tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55157430258967185032024-02-18T17:42:00.756-08:00Mohan's Musingsmemories and miscellanyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-22007544856601141942015-07-05T13:16:00.000-07:002015-07-05T13:16:04.508-07:00<h2>
In praise of an Actor - Ulaganayakan </h2>
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Take an extremely well written script , assemble a Team of great technicians then ??? With the script being the hero what does the "actor" bring to the Table ?<br />
If you want a master class lesson on that then you study the case of "Drishyam".<br />
A competent actor brings himself into the role and then dissolves himself to still leave a trace or a shade or sometimes even a tan or more on to the colour of the character - obviously with the OK of the Director who cast him for precisely this reason.<br />
I must agree with my friend Bharadwaj Rangan who said that he envied those who had not seen the Malayalam/Telugu versions as they would have fully experienced the thrill and excitement of the plot as it steadily unravelled.<br />
Comparisons are always odious - should never be done for each is as original as the other - which is the "Holier" Ramayana ? Kalidasa , Kambar or Thulasidas ?? Each Poet brought out the essence through his vision and Language to narrate the same Epic.<br />
Only a man supremely confident of his own skills and technique will agree to do any role already essayed by another great actor. There was this story of how Dilip Kumar cautioned Sanjeev Kumar not to do any Sivaji film remake - he is supposed to have said - " we will be fooled into thinking there is a great script and story because of the films success but remove Sivaji and there will be nothing we can play on". Yet Sanjeev did Navarathri and became a great friend of the Sivaji family.<br />
Coming back to comparisons can you compare Becket , Pasa Malar and Namak Haram or the Anniversary Waltz by Strauss , Jeena Yahan from Mera Naam Joker and Kaathoduthaan naan [paaduven ??? Did not each delight you in its own unique way ? It did for me. O'Toole and Burton < Sivaji and Gemini , Rajesh and the Big B - all were class acts. In my opinion it is extremely unfair to both Mohan Lal and Kamal if we try to draw comparisons.<br />
Lal's George Kutty was so different from Kamal's Swayambulingam. Did he refer to his ability to constantly keep rising up on his own after each difficult phase in life ? That his chief tormentor is "Perumal" is another autobiographical reference to his personal views - which he freely takes a dig at when he says "Nee enna karuppu chattaya ?" having worn a fluck black shirt earlier in the film. These little references apart....these two characters are as distinct as Chalk and Cheese.<br />
Lal's George Kutty was pretty self assured , a Rock of a man , rarely given to great display of emotion - almost infallible and self assured - not so our Hero - he weeps when the master says Kaiveesamma Kaiveesu and pays his personal encomiums too with the words _ Paasamalar paaerthuttu azhuvaadhavan manusana ?? Or the reference to Padikkaadha Medhai.<br />
When I spoke to Kamal this evening he asked me specifically if I enjoyed the "encomiums to Periyavar" - hence I use the same words. Swayambu is one given to tearing up when his family suffers or is unhappy whereas George becomes the Strong loving father, Both were totally committed to saving their family - there I feel the similarity ends. This helped in the totally oppposing approaches to the Climax.<br />
What a performer ?? What depth ? So much said and yet unsaid. This earlier fallibility and weakness helped in ensuring that this was not over the Top but almost exactly what Swayambhu would have done - NOT GEORGE KUTTY.... but Swayambhu. So let us not compare. There are many parts in the movie where he shows this ever so subtly - watch the scene as he comes out of his house to see off the Police officers who land up there from his daughter's School. He is not fearless but well aware of what the Cops can do. Hence that classic shot of George Kutty on the floor telling his family by signs that he is Ok - even though beaten up is not there - Swayambhu was more frustrated and in pain as he kept bashing the Floor. THEY ARE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS caught in the same web.<br />
Today is Guru Peyarchi - we saw the Guru of Acting move from one house to another - he will continue to move. This was a film where ONLY Kamal the Actor was seen.....as Only Kamal the Actor could have done it.<br />
When we spoke he said it is another version of Mahanadhi , I am telling you because you were part of it - the difference being Mahanadhi left everyone with a heavy heart and this was a feel good film.<br />
My appeal to ACTOR Kamal - while we love all your Avatars we yearn for the Actor to surface more. This happens when you dont take on the burden of Producing?Writing and Directing - so every now and then do delight us with such delectable performances.<br />
I must congratulate Mohan Lal who , by essaying the role, gave this script Life.<br />
The Producers , of the Tamil version , to take a huge risk by choosing such a simple subject most unfilmy.<br />
The entire cast and Team of technicians who have all done a brilliant job.<br />
Finally the Reviewers and the audience for giving this film a total Thumbs Up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-7037032806270617022014-11-11T07:14:00.000-08:002014-11-11T07:14:04.410-08:00NOM DU FILM - or film names.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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Music maestro Ilayaraja ,
probably struggling for a suitable name in sheer desperation called his classic
album –“ How to name it ?” </div>
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I wonder how to name a name ? It
is not a nickname and yet it is not the person’s given name…. It is not a surname
or a middle name or even a first name. It is a combination of all of these. You
take a person’s name ( or part thereof) and add another name , a kind of
nickname in front of it and lo behold you get a totally different name.
Villupuram Chinnaiah Mandrayar Ganesha Murthy becomes Sivaji Ganesan. This new
avatar becomes legend in the world of
Tamil films. It is this new name that I choose to call “Nom du film” or simply
put – A film name. This phenomenon is fairly unique to the Tamil Film Industry
, at least more prevalent. We can find similar names in the world of American
sports - Tiger Woods , Magic Johnson to
name a few. The old Chicago gangster world too had its fair share – Scarface
Capone , Bugsy Malone and so on.</div>
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These added “Names” can be divided
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<b>Some Attribute</b> – usually
Physical like “Gundu” was added to both
a Karuppaiah and a Kalyanam , Semia Mani , Kulla Mani, Omakuchi Narasimhan. Smitha
, had skin as smooth as silk and became “Silk Smitha” – that is why her
character in the film “Vandichakkram” was called “Silk”. Some refer to the
actor’s ability. Mani , a comic on stage had the ability to repartee and thus
was christened “Counter” Mani - The man who could give a counter dialogue. This
over time and mispronouncing became Gounder a more familiar word to the public
and thus was born Gounda Mani , who together with Senthil ruled Tamil Cinema
for a long time. “Kutty” Padmini , remained so even when she grew up. Since
there were quite a few Subbiah’s we have a “Vellai” Subbiah as opposed to a
Karuppu Subbiah or the more famous S.V.Subbiah. “Sandow” Chinnappa Thevar – as
is obvious was a wrestler but “Payilvan” Ranganathan was not – but looked like
a wrestler. One of Tamil’s earliest action hero was “Battling” Mani – a leading
action Star like the Hindi lady counterpart “Fearless” Nadia.”Pulimoottai” or a
sack of Tamarind was what they thought Ramaswamy looked like and became
Pulimoottai Ramaswamy. “Yadhartham” Ponnuswamy was given that name for his “natural”
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<b>A film that made them famous</b> – We
have the brothers Raja and Ravi , Director and hero of the film “Jeyam”
respectively adding the films name to their name thus making them Jeyam Raja
and Jeyam Ravi. Nizhalgal Ravi being a different person. The film Vennira Adai
was added to Murthy the Comedian and Nirmala one of the female leads. The film
“Pasi”to both Narayanan and Ms. Sathya . “Nizhalgal” Ravie ,“Poovilangu” Mohan
, “Thalaivasal Vijay” , “Sangili” Murugan all derive their name from the film
that made them popular. The film CID Shankar gave us CID Shakunthala.
