10 images of fan frenzy during the release of Indian superstar Rajinikanth's 'Kabali'

The fan frenzy surrounding the release of a film starring Indian superstar Rajinikanth can easily rival the fervour of any major festival.

For his new film Kabali, there are special flights to take fans to watch the film in the veteran actor's home city Chennai, offices declaring holidays on the day of its release, and reports of film-goers spending a sleepless night to watch the first show at 4 a.m.

In his 159th film, the 65-year-old actor plays an ageing don living in Malaysia. The gangster drama has been shot in Chennai, Bangkok, Malaysia and Hong Kong, and also stars Taiwanese actor Winstan Chao as the principal antagonist. There are reports of tickets for the opening weekend already being sold out.

These images capture the madness surrounding the release of a 'Rajini' film.

Huge cut-outs of Indian movie star Rajinikanth decorate a movie theatre where fans jostle to get in and out on the first day of release of his new Tamil-language film 'Kabali' in Bangalore on July 22, 2016. Credit: MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images

An Indian fan pours Coca-Cola to bless a cut-out image of Bollywood star Rajinikanth outside a cinema on the first day of release of his new Tamil-language film "Kabali" in Chennai on July 22, 2016. Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images

Indian fans pour milk on a cut-out board image of Indian movie star Rajinikanth on the facade of a movie theatre on the first day of release of his new Tamil-language film 'Kabali' in Bangalore on July 22, 2016. As a tradition, fans perform a ritual called paal abhishekam, in which life-size posters of superstar Rajinikanth are bathed in milk before the launch of each of his films. Credit: MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images

An Indian fan light a candle to bless an image of Rajinikanth outside a cinema on the first day of release of 'Kabali' in Chennai on July 22, 2016. Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images

A Indian fan fixes a poster of Indian movie star Rajinikanth on his auto rickshaw in front of a movie theatre, ahead of the release of his Tamil movie 'Kabali', in Chennai on July 21, 2016. Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images

An Indian fan strings a row of flags in front of a hoarding of Indian movie star, Rajinikanth erected in front of a movie theatre, ahead of the release of his Tamil movie 'Kabali', in Chennai on July 21, 2016. Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images

Indian workers transport a promotional clay statue of Indian movie star Rajinikanth on the eve of the release of his latest movie 'Kabali', in Bangalore on July 21, 2016. / Credit: MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty Images

Indian fans of Bollywood star Rajinikanth gather at a cinema on the first day of release of his new Tamil-language film 'Kabali' in Chennai on July 22, 2016. Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images

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