INDIA, 29 November 2025: At the grand closing ceremony of IFFI 2025, cinema icon Rajinikanth received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, marking five decades of a storied career that has left an indelible mark on Indian, especially Tamil, cinema.
Stepping onto the stage at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Rajinikanth, accompanied by his family, was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation as festival dignitaries, celebrities and fans honoured his half-century of cinematic excellence.
The award was presented by Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, who draped the legendary actor in a shawl and presented him a memento.
“I’d Choose Acting in Every Lifetime”
In an emotional acceptance speech, Rajinikanth said that although his career spans 50 years, it felt like “10 or 15 years,” such is his enduring love for cinema. He added poignantly: “If there are 100 more janams (births), I would like to be born as an actor, as Rajinikanth.”
He dedicated the honour to “cinema industry people,” technicians, filmmakers, producers, distributors, theatre owners, and especially to the Tamil audience, whom he called “the gods who keep me alive.”
The closing ceremony of IFFI 2025 celebrated not only Rajinikanth’s legacy but also global cinema’s past and future. The festival, running from November 20 to 28, showcased over 240 films from 81 countries, underscoring its status as a major hub of cinematic exchange.
Industry peers and contemporary filmmakers also expressed their admiration. Among them was noted director Karthik Subbaraj, who publicly congratulated Rajinikanth, calling him “Thalaivaa” and hailing the Life-time Achievement Award as a fitting tribute.
For decades, Rajinikanth has transcended regional boundaries, becoming a pan-Indian figure and a bridge between eras, from silver-screen classics to modern blockbusters. This award reaffirms his impact not only on Tamil cinema but on Indian film culture as a whole. His acknowledgement at IFFI not only honours the past but also inspires future generations of actors and filmmakers to dream big.
As the lights dimmed on IFFI 2025, the resounding applause for Rajinikanth echoed beyond the stadium, a reminder that truly enduring artistry never fades.
