Rajnikanth to Tiger Singh

Question: What is common between Rajnikanth and Tiger Singh (if you don't know who is Tiger Singh, then keep reading)?

Answer: They both are over-the-top, both share Indian heritage, both dress gaudily but they both share one more thing and that is Japan (if you can call it a thing, although if its a thing then its probably automated...lol)

Mr. Manmohan Singh recently visited Japan and gave a speech in their parliament. In his speech he said, "I am delighted to hear the popularity of Odori Maharaja (The Dancing Maharaja, refering to Rajnikanth) among young people here..." Rajnikanth is indeed a phenomena in Japan. He is to Japan what SRK is to Europe and North America, maybe more because its not the Indians living in Japan who like him but an average Japanese who idolizes him. His most popular movie in Japan is Tamil movie, Muthu, which has attained mythical proportions there. No one knows why Rajnikanth movies do so well there but one reason that I can think is that most Japanese love over-the-top humor and childish antics and Rajnikanth movies offer all of these and more.

This is not just a cartoon but a cartoon of actual scene from a Rajnikanth movie where instead of trying to jump the wall, Rajnikanth throws one of his gun up in the air and then hits the trigger by shooting it with another gun and maybe uses x-ray vision for that precise up-the-villian's-ass nishana.

I remember few years back when I first moved to Canada and was standing with some friends, a Japanese group approached us.

"Hey, are you from India?"
"Yea, we are. Where are you from?"
"Japan. Do you know Rajnicant (that's how they pronounced it)?"
"Yea, but I haven't seen more than couple of his movies"

The expression on his face was as if I had just said the unspeakable. He went away with a biggest disappointment I have seen on a face of a man. This is how popular and loved Rajnicant is in Japan. Although, this doesn't mean that Japanese people don't understand cinema because Rajni's movies always end with a social message and just because North Indians doesn't consider such over-the-top acting "real", doesn't mean that it is not good cinema. After Rajnikanth, the other actor-director to make most impact on Japanese people has been Mr. Guru Dutt, who according to me is the best director produced by India till date.

Now, let's come to the other half of the title, Mr. Tiger Jeet Singh. I recently watched a documentary about this Indo-Canadian sikh wrestler that in the 1970s became a phenomena in Japan. Tiger Jeet Singh is said to be the most feared man in Japan, till date. He was born and trained in the akhadas (or desi-gym) of Punjab before moving to Vancouver. Professional wrestling was not very big in North America back then, so he moved to Japan, which is legendary for its wrestling and where it is more than a sport. His popularity started to rise because he would come to fight in turban and before entering the arena would start hitting the crowds with his sticks. The more he would beat people, the more they would like him. He defeated some of the most famous Japanese wrestlers incl. Antonia Inoki in 1975, which was watched by 60, 000 people.

Tiger Jeet Singh during one of his countless fights on Japanese soil.

He is revered by the people of Japan, mostly for his antics because he ridicules their wrestlers and they love him for doing it. Infact, he is the most recognized Canadian in Japan and has been honored by both Canadian and Japanese Governments for his achievements. Infact, even till this day Japanese tourist flock outside his house in Vancouver to get the glimpse of an Indian that beat them up in their own country.

So, next time you see a Japanese don't be surprised if he/she wants you to dance like Muthu but fight like Tiger.

Here's me signing off. Sionara!!