Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Hindustani pronunciation: [əʈəl bɪhaːɾiː ʋaːdʒpai]; 25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian politician, statesman and poet. He served three terms as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was the first Indian prime minister not of the Indian National Congress party to have served a full five-year term in office.

He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha, the lower house, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. He served as the Member of Parliament for Lucknow, retiring from active politics in 2009 due to health concerns. He was among the founding members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), of which he was president from 1968 to 1972. The BJS merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party, which won the 1977 general election. In March 1977, Vajpayee became the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. He resigned in 1979, and the Janata alliance collapsed soon after. Former members of the BJS formed the BJP in 1980, with Vajpayee its first president.

During his tenure as prime minister, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. Vajpayee sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pakistan, travelling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. After the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit at Agra.

The administration of Narendra Modi declared in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, 25 December, would be marked as Good Governance Day. In 2015, he was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He died on 16 August 2018 of age-related illness.

Early life and education

Vajpayee was born into a Hindu Brahmin family on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.[1] His mother and father were Krishna Devi and Krishna Bihari Vajpayee.[2] His father was a school teacher in their home town.[3] His grandfather, Shyam Lal Vajpayee, had migrated to Morena near Gwalior from his ancestral village of Bateshwar in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh.[2]

Vajpayee did his schooling at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gwalior. In 1934, he was admitted to the Anglo-Vernacular Middle (AVM) School in Barnagar, Ujjain district, after his father joined as headmaster. He subsequently attended Gwalior's Victoria College (now Maharani Laxmi Bai Govt. College of Excellence) to study for a BA in Hindi, English and Sanskrit. He completed his post-graduation with an MA in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur.[1][4]

His activism started in Gwalior with Arya Kumar Sabha, the youth wing of the Arya Samaj movement, of which he became the general secretary in 1944. He also joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1939 as a swayamsevak, or volunteer. Influenced by Babasaheb Apte, he attended the Officers Training Camp of the RSS during 1940 to 1944, becoming a pracharak (RSS terminology for a full-time worker) in 1947. He gave up studying law due to the partition riots. He was sent to Uttar Pradesh as a vistarak (a probationary pracharak) and soon began working for the newspapers of Deendayal Upadhyaya: Rashtradharma (a Hindi monthly), Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly), and the dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun.[4][5][6]

Early political career (1942–1975)

By 1942, at the age of 16 years, Vajpayee became an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In August 1942, he and his elder brother Prem were arrested for 24 days during the Quit India Movement. He was released after giving a written undertaking stating that while he was a part of the crowd, he did not participate in the militant events in Bateshwar on 27 August 1942.[7]

In 1951, Vajpayee was seconded by the RSS, along with Deendayal Upadhyaya, to work for the newly formed Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu right-wing political party associated with the RSS. He was appointed as a national secretary of the party in charge of the Northern region, based in Delhi. He soon became a follower and aide of party leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee. In 1954, Vajpayee was with Mukherjee when the latter went on a hunger strike in Kashmir to protest the perceived inferior treatment of non-Kashmiri Indian visitors to the state.[citation needed] Mukherjee died in prison during this strike. In the 1957 Indian general election, Vajpayee contested elections to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. He lost to Raja Mahendra Pratap in Mathura, but was elected from Balrampur. In the Lok Sabha his oratorial skills so impressed Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that he predicted that Vajpayee would someday become the Prime Minister of India.[8][9][10]

Vajpayee's oratorial skills won him the reputation of being the most eloquent defender of the Jana Sangh's policies.[11] After the death of Deendayal Upadhyaya, the leadership of the Jana Sangh passed to Vajpayee.[12] He became the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968,[13] running the party along with Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok, and L. K. Advani.[12]

Janata and the BJP (1975–1995)

Vajpayee was arrested along with several other opposition leaders during the Internal Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.[3][14] Initially interned in Bangalore, Vajpayee appealed his imprisonment on the grounds of bad health, and was moved to a hospital in Delhi.[15] Gandhi ended the state of emergency in 1977. A coalition of parties, including the BJS, came together to form the Janata Party, which won the 1977 general elections.[16] Morarji Desai, the chosen leader of the alliance, became the prime minister. Vajpayee served as the Minister of External Affairs, or foreign minister, in Desai's cabinet.[17] As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person in 1977 to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.[17]

The Janata Party collapsed soon after Desai resigned as Prime Minister along with Vajpayee from his post in 1979.[15][18] The erstwhile members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came together to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, with Vajpayee as its first President.[19]

The 1984 general elections were held in the wake of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. While he had won the 1977 and the 1980 elections from New Delhi, Vajpayee shifted to his home town Gwalior for the election.[20] Vidya Razdan was initially tipped to be the Congress (I) candidate. Instead, Madhavrao Scindia, scion of the Gwalior royal family, was brought in on the last day of filing nominations.[21] Vajpayee lost to Scindia, managing to secure only 29% of the votes.[20]

Under Vajpayee, the BJP moderated the Hindu-nationalist position of the Jana Sangh, emphasising its connection to the Janata Party and expressing support for Gandhian Socialism.[22] The ideological shift did not bring it success: Indira Gandhi's assassination generated sympathy for the Congress, leading to a massive victory at the polls. The BJP won only two seats in parliament.[22][23][24] Vajpayee offered to quit as party president following BJP's dismal performance in the election,[25] but stayed in the post until 1986.[26][27][28] He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 from Madhya Pradesh,[29] and was briefly the leader of the BJP in parliament.[30]

In 1986, L. K. Advani took office as president of the BJP.[23] Under him, the BJP returned to a policy of hardline Hindu nationalism.[22] It became the political voice of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Movement, which sought to build a temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama in Ayodhya. The temple would be built at a site believed to be the birthplace of Rama after demolishing a 16th-century mosque, called the Babri Masjid, which then stood there.[31] The strategy paid off for the BJP; it won 86 seats in the Lok Sabha in the 1989 general election, making its support crucial to the government of V. P. Singh.[22] In December 1992, a group of religious volunteers led by members of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), tore down the mosque.[32][11]

He spoke about his 'life-changing moment' at a public rally on the 1996 Lok Sabha election trail. He said "But I learned a lesson that changed my life. I took a pledge I’d never rote-learn a speech. It was my first speech at AVM School."[1] He served as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, from Lucknow

Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as Rajinikanth or Rajni, is an Indian film actor who works primarily in Tamil cinema. In addition to acting, he has also worked as a producer and screenwriter. Hailed as Superstar or Thalaivaa (leader), Rajinikanth is widely regarded as the most popular actor in South India and is the highest-grossing actor in Tamil cinema history.[3] As of 2019, Rajinikanth has won six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards—four Best Actor Awards and two Special Awards for Best Actor—and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award. The Government of India has honored him with the Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Padma Vibhushan (2016). He received the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema at the 4th Vijay Awards.[4] At the 45th International Film Festival of India (2014), he was conferred with the "Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year". At the 50th edition, he will be honored with the Icon of Global Jubilee award.[5]

Rajinikanth began acting in plays while working in the Bangalore Transport Service as a bus conductor. In 1973, he joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in acting. Following his debut in K. Balachander's 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, his acting career commenced with a brief phase of portraying antagonistic characters in Tamil films. He had his first major role in Balachander's Telugu drama film Anthuleni Katha (1976), and got his breakthrough in Tamil with Moondru Mudichu (1976)—also directed by Balachander. His style and mannerisms in the latter earned recognition from the audience.[6] In 1978, he received critical acclaim for his roles in Mullum Malarum and Aval Appadithan; the former earned him a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor.[7] He played dual roles in the action thriller Billa (1980), which was a remake of the Bollywood film Don (1978). It was his biggest commercial success to that point and gave him the action hero image.[8]

The Suresh Krissna-directed Baashha, in which Rajinikanth played a crime boss, was a major commercial success in his career and earned him a 'god-like' status in Tamil Nadu.[9] Later that year he acted in K. S. Ravikumar's Muthu, which was dubbed into Japanese.[a] In Japan, the film grossed a record US$1.6 million in 1998 and was largely instrumental in creating a fan-base for Rajinikanth in the country.[11] Padayappa (1999), his second collaboration with Ravikumar, went on to become the highest-grossing Tamil film to that point.[12] After earning ₹26 crore (equivalent to ₹63 crore or US$8.9 million in 2019) for his role in Sivaji (2007), Rajinikanth became the highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan at the time. He played dual roles, as a scientist and an andro-humanoid robot, in the science fiction film Enthiran (2010) and its sequel 2.0 (2018), both beingIndia's most expensive production at the time of their release, and among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

Early life

Rajinikanth was born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on 12 December 1950 in a Marathi family in Bangalore, Mysore State (present day Karnataka).[14][1][15] His mother was a housewife,[c] and his father Ramoji Rao Gaekwad was a police constable.[1] He was named Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, after the Maratha Empire king Shivaji, and was brought up speaking Marathi at home and Kannada outside.[14] His ancestors hailed from Mavadi Kadepathar, Pune, Maharashtra, and Nachikuppam, Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu.[17][18] He is the youngest of four siblings in a family consisting of two elder brothers (Satyanarayana Rao and Nageshwara Rao) and a sister (Aswath Balubhai).[19][14] After his father's retirement from work in 1956, the family moved to the suburb of Hanumantha Nagar in Bangalore and built a house there.[14] He lost his mother at the age of nine.[20]

Rajinikanth had his primary education at the Gavipuram Government Kannada Model Primary School in Bangalore.[21] As a child, he was "studious and mischievous" with a great interest in cricket, football and basketball. During this time, his brother enrolled him at the Ramakrishna Math, a Hindu monastery set up by the Ramakrishna Mission. In the math, he was taught Vedas, tradition and history, which eventually instilled a sense of spirituality in him.[22] In addition to spiritual lessons, he also began acting in plays at the math. His aspiration towards theatre grew at the math and was once given an opportunity to enact the role of Ekalavya's friend from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. His performance in the play received praise from the Kannada poet D. R. Bendre.[14] After sixth grade, Rajinikanth was enrolled at the Acharya Pathasala Public School and studied there till completion of his pre-university course.[22] During his schooling at the Acharya Pathasala, he spent a lot of time acting in plays.

