, while some Vijay fans suggested that his best work in recent times has been reserved for Leo.
Escalating Fan Wars: Social Media Showdowns
The release of “Hunter Vantaar” has reignited the long-standing rivalry between the two fanbases, which often spills into social media wars. Vijay’s fans, eager to assert that their star is the present and future of Tamil cinema, were quick to share memes, gifs, and sarcastic commentary about Rajinikanth’s so-called reliance on songs like “Hunter Vantaar” to maintain his relevance. They also trended hashtags comparing Vijay’s political rise with Rajinikanth’s decision to stay away from politics, implying that Vijay is becoming a real leader, unlike Rajinikanth, who remains in the realm of cinema.
On the other side, Rajinikanth’s fans struck back with even more vigor. They trended hashtags celebrating Vettaiyan and Rajinikanth’s unmatched mass appeal, reminding everyone that despite his age, Rajinikanth continues to draw massive crowds to theaters, while Vijay’s political foray has yet to gather steam. Memes comparing Rajinikanth’s record-breaking collections in films like Jailer to Vijay’s recent films were also widely shared.
Looking Forward: What to Expect from Vettaiyan
As Vettaiyan gears up for its grand release, all eyes will be on how the film and its music perform at the box office. “Hunter Vantaar” has already set the stage for another potential mass hit, but the ongoing fan wars suggest that the competition between Rajinikanth and Vijay, though mostly fuelled by their fans, is far from over. With Leo also building up hype, the clash between these two giants seems destined to continue, both on the silver screen and in the hearts of their legions of fans.
Ultimately, the debate about who holds the title of “Superstar” or “Thalapathy” will continue to rage on, but one thing remains clear: Rajinikanth’s iconic status remains intact, while Vijay’s journey to build his legacy is still evolving.