Kuladeivam Rajagopal is another example.</div>
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The Telugu film “Shahukaar launched
a young girl Janaki and thus became “Sowcar” Janaki. Another Telugu film
“Sakshi” was added to Ranga Rao , to differentiate him from S.V.Ranga Rao , his
son Siva , a popular TV Star has added it to his name , a rare case of 2<sup>nd</sup>
generation “Nom du film”. The only other case being “Isari” Velan and his son
Ganesh. “Isari” being how a dialogue spoken “Adhu Seri” sounded. Which drings
us to the next category.</div>
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<b>From Dialogues or Phrases that they said -</b></div>
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“Ennatha”Kanniah,“Danaal”Thangavelu,”Kaakka” Radhakrishnan,
“Ayyatheriyaadhayya” Rama Rao , “Pakodah” Khadar, “Aleik” Nirmala , who later dropped “Aleik”
and became just Vijayanirmala – The Guiness record holder for the Lady Director
with the maximum number of films in the World , are some. “Fatafat” Jayalakshmi and
“Achchacho” Chithra are some others. The Hindu is responsible for one such name
– a young comedian , playing a film producer called Dhandapani repeated the
lines “Thai ( the month) porandhaal picture start”… The character in the play
was called Thai Dhandapani – The Hindu gave him a rave review and the month of
Thai when re written in Tamil was written as Thaai or mother and thus was born
“Thaai” Nagesh. </div>
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<b>The place they came from</b> – We
have the most famous of them all “Gemini” Ganesh , who took the name of the
Studio that he came from. AVM Rajan too added the Studio name , but as his
Initials. Some like the famous Stage actor Visvanathan added the City he lived
in – Calcutta. Delhi Ganesh was christened so by his mentor K.Balachander to
distinguish him from Sivaji , Gemini and Jai , all other Ganeshs. TV has
another from Delhi , Delhi Kumar. Balachander’s cpmpany gave birth to
“Kavithalaya” Krishnan. We are not considering names like “Sirkaazhi”
Govindarajan , ‘Trichy” Loganathan or “Chidambaram” Jayaraman all of whom took
their Native Town as part of their Initials. </div>
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C.N.Annadorai as Kaagabhattar - the Guru.</div>
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<b>Characters that they immortalized</b>
– “Major Sundarrajan played Major Chandrakanth in both the Play and the film by
K.Balachander. “Nawab” Rajamanickam , “Typist” Gopu , “Thengai” Srinivasan,
“Kaththadi” Ramamurthy , Inspector Javert of Les Miserables when played in
Tamil by Seetharaman became Jhaver Seetharaman. For playing lady characters
like “Avvai” and “Kaali” (the godess) both T.K.Shanmugam and Rathinam were
given these “Titles”. Even the Road is called Avvai Shanmugam Salai today. For
his role as the Title Character “ Captain Prabhakar” Vijaykanth is known as
Captain Vijaykanth and the other popular hero Vikram – “Chiyaan” Vikram from
the character he played in the National award winning “Sethu”. The most famous
of them all being “Sivaji” Ganesan from the title role in a play by
C.N.Annadorai. Periyar saw his performance and christened him Sivaji Ganesan.</div>
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<o:p> (Late) Vikram Dharma</o:p></div>
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<b>The Work done</b> - Some like Judo Rathinam , Stunt
Somu , Gana Ulaganathan , Joker Ramudu , Clown Sindaram , Bufoon Shankara Iyer
are indicative of their field of acticity. Various action choreographer have adopted such names – Rambo Rajkumar , Super
Subbarayan , Stunt Siva , Jaquar Thangam to name a few. In case you wonder why
Jaguar is spelt that way it is another Thaai Nagesh case – Jaguar when written
in Tamil is written with a ‘q’ as there is no equivalent sounding alphabet. The
late Dharma became “Vikram” Dharma after his work in the Kamalhaasan starrer - Vikram.</div>
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“Crazy” Mohan got his name from
his play “Crazy Thieves of Palavakkam” – this was a name given to him by the
then editor of Ananda Vikatan , The other Mohan was “Loose” Mohan who specialized
in Madras Baashai (slang). The hero Mohan was fondly called “Mike” Mohan as he
belted out hit songs one after the other , sung mostly by SPB , always holding
a Mike on stage. I am grateful that I have been spared a tag – remaining plain.</div>
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This is by no means an exhaustive
list of all Tamil “Nom du Film”. As the Bard of Avon said in Romeo and Juliet – “What's in a name?
that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet “.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-19652015618541653302014-11-06T02:43:00.001-08:002014-11-06T02:47:35.575-08:00Sachin - The Legend Retires , an article in Tamil Published in November 2013<span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">This article was Published in Namma Chennai - A year ago in Novemeber 2013. This was told by me in Tamil and written down ( and polished) by S.Gopalakrishnan.</span><br />
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அந்த அழகு மீண்டும் வராது</h2>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">கடந்த மாதம் இந்தியக் கிரிக்கெட் நட்சத்திரம் சச்சின் டெண்டுல்கர் ஊடகங்களில் தலைப்புச் செய்தியானார். அவர் மேற்கிந்தியத் தீவுகள் அணிக்கு எதிராக ஆடவிருக்கும் தனது 200ஆவது டெஸ்ட் போட்டியோடு டெஸ்ட் கிரிக்கெட்டிலிருந்து ஓய்வுபெறுவதாக அக்டோபர் 10 அன்று அறிவித்தார். அக்டோபர் முதல் வாரத்தில் முடிந்த சாம்பியன்ஸ் லீக் போட்டியில் மும்பை இந்தியன்ஸ் அணி கோப்பையை வென்றதும் 20-&20 கிரிக்கெட் போட்டிகளிலிருந்து ஓய்வுபெறுவதாக அறிவித்தார். கடந்த ஆண்டு டிசம்பர் மாதம் ஒருநாள் கிரிக்கெட் போட்டிகளிலிருந்து ஓய்வுபெறுவதாக அறிவித்தார். </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">இந்தியா, மேற்கு இந்தியத் தீவுகளுக்கு இடையில் நடக்க இருக்கும் இரண்டு டெஸ்ட் போட்டிகளுக்குப் பிறகு சச்சின் சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் போட்டிகளில் விளையாடுவதைப் பார்க்க முடியாது. ஒவ்வொரு கிரிக்கெட் ரசிகருக்கும் இது வருத்தத்துக்குரிய செய்தி. ஆனால் இது எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்டதுதான். விளையாட்டு வீரர்களின் தொழில் வாழ்க்கைக்கு ஒரு எல்லை உண்டு. இந்த உண்மையை ஊடகங்கள் கவனிக்கத் தவறிவிட்டன. இது பற்றி அவை வெளியிட்ட செய்திகள் அனைத்தும் இனி இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் என்ன ஆகும், இனி யார் கிரிக்கெட்டைப் பார்ப்பார்கள் என்பது போன்ற அச்ச உணர்வுடன் இருந்தன. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">ஏழு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் சச்சின் ஓய்வு பெற்றிருந்தால் நானும் இதே பதற்றத்தை அடைந்திருப்பேன். ஆனால் இப்போது அப்படி இல்லை. அஸ்வின், ரெய்னா, கோலி போன்ற விரர்கள் நம்பிக்கை அளிக்கிறார்கள். தவிர சச்சின் கடந்த 2-,3 ஆண்டுகளாக அவர் விலகவே கூடாது என்று நினைக்கவைக்கும் அளவுக்கு ஆடிவிடவில்லை. கிரிக்கெட் ரசிகர்களுக்கு சச்சினின் ஓய்வு ஒரு இழப்புதான். ஆனால் இந்தியக் கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கு அல்ல.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">உண்மையில் அனில் கும்ப்ளே, சவுரவ் கங்குலி, வி.வி.எஸ். லக்ஷ்மண், ராகுல் டிராவிட் என் இந்தியக் கிரிக்கெட்டைத் தாங்கி நின்ற தூண்கள் ஒருவர் பின் ஒருவராக ஓய்வுபெற்றபோதுதான் எனக்குக் கொஞ்சம் பதற்றம் ஏற்பட்டது. இவர்கள் அனைவரும் போனதைப் பெரிதாகக் கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் சச்சின் ஒருவர் விலகும்போது மட்டும் ஊடகங்கள் பரபரப்பாவது சற்று வேடிக்கையாகத்தான் இருக்கிறது. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">இவற்றையெல்லாம் சொல்வதால் நான் சச்சினின் பங்களிப்பைக் குறைத்து மதிப்பிடுகிறேன் என்று பொருள் அல்ல. கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கு அவரது பங்களிப்பு அளப்பரியது. அவரைப் பிடிக்காதவர்கள்கூட இதை மறுக்க முடியாது. நான் அவரது ரசிகன். ஷேன் வார்னை அவர் பரேடு எடுத்ததைப் பற்றிக் காவியம் எழுதலாம். சச்சின் என்ற ஒரு மட்டையாளர் இல்லாவிட்டால் ஷேன் வார்ன் அடைந்திருக்கும் புகழ் பன்மடங்காக இருந்திருக்கும். அவரைத் தட்டி வைத்தது சச்சின்தான். மட்டை வீ ச்சில் அவரது ரன் குவிப்பு சாதனைகளின் புள்ளிவிவரங்களை உலகறியும். மட்டைவீச்சின் நுணுக்கங்கள் சார்ந்தும் அவர் பல்வேறு பங்களிப்புகளைச் வழங்கியுள்ளார். </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">மிகச் சிறந்த மட்டைவீச்சாளர்கள் அனைவரும் ஒரு பந்தை எதிர்கொள்வதற்கு இரண்டு விதமான வழிகளில் தேர்ச்சி அடைந்திருப்பார்கள். ஆனால் விவியன் ரிச்சர்ட்ஸ், பிரயன் லாரா ஆகியோரைத் தவிர சச்சினுக்கு மட்டும்தான் ஒவ்வொரு பந்தையும் நான்கைந்து வழிகளில் எதிர்கொள்ளத் தெரியும். அவர் கிரிக்கெட்டையே மாற்றினார். மற்றவர்கள் தன்னை நோக்கி வரும் பந்தை முன்னே சென்று லேசாக தட்டினால் (Forward Defensive Stroke) பந்து மிட் ஆஃப் (Mid off) பகுதி வரை போகும். அதையே சச்சின் செய்தால் பந்து எல்லைக் கோட்டைக் கடக்கும். மட்டைவீச்சில் தடுப்பாட்டம் (Defence) என்பதை ரன் எடுப்பதற்கான ஆட்டமாக மாற்றியவர் சச்சின். கிரிக்கெட்டில் தடுப்பே தாக்குதலாக அமையும் (Defence can be an offence) என்று உலகுக்கு நிரூபித்தவர் அவர். </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">இந்தப் புதுவகை ஆட்டத்துக்கு ஏற்ற வகையில் மட்டைகளை வடிவமைப்பதில் அவர் கவனம் செலுத்தினார். மட்டை வடிவமைப்பில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள முன்னேற்றங்களில் அவரது பங்கு இருக்கிறது. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">அப்பழுக்கற்ற திறமை, கடின உழைப்பு, தன்னடக்கம், அவருக்குக் கடவுள் வழங்கியிருக்கும் வரமான, கண்ணையும் கையையும் ஒருங்கிணைப்பதற்கான திறன். இவை நான்கும்தான் சச்சினை உலகின் மிகச் சிறந்த மட்டையாளராக்குகின்றன. இவற்று க்கெல்லாம் மேலாக அவர் கடைசி வரை பயிற்சியை நிறுத்தவில்லை. உலகமே போற்றும் வீரராகிவிட்ட பின்னும் தன் விளையாட்டு நுணுக்கங்களைத் தொடர் பரிசீலனைக்கு உட்படுத்திக்கொண்டே இருந்தார். டான் பிராட்னுக்கு மட்டுமே இருந்த இவ்விரு பண்புகள் அவருக்குப் பின் சச்சினிடமே காணக் கிடைக்கின்றன. ஏற்றுக்கொண்ட காரியத்தில் முழுமையான அர்ப்பணிப்புடையவர்கள் மட்டுமே இப்படி இருக்க முடியும். </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">சச்சினை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளாதவர்கள் அவர் மீது வைக்கும் குற்றச்சாட்டுகளைப் பார்ப்போம். அவர் தன் தனிப்பட்ட சாதனைகளுக்காக விளையாடுபவர் என்பார்கள். 1999 உலகக் கோப்பைக்காக இங்கிலாந்தில் இருந்தார். அவரது அப்பா இறந்த செய்தி கிடைத்தது. அதற்குச் சென்று ஓரிரு நாட்களில் திரும்பினார். ஜிம்பாப்வே அணியுடன் நடந்த லீக் போட்டியில் மட்டுமே அவரால் விளையாட முடியவில்லை. தனிப்பட்ட சாதனைக்காக விளையாடுபவர் என்ற £ல் அப்பாவின் மரணத்தைக் காரணம் காட்டிப் பத்து நாட்கள் வீட்டில் இருந்திருப்பார்.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">அடுத்ததாக சச்சின் அதிக ரன் அடிக்கும் போட்டிகளில் இந்தியா தோற்றுவிடும் என்பார்கள். இதன் மூலம் இந்திய அணியின் வெற்றிகளுக்கு அவர் அதிகமாகப் பங்களித்ததில்லை என்று நிறுவ முயல்வார்கள். ஆனால் புள்ளிவிவரங்களை நேர்மையாக ஆராய்ந்தால் சச்சின் பல போட்டிகளில் இந்தியாவின் வெற்றிக்குக் காரணமாக இருந்திருக்கிறார் என்பது புலப்படும். அவர் அடித்த ஒவ்வொரு ரன்னும் இந்தியாவுக்கும் தேசத்துக்கும் பெருமை சேர்ப்பதாகவே அமைந்திருக்கின்றன. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">லக்ஷ்மண், அனில் கும்ப்ளே ஆகியோரைப் போல அணியைவிட்டு விலக இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் வாரியம் சச்சினை வற்புறுத்தவில்லை. விலகலுக்கான நேரத்தைத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கும் வசதி அவருக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டது. இதையும் சிலர் பாரபட்சம £ன அணுகுமுறை என்று விமர்சிப்பார்கள். ஆனால் சச்சின் கடைசிவரை இந்த கவுரவத்துக்குத் தகுதியானவராகவே இருந்தார். அவரது கிரிக்கெட் வாழ்வின் கடைசிப் பகுதியில் பெரிய சாதனைகளைப் படைக்கவில்லை, அதிக வெற்றிகளைப் பெற்றுத் தரவில்லை என்று சொல்வதை ஏற்கலாம். ஆனால் எப்போதும் அவர் அணிக்குச் சுமையாக இருக்கவில்லை என்பதையும் ஏற்றுக்கொண்டாக வேண்டும். ஓரளவு ரன் அடித்தார். மற்ற வயதான வீரர்களைப் போல் தடுப்புத் திறனில் சொதப்பவில்லை. எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக அவர் இருக்கிறார் என்பது அணியில் மற்றவர்களுக்குப் பெரும் தெம்பைக் கொடுத்தது. இது அவருக்குக் கடவுள் கொடுத்த வரம். ஒருவன் தன்னால் பத்து இட்லி சாப்பிட முடியும் என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு சாப்பிட்டும் காண்பித்தால் நாம் அதைக் கேள்வி கேட்க முடியுமா. அதுபோல்தான் இதுவும்.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">தொழிலில் மட்டுமல்ல; சொந்த வாழ்க்கையிலும் அனைவரும் பின்பற்றத்தக்க குணாதிசயங்களைக் கொண்டிருந்தவர் </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">அவர். எளிமையின் மனித வடிவம் என்று அவரைச்</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">சொல்லலாம். பிசிசிஐ ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்த ஒரு விழாவுக்கு எனக்கு அழைப்பு கிடைத்தது. சச்சின் வந்திருந்தார். நான் அவருடன் ஒரு புகைப்படம் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளும் ஆசையைத் தெரிவித்ததும் உடனடியாக தோளில் கைபோட்டுக் கொண்டு நின்றார், மூன்று நான்கு ஸ்னாப்கள் எடுத்த பிறகு “போதுமா?” என்று புன்னகையுடன் கேட்டுவிட்டு நகர்ந்து சென்றார்.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><br />