Upon completion of his school education, Rajinikanth performed several jobs including that of a coolie,[23] before getting a job in the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS) as a bus conductor.[24] He continued to take part in plays after the Kannada playwright Topi Muniappa offered him a chance to act in one of his mythological plays. He decided to take up an acting course in the newly formed Madras Film Institute after coming across an advertisement.[25] Though his family was not fully supportive of his decision to join the institute,[25] his friend and co-worker Raj Bahadur motivated him to join the institute and financially supported him during this phase.[26][27] During his stay at the institute, he was noticed by the Tamil film director K. Balachander.[28] The director advised him to learn to speak Tamil, a recommendation that Rajinikanth quickly followed.[29]

Acting career

Rajinikanth began his film career with the Tamil film Apoorva Raagangal (1975), directed by K. Balachander.[31] He was cast in a small role as the abusive husband of the female lead played by Srividya.[31][32][33] The film explored relationships between people with wide age differences and was deemed controversial upon release.[34] However, it received critical acclaim and won three National Film Awards including the Award for the Best Tamil Feature at the 23rd National Film Awards in 1976.[35] A review from The Hindu noted that: "Newcomer Rajinikanth is dignified and impressive".[36] His next release was Puttanna Kanagal's portmanteau Kannada film Katha Sangama (1976).[37] Rajinikanth appeared in the last segment of the film; he played the role as a village ruffian who rapes a blind woman in the absence of her husband.[38] Balachander cast him in a pivotal role in Anthuleni Katha, the Telugu remake of his own Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974).[38] In Moondru Mudichu—the first Tamil film to feature him in a prominent role—he played a character that "blithely row[s] away" when his friend drowns accidentally in the lake only to fulfill his desire to marry the former's girlfriend.[39] His style of flipping the cigarette in the film made him popular among the audience.[40] In his final release of the year, Baalu Jenu, he was cast as the main antagonist which troubles the female lead.[38] He played similar roles in Balachander's Avargal (1977),[41] and P. Bharathiraja's 16 Vayadhinile (1977).[38][42] The same year, he made his first-ever appearance as a lead actor in the Telugu film Chilakamma Cheppindi.[43][44] S. P. Muthuraman experimented Rajinikanth in a positive role in Bhuvana Oru Kelvikkuri (1977).[45] The success of the film brought the duo together for 24 more films till the 1990s.[45] Rajinikanth played supporting and "villanous" roles in most of the films released during the year.[39] In Gaayathri he was cast as a pornographer who secretly films his relationship with his wife without her knowledge and in Galate Samsara he played the role of a married man who develops an affair with a cabaret dancer.[46] He had 15 of his films released during the year.[47]

Experimentation and breakthrough (1978–1989)

In 1978, Rajinikanth had 20 releases across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.[48][49] His first film of the year was P. Madhavan's Shankar Salim Simon, in which he was among the three leads. Following that, he co-starred alongside Vishnuvardhan in the Kannada film Kiladi Kittu. He played the second lead in Annadammula Savaal, which starred Krishna; Rajinikanth reprised his role from the Kannada original. He then played an important role in the supernatural thriller Aayiram Jenmangal. In Maathu Tappada Maga, he was the main antagonist. Bairavi, directed by M.Bhaskar, was the first Tamil film to cast Rajinikanth as a solo hero.[50][51] It was for this film that he earned the sobriquet "Superstar".[51] S. Thanu, one of the film's distributors, set up a 35 feet (11 m) high cut-out of Rajinikanth.[52] His next appearance Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu, a quadrangular love story written and directed by C. V. Sridhar, saw him play the role of a man who sacrifices his love for his friend, played by Kamal Haasan. The film's success prompted Sridhar to remake the film in Telugu, Vayasu Pilichindi, which retained the original cast of the Tamil film.

His next film, Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye, had an introductory song to mark his entry, a trend that would soon catch on in with his later films.[51] Mullum Malarum, released during the same period, received critical acclaim.[53] The film marked the directional debut of J. Mahendran, with a screenplay adapted from a novel of the same name published in Kalki.[51] It won that year's Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film and a Special Prize (Best Actor) for Rajinikanth at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.[51] Following this, he made a foray into Malayalam cinema with I. V. Sasi's fantasy film Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum, which was based on a story from the Arabian Nights. The same year, he acted in Dharma Yuddam, in which he played a mentally ill person avenging the death of his parents. He then co-starred with N. T. Rama Rao in Tiger. Upon completion of Tiger, Rajinikanth had acted in 50 films over a period of four years, and in four languages. Some other popular films released during this period are the youthful entertainer Ninaithale Inikkum, the Tamil–Kannada bilingual Priya, the Telugu film Amma Evarikkaina Amma and the melodrama Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai. Priya, based on a detective novel by Sujatha Rangarajan, had the distinction of being the first film of Rajinikanth to be shot mostly outside India, mainly in Southeast Asia.[51]

Raijinikanth, who credited Hindi film star Amitabh Bachchan as his inspiration,[54] began playing Amitabh Bachchan's roles in Tamil remakes of his films.[55] This began with Shankar Salim Simon (1978), a remake of Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), followed by Naan Vazhavaippen (1979), a remake of Majboor (1974).[56] He was subsequently cast in a series of roles modelled after Amitabh Bachchan in Tamil remakes of his films.[55] Rajinikanth starred in eleven Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan films,[57] as well as a Telugu remake of Amar Akbar Anthony, Ram Robert Rahim (1980), alongside Sridevi.[56] The most successful of these were remakes of Salim-Javed films, such as Billa (1980), Thee (1981) and Mr. Bharath (1986)

During this phase of his career, Rajinikanth abruptly chose to quit acting, but was coaxed to return[58] with the Tamil film Billa (1980), a remake of the Bollywood blockbuster Don (1978), written by Salim-Javed and starring Amitabh Bachchan. Billa had Rajinikanth playing dual roles and eventually became his first ever commercial success. His pairing with Sridevi continued in Johnny, where he was once again cast in a double role. He also starred in Murattu Kaalai which was a commercial success.[45] The success of Billa was a turning point in Rajinikanth's career, disproving detractors that claimed Rajnikanth was "finished" and which saw him accepted as a full-fledged hero.[58] The success of Billa established Rajinikanth as the top star of South Indian cinema, overtaking Kamal Haasan.[59]

In 1981, he appeared in Garjanai which was shot simultaneously in Kannada and Malayalam, making it his last film in those two languages to date.[when?] In K. Balachander's first home production, Netrikan, he played dual roles as a womanising father and a responsible son.[45] His first full-length comedy was Thillu Mullu, directed by K. Balachander. He agreed to it solely due to the strong suggestion by his mentor that he should do non-commercial roles, to break the stereotyped action-hero mould by which he was getting famous at the time.[60] 1981 also saw the release of Thee, a remake of the 1975 Bollywood blockbuster Deewaar, also originally written by Salim-Javed and starring Amitabh Bachchan; in Thee, Rajinikanth reprised the role of Bachchan in the original.[61] In 1982, he starred in Pokkiri Raja, Moondru Mugam, Thanikattu Raja, Puthukavithai and Enkeyo Ketta Kural. Moondru Mugam had Rajinikanth playing three roles for the first time.[62]

By 1983, he was a popular actor across South Indian cinema, including Telugu and Kannada films.[63] In 1983, he starred in his first Bollywood film, Andha Kanoon, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. The film went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of that time.[64] His 1984 film Naan Mahaan Alla, was directed by Muturaman and produced by K. Balachander. He acted in his first cameo role in the film Anbulla Rajinikanth.[65] He played a triple role in John Jani Janardhan. His performance in Nallavanuku Nallavan earned him a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award.[66] In his 100th film Sri Raghavendra (1985), he played the Hindu saint Raghavendra Swami.[67] His greatest success in Hindi films was his 101st film Bewafai. Released in 1985 with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero and Rajinikanth as villain, it became a success and grossed Rs 11.95 crore at the box office that year.[68]

In the second half of the 1980s, Rajinikanth acted in commercially successful films such as Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), Padikkathavan (1985), Mr. Bharath (1986), Velaikaran (1987), Guru Sishyan (1988) and Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988). In 1988, he made his only American film appearance in Bloodstone, directed by Dwight Little, in which he played an English-speaking Indian taxi driver.[69][70] Rajinikanth finished the decade with films including Rajadhi Raja, Siva, Raja Chinna Roja and Mappillai while also starring in a few Bollywood productions. Raja Chinna Roja was the first Indian film to feature live action and animation.[71][72]

Commercial stardom (1990–2001)

By the 1990s, Rajinikanth established himself as a commercial entertainer. Almost all the films released during this period were highly successful at the box office.

