 Director Prabhu Solomon said that Rajinikanth's character inspired Vikram Prabhu's protagonist in Kumki (2012). "Kali" became Rajinikanth's most-frequent onscreen name; his characters in Murattu Kaalai (1980), Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984), Kaali (1980) and Athisaya Piravi (1990) were also named Kali. Mani Ratnam called Mullum Malarum "the benchmark in terms of [Rajinikanth's] performance", adding that although it was not Parallel Cinema it was "very realistic, and was performed very, very realistically. The dialogues were real." Director C. S. Amudhan said, "In Mullum Malarum, which happens to be one of my favourite [films, Rajinikanth] has proved he can be subtle and yet make an impact." Asked which of his films he loved best, according to The New Indian Express Rajinikanth told Gayathri Sreekanth that it was Mullum Malarum; he considers Mahendran his favourite director. G. Dhananjayan wrote that Mullum Malarum is one of five films Rajinikanth considers "close to his heart".
