The announcement of ‘Dharman,’ Rajinikanth’s 173rd movie, has caused enormous excitement among fans. Ashwath Marimuthu directs the movie, and Kamal Haasan produces it. The movie officially commenced shooting today. While there is enormous excitement over the poster and name of the movie, fans soon realized that one more aspect made it even more special for them.

‘Dharma Yuddham‘ was one of Rajinikanth’s early hits

One of the most successful movies with the same title is ‘Dharma Yuddham’. R.C. Sakthi directed this movie, which was released in 1979. The main actors were Rajinikanth, Sridevi, and Thengai Srinivasan. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and the film was noteworthy for the popularity Rajinikanth was gaining in Tamil cinema. Even today, ‘Dharma Yuddham’ remains a familiar title among long-time Rajini fans.

‘Dharmathin Thalaivan’ and ‘Dharmadurai’ became fan favourites

Nearly a decade later, ‘Dharmathin Thalaivan’ came out in 1988. The film was directed by S.P. Muthuraman and stars Rajinikanth and an ensemble cast including Prabhu, Suhasini, and Khushbu. This film was quite popular and remembered for Rajinikanth’s dual acting and Ilaiyaraaja’s music score. A couple of years later, in 1991, Rajinikanth headlined ‘Dharmadurai,’ directed by Rajasekhar. Co-starring Gautami, the family drama became another notable addition to his filmography and enjoyed a successful run at the box office.

‘Dharman’ continues a popular Rajinikanth tradition

More than three decades after ‘Dharmadurai,’ Rajinikanth is returning to a title rooted in the same ‘Dharma’ legacy. However, Dharman appears to be a completely new story, with the actor playing a stylish and deadly doctor. The film also stars Simran, Raashi Khanna, and Yogi Babu, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander and action sequences handled by Anbarivu. With a fresh team and a title that evokes nostalgia, ‘Dharman’ has already become one of the most anticipated films in Rajinikanth’s lineup.