He began the decade with a blockbuster in Panakkaran (1990), which was a remake of Amitabh Bachchan's 1981 film Laawaris. His next two Tamil films, the fantasy comedy Athisaya Piravi, (a remake of Chiranjeevi's 1988 film Yamudiki Mogudu) which also released in 1990 and the family drama Dharmadorai (1991), did above-average business at the box office. His stint with Bollywood continued since the past decade as he went on to star in more Hindi films. Hum released in 1991 saw him doing the second main lead with Amitabh Bachchan became an inspiration for Badsha.[73] In 1991, he worked with Mani Ratnam in Thalapathi, which was heavily inspired by the Mahabharata.[74][75] in which he co-starred with actor Mammooty; the film dealt with the friendship between two unknown characters based on Karna and Duryodhana, respectively,[74] and was set in a more contemporary milieu and was both critically acclaimed and successful upon release.[67] He went on to appear in remakes of films from other languages, mostly from Hindi and Telugu. Annamalai, which released in 1992, was yet another friendship-centric film and was loosely based on the 1987 Bollywood film Khudgarz. Mannan, directed by P. Vasu, a remake of Kannada actor Rajkumar's 1986 blockbuster Anuraga Aralithu, also was released in 1992 and became a box office success. Rajinikanth wrote his first screenplay for the film Valli (1993), in which he also made a special appearance. He also starred in the film Yejaman, in which he played the role of Vaanavaraayan, a village chieftain. His romantic-comedy Veera (1994) was controversial for its climax but went on to become one of the highest-grossing films in 1994.[76]

He joined hands with Suresh Krishna for Baashha (1995), which emerged as an industry record,[77] and is routinely touted by fans and critics alike as a major-hit, as the film elevated him from being just another very popular actor to nearly demigod status among the masses.[78] He made a cameo in Peddarayudu for his friend Mohan Babu and also helped him in obtaining the remake rights. The same year, he acted in yet another gangster film, Aatank Hi Aatank with Aamir Khan which was also his last Hindi film in a major role till date. His film Muthu, a remake of Mohanlal's blockbuster Malayalam movie Thenmavin Kombathu, was another commercial success, directed by K. S. Ravikumar and produced by K. Balachander, and became the first Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese, as Mutu: Odoru Maharaja.[79] The film grossed a record US$1.6 million in Japan in 1998 and was responsible for creating a large Japanese fan-base for the actor.[80] Muthu's success in Japan led American news magazine Newsweek to comment in a 1999 article that Rajinikanth had "supplanted Leonardo DiCaprio as Japan's trendiest heartthrob".[81] During a visit to Japan in 2006, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged the success of Muthu in the country during a speech, justifying the positive relationship between the two nations.[82] He also entered Bengali cinema through Bhagya Debata, which was released at the end of 1995. 1997's Arunachalam was another commercial success. Rajinikanth released his last film of the millennium with Padayappa (1999), which went on to become a blockbuster success. It starred Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya, the former critically acclaimed for her performance. It was also the last prominent role for veteran Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan.

Struggles, resurgence and acclaim (2002–2010)

After a brief pause, Rajinikanth starred in Baba in 2002, for which he had also written the screenplay.[83] Released with much fanfare and hype at the time, the film featured a story revolving around the reforming of a gangster, later revealed to be the reincarnation of the Hindu saint Mahavatar Babaji, and fights against political corruption.[83] It fell short of market expectations and the high bids reportedly translated to heavy losses for the distributors. Rajinikanth himself repaid the losses incurred by the distributors.[84][85] The film was received with comments such as "the bloom was off the rose" and that "the gold does not glitter any more".[86] Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S. Ramadoss condemned him for smoking and posing with beedis in the film. He was criticised for spoiling the Tamil youth by glorifying smoking and drinking. PMK volunteers attacked the theatres which screened the film and usurped film rolls and burned them.[87]

Two years later, Rajinikanth signed up for P. Vasu's Chandramukhi (2005), a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. Upon release the film was highly successful at the box office, and in 2007 it set the record of being the longest running Tamil film.[88] Chandramukhi was also dubbed in Turkish and in German as Der Geisterjäger and released in the respective nations.[89] Following Chandramukhi's release, it was reported that AVM Productions was set to produce a film directed by Shankar starring Rajinikanth — the largest collaboration yet for a Tamil film. The film was titled Sivaji and was released in the summer of 2007, following two years of filming and production. It became the first Tamil film to be charted as one of the "top-ten best films" of the United Kingdom and South Africa box offices upon release.[90][91] Rajinikanth received a salary of ₹26 crore (equivalent to ₹63 crore or US$8.9 million in 2019), for his role in the film, which made him the second highest-paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan.[92][93][94] During the production of Sivaji, Soundarya Rajinikanth announced her intention of producing a computer-generated imagery film starring an animated version of her father titled Sultan: The Warrior. The film was set for release in 2008,[95][96] however, it entered development hell, and its development status would become unknown over the next few years

He worked with P. Vasu again for Kuselan, a remake of the Malayalam film Kadha Parayumbol, which was made simultaneously in Telugu as Kathanayakudu, in which Rajinikanth played an extended cameo role as himself, a film star in the Indian cinema, and as a best friend to the film's protagonist. According to Rajinikanth, the film somewhat narrated his early life.[98] The film, however, performed poorly at box offices and led to many distributors incurring major losses.[99] Rajinikanth also stated that he would work with Pyramid Saimira again to compensate for Kuselan.[100][101]

Rajinikanth worked again with Shankar for the science fiction film Enthiran.[102] The film was released worldwide in 2010 as the most expensive Indian film ever made, ultimately becoming the second highest-grossing film in India of its time.[103][104][105] Rajinikanth was paid a remuneration of ₹45 crore (equivalent to ₹81 crore or US$11 million in 2019) for the film.[106] The film's success lead to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to use the film as a case study to analyse the business of cinema and its success story in a post-graduate elective management course called Contemporary Film Industry: A Business Perspective. The course would also study Muthu.[107]

Hospitalisation and return (2011–present)

In January 2011, Rajinikanth was slated to appear in Rana, a period film to be produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth and directed by K. S. Ravikumar, who would work with the actor for a third time.[62] During the principal photography of the film on 29 April 2011, he suffered a mild foodborne illness on the sets, which led to vomiting, dehydration, and exhaustion.[108] He was treated at St. Isabel's Hospital for a day before being discharged.[109] Five days later, he was rushed to the same hospital again after suffering from breathlessness and fever.[110] He was diagnosed with bronchitis and was kept at the hospital for a week, while also spending a few days in an intensive care unit.[111] Several conflicting reports of discharge dates arose, as well as claims of Rajinikanth's health deteriorating.[112] Two days after his last discharge, Rajinikanth was admitted to the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute on 16 May 2011 for recurring respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.[113] The hospital maintained that Rajinikanth was in stable condition and showed positive response to treatment.[112] It was widely reported that he required a kidney transplantation, which was later denied by Dhanush.[114]

On 21 May 2011, Aishwarya Rajinikanth released a photo of her and Rajinikanth in his hospital ward, both posing with a thumbs signal, responding to fans' negative reaction to news reports.[115] The hospital restricted unauthorised visitors.[116] Rajinikanth's brother, Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad, reported that the cause of the sudden illness was due to stress from rapid weight-loss and changes in diet, as well as withdrawal of alcohol consumption and smoking cessation.[117] After addressing fans in a 4-minute digitally recorded voice message to the media, Rajinikanth, under the advice of Amitabh Bachchan, travelled from Chennai to Singapore with his family on 21 May 2011, where he was to undergo further treatment for nephropathy at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.[118][119] After spending over two weeks at the hospital, he was finally discharged on 15 June 2011 and continued to recuperate in Singapore, before returning to Chennai on 13 July 2011.[120][121]

Despite several failed attempts to restart Rana upon his return, Rajinikanth reprised his Enthiran character, Chitti, in the Bollywood science-fiction film Ra.One (2011) in a guest appearance alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor.[122] In November 2011, it was decided that Rana would be shelved in favour of a new project, titled Kochadaiiyaan.[123] The motion capture film, which is the first of its kind in India, was released in 2014 to positive reviews.[124] Kochadaiiyaan, and the 3D release of Sivaji in 2012,[125] made Rajinikanth the first Indian actor to have appeared in four different forms of world cinema: black-and-white, colour, 3D and motion capture.[126] Following the completion of Kochadaiiyaan, Rajinikanth began work in Ravikumar's next directorial venture, titled Lingaa alongside Anushka Shetty and Sonakshi Sinha.[127][128] The film was released on 12 December 2014, coinciding with his birthday,[129] and received mixed reviews from critics.[130] Rajinikanth's next film was director Pa. Ranjith's crime drama Kabali, produced by S. Thanu. The film was released in July 2016.[131] Rajinikanth is filming for 2.0, a spiritual successor to Enthiran, that is under production since 2015 with no definite release date announced.

In August 2016, it was announced that Rajinikanth and Ranjith would work together again for a film with Dhanush as producer, titled as Kaala, in which Rajinikanth plays a Dharavi-dwelling gangster who fights against corporate takeover of the slum.[133] The film officially released on 7 June 2018. Rajinikanth upcoming film S. Shankar's 2.0 reprising the roles of Dr. Vaseegaran and Chitti, alongside Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson.[134] It is the spiritual successor to the 2010 Tamil film Enthiran and it the most expensive Indian film made to date.[135][136] In 2019, Rajinikanth starred in Karthik Subbaraj's Petta, in which his performance received praise for his return to his vintage stereotypical style of acting. The combined gross earnings of Kaala, 2.0 and Petta by the end of January 2019 was determined to be over ₹1000 crore according to trade analysts.[137] Rajinikanth worked with AR Murugadoss in the film Darbar, which released in 2020.

