<p>Megastar Rajinikanth will be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution in 2019 to Indian cinema, announced Union&nbsp; Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Really happy that the jury unanimously chose the legendary <a href="https://twitter.com/rajinikanth?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@rajinikanth</a> ji for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DadaSahebPhalke?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#DadaSahebPhalke</a> award. <br /><br />My all-time favourite movie of Thalaiva is the 1992 Tamil classic Annamalai. <a href="https://t.co/LOVDm9K6qs">pic.twitter.com/LOVDm9K6qs</a></p>
&mdash; Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrakashJavdekar/status/1377542438676402182?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>After the announcement congratulations galore for the superstar, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Popular across generations, a body of work few can boast of, diverse roles and an endearing personality...that&rsquo;s Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/rajinikanth?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@rajinikanth</a> Ji for you. <br /><br />It is a matter of immense joy that Thalaiva has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Congratulations to him.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1377489240527826947?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p class="twitter-tweet">Twitter users also lauded the superstar for the feat. " <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Congratulations Respected Rajnikanth sir on being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. </span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">You should deserve that (sic)," posted one. "U deserve it lots of congratulations (sic)", wrote another.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Much Appreciative , Our Shri Rajnikanth Ji.<br /><br />Hearty Congrats to you,our Shri Rajnikanth Ji on being conferred Dadasaheb Phalke award.<br /><br />Salute to Our PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's multifaceted charismatic leadership that endorses &amp; encourages best works at various domains.</p>
&mdash; Venkatesapalani Thangavelu (@Ven070670) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ven070670/status/1377573929238196225?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to legendary actor, Thiru Rajnikanth who has been conferred with the Dada Saheb Phalke awards. <br />India cherishes his work and adores him for making many wonderful films for the cinematic world. His contribution to films has been exceptional and truly remarkable. <a href="https://t.co/GsPrltJZX3">pic.twitter.com/GsPrltJZX3</a></p>
&mdash; Gurdev Sharma Debi (@DebiGurdev) <a href="https://twitter.com/DebiGurdev/status/1377572028211863552?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajnikanth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Rajnikanth</a>... The one and only <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thalaivaa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Thalaivaa</a> for prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. <a href="https://twitter.com/AjayKadu10?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@AjayKadu10</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/suhassatwadhar?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@suhassatwadhar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdvUmeshYadav?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@AdvUmeshYadav</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DeepaliPatil85?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@DeepaliPatil85</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AdvUmeshYadav?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@AdvUmeshYadav</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ankushchavan?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@ankushchavan</a> <a href="https://t.co/7YmtvJBleX">pic.twitter.com/7YmtvJBleX</a></p>
&mdash; रavindra रaut (@ravindrapraut) <a href="https://twitter.com/ravindrapraut/status/1377570271792537600?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p class="twitter-tweet">The superstar also posted on the micro-blogging website and thanked the Government of India for conferring this award to him.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heartfelt thanks to the government of india, respected &amp; dearest <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji, <a href="https://twitter.com/PrakashJavdekar?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@PrakashJavdekar</a> ji and the jury for conferring upon me the prestigious <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DadasahebPhalkeAward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#DadasahebPhalkeAward</a> I sincerely dedicate it to all those who have been a part of my journey. Thanks to the almighty ??</p>
&mdash; Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajinikanth/status/1377530938888912898?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<p class="twitter-tweet">Some Twitter users, however, expressed their doubts over the timing of the move.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Timing of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajnikanth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Rajnikanth</a> sir being confirmed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DadasahebPhalkeAward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#DadasahebPhalkeAward</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BJP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#BJP</a> led GOI just before <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNaduElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#TamilNaduElections</a> is interesting ? <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@ECISVEEP</a></p>
&mdash; #HappeningHyderabad (@TelanganaBest1) <a href="https://twitter.com/TelanganaBest1/status/1377573638359031811?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">&ldquo;In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way,&rdquo; Franklin D Roosevelt. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Award?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Award</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajnikanth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Rajnikanth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperstarGetsPhalkeAward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#SuperstarGetsPhalkeAward</a></p>
&mdash; Shanmugha Sundaram J (@shanmughamsjTOI) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanmughamsjTOI/status/1377500044534800387?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This was predicted yesterday ? even before the announcement <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajnikanth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Rajnikanth</a> <a href="https://t.co/3QOBuvpQf9">https://t.co/3QOBuvpQf9</a></p>
&mdash; Yogesh (@YogeshKD2228) <a href="https://twitter.com/YogeshKD2228/status/1377483373891964928?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rajnikanth to be awarded Dadasaheb Phalke award.<br />Won&rsquo;t be surprised if they give him Bharat Ratna just to win this election!<br /><br />PS: <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">@ECISVEEP</a> is this okay???</p>
&mdash; Deeksha Nitin Raut (@DeekshaNRaut) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeekshaNRaut/status/1377530146115235841?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thinking of pleasing him and his fans, giving away a prestigious award just before election in anticipation of &lsquo;something&rsquo; is nothing but an insult to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajnikanth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#Rajnikanth</a> <br /><br />If you truly wanted to recognise him, this should have been planned at a different time<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DadasahebPhalkeAward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#DadasahebPhalkeAward</a></p>
&mdash; Diwakar (@ikamalfan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ikamalfan/status/1377505664340123654?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">April 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While some lauded the megastar for the achievement, others said the award being given just a week before the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections raises eyebrows

Twitterati divided over Rajinikanth winning Dadasaheb Phalke award

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