<b><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">சச்சினின் ஓய்வுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட முக்கியத்துவம் வேறெந்த நட்சத்திர ஆட்டக்காரருக்கும் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. திராவிடின் ஓய்வை மட்டுமே ஒரு நாளைக்காவது தொலைக்காட்சி ஊடகங்கள் விவாதித்தன. ஆனால் சச்சினுக்குக் கிடைத்த இந்த முக்கியத்துவம் ஒரு வகையில் நல்லதுதான். நாளை தோனி ஓய்வுபெறுவார், கோலி ஓய்வுபெறுவார், அஸ்வின் ஓய்வுபெறுவார். அவர்களின் ஓய்வையும் கவுரவப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்பதற்கு இது ஒரு முன்னுதாரணமாக அமையும். </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">நான் சச்சினை எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் ஒப்பிடுவேன். அவர் எப்படி சினிமாவில் சாதித்துவிட்டு அரசியலிலும் வந்து சாதித்தாரோ அதைப் போல் சச்சினும் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கிறேன். அந்தச் சாதனை வேறு துறையிலும் இரு க்கலாம். கிரிக்கெட்டிலும் இருக்கலாம். கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கு அவரது தொண்டு, அறிவு, ஆற்றல், அனுபவம் ஆகியவை இன்னும் பயன்பட முடியும். வர்ணணையாளராகவோ, அணி மேலாளராகவோ, பயிற்சியாளராகவோ பிசிசிஐ நிர்வாகிய £கவோ இந்திய கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கான அவரது பங்களிப்பு தொடரும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கிறேன். தொடரும் என்று நம்புகிறேன். தன் ஓய்வை அறிவிக்கும்போது “லெக் பேடை மட்டும்தான் கழட்டிவைக்கிறேன். கிரிக்கெட்டை விட்டுவிட மாட்டேன்” என்று சொல்லியிருப்பதை கவனத்தில் கொள்ள வேண்டும். விளையாடுவதிலிருந்துதான் ஓய்வுபெற்றிருக்கிறார். கிரிக்கெட்டிலிருந்து அல்ல. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;">இந்த எண்ணம்தான் சச்சினின் ஓய்வு அறிவிப்பை ‘காலத்தின் கட்டாயம்’ என்று ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வைத்தது என்று நினைக்கிறேன் சச்சினின் ஓய்வு எனக்கும் வருத்தம் தரக்கூடியதுதான். ஆனால் காரி சோபர்ஸ், சுனில் கவாஸ்கர், ஜி.ஆர்.விஸ்வநாத், பிரசன்னா, பேடி, வெங்கட்ராகவன், கபில்தேவ் ஆகிய ஜாம்பவான்கள் ஓய்வுபெற்றபோது ஏற்பட்ட வருத்தம்தான் இப்போது ஏற்படுகிறது. அதற்குமேல் எதுவும் இல்லை. பட்டோடி போனபின் வடேகர் வந்தார், வடேகர் போனபின் கபில்தேவ், கபில்தேவுக்குப் பின் சச்சின், சச்சினுக்குப் பின் வேறொருவர் வருவார். இவர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவரும் தன க்கேயுரிய பாணியில் பெருமை தேடிக்கொண்டார்கள். இந்திய கிரிக்கெட் சச்சினுடன் நின்றுவிடாது. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: red;">ஆனால் அது அவருடன் பயணித்தபோது இருந்த அழகு மீண்டும் வராது. </span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-3948861711294390882014-10-05T01:02:00.000-07:002014-10-05T01:02:00.660-07:00The Leadership STYLE of Superstar Rajini.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-UUe5hOGn0VsBbwuH2CDiDm7MfCVhBxeFuV0yKGxr1LeZ3SQ8j4mq0lMZgTC065_VFstX0S8YOGIrDWpTybb1tj2vVpZi1uDsh8qjYwkQ6HYXf-09K3ORTbHTURvV5rhVC2g-ctwMHV1/s1600/with+rajini+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-UUe5hOGn0VsBbwuH2CDiDm7MfCVhBxeFuV0yKGxr1LeZ3SQ8j4mq0lMZgTC065_VFstX0S8YOGIrDWpTybb1tj2vVpZi1uDsh8qjYwkQ6HYXf-09K3ORTbHTURvV5rhVC2g-ctwMHV1/s1600/with+rajini+(2).JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
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Walking with him in RFC</div>
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Director P Vasu explains a scene</div>
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With our Guru KB sir - and many colleagues</div>
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Kuselan scene</div>
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Getting a memento for compering Chandramukhi 200th day function</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">RAJINI’S LEADERSHIP
“STYLE”<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Think of
“Superstar” Rajinikanth and immediately his “style” comes to mind , be it
smoking a cigarette, chewing gum, tossing a coin or just delivering a “punch”
dialogue. He has developed a unique “method” that even acting Coaches like
Stanislavsky or Lee Strasberg would not have thought of. Everything he says or
does on screen is watched in awe by millions and that is what makes him a
“superstar” – the uncrowned “Pasha” of Indian Cinema – yes , Indian and not
Tamil. At an award fuction Shahrukh Khan asked him – “when will I become the
Basha ?” Rajini calmly replied – “wait, your day will come”. Years
ago an email did the rounds where his “punch” dialogues were interpreted as
“Management tips”. This was even brought out as a book ( <i>by my friend P.C.Bala of Matrix</i>.) . The problem with all this is
that the Dialogues were not his own words, but those of a “writer” or a Director – just
that, his delivery immortalized those words – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have had
the pleasure and the privilege of interacting with him both socially and
professionally and found that he adopts many practices that are excellent for
any “Leader” to adopt. I will add that it is something that every human being
should adopt. I have here mentioned just
five lessons – you can call them <b>Panja Thanthra …..</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lesson 1.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was
December 1994 and one night I sat down to watch the film “Raghavendra” on Video
, by the time I finished it was around 2 AM. I must add that I had not watched
the film earlier. The film made a deep impact on me and I went into the “Pooja
“ room to sit and meditate , when I opened my eyes I realized that there was no
picture of Raghavendra Swamy in my Pooja. A thought came to me like a flash –
“Get the Picture from the person responsible for this experience”. I was just a
few years old in the Industry ( my first film was Idhayam im 1991) and wondered how to contact Rajini.