Political career

Rajinikanth said: "Even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if AIADMK returns to power." Rajinikanth wholeheartedly supported the DMK and TMC alliance and asked the people of Tamil Nadu and his fans to vote for that alliance. This alliance had a complete victory in 1996. Rajinikanth also supported the DMK-TMC alliance in the parliamentary election, held the same year.[138]

Later in 2004, Rajinikanth said he would personally vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but would not extend his support to any front during the upcoming Indian general election.[139] The party, however, failed to win any seats in Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha.[140]

However several political analysts state Rajnikanth has missed his chance and unlike 1996 when he was at his peak it will be very difficult for him to make a significant impact in 2019.[141][142][143]

Rajinikanth announced entry into politics on 31 December 2017 and confirmed his intention to contest in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections in all 234 constituencies. He stated that his party would resign if it was unable to fulfill its electoral promises within three years of coming into power.[144]

Acclaim and criticism

Acting style

Rajinikanth is widely regarded as the most popular South Indian film actor.[63][146][147] His popularity has been attributed to "his uniquely styled dialogues and idiosyncrasies in films, as well as his political statements and philanthropy".[148] Many also cite reasons for Rajinikanth's popularity as coming from his larger-than-life super-hero appearance in many films, supported by gravity-defying stunts and charismatic expressions, all while attempting to maintain modesty in real-life.[149] Almost every film of Rajinikanth has punchlines delivered by him in an inimitable style, and these punchlines often have a message or even warn the film's antagonists. These dialogues are usually fabricated to create new ones or even be taken in a comical way, but do not fail to create a sense of entertainment among viewers.[150][151] It is suggested by the media that actresses such as Gouthami and Nayanthara got their initial breakthrough after co-starring with Rajinikanth very early in their careers, giving other aspiring actors the urge to work with him.[152][153]

Rajinikanth is also the only Indian actor to be featured in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus, in a lesson titled From Bus Conductor to Superstar.[154] After opening his first official Twitter account in 2014, Rajinikanth received over 210,000 followers within 24 hours, which according to The Economic Times was deemed by social media research firms as the fastest rate of followers for any Indian celebrity, as well as among the top-10 in the world.[155] In 2015, a film about his fandom, For the Love of a Man, premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival.[156]

Comments on social issues

In 2002, Rajinikanth undertook a day-long fast to protest the Government of Karnataka's decision to not release Kaveri River water into Tamil Nadu, and announced that he would contribute ₹10 million (US$140,000) toward a plan to interlink Indian rivers.[157] He met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and many experts to canvass support for the project.[158] His hunger strike was independent of the Nadigar Sangam, who organised their own solidarity protest for the same cause. Film director Bharathi Raja lashed out against Rajinikanth, alleging that he is dividing the film industry and saying that he was a "traitor who had a tacit understanding with the Karnataka government".[159]

In 2008, Rajinikanth took part in a hunger strike organised by the Nadigar Sangam against Karnataka's stance on the Hogenakkal Falls water dispute, during which he gave a speech against politicians in Karnataka.[160] It led to the state announcing a ban on him and his film Kuselan (2008). The ban was lifted after Rajinikanth appeared on TV9 Kannada and issued an apology for his speech. He later thanked the Government of Karnataka for lifting the ban and allowing the film’s release in the state. The apology and subsequent gratitude towards Karnataka led to strong reactions from Nadigar Sangam members R. Sarathkumar, Sathyaraj and Radha Ravi, who called the apology a disgrace to Tamils and opined that his speech never provoked the sentiments of the Kannada people.[161] Rajinikanth's support toward fellow actor Ajith Kumar, who in 2010 condemned the forceful inclusion of Tamil cinema personae in political affairs, broke into a controversy.[162] In 2018, Rajinikanth received negative criticism and reactions after justifying police action during the Thoothukudi massacre.[163][164][165][166]

Personal life

Relationships

While he was working as a bus conductor in Bangalore, Rajinikanth met a medical student named Nirmala and started a relationship. After seeing him perform in a stage play, she encouraged him to pursue an acting career and sent an application to the Adyar Film Institute on his behalf and unbeknownst to him. Although he took up the offer and proceeded with his acting career, Rajinikanth has since lost contact with her.[167]

Family

Rajinikanth married Latha Rangachari, a student of Ethiraj College for Women who interviewed him for her college magazine.[168][169] The marriage took place on 26 February 1981, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.[170] The couple has two daughters named Aishwarya Rajinikanth and Soundarya Rajinikanth. Latha runs a school named "The Ashram".

Aishwarya married actor Dhanush on 18 November 2004 and they have two sons, Yathra and Linga.[171][172] His younger daughter, Soundarya, works in the Tamil film industry as a director, producer and graphic designer. She married industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar on 3 September 2010 and have a son Ved Krishna.[173]. In September 2016, Soundarya revealed that she and her husband had filed for divorce by mutual consent due to irreconcilable differences.[174] In July 2017, the couple officially divorced.[175] She has married Vishagan Vanangamudi, an actor and businessman, on 11 February 2019 at Leela Palace in Chennai.[176][177][178][179][180]

Views

Rajinikanth is a follower of Hinduism, spiritualism, and a strong believer of spirituality.[181] He is also a practitioner of yoga and meditation. Rajinikanth has religiously visited major Hindu temples prior to the release of each of his films; for instance he visited the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple before the release of Sivaji in 2007 and visited Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh before the release of Kuselan the following year.[182] He also occasionally leaves for pilgrimage to the Himalayas.[183]

He has often referred to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,[184] Swami Satchidananda, Ragavendra Swami,[185] Mahavatar Babaji,[186] and Ramana Maharishi[184] as his favourite spiritual leaders.

He is an ardent devotee of Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam and visits the temple regularly.[187]

Philanthropy

According to Naman Ramachandran, the author of Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography, most of Rajinikanth's philanthropic activities went unpublicised because he chose to keep them undisclosed. In the 1980s, when superstitious beliefs in Tamil Nadu created a stigma towards eye donation, Rajinikanth took the case of campaigning in support of corneal transplantation via television and public speeches.[188] In 2011, Rajinikanth announced his support for the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare and offered his commercial wedding venue, the Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam, in Chennai free of cost for the India Against Corruption members to hold their fast.[189][190] Rajinikanth's fan associations regularly organise blood donation and eye donation camps and distribute food during his birthday

Rashmika Mandanna

Rashmika Mandanna

Rashmika Mandanna (born 5 April 1996) is an Indian film actress and model who works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada films.[2][3][4] Rashmika is one among very few actresses to have a film gross ₹1 billion in such a short span[5] and one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses in Telugu and Kannada cinema industry.[6][7]

Rashmika made her acting debut in Kannada 2016 film Kirik Party. In 2017 she starred in two commercially successful films, Anjani Putra and Chamak. Later she made her Telugu debut with romantic drama Chalo in 2018.[8] In the same year, she starred in the romcom film Geetha Govindam, which has become one of the highest profit earners in Telugu cinema, which earned her wide recognition.[9] Her third Telugu venture was multi-starrer big budget film titled Devadas.[10] It marked her third consecutive successful film in the same year in Telugu film industry after achieving a first hat trick-hit in Kannada film industry, established herself as one of the leading actresses of Telugu and Kannada cinema.[11]

She starred in the commercially successful films such as Kirik Party (2016), Anjani Putra (2017), Chamak (2017), Chalo (2018), Geetha Govindam (2018), Yajamana (2019),"Dear Comrade" (2019), Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020) and Bheeshma (2020)[12][13][14] The back to back success of films has made her one of the most sought-after actresses in south Indian film industry

Early life

Rashmika Mandanna was born on 5 April 1996 as the elder daughter of Suman and Madan Mandanna in Virajpet, a town in Kodagu district of Karnataka.[16][17] She did her schooling in Coorg Public School (COPS), Kodagu before she pursued pre-university course in Mysore Institute of commerce and arts, she has bachelor's degree in Psychology, Journalism and English Literature from Ramaiah college of Arts, Science and Commerce, along with her studies she was doing modeling and appeared in a couple of advertisements.[18]

Personal life

Rashmika got engaged to actor. They began dating during making of Kirik Party and got engaged on 3 July 2017 in a private ceremony in her hometown of Virajpet.[19] The couple mutually broke off their engagement in September 2018, citing compatibility issues.[20]

Career

Rashmika began modelling in 2012. She won the Clean & Clear Fresh Face of India title the same year and was made the brand ambassador of Clean & Clear. Then she got the title of TVC in Lamode Bangalore's top model hunt 2013. Her pictures from the competition impressed the makers of the film Kirik Party who then cast her as the female lead for the film in early 2014.

In an interview with The Times of India, she recalled: "The makers of Kirik Party saw a picture of mine from the Clean & Clear Fresh Face of India 2012 competition — one in which I was dancing during the college round — and approached me to act in the film. So, it really got things going. I always wanted to be in films."[22] She was cast as Saanvi Joseph, a college-goer, and the love interest of Karna (played by Rakshit Shetty).

Kannada debut and breakthrough (2016–17)

Rashmika made her debut with Kirik Party in 2016, which opened to widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike and went on to become highest-grossing film of the year by collecting ₹50 crore[23] against production budget ₹4 crore,[24] and completed 150-days in main centers of Karnataka,[25] alongside Rashmika's performance received praise for her performance as Saanvi. The writer Sunayana Suresh of The Times of India states that "Rashmika Mandanna as Saanvi is easy that pin-up girl in college and she breathes her path."[26] The film's reviewer for The New Indian Express wrote, "Rashmika Mandanna has outshone in the film along with the main character".[27] The Deccan Chronicle`s Shashiprasad noted that "Beautiful senior Saanvi played by Rashmika Mandanna, her beautiful and cute portrayal of Saanvi will surely remind all the guys their unforgettable crush from college days."[28] This won her SIIMA Award for the Best Debut Actress.[29]

In 2017, Rashmika's first release was Harsha's Anjani Putra opposite Puneeth Rajkumar, which ran for 50-days in some theatres of Karnataka.[30] The Times of India's Sunayana Suresh wrote that "Rashmika Mandanna as cute as the leading lady and shows that she has comic timing that can be tapped in to."[31] The Cineloka's writer stated that "Rashmika Mandanna as his love interest plays a good-natured, jaunty girl next door and delivers good performance."[32] The New Indian Express`s Sharadhaa claimed that "This is Rashmika Mandanna’s first movie with Puneeth and she has upped her glam quotient, even while keeping her girl-next-door appeal."[33] it earned her Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadati award for Best Actress and Luv lavike Readers Choice Award for Best Actress.[34][35]

