Adithya Ashok, a Rajinikanth fan with roots in Vellore and a New Zealand leg-spin prospect, is charting his own path
En vazhi thani vazhi (My way is a unique way) is one of Rajinikanth’s most timeless punchlines, delivered in the 1999 blockbuster Padayappa. Such is the cult status of the dialogue that when the film was re-released last December on the actor’s birthday, audiences in some theatres demanded repeat screenings.
For New Zealand leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, who has roots in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore, the line carries a deeper, more personal meaning. He has tattooed the phrase in Tamil in bold letters on his bowling arm — not just as a tribute to Rajinikanth, but as a lasting memory of his grandfather.
The tattoo traces back to the last film Adithya watched with his grandfather during a visit to Vellore. “I remember we had a very personal conversation. He spoke about his values, morals, and things that mattered deeply to him,” Adithya recalls.
“As we were talking, the Rajini film was playing in the background. That’s where it all began. People ask me about the tattoo, and while it might excite Rajinikanth fans, for me it’s deeply personal. It represents that conversation and the bond I shared with my grandfather. It’s an everlasting memory,” he says.
Born in Vellore, Adithya moved to Auckland at the age of four after his parents found work opportunities in New Zealand. His mother worked as a nurse at Auckland City Hospital, while his father was employed as a radiographer at a children’s hospital. Cricket became a natural calling early on, though Adithya has maintained close ties with Vellore, visiting every couple of years.
This is his maiden tour of India with the Black Caps, although he has previously spent time in Chennai, having worked at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in July last year.