Fortuitously my house is opposite the Studio of Dr. S.V.Ramanan , a good friend
of Rajini , in fact his son in law Ravi Raghavendar is Mrs.Latha Rajinikanth’s
brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I approached Dr. S.V.Ramanan with this story
and he promised to help. Within a few weeks I was invited for a “Pongal” dinner
at Dr.Ramanan’s and around midnight The Superstar landed up. He joined us in
the celebrations as his film “Basha” had released earlier that day to a
thunderous welcome by both fans and critics. Rajini was in a very happy frame
of mind. The evening went on and I did a little bit of my M.R.Radha mimicry
which Rajini enjoyed. Dr.Ramanan called me aside and told the Superstar that I
have a request. I narrated the incident and he listened politely and said “I
will do something Mohan”. As soon as the Pongal holidays were over I got a call
from his office when I was dubbing in the Kavithalaya Studios for a serial and they
wanted to know if I would be available at my residence. I told them that I
would be at home after lunch. An autorickshaw ( private) pulled up and a young
man dressed in spotless white got down with a neatly wrapped parcel. He said
his name was Jayaram ( he later joined Vijay as his personal touch up) from
Rajini Sir’s office and that he had a Parcel for me from Rajini Sir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thanked
him and also asked him to convey my thanks to the Superstar. I opened the
parcel and it was a beautifully framed picture of Raghavendra Swamy with a note
that said “Love, Rajini”. He had made a promise late at night to someone who
was and is some 10 rungs lower than him in the hierarchy and yet remembered the
promise. I was taken aback by this gesture of his and to this day the picture
adorns my Pooja Room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The lesson – Promise
what you can Deliver and Deliver what you Promise. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lesson 2</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Years later
we were shooting for Kuselan at the Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. Every evening
Rajini wanted all of us , his colleagues, to take a brisk walk from the
location which was a good 3 or 4 Kms away to the Hotel. When some people
expressed that they did not bring their walking shoes, he immediately had it
bought and given to them. On days when his portions were over by lunch time , he would go to his room and
come back to the location to join the group in walking. He never missed a
single day’s walk. He is a tremendously fast walker and many found it tough to
keep pace with him so he would walk ahead a few minutes walk back ( actually walk
back ie walk in reverse – he said it develops a different set of Muscles ) and
join us thus getting his exercise and still not “deserting” the rest. He would
regale us with anecdotes and stories but not once will a word that is harsh or
critical come out of his mouth even for humour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lesson – Set
an example with impactful action , ensure your “Team” is well equipped and even
though you may be far ahead of your Team do not leave them behind but walk hand
in hand and take every last person across the finishing post.</span></i></b><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lesson 3</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the
shoot of Kuselan in Ramoji Film City Hyderabad. As we sat waiting for a shot he
will join the rest of the group and not sit in the air-conditioned comfort of
his caravan. In fact even when his shot was due only around 11 he will come at
9 , with make up. When the Director asked him to relax , he said , what will I
do , staring at the 4 walls , at least here I have my friends and we can sit
and chat. In fact he would barely speak , but allow all to speak, intently
listening to what each and everyone had to say. Any time he had a doubt or
clarification he would ask and when he spoke it will be obvious that he has
listened to what everyone had to say. It was also clear that when someone
started to praise him or eulogise him he did not welcome it and would quickly
change the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lesson –
LISTEN to what people have to say. Don’t Listen to just reply to them but to
understand them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lesson 4</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once we were both sitting and waiting for our shot . Each time someone came, he would stand up and wish them – with
both hands folded in a Namaskaram and sit down. As I was sitting with him I too
was forced to stand up every time and sit down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked him
how he was able to patiently do this as I had counted him getting up and
sitting down at least 15-20 times in an hour. His answer was “Is it not Respect
(mariyadhai) ? they are coming all the way to wish me , anyway it is good exercise ..if you do it then this ( pointing
to my large belly ) will not be there” – Then came his characteristic laugh. On
a serious note he asked me “ Have you visited Saravanan Sir ( AVM) in his
Office ? Such a big man , he will always stand up and receive you . I learnt
this from him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have also
noticed that he always makes it a point to walk up to your Car and see you off
whenever you visit his house. Again a practice he seems to have picked up from
Mr.Saravanan. This has happened to me whenever I visited him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here allow
me to digress – This was in April 1993 – the preview of the film Kalaignan. It
was my 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> film and I had not yet turned a
professional actor. I had a small role in it as a Psychiatrist. After the
preview Sivaji Sir , came out and got into his car , I went to see him off , he
called me and asked me – Did I not see you in the film ? I nodded. He went on –
“ You are a well educated boy from a highly respectable family , If you are
planning to take this up as a career , let me give you one piece of advice – If
you give my profession Respect – it will give you lifelong Respect” (Nee en
thozhilukku mariyaadhai kuduththa adhu unakku ennaikkum mariyadhai kudukkum).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">See how
great minds think alike !!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lesson – Only
when you give Respect will you get Respect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Lesson 5</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One day many
of us were waiting , Mr.K.Balachander, our Guru too had come there. The group
had Prabhu , Vijayakumar , Nizhalgal Ravi , Madan Bob , Manobala to name a few.
Rajini asked us if any of us had a nice “Punch” dialogue as he was supposed to
say a line. Many people suggested lines but none impressed him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I often use in
my Corporate Training sessions a speech by him on “Sankhya Yoga and Director Shankar” - in it he said – If you retain everything you eat in your body your health
will get spoilt, If you retain everything you earn , your life will get spoilt”.
I reminded him of this line in private and he was very excited, quickly called
the Director Mr P.Vasu , who immediately approved it. He asked me to repeat it again and the Assistant Director to note it down. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After completing the shot
, he came back to join the group which had grown to about 30 of us and
profusely praised and Thanked me for the “Punch” line. He repeated the line for the benefit of all and said - Nalla Illa ? Mohan Ram Sonnaaru , I immediately pointed out that it was his
line and not my original to which he replied "so what , you are the person who reminded me of it and it
is to your credit that these lines are now in the film" . In an assembly of
colleagues and Directors to give me such credit and praise was truly magnanimous of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lesson –
Thank people and praise them this will get you their eternal loyalty. Be
generous in your praise and miserly in your criticism.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Many
Happy Returns Dear “Pasha” – your every action is a lesson and inspiration for
many of us. May your leadership “style” enhance the quality of life of many
more like me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>In
case you are wondering about the last paragraph. This was written by me for the
Hindu – they brought out a Rajinikanth special supplement on 12/12/2012 which was sold seperately. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: magenta;">This is the un edited
“full version” , to which I have even added some material and elaborated a bit. </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>There are many more things that we can learn from people like the Superstar and
I am fortunate to have had the pleasure of his friendship and interactions. I
can narrate more incidents , actually lessons , but that is for another day, another blog.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-47503212320326549842014-08-15T01:03:00.001-07:002014-08-15T01:13:38.200-07:00Patriotism in Cinema<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Birth of Indian Cinema ( both in the North and the
South) is itself a Story of Patriotism.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Dadasaheb Phalke watched a film
produced Overseas on the Life of Christ. He wanted “Indian” stories to be told
and made the first Indian feature film – Raja Harischandra. When Bal Gangadhar
Tilak heard of the difficulties faced by Phalke he offered to help him and
introduced Phalke to several business men in Bombay – Phalke then started his
Hindustan Film Company refusing the offer of these Businessmen as their motive was only Profit from their Investment.. Much like Tilak inspiring V.O.Chidambaram to start a
shipping company. Nataraja Mudaliar too wanted to make Indian movies and
started his Indian Film Company in 1917 and started making films in the South of India.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From the early years Film makers included both directly and
indirectly themes,songs, dialogues and even characters to inspire the Indian public to
fight for freedom. D.N.Sampat , the owner of Kohinoor Studios found that he had
a resemblance to Gandhi and so acted in his film Bhaktha Vidurar in 1921. The
film was initially banned and later allowed in parts of India where it ran to
house fuil shows. In 1935 V.Shantharam made a film called Mahatma – the hero
bore a resemblance to Gandhiji and the British had him change the title to
Dharmathma.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The connection between the freedom struggle and Fine Arts
was brought about in the south by the S.Sathyamurthy. He was not just an
Advocate and ardent patriot but also a dramatist. He used to be part of Pammal
Sammanda Mudaliar’s Suguna Vilasa Sabha. He brought K.B.Sundarambal ,
M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and many others into the freedom movement and even
made them switch over to Khadi. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One of the earliest to make films in support of the Freedom
movement and the policies of Gandhi was K.Subrahmanyam. In 1936 he made
Balayogini a film that attacked the Caste system. He , being a Brahmin was
excommunicated. He next made “Sevasadan ( 1938) based on a Munshi Premchand’s novel. This dealt with
Prostitutes and the emancipation of women and the status of women in India. His
next film in 1939 was Thayagabhoomi. This was clearly echoing Gandhi’s call for
Freedom. This is the story of Sahmbhu Sastry a Temple priest played by
Papanasam Sivan and his Daughter Savithri/Uma Devi played by S.D.Subbulakshmi.