Her next and last release was Chamak opposite Ganesh, which ran for 100-days in a couple of theatres,[36][37][38] she receives critical acclaim from critics for her role as Khushi, The Times of India's writer Sunayana Suresh stated that "Rashmika has done a good job at ensuring the audience are with them throughout".[39] While Bangalore Mirror`s writer Shyam Prasad claimed that "Rashmika sparkles in acting."[40] The New Indian Express`s Sharadhaa wrote that "Rashmika Mandanna emerges as a good artiste in her third outing. The actress, who comes in two shades has taken responsibility for her character, and it shows."[41] Latter garnered her first nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada at 65th Filmfare Awards South. three consecutive films in Kannada language all succeeded at the box office makes her 'hat-trick' heroine in Kannada film industry.[42]

Debut and fame in Telugu: 2018

She made her Telugu film debut opposite Naga Shourya with the film titled Chalo.,[43] which ran for 100-days in some theatres,[44] critics have been heaped praise on Rashmika for her performance.[45][8] The First post`s Hemanth Kumar wrote that "Rashmika makes a terrific debut and she’s a joy to watch on screen".[45] While writer of The Hindu`s Srivathsan Nadadhur stated that she makes a "Confident debut".[46] Idlebrain's Jeevi noted that she was "very cute and acts well".[47] The Greatandra stated that "Kannada heroine Rashmika is cute."[48] The 123Telugu stated that "Rashmika makes an impressive debut and suits perfectly in her role."[49] Telugu360's editor wrote that "Rashmika lent good support to Shaurya with her performance. She is bubbly and effervescent in comedy scenes and shows good promise as an actress."[50]

Her next film was Geetha Govindam opposite Vijay Devarakonda, which opened to positive reviews and went on to collect over ₹130 crore[9] against production budget ₹5 crore and ran for 100-days in couple of theatres.[51] and brought her much recognition, making her very popular in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, alongside she received immense critical appraisal from both critics and audience, Hindustan Times`s Priyanka Sundar noted that "Rashmika have taken this solid plot a notch higher with their delightful performances. Rashmika especially will have you rooting for her throughout the film".[52] The writer of The Times of India stated that "Rashmika too sparkles and the scenes between the two is what makes Geetha Govindam so likeable".[53] The Indian Express claimed that "Rashmika as uncompromising Geetha also does a pretty good job".[54] The Hindu stated that "She has an easy screen presence and the potential to handle more well-written parts".[55] First post`s writer noted that "Rashmika and Vijay, who makes it an enjoyable watch. Being paired on-screen for the first time, they performed their respective roles very well

Her next release was multi-starrer big budget film titled Devadas, she shared a space with Akkineni Nagarjuna and Nani as one of the main lead in the film along Akanksha Singh. It marked her hat-trick hit film in her career in Telugu film industry according to few regional reliable sources. She had less screen space, though received critical appraisal for her performance. Chitramala`s writer noted that "Rashmika Mandanna impressed in her role and made her presence felt."[57] The Times of India's writer states that "Rashmika deserved better character arc, even though she plays a people of prominence."[58]

Continued success and Tamil debut (2019-20)

Rashmika started 2019 acting in Yajamana, Kannada language film opposite Darshan, which received decent reviews from the both audience and critics upon the release. And began earning a profit within five-days of its release.[59] Later it collected over ₹50 crore[60] against production budget ₹18 crore[61] and ran for over 100-days in some theatres in Karnataka.[60][62] She has been received critical acclaim for her performance as Kaveri, Times Of India editor claimed that "Rashmika Mandanna is cute and her pairing with Darshan works well".[63] The New Indian Express editor noticed that "Rashmika Mandanna is allicient as the love interest and justifies the village girl’s character".[64] In 2019, her next film was Dear Comrade opposite Vijay Devarakonda, which opened to mixed reviews from both critics and audience. It went on to become a financial failure and touted as first flop at box office in Rashmika's film career. Even though she received overwhelming critical acclaim for her performance in the film as 'Lilly'.[65] It earned her first behindwood's gold medal award for best actor critics choice.[66] She has gone on to win awards honouring her cinematic contributions, including Just for Women's Magazine "Sensation of the Year Award"[67] and the "Youth Icon" award in Colors Tamil's "Wonder Women" Awards.[68] She was invited to participate in a panel discussion ("Leading Actress") at the 2019 International Indian Film Academy Awards (the award function's Golden Jubilee) along with Nithya Menen moderated by the Indian film critic Baradwaj Rangan, which was organized in Goa.[69]

In 2020 Rashmika starred opposite Mahesh Babu in Sarileru Neekevvaru, which opened to decent reviews from audience and critics upon the release and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films in the Telugu film industry,[70] and emerged as Rashmika's career highest profit erner to date by collecting ₹2 billion in just 10-days.[71][72][73][74] And went on to collect over ₹2.6 billion in 50-days theatrical run at worldwide box office.[75][76][77] The reviewer of Times Of India Neeshita Nyayapati, stated "Rashmika Mandanna woos, gets hyper, dances, has a catch-line, all for the male lead, but why she exists in this tale, other than to fawn over him is a mystery."[78] The editor of India Today Janani K, claimed that "We see Rashmika playing a typical 'loosu ponnu' (read: A mindless heroine who acts like a kid) who keeps stalking Mahesh Babu."[79] Whereas, the editor of Hans India stated that "Rashmika Mandanna has impressed with her performance."[80] Her next Telugu film in 2020 was Bheeshma opposite Nithiin, which opened to positive response from the both critics and audience.[81][82] The film went on to become a financial hit at worldwide box office by collecting over ₹50 crore.[83][84] She received praise for her performance as Chaitra. The Firstpost's editor Hemanth Kumar praised her chemistry with Nithiin.

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, and actress. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single "As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States.

Born in Hampstead, London, Faithfull began her career in 1964 after attending a Rolling Stones party, where she was discovered by Andrew Loog Oldham. After the release of her hit single "As Tears Go By", she became an international star. Her debut album Marianne Faithfull (1965) (released simultaneously with her album Come My Way) was a commercial success followed by a number of albums on Decca Records. From 1966 to 1970, she had a highly publicised romantic relationship with Mick Jagger. Her popularity was further enhanced by her film roles, such as I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968), and Hamlet (1969). However, her popularity was overshadowed by personal problems in the 1970s. During that time she was anorexic, homeless, and a heroin addict.

Noted for her distinctive voice, Faithfull's previously melodic and higher registered vocals (which were prevalent throughout her career in the 1960s) were affected by severe laryngitis, coupled with persistent drug abuse during the 1970s, permanently altering her voice, leaving it raspy, cracked and lower in pitch. This new sound was praised as "whisky soaked" by some critics for helping capture the raw emotions expressed in her music.[1]

After a long commercial absence, Faithfull made a comeback with the 1979 release of her critically acclaimed album Broken English. The album was a commercial success and marked a resurgence of her musical career. Broken English earned Faithfull a nomination for Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and is often regarded as her "definitive recording." She followed with a series of albums, including Dangerous Acquaintances (1981), A Child's Adventure (1983), and Strange Weather (1987). Faithfull also wrote three books about her life: Faithfull: An Autobiography (1994), Memories, Dreams & Reflections (2007), and Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record (2014).

Faithfull is listed on VH1's "100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll" list. She received the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women's World Awards and was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.

Early life and links to nobility

Faithfull was born in Hampstead, London. Her half-brother is artist Simon Faithfull. Her father, Major Robert Glynn Faithfull, was a British intelligence officer and professor of Italian Literature at Bedford College of London University. Robert Glynn Faithfull's family lived in Ormskirk, Lancashire, while he completed a doctorate at Liverpool University.[2]

Faithfull's mother, Eva, was the daughter of an Austro-Hungarian nobleman, Artur Wolfgang, Ritter von Sacher-Masoch (1875–1953). Eva chose to style herself as Eva von Sacher-Masoch, Baroness Erisso.[3]

Faithfull's mother had been born in Budapest and moved to Vienna in 1918. The family of Sacher-Masoch had secretly opposed the Nazi regime in Vienna. Faithfull's father's intelligence work for the British Army brought him into contact with the family, and he thus met Eva, his future wife.[4] Faithfull's maternal grandfather had aristocratic roots in the Habsburg Dynasty, while Faithfull's maternal grandmother was Jewish.[5] Eva had been a ballerina for the Max Reinhardt Company during her early years, and danced in productions of works by the German theatrical duo Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.[6]

Faithfull's maternal great great uncle was Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose erotic novel, Venus in Furs, spawned the word "masochism."[7] In regard to her roots in the Austrian nobility, Faithfull discovered on the British television series Who Do You Think You Are? that the title was Ritter von Sacher-Masoch, the relative corresponding English title being that of Baronet, an inherited knighthood.[8]

She spent some of her early life at the commune at Braziers Park, Oxfordshire, formed by Dr John Norman Glaister, where her father also lived and participated. Her parents divorced when she was six years old,[2] after which she moved with her mother to Milman Road in Reading. Her primary school was in Brixton. Living in reduced circumstances, Faithfull's girlhood was marred by bouts of tuberculosis. She was a charitably subsidized (bursared) pupil at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Convent School, Reading, where she was, for a time, a weekly boarder.[9] While at St Joseph's, she was a member of the Progress Theatre's student group.[citation needed]

Singing career

1960s

Faithfull began her singing career in 1964, landing her first gigs as a folk music performer in coffeehouses.[1] She soon began taking part in London's exploding social scene. In early 1964 she attended a Rolling Stones launch party with artist John Dunbar and met Andrew Loog Oldham, who discovered her. Her first major release, "As Tears Go By",[10] was written and composed by Jagger, Keith Richards, and Oldham, and became a chart success. (The Rolling Stones recorded their own version one year later, which also became successful.)[11] She then released a series of successful singles, including "This Little Bird", "Summer Nights", and "Come and Stay With Me".[1] Faithfull married John Dunbar on 6 May 1965 in Cambridge with Peter Asher as the best man.[2] The couple lived in a flat at 29 Lennox Gardens in Belgravia just off Knightsbridge, London SW1.[2] On 10 November 1965, she gave birth to their son, Nicholas.[2] She left her husband shortly after to live with Mick Jagger.

