How a box-office failure led a superstar to reimburse his distributors
In short: In 2002, Rajinikanth released Baba, a high-budget spiritual epic that initially collapsed at the box office. Yet, the film’s legacy is defined not by its failure, but by a rare act of financial accountability and a dramatic twenty-year cinematic resurrection.
Produced under Rajinikanlar's Lotus International banner, Baba was a massive undertaking. The film was sold to distributors for a record ₹17 crore, yet it only yielded a worldwide share of ₹13 crore. In a rare move of professional integrity, Rajinikanth volunteered to return nearly 25% of the investment to cover the losses incurred by distributors.
The film's narrative follows Baba, a carefree atheist who is the reincarnation of a Himalayan saint. After facing corruption from local politicians, he encounters the deity Mahavatar Babaji. The plot centers on a spiritual test: Baba is granted seven wishes, but if he uses them for personal desire, he faces the burden of many more births to resolve his Karma.
The production was not without significant friction. Composer A. R. Rahman, working while in London for Bombay Dreams, faced criticism for recording delays. Furthermore, the Dravidar Kazhagam group objected to song lyrics they believed unfairly critiqued Periyar E. V. Ramasamy’s ideology, leading to partial deletions. The film also faced political backlash from PMK politician Ramadoss, who condemned the depiction of the protagonist as a chain smoker.
Despite the mixed reviews—with critics describing it as an 'uncertain and confusing cocktail'—the film's impact endured. Twenty years later, on December 10, 2022, Lyca Productions re-released a digitally remastered version with a shorter duration and an alternate ending. This re-release, timed with Rajinikanth's birthday weekend, met with a much more favorable response.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Baba (2002 film)
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