The film starts with the temple priest sheltering Daliths inside the Temple
when Floods hit the Village for which the Priest is sent out.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #e69138;">The second part of
the film is about his daughters ill treatment at the hands of her husband and
how she fights back. She is inspired by the call to freedom and joins the
struggle. In open court she states that she does not want to live with her
cruel husband and is even willing to pay him alimony ( Jeevanamsam). This was
totally revolutionary for that era. The films script was serialized in Ananda
Vikatan and S.S.Vasan distributed the film. The film was released in Gaiety and
the British Government decided to ban the film. Vasan opened the doors of
gaiety and allowed everyone to see the
film. The crowds thronged at the Theater and prevented the Police from serving
the Ban order. This resulted in lathi charge and even firing. The film used
many stock shots of National Leaders and Congress workers marching and
protesting. The song “Desa sevai seyya vareer” written by Kalki and sung by
D.K.Pattammal was so inspiring that it was sung by many even after the Film was
banned.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">When H.M.Reddy made the first Tamil Talkie “Kalidas” it had
songs penned by Madurai Bhaskara Das which was sung by T.P.Rajalakshmi – the
song was “ Raattinamaam Gandhi Kai baana maam”. In Valli Thirumanam made in
1935 , Valli played again by T.P.Rajalakshmi while protecting the fields shouts
at the birds asking the “White storks ( Vellai Kokku) to gop away forever. In
the same film Lord Muruga in the disguise of a bangle seller asks Valli to buy
“swadeshi Valayal”. The songs of Mahakavi
Bharathi were used by T.K.Shanmugam and his brothers for their play “Desa
Bhakthi” as well as in the films Menaka and Nava Yuvan. In January 1947 the song Aaduvome palli
paaduvomey was used by A V Meiyappan for his film Naam Iruvar again sung by
D.K.Pattammal. B.N.Reddy , B.Nagi Reddy and G.Ramabrahmam made several
Nationalistic and socially responsible films in Telugu like Vandematharam ,
Ryathu Bidda , Grihalakshmi. The famous Telugu playback singer Ghantasala was
one of those who went to Jail for the Quit India movement in 1942 – so too the
Phalke award winning Cameraman V.K.Murth</span>y.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sivaji Ganesan was one of those actors who has played a
string of roles that inspired Patriotism. His Veerapaandiya Kattabomman and
Kappalottiya Thamizhan are still viewed as classics. He has also played Bhagath Singh , Kodi
Kaaththa Kumaran and Mahakavi Bharathi. In the film Raththa Thilakam patriotism
is brought out as it is set on the Indo China War. Lata Mangeshkar sang the
song Ae mere watan ke logon – oh people of my country - in the presence of Nehru and the song brought
Tears to Panditji’s eyes. Both in the China war and the later Pakistani wars
Film actors went to the Border to
encourage our Soldiers. The story of the Maruthu Pandi Brothers was told
in the film Sivagangai Seemai. Later film makers too used the Independnace
struggle in many of their films. “Kaala Paani” by Priyadarshan , Indian by
Shankar , 1942 a Love Story and Lagaan
in Hindi, Alluri Seetharama Raju in Telugu , M.S.Sathyu’s Kanneeswara Rama in Kannada and I.V.Sasi’s
“1921” in Malayalam to name a few.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Many many films were made on the lives of those who fought for our Country's Freedom. Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose , Bhagath Singh , Veer Savarkar to name just a few. It is indeed ironical that it required a Brit like Sir Richard Attenborough to make an international film on the father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Patriotism later became the central theme as films began to
focus on the menace of Terrorism. The scene where Arvind Swami rushes to save
the National Flag in Roja by Mani Ratnam always inspires us every time we watch
it . Actors Arjun in Tamil and Manoj Kumar in Hindi have made a number of films with
the love for our country as the core theme. Who can forget Mehboob’s Mother
India ? Kamalhassan's Vishwaroopam , Kuruthi Punal , Hey Ram and Indian are also great examples of Patriotic films.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The list of Films and film makers who impacted the freedom struggle and
later the Patriotic spirit is endless and I have but touched on a few of them. </b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Many may not know that our National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana”
had already featured in a Bimal Roy Movie – Udhayar Paathe in Bengali (1944)
and its Hindi version Humraahi (1945). This is proof enough of the contribution
Cinema has made to the Freedom movement. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mera Bhaarath Mahaan . Engal Bhaaratha Desam endru thol kottuvom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>BIBLIOGRAPHY - THEODORE BASKERAN'S - MESSAGE BEARERS AND GAUTAM KAUL'S CINEMA AND THE INDIAN FREEDOM STRUGGLE. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9BwrVZRwXfMWCLbpeLzWVj9rvHd7bHkIJGPFlSqkqqNpSf64hkV5qM2uDufJqI4WZLo0IQuuB4ddX9UtxDgVdhcU1fsUFGUHCfzTEDHVGEgCbgi6mTVhynXv3U97xQ3J84QBeNHfkcFr/s1600/Bimal+Roy's%2BHumrahi%2B1946%2Bused%2BJana%2BGana%2Bmana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9BwrVZRwXfMWCLbpeLzWVj9rvHd7bHkIJGPFlSqkqqNpSf64hkV5qM2uDufJqI4WZLo0IQuuB4ddX9UtxDgVdhcU1fsUFGUHCfzTEDHVGEgCbgi6mTVhynXv3U97xQ3J84QBeNHfkcFr/s1600/Bimal+Roy's%2BHumrahi%2B1946%2Bused%2BJana%2BGana%2Bmana.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
Bimal Roy's Hum Rahi<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVP4r3aEMxhHRIpyr6vPltekHm0pbgbMJTrTBLrPrR6r07zWWfX3zoyHRjCF-RbkS7i9lfqgVCOCk_JiOS0KxCURvkpnBXjjln00TuyNhyphenhyphen3agtLYK4M6hbK7IA7ApaOfsSxX3ZMh0ooQw/s1600/D.N.Sampat+first+patriotic+film+maker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVP4r3aEMxhHRIpyr6vPltekHm0pbgbMJTrTBLrPrR6r07zWWfX3zoyHRjCF-RbkS7i9lfqgVCOCk_JiOS0KxCURvkpnBXjjln00TuyNhyphenhyphen3agtLYK4M6hbK7IA7ApaOfsSxX3ZMh0ooQw/s1600/D.N.Sampat+first+patriotic+film+maker.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D.N.Sampat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwveEwNbeyYuhPKNu6v6gQ_LQWmEAry07OAwiiqD09sdaJHXnZcy2aHMpXLBu1thXgm-ZQEUzxo72rf0bxSwNPUXNVNrTcDsrsLMeRQtSqF1lOzzKzsQ6zTQsDNN5QrDUy9Ta3yPtz0aG5/s1600/H.M.Reddi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwveEwNbeyYuhPKNu6v6gQ_LQWmEAry07OAwiiqD09sdaJHXnZcy2aHMpXLBu1thXgm-ZQEUzxo72rf0bxSwNPUXNVNrTcDsrsLMeRQtSqF1lOzzKzsQ6zTQsDNN5QrDUy9Ta3yPtz0aG5/s1600/H.M.Reddi.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H.M.Reddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