In 1966 she took Nicholas to stay with Brian Jones and Anita Pallenberg in London. During that time period, Faithfull started smoking marijuana and became best friends with Pallenberg. She also began a much publicised relationship with Mick Jagger that same year. The couple became notorious and largely part of the hip Swinging London scene. She is heard on The Beatles' song Yellow Submarine.[12] She was found wearing only a fur rug by police executing a drug search at Keith Richards's house in West Wittering, Sussex. In an interview 27 years later with A.M. Homes for Details, Faithfull discussed her wilder days and admitted that the drug bust fur rug incident had ravaged her personal life: "It destroyed me. To be a male drug addict and to act like that is always enhancing and glamorising. A woman in that situation becomes a slut and a bad mother." In 1968, Faithfull, by now addicted to cocaine, miscarried a daughter (whom she had named Corrina) while retreating to Jagger's country house in Ireland.[1][13]

Faithfull's involvement in Jagger's life would be reflected in some of the Rolling Stones's best known songs. "Sympathy for the Devil", featured on the 1968 album Beggars Banquet, was partially inspired by The Master and Margarita, written by Mikhail Bulgakov, a book to which Faithfull introduced Jagger. The song "You Can't Always Get What You Want," on the 1969 album Let It Bleed, was supposedly written and composed about Faithfull; the songs "Wild Horses" and "I Got the Blues" on the 1971 album Sticky Fingers were also allegedly influenced by Faithfull, and she co-wrote "Sister Morphine". (The writing credit for the song was the subject of a protracted legal battle; the resolution of the case has Faithfull listed as co-author of the song.) In her autobiography, Faithfull said Jagger and Richards released it in their own names so that her agent did not collect all the royalties and proceeds from the song, especially as she was homeless and battling with heroin addiction at the time. Faithfull appeared in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert, giving a solo performance of "Something Better".[1]

1970s

Faithfull ended her relationship with Jagger in May 1970, and she lost custody of her son in that same year, which led to her attempting suicide.[1] Faithfull's personal life went into decline, and her career went into a tailspin. She made only a few appearances, including an October 1973 performance for NBC with David Bowie, singing Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe".[1]

Faithfull lived on London's Soho streets for two years, suffering from heroin addiction and anorexia nervosa.[14] Friends intervened and enrolled her in an NHS drug programme, from which she could get her daily fix on prescription from a chemist.[15] She failed at controlling or stabilising her addiction at that time.[16] In 1971, producer Mike Leander found her on the streets and made an attempt to revive her career, producing part of her album Rich Kid Blues. The album was shelved until 1985.[1]

Severe laryngitis, coupled with persistent drug abuse during this period, permanently altered Faithfull's voice, leaving it cracked and lower in pitch. While the new sound was praised as "whisky soaked" by some critics, journalist John Jones, of the Sunday Times, wrote that she had "permanently vulgarised her voice".[1] In 1975 she released the country-influenced record Dreamin' My Dreams (a.k.a. Faithless), which reached No.1 on the Irish Albums Chart.[1] Faithfull moved into a squat without hot water or electricity in Chelsea with then-boyfriend Ben Brierly, of the punk band the Vibrators. She later shared flats in Chelsea and Regent's Park with Henrietta Moraes.

Faithfull's career returned full force in 1979 (the same year she was arrested for marijuana possession in Norway) with the album Broken English, one of her most critically hailed albums.[1] The album was partially influenced by the punk explosion and her marriage to Brierly in the same year. In addition to the punk-pop sounds of the title track (which addressed terrorism in Europe, being dedicated to Ulrike Meinhof), the album also included "Why D'Ya Do It?", a punk-reggae song with aggressive lyrics adapted from a poem by Heathcote Williams.[17] The musical structure of this song is complex; though on the surface hard rock, it is a tango in 4/4 time, with an opening electric guitar riff by Barry Reynolds in which beats 1 and 4 of each measure are accented on the up-beat, and beat 3 is accented on the down beat. Faithfull, in her autobiography, commented that her fluid yet rhythmic reading of Williams' lyric was "an early form of rap".[1] Broken English was also the album which revealed the full extent of Faithfull's drinking and drug use and its effect on her singing voice, with the melodic vocals on her early records being replaced by a raucous, deep voice which helped capture the raw emotions expressed in the album's songs.[1]

1980s

Faithfull began living in New York after the release of the follow-up to Broken English, Dangerous Acquaintances, in 1981. Despite her comeback, she was still battling with addiction in the mid-1980s, at one point breaking her jaw tripping on a flight of stairs while under the influence.[1] In another incident her heart stopped. A disastrous appearance on Saturday Night Live was blamed on too many rehearsals, but it was suspected that drugs had caused her vocal cords to seize up. Rich Kid Blues (1985) was another collection of her early work combined with new recordings, a double record showcasing both the pop and rock 'n' roll facets of her output to date. In 1985, Faithfull performed "Ballad of the Soldier's Wife" on Hal Willner's tribute album Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill. Faithfull's restrained readings lent themselves to the material, and this collaboration informed several subsequent works.

In 1985, she was at the Hazelden Foundation Clinic in Minnesota for rehabilitation. She then received treatment at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. While living at a hotel in nearby Cambridge, Faithfull started an affair (while still married to Brierly) with a dual diagnosis (mentally ill and drug dependent) man, Howard Tose, who later committed suicide by jumping from a 14th floor window of the flat they shared.[1] In 1987, Faithfull dedicated a "thank you" to Tose within the album package of Strange Weather, on the back sleeve: "To Howard Tose with love and thanks". Faithfull's divorce from Brierly was also finalised that year. In 1995, she wrote and sang about Tose's death in "Flaming September" from the album A Secret Life.[1]

In 1987, Faithfull again reinvented herself, this time as a jazz and blues singer, on Strange Weather, also produced by Willner. The album became her most critically lauded album of the decade. Coming full circle, the renewed Faithfull cut another recording of "As Tears Go By" for Strange Weather, this time in a tighter, more gravelly voice. The singer confessed to a lingering irritation with her first hit. "I always childishly thought that was where my problems started, with that damn song," she told Jay Cocks in Time magazine, but she came to terms with it as well as with her past. In a 1987 interview with Rory O'Connor of Vogue, Faithfull declared, "forty is the age to sing it, not seventeen."[13] The album of covers was produced by Hal Willner after the two had spent numerous weekends listening to hundreds of songs from the annals of 20th-century music. They chose to record such diverse tracks as Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep It with Mine" and "Yesterdays", written by Broadway composers Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The work also includes tunes first made notable by such blues luminaries as Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith; Tom Waits wrote the title track. In 1988, Faithfull married writer and actor Giorgio Della Terza, but they divorced in 1991.[1]

1990s

When Roger Waters assembled an all-star cast of musicians to perform the rock opera The Wall live in Berlin in July 1990, Faithfull played the part of Pink's overprotective mother. Her musical career rebounded for the third time during the early 1990s with the live album Blazing Away, which featured Faithfull revisiting songs she had performed over the course of her career. Blazing Away was recorded at St. Ann's Cathedral in Brooklyn. The 13 selections include "Sister Morphine", a cover of Edith Piaf's "Les Prisons du Roy", and "Why D'Ya Do It?" from Broken English. Alanna Nash of Stereo Review commended the musicians whom Faithfull had chosen to back her—longtime guitarist Reynolds was joined by former Band member Garth Hudson and pianist Dr. John. Nash was also impressed with the album's autobiographical tone, noting "Faithfull's gritty alto is a cracked and halting rasp, the voice of a woman who's been to hell and back on the excursion fare which, of course, she has." The reviewer extolled Faithfull as "one of the most challenging and artful of women artists," and Rolling Stone writer Fred Goodman asserted: "Blazing Away is a fine retrospective – proof that we can still expect great things from this greying, jaded contessa."[13]

A Collection of Her Best Recordings was released in 1994 by Island Records to coincide with the release of the Faithfull autobiography; the two products originally shared the same cover art. It contained Faithfull's updated version of "As Tears Go By" from Strange Weather, several cuts from Broken English and A Child's Adventure and a song written by Patti Smith scheduled for inclusion on an Irish AIDS benefit album. This track, "Ghost Dance", suggested to Faithfull by a friend who later died of AIDS, was made with a trio of old friends: Stones' drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood backed Faithfull's vocals on the song, while Keith Richards coproduced it. The retrospective album also featured one live track, "Times Square", from Blazing Away as well as a new Faithfull original, "She", penned with composer and arranger Angelo Badalamenti to be released the following year on A Secret Life, with additional songs co written with Badalamenti. Faithfull also sang "Love is Teasin," an Irish folk standard, with The Chieftains on their album The Long Black Veil, released in 1995. Faithfull sang a duet and recited text on the San Francisco band Oxbow's 1997 album Serenade in Red. Faithfull also sang interlude vocals on Metallica's song "The Memory Remains" from their 1997 album Reload and appeared in the song's music video; the track reached No. 28 in the U.S. (No.3 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart) and No.13 in the UK.

As her fascination with the music of Weimar-era Germany continued, Faithfull performed in The Threepenny Opera at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, playing Pirate Jenny. Her interpretation of the music led to a new album, Twentieth Century Blues (1996), which focused on the music of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht as well as Noël Coward, followed in 1998 by a recording of The Seven Deadly Sins, with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. A hugely successful concert and cabaret tour accompanied by Paul Trueblood at the piano, culminated in the filming, at the Montreal Jazz Festival, of the DVD Marianne Faithfull Sings Kurt Weill.

In 1998 Faithfull released A Perfect Stranger: The Island Anthology, a two-disc compilation that chronicled her years with Island Records. It featured tracks from her albums Broken English, Dangerous Acquaintances, A Child's Adventure, Strange Weather, Blazing Away, and A Secret Life, as well as several B sides and unreleased tracks.

Faithfull's 1999 DVD Dreaming My Dreams contained material about her childhood and parents, with historical video footage going back to 1964 and interviews with the artist and several friends who have known her since childhood. The documentary included sections on her relationship with John Dunbar and Mick Jagger, and brief interviews with Keith Richards. It concluded with footage from a 30-minute live concert, originally broadcast on PBS for the series Sessions at West 54th. That same year, she ranked 25th in VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll.

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) wrote the song Incarceration of a Flower Child in 1968; it was never recorded by Pink Floyd. The song was eventually recorded by Marianne Faithfull on her 1999 album Vagabond Ways.

2000s

Faithfull released several albums in the 2000s that received positive critical response, beginning with Vagabond Ways (1999), which was produced and recorded by Mark Howard. It included collaborations with Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, and writer (and friend) Frank McGuinness. Later that year she sang "Love Got Lost" on Joe Jackson's Night and Day II.

Her renaissance continued with Kissin Time, released in 2002. The album contained songs written with Blur, Beck, Billy Corgan, Jarvis Cocker, Dave Stewart, David Courts and the French pop singer Étienne Daho. On this record, she paid tribute to Nico (with "Song for Nico"), whose work she admired. The album also included an autobiographical song she co-wrote with Cocker, called "Sliding Through Life on Charm".

In 2005, she released Before the Poison. The album was primarily a collaboration with PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, though Damon Albarn and Jon Brion also contributed. Before the Poison received mixed reviews from both Rolling Stone and Village Voice.[18][19] In 2005 she recorded (and co-produced) "Lola R Forever", a cover of the Serge Gainsbourg song "Lola Rastaquouere" with Sly & Robbie for the tribute album Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited. In 2007, Faithfull collaborated with the British singer-songwriter, Patrick Wolf on the duet "Magpie" from his third album The Magic Position and wrote and recorded a new song for the French film Truands called "A Lean and Hungry Look" with Ulysse.

In March 2007 she returned to the stage with a touring show entitled Songs of Innocence and Experience. Supported by a trio, the performance had a semi-acoustic feel and toured European theatres throughout the spring and summer. The show featured many songs she had not performed live before including "Something Better", the song she sang on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. The show also included the Harry Nilsson song "Don't Forget Me", "Marathon Kiss" from Vagabond Ways and a version of the traditional "Spike Driver Blues".

Articles published at that time hinted Faithfull was looking to retirement and was hoping that money from Songs of the Innocence and Experience would enable her to live in comfort. She said: "I'm not prepared to be 70 and absolutely broke. I realised last year that I have no safety net at all and I’m going to have to get one. So I need to change my attitude to life, which means I have to put away 10 per cent every year of my old age. I want to be in a position where I don’t have to work. I should have thought about this a long time ago but I didn’t."[20] However, she still lived in her flat in Paris[21][22] (located in one of the most expensive streets of the capital) and had a house in County Waterford, Ireland.[21] Recording of Easy Come, Easy Go commenced in New York City on 6 December 2007; the album was produced by Hal Willner who had previously recorded Strange Weather in 1997. A version of Morrissey's "Dear God Please Help Me" from his 2006 album, Ringleader of the Tormentors is one of the songs featured. In March 2009, she performed "The Crane Wife 3" on The Late Show.[23] In late March, she began the Easy Come, Easy Go tour, which took her to France, Germany, Austria, New York City, Los Angeles and London.[24]

On 16 April 2009, while preparing to board a British Airways flight at London's Gatwick Airport bound for a concert appearance in Bologna, François Ravard, accompanying Faithfull, was detained and then later arrested. In a statement, British Airways said: "A male customer became aggressive and abusive at check-in when he was refused travel on a flight from Gatwick to Bologna. He appeared to be intoxicated on arrival at check-in. In such circumstances, an assessment is made as to whether the passenger is fit to travel. When he was refused travel, he became physically and verbally abusive. Police were called and he was arrested. Such behaviour will not be tolerated."[25] Faithfull, however, had not been drinking and was allowed to board. The pair was flying to Italy on a leg of her world tour promoting Easy Come, Easy Go. According to her spokesperson, "Marianne was at Gatwick airport but was not involved in any way in the situation that occurred and she managed to travel on to Bologna as planned. Her gig tonight there will go ahead as planned, and Francois travelled from Britain to join her yesterday. Marianne hadn't been drinking at the time of the incident and she does not drink alcohol. She is enjoying life and loving it as she is sober and clean."[25]

In April 2009, Faithfull stated that although Ravard was still her manager, their 15-year relationship had ended some months ago. Faithfull said, "I'm all right but I have had a bit of an adventure – my relationship broke up. I felt very betrayed and lonely. I am much, much better now, but it is not good for your self-esteem."[26] On 3 May 2009, she was featured on CBS News Sunday Morning and interviewed by Anthony Mason in the "Sunday Profile" segment. Both in-studio and on-the-street (New York City) interview segments with Faithfull and Mason were interspersed with extensive biographical and musical footage.[27]

In November, Faithfull was interviewed by Jennifer Davies[28] on World Radio Switzerland, where she described the challenges of being stereotyped as a "mother, or the pure wife". Because of this, she insisted, it has been hard to maintain a long career as a female artist, which, she said, gave her empathy for Amy Winehouse when they met recently.[29]

In 2010, she was honoured with the Icon of the Year award from Q magazine.

2010s

On 31 January 2011, Faithfull released her 18th studio album Horses and High Heels in mainland Europe with mixed reviews from the most important media.[30] [31] [32] The 13 track album contains four songs co-written by Faithfull; the rest are covers of mainly well known songs such as Dusty Springfield's "Goin' Back" and the Shangri-Las' "Past, Present, Future". A UK CD release was planned for 7 March 2011. Faithfull supported the album's release with an extensive European tour with a five-piece band, arriving in the UK on 24 May for a rare show at London's Barbican Centre, with an extra UK show at Leamington Spa on 26 May. TV and media interviews were also planned as part of the promotion.

On 7 May 2011 she appeared on BBC Radio 2's Graham Norton Show.[33] She reunited with Metallica in December 2011 for their 30th anniversary celebration at the Fillmore where she performed "The Memory Remains".[34]

In 2012, Faithfull recorded a cover version of a Stevie Nicks track from the Fleetwood Mac album Tusk as part of a Fleetwood Mac tribute project. The track "Angel" was released on 14 August 2012 as part of the tribute album Just Tell Me That You Want Me.[citation needed]

On 22 June 2013, she made a sell-out concert appearance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with jazz musician Bill Frisell playing guitar, as a part of Meltdown Festival curated by Yoko Ono.[35]

In September 2014, Faithfull released an album of all-new material, titled Give My Love to London. She started a 12-month 50th anniversary tour at the end of 2014.

During a webchat hosted by The Guardian on 1 February 2016, Faithfull revealed plans to release a live album from her 50th Anniversary tour. She also had ideas for a follow-up for Give My Love to London, but had no intention of recording new material for at least a year and a half.[36]

A new album from Faithfull, which she titled Negative Capability, was released on 2 November 2018, via BMG. Promotions for the album described it as channeling Keats and Shakespeare, having a folky feel, and including collaborations with Nick Cave, Ed Harcourt, and Mark Lanegan

Robbie Lawlor

Robbie Lawlor

Robert "Robbie" Lawler (born March 20, 1982) is an American professional mixed martial artist who has been competing since 2001. He is the former UFC Welterweight Champion, former EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and has formerly competed in Strikeforce, PRIDE, and the IFL. He is widely considered one of the most consistently entertaining mixed martial artists currently competing, being the only fighter to have won three consecutive "Fight of the Year" awards from Sherdog and MMA Fighting, for his bouts against Johny Hendricks (at UFC 171, in 2014), Rory MacDonald (at UFC 189, in 2015), and Carlos Condit (at UFC 195, in 2016).[2] As of March 2, 2020, he is #11 in the UFC welterweight rankings

Background

Lawler was born in San Diego, California, and is of English, Samoan, African, and Filipino heritage. He moved to Bettendorf, Iowa at the age of ten to live with his father, who served in the Marines. Lawler began training in karate at the age of ten and later attended Bettendorf High School where he received All-State honors in wrestling and football. Lawler was taken under the wing of Pat Miletich when he was 16 years old and began training with Miletich Fighting Systems as soon as he graduated in 2000.[4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Lawler made his professional debut in 2001 and won his first four career fights all by TKO/KO, his second fight being in the IFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Lawler made his UFC debut at UFC 37 against veteran Aaron Riley. Lawler won the bout via unanimous decision. Lawler fought again in the next month against Steve Berger at UFC 37.5 and won via TKO. In his next fight, Lawler faced another veteran, Tiki Ghosn at UFC 40 and won in a highlight-reel knockout. Lawler then fought against Pete Spratt at UFC 42 and lost after he submitted due to a hip injury. Lawler came back to get a win over fellow boxing and wrestling specialist Chris Lytle via unanimous decision at UFC 45.

In his next UFC bout, Lawler faced former WEC Welterweight Champion and future longtime Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz at UFC 47. Lawler was handed the first of only two knockout losses of his career to date in the second round. Lawler then lost again at UFC 50 against the late Evan Tanner, who would win the UFC Middleweight Championship in his next fight.

Post-UFC

Lawler then fought at SuperBrawl in Hawaii, defeating Falaniko Vitale via knockout to become the SuperBrawl Middleweight Champion. Lawler then made his debut for King of the Cage and won via armbar submission.

Lawler then faced Falaniko Vitale again, this time for the ICON Sport Middleweight Championship and won again in the rematch by knockout, becoming the ICON Sport Middleweight Champion.

In his next bout and first title defense, Lawler lost to Jason "Mayhem" Miller via arm-triangle choke submission.

Lawler then made his PRIDE debut in Las Vegas, Nevada against Joey Villasenor at PRIDE 32 and won via knockout.