D</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZOdHUgnblF7MwjSt8BivmzqRbpB6lUI6YUDweMdf4AQiLrwUTTg8TnYYkJ2XWtovG6BLgSziqKDO0NXU9l8BbQzS3IAfBeLADVgkcOGziLLxyn5tUjmqzRqM0tD-yN9oMw7BEhpZl-37/s1600/Kappalottiya+Thamizhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZOdHUgnblF7MwjSt8BivmzqRbpB6lUI6YUDweMdf4AQiLrwUTTg8TnYYkJ2XWtovG6BLgSziqKDO0NXU9l8BbQzS3IAfBeLADVgkcOGziLLxyn5tUjmqzRqM0tD-yN9oMw7BEhpZl-37/s1600/Kappalottiya+Thamizhan.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sivaji in Kappalottiya Thamizhan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixarASgkU6duf-pq9geBMTYEYGhY5uxLuPZP8kwcXLmj537uf5Yo8AmRDXLLRlgIryruZr1QQlD7drciZSxv1TzvnnyrT7Tx9X5uDHQA8H_IH59-boGgzu7VQAtdduRBu_KTLfiux8PsYQ/s1600/Malli+Pelli+Telugu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixarASgkU6duf-pq9geBMTYEYGhY5uxLuPZP8kwcXLmj537uf5Yo8AmRDXLLRlgIryruZr1QQlD7drciZSxv1TzvnnyrT7Tx9X5uDHQA8H_IH59-boGgzu7VQAtdduRBu_KTLfiux8PsYQ/s1600/Malli+Pelli+Telugu.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telugu Malli Pelli</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlux11bBKjfF4hGSdWClqkXPvoqx-dQFOVoghFIrD_i4rHA3uR4NUg6YhDdJHnzYb5i4UAvtPYBrmi2bRWKLcYR7FXida57W99AeWVMym8bGlAZr03noaQndxHXvPAkhTqZg4sJnwhBTi/s1600/S.Sathyamurthy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlux11bBKjfF4hGSdWClqkXPvoqx-dQFOVoghFIrD_i4rHA3uR4NUg6YhDdJHnzYb5i4UAvtPYBrmi2bRWKLcYR7FXida57W99AeWVMym8bGlAZr03noaQndxHXvPAkhTqZg4sJnwhBTi/s1600/S.Sathyamurthy.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S.Sathyamurthy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSJTeFDIgLDctiYW7o2EzqnNncjW1pCCa9XaCNIY93xm3r-wVXGWYHcjiyr7maXwaRGAbIBMh0TV9cywYhF20nvP1Ygqn4rMObF_huHv4Zl5VUbUa_qN3vFvJN_h1Fm-v5sKcpLc5UP_A/s1600/sds+ms+ks+baby+saroja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSJTeFDIgLDctiYW7o2EzqnNncjW1pCCa9XaCNIY93xm3r-wVXGWYHcjiyr7maXwaRGAbIBMh0TV9cywYhF20nvP1Ygqn4rMObF_huHv4Zl5VUbUa_qN3vFvJN_h1Fm-v5sKcpLc5UP_A/s1600/sds+ms+ks+baby+saroja.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K.Subrahmanyam , S.D.Subbulakshmi and Baby Saroja with M.S</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ-y6n7z3EQ6MjGbSQOT5AzEm0XwDUxi8TGSV4CA6PREhoqQc9Rdj9GizegTvvw03zE9jxWuGNHMtVBt_Ku8IzEXIT9l2oUTdVgHhwYfMS-vvGYbxBzjQOm1eh05E7XyAoOxfjHMl6SrN/s1600/Sivaji++Kalaignar+and+Sakthi+krishnaswamy+after+Kattabomman+play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ-y6n7z3EQ6MjGbSQOT5AzEm0XwDUxi8TGSV4CA6PREhoqQc9Rdj9GizegTvvw03zE9jxWuGNHMtVBt_Ku8IzEXIT9l2oUTdVgHhwYfMS-vvGYbxBzjQOm1eh05E7XyAoOxfjHMl6SrN/s1600/Sivaji++Kalaignar+and+Sakthi+krishnaswamy+after+Kattabomman+play.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sivaji, Karunanidhi and Sakthi Krishnaswamy,who wrote Kattabomman - after a play.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCfwkM9KH4T3hm4Y7Jr-6PzC5F8DZKjUCAj67oQXdGtQUOwLhKBdBBwyF4WqoScmscc7p6n-0iExBNopI1cAwjYzEfqpXsI1esEwcREjkuU1o_QXXafdyDw0j9-HVB1A-txkkJhS4M9F-/s1600/T.P.Rajalakshmi+1+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCfwkM9KH4T3hm4Y7Jr-6PzC5F8DZKjUCAj67oQXdGtQUOwLhKBdBBwyF4WqoScmscc7p6n-0iExBNopI1cAwjYzEfqpXsI1esEwcREjkuU1o_QXXafdyDw0j9-HVB1A-txkkJhS4M9F-/s1600/T.P.Rajalakshmi+1+edit.jpg" height="320" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T.P.Rajalakshmi</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQwFXyYbkIkTZZDVaoTWfA4kdJj6cHJWPD0-MU0GbTEKu2nSrTda2CP08mjo2kgvsxgddv9uIsWpbEFjNpn12uq9WZ2742wtlI4LAR_p-laTz7b7piZWedKQvidOj1K1sEtE5l7l2FSHm/s1600/Thyagabhoomi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQwFXyYbkIkTZZDVaoTWfA4kdJj6cHJWPD0-MU0GbTEKu2nSrTda2CP08mjo2kgvsxgddv9uIsWpbEFjNpn12uq9WZ2742wtlI4LAR_p-laTz7b7piZWedKQvidOj1K1sEtE5l7l2FSHm/s1600/Thyagabhoomi.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene from Thyagabhoomi - SDS , Baby Saroja and Papanasam Sivan</td></tr>
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<b>Jai Hind.</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-10418899789399760712014-03-06T21:03:00.001-08:002014-03-06T21:03:19.438-08:00M.N.Nambiar - remembering him on his 95th BirthdayI wrote a piece on him in The Hindu in November 2010. This is the unedited version of the article.The snaps are courtesy his family. The Photograph with Kalaignar , MGR and MY FATHER was taken during the Nadodi Mannan 100th day Celebrations where my father was the Chief Guest. The Colour Photograph with me is from the Serial "Oviyam" made by G.N.Dhinesh Kumar in 1996 and is the only serial Nambiar acted in. I had the honour of playing his son.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nZqL20J_EYqOflEqkUzAnE4yStSmfZPf2bsaPgTIetrPltOruFNwF_4I_Ki3PH6ZnNWwyjlrd0ibm7GMZNjq7DSvL1ZoXIzqMWLLyTtrAO-7V8WnDdTdxSKkq5AKG23kPrsmCw-dRehx/s1600/VPR+Nadodi+Mannan+function.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nZqL20J_EYqOflEqkUzAnE4yStSmfZPf2bsaPgTIetrPltOruFNwF_4I_Ki3PH6ZnNWwyjlrd0ibm7GMZNjq7DSvL1ZoXIzqMWLLyTtrAO-7V8WnDdTdxSKkq5AKG23kPrsmCw-dRehx/s1600/VPR+Nadodi+Mannan+function.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a>MK speaks. Dad and MGR together</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd651Zxb_DMl5KwAJ5Gu3VaZ624Tr8yLhcPBh8RLKdiDxbBV19Ue7MC7CexRev0gSYuRgECX4h72GBq0f-zfa9Lw_H9rG02-SWMDQMZzVpKeBA9wMMUD5zznlbOFoNZpNeKaaFb3Ly1TR7/s1600/cap0034.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd651Zxb_DMl5KwAJ5Gu3VaZ624Tr8yLhcPBh8RLKdiDxbBV19Ue7MC7CexRev0gSYuRgECX4h72GBq0f-zfa9Lw_H9rG02-SWMDQMZzVpKeBA9wMMUD5zznlbOFoNZpNeKaaFb3Ly1TR7/s1600/cap0034.bmp" /></a>With MNN in Oviyam</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_tOwaIG3K-ChibljhXecNzxRmCahZ4eOLOQxFD_oAfdLEIcmUjs5qutrwj0sUFLWmTjSAN5vK8oJhv9OlzBI8OaBmDA0R3W7XjariU3lNvUlY6syJDP6U_B0WlIiHV_NZ2wKqdTd7DCN/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_tOwaIG3K-ChibljhXecNzxRmCahZ4eOLOQxFD_oAfdLEIcmUjs5qutrwj0sUFLWmTjSAN5vK8oJhv9OlzBI8OaBmDA0R3W7XjariU3lNvUlY6syJDP6U_B0WlIiHV_NZ2wKqdTd7DCN/s1600/228.JPG" height="320" width="249" /></a>He has acted in more films with Sivaji than MGR</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEpSCA3PNjZ-9mlFkCK6T65j13EnmlVUX3ApWn0v4_8mokR6FHY4F3-x1u-GeNlajJCv5UcXdtGo5A9SHVxJJXJwitOeM6__rRh0bA_75iwlAlHYmX8gaDb6M_738HWyJCvAUohjySbdo/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEpSCA3PNjZ-9mlFkCK6T65j13EnmlVUX3ApWn0v4_8mokR6FHY4F3-x1u-GeNlajJCv5UcXdtGo5A9SHVxJJXJwitOeM6__rRh0bA_75iwlAlHYmX8gaDb6M_738HWyJCvAUohjySbdo/s1600/238.JPG" height="320" width="243" /></a>The Classic VILLAIN. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>M.N.Nambiar
- The Good , The Bad and the Holy.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About 20 Kms
from Coorg is the Village Cherupazhasi whose chieftain was part of the Pazhasi Raja
family. A descendant of this family was destined to achieve fame in the film
industry. He was Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar. M N Nambiar was born on 7<sup>th</sup>
of march 1919 to Kelu Nambiar and Lakshmi. His father passed away when he was a
little boy and the family wealth was all gone. Nambiar went away to Ooty to
live with his brother. At the Ooty Municipal High School he studied up to the 3<sup>rd</sup>
Form (present 8<sup>th</sup> Standard.) .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1934 ,
the famous dramatist, “Nawab” Rajamanickam was performing in Ooty. His
brother’s business ran into problems and the family could no longer afford to
educate him. Nambiar used to watch the plays and admired the discipline of the
boys in the troupe – getting up early and performing Suryanamaskar, exercise ,