In his next fight, Lawler made his IFL debut in Atlanta, Georgia against Eduardo Pamplona and won via TKO.

On March 31, 2007, he fought Frank Trigg for the ICON Sport Middleweight Championship and won by KO in the fourth round, becoming the ICON Sport Middleweight Champion a second time. On September 15, 2007, he fought PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran Murilo Rua for the EliteXC Middleweight Championship and won by TKO in the third round due to punches.

Lawler was scheduled to fight Kala Hose for the ICON Sport Middleweight Championship on December 15, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Lawler however pulled out of the fight due to an injury. After pulling out again due to the same circumstances, ICON Sport stripped Lawler of the middleweight title on February 9, 2008 for failing to defend the title.[5]

Lawler defended his EliteXC Middleweight Championship against Scott Smith at EliteXC: Primetime on May 31, 2008, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, which ended in a no contest after Smith caught an accidental finger in the eye from Lawler.[6]

On July 26, 2008, Lawler and Scott Smith had their rematch at EliteXC: Unfinished Business. Lawler defeated Smith by TKO in the second round.

Strikeforce

After defeating Scott Smith, Lawler's employers, EliteXC, announced that they would be shutting down and filing for bankruptcy. Lawler's contract was picked up by Strikeforce with his first bout under the Strikeforce banner on June 6, 2009 against Jake Shields. The bout was fought at a catchweight of 182 lb. Lawler lost via submission due to a guillotine choke at 2:02 of the first round.

Lawler faced K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef on January 30, 2010 at Strikeforce: Miami.[7] During the bout, Lawler suffered significant damage to his leg which Manhoef inflicted using leg kicks. In dramatic fashion, Lawler came back to win by knockout late in the first round with an overhand right.

Lawler was expected to face Jason Miller on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles but Lawler instead faced former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral in a 195 lbs. Catchweight bout.[8] Lawler had two unsuccessful attempts to meet the 195 lbs mark at the Strikeforce: Los Angeles Weigh Ins, but was finally booked for the fight weighting 195.5 pounds, after stepping on the scale for the third time. Sobral defeated Lawler via unanimous decision. Sobral utilized his reach advantage and grappling expertise to defeat the much smaller Lawler.[9]

Lawler fought Olympic Games silver medalist Matt Lindland at Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II on December 4, 2010.[10] He defeated Lindland fifty seconds into the first round via KO.[11]

Lawler faced Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza on January 29, 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg.[12] Lawler rocked Souza in the first round but ended up losing the fight via submission in the third round.

Lawler returned and faced Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, being dominantly controlled throughout the fight on the floor by Kennedy.

Lawler got back on track with a highlight reel first-round TKO victory due to a flying knee over rising prospect Adlan Amagov at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.

Lawler next faced Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy on July 14, 2012.[13] He lost the fight via unanimous decision, despite rocking Larkin early in the first round with a short right hook. He left Miletich Fighting Systems after this loss and joined Florida-based gym American Top Team.

Return to UFC

Lawler returned to the Welterweight division and faced Josh Koscheck on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157.[14] He won via first-round TKO. Koscheck visibly protested the stoppage, but replay footage showed he was not defending himself in a dangerous position, as Lawler landed repeated blows. The finish earned him the Knockout of the Night bonus.

Lawler was expected to face former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Tarec Saffiedine on July 27, 2013 at UFC on Fox 8.[15] However, Saffiedine was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Siyar Bahadurzada.[16] Then on July 11, it was announced that Bahadurzada also pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Bobby Voelker.[17] Lawler won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Lawler next faced Rory MacDonald at UFC 167.[18] He won the fight via split decision.

On December 13, 2013 news came that Georges St-Pierre would be taking an indefinite break from MMA and vacate the UFC Welterweight Championship.[19] Following the announcement, Dana White announced that Lawler would face Johny Hendricks on March 15, 2014 at UFC 171 for the vacated title.[20] Lawler lost the close back-and-forth bout via unanimous decision. Despite the loss, the fight earned Lawler his first Fight of the Night bonus award.[21]

Returning quickly to the cage, Lawler replaced an injured Tarec Saffiedine and fought Jake Ellenberger at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014.[22] He won the fight via TKO in the third round due to a combination of a knee and punches.

Lawler faced Matt Brown in a 5-round Welterweight title eliminator bout on July 26, 2014 at UFC on Fox 12.[23] He won the fight via unanimous decision. The win also earned him a Fight of the Night bonus award.[24]

UFC Welterweight Champion

Lawler fought a rematch with Johny Hendricks for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 181 on December 6, 2014.[25] He won the fight, and the title, via split decision.[26]

A rematch with Rory MacDonald took place on July 11, 2015 at UFC 189.[27] Lawler retained his title in the fifth round via TKO.[28] The back and forth action earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.[29] The fight was considered an instant classic by fans and media alike with UFC President Dana White hailing it as one of the best welterweight fights in the promotion's history.[30] The fight was chosen as the Sherdog Fight of the Year for 2015.[31]

Lawler was expected to face Carlos Condit on November 15, 2015 at UFC 193.[32] However, the bout was scrapped from the event after Lawler suffered a thumb injury.[33] The fight was rescheduled as the headliner at UFC 195 on January 2, 2016.[34] Lawler defended his title, and defeated Condit via split decision in a very close fight.[35][36] The bout also earned Lawler his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award.[37]

Lawler faced Tyron Woodley on July 30, 2016 in the main event at UFC 201.[38] He lost the fight via knockout early in the first round, thus losing the title.[39]

Post-championship

Lawler was briefly linked to a bout with Donald Cerrone on November 12, 2016 at UFC 205.[40] However, just a few days after the announcement, it was revealed that Lawler had declined the fight to allow more recovery time from his last defeat.[41] He was replaced by The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner Kelvin Gastelum.[42]

Lawler was expected to face Cerrone on July 8, 2017 at UFC 213.[43] However, reports began to circulate on June 28 that Cerrone had sustained a minor injury and that the pairing would be left intact, but is expected to take place three weeks later at UFC 214.[44] UFC President Dana White confirmed later that same day that Cerrone in fact had a staph infection and a pulled groin.[45]

Lawler faced Cerrone on July 29, 2017 at UFC 214.[46] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[47] In the post fight interview, Lawler dedicated his win to Matt Hughes, who was involved in a truck accident in June 2017 and was then recovering from serious injuries.[48]

Lawler faced Rafael Dos Anjos on December 16, 2017 in the main event at UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos.[49][50] He lost the fight by unanimous decision,[51] and he suffered from a torn ACL from the fight which would prevent him from fighting in 2018.[52]

Lawler faced UFC newcomer Ben Askren on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235.[53] Although Lawler looked to have the upper hand on Askren early on in the fight, he eventually lost the fight due to a bulldog choke.[54] The ending of the fight was controversial because referee Herb Dean stopped the fight thinking that Lawler had passed out when this may not have been the case; Lawler had signaled Dean with a thumbs up while the choke was locked, and jumped up fully conscious straight after the stoppage. Despite that, Nevada State Athletic Commission director Bob Bennett was in full support of Dean's decision to stop the fight.[55]

A rematch with Tyron Woodley was expected to take place on June 29, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 3.[56] On May 16, 2019 it was reported that Woodley suffered a hand injury and was pulled from the fight. The bout was ultimately scrapped.[57]

Lawler faced Colby Covington on August 3, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 5.[58] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[59]

Lawler was scheduled to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[60] However, on October 12, 2019, it was revealed that Ponzinibbio had pulled out of the fight due to a staph infection.[61]

Personal life

Lawler also has an elder brother.[citation needed] He is married to Marcia Suzanne Lawler (née Fritz)[62] and has a son.[63]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship

UFC Welterweight Championship (One time)

Two successful title defenses

Fight of the Night (Four times)

Knockout of the Night (One time)

Fighter of the Year (2014, 2015)

Fight of the Year (2014) vs. Johny Hendricks at UFC 171

Fight of the Year (2015) vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189

Elite Xtreme Combat

EliteXC Middleweight Championship (One time; Last)

ICON Sport

ICON Sport Middleweight Championship (Two times)

Superbrawl

Superbrawl Middleweight Championship (One time; Last)

World MMA Awards

2014 Fighter of the Year

2015 Fight of the Year vs. Rory MacDonald

Sherdog

2010 Knockout of the Year vs. Melvin Manhoef on January 30

2010 All-Violence Second Team[64]

2014 All-Violence First Team

2015 All-Violence First Team

2013 Comeback Fighter of the Year[65]

2014 Fighter of the Year[66]

2014 Fight of the Year vs. Johny Hendricks at UFC 171[67]

2015 Fight of the Year vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189[31]

2016 Fight of the Year vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 195[68]

Inside MMA

2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Bazzie Award

MMA Fighting

2014 Fighter of the Year

2014 Fight of the Year vs. Johny Hendricks at UFC 171[69]

2015 Fight of the Year vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189

2016 Fight of the Year vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 195

MMAJunkie.com

2014 March Fight of the Month vs. Johny Hendricks[70]

2015 July Fight of the Month vs. Rory MacDonald[71]

2015 Fight of the Year vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189

Bleacher Report

2014 Fighter of the Year[72]

2014 Fight of the Year vs. Johny Hendricks at UFC 171[73]

2015 Fight of the Year vs. Rory MacDonald at UFC 189[74]

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

2014 MMA Match of the Year vs. Johny Hendricks at UFC 171[75]

2015 MMA Match of the Year vs. Rory Macdonald at UFC 189[76]

2016 MMA Match of the Year vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 195

كايل ووكر

كايل ووكر

كايل ووكار (بالإنجليزية: Kyle Walker)‏ (مواليد 28 مايو 1990) هو لاعب كرة قدم إنجليزي. يلعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مع نادي مانشستر سيتي.

انتقل صيف 2017 من توتنهام إلى مانشستر سيتي مقابل 45 مليون جنيه استرليني.