pooja and when an opportunity came up he joined Nawab’s troupe. The Drama
Company travelled to <st1:city w:st="on">Salem</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mysore</st1:place></st1:city>. Nambiar started helping out in the
Kitchen and graduated to assisting in the Pooja Room but he was not asked to
act. Finally he was given the role of a
lady Judge in a play –“Nachchu Poigai” written by Kovai Ayyamuthu. Nambiar was
all ready to go on stage but the British
Government , banned the Play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1935 ,
their Play “Ramadasu” was to be filmed in <st1:place w:st="on">Maharashtra</st1:place>
and Nambiar went with the troupe. He played the role of a Comic with
T.K.Sampangi. The pair was called Akkanna – Madanna. He was paid Rs. 40 for
this. He spent half the amount in buying a harmonium, which is still there in
his house. In a years’ time the chief Comedian of the troupe K.Sarangapani left
and Nambiar took his place and became a huge hit with the audience. Even today
“Nawab” Rajamanickam’s picture adorns a prominent place in the Pooja room of
Nambiar’s House.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whenever I
worked with Nambiar he used to keep us in stitches with his comic remarks as the cast sat down
to play cards during the breaks in Film shooting . Some were said with such a dead pan face that
it would have been the envy of Buster Keaton. Suddenly his normal face will
transform to the Villain with his trade mark scowl, arched eye brows and
imperious look – if you looked around you will find some fans coming ti to see
him. After they left he will look normal
and smile. I asked him why he did this and his characteristic reply was –
Avanga indha Nambiar a thaan parka varanga – they have come only to see this (
the Villain) Nambiar and smile….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In 1937 he shot for the film “Inbasagaran”
which was never released as the film was burnt in a fire. Nambiar made steady
progress and then joined the “Sakthi Nadaga Sabha” . In 1944 he essayed the role of the “Rajaguru” in the
Play – Kaviyin Kanavu written by
S.D.Sundaram to such perfection that his reputation as a villain , was well
established. Nambiar soon signed up with Jupiter Films as a Studio Artiste and
played a comedian in the film “Vidyapathi “ – 1946. He married Rukmani the same
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This was followed by A.S.A.Sami’s “Rajakumari” - 1947 , which featured his
friend M.G.Ramachandran, acting for the first time as the hero. Nambiar then
played the lead male role (along with S.V.Subbiah) in the film Kanjan – 1947. Then followed
Abhimanyu, Mohini and Velaikkari. The 1950 Modern Theatre Production “Dhigambara
Samiyar” was a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">high point</st1:place></st1:city>
in his career as he donned 12 roles. This was written by Vaduvur Doraiswamy
Iyengar and directed by T.R.Sundaram. Nambiar the Villain was well and truly
established.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MGR who was
elder to him by 4 years considered Nambiar his senior in the Profession. Their
friendship which dates back to the early Jupiter Films days is well known. In
fact Director Pa. Neelakantan once asked Nambiar as to why he never stood up
when MGR entered the set ( everybody did) – Nambiar’s answer was – “He is my
friend , why should I stand up when a friend walks in ?”. Pa neelakantan went
and reported the conversation to MGR who asked him “Why do you go and ask him
all this? “. MGR was the best man ( Mappillai Thozhan) in Nambiar’s wedding and
carried nambiar’s first born Sukumaran on his shoulders up the Palani Hills for
the boy’s Annaprashanam in 1948. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nambiar
steadily rose and became the Industry’s “Bad” man , his roles in Enga veettu
Pillay , Aayiraththil Oruvan, Kuditirundha Kovil, Raman Ethanai Ramanadi,
Padagotti, Then Nilavu, His Dual role of a Good man and bad man in Rahasiya
Police 115, the suave and sophisticated Villain in Annayin Aanai readily come
to mind. During this time he also essayed Character roles like in films like Pasa malar
. We must remember that Nambiar had stiff competition from the likes of
P.S.Veerappa, S.A.Ashokan, R.S.Manohar and a host of others and yet managed to
retain his place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His role as
the 100 year old man in Sridhar’s Nenjam Marappadhillai is a classic.
When shooting the scene where he chases the lead pair in a horse drawn carriage
, the wheel of the carriage suddenly came off , the driver panicked but Nambiar
asked him to drive on and as the carriage over turns jumped out, took aim and
shot. This was not a planned stunt but an accident that Nambiar, the consummate
professional used to the film’s advantage<span style="background-color: white;">. Nambiar with his years of Physical training in the Drama
troupe ( he practiced Yoga and played badminton in a court built in his house)
, regular classes in Sword fighting and the other Indian Martial arts was fully
equipped to handle the rigours of getting bashed up by the hero.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nambiar was
a very loving family man and all through his career he spent six weeks with his
family in Ooty for the summer. He would refuse any assignment that called him
away during this time. In a few exceptional cases he asked the producer to
shoot his scenes in Ooty. He abstained from Alcohol, Tobacco and led a
disciplined life. In fact he always chastised us for slouching in a chair and
asked us to sit erect with our back straight. I had the privilege of acting
with him in what was probably his only Television serial – Oviyam , where he
played a Zamindar , my father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Baghyaraj in
his film Thooral Ninnu Pochchu ( 1982) paid his respects to a practice that Nambiar
always followed. In the title shot – An old man will mix the rice and take the
first handful to feed his wife. Nambiar always gave the first mouthful of food
to his wife and in her absence in Sabarimala to his sons. All through his
professional life he only ate food prepared by his wife – who accompanied him
everywhere. Even the water he drank was specially double boiled by her<span style="background-color: white;">. He held on to this practice
till his final film “Sudesi” in 2006 with Vijayakanth.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nambiar
first went to Sabari Mala , with his Guru Nawab Rajamanickam in 1942 and
thereafter made more than 55 pilgrimages. One can say he was to a large extent Instrumental
in popularizing the Temple , as he was the “Guru Swamy” for many popular film
stars, Industrialists and so on. His
group was close to 200 strong. There was perfect equality and discipline as
both the rich and poor were treated alike. <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">This earned him the sobriquet – Swami.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After a career spanning 71 years of acting in
films , probably a record he passed away on the 19<sup>th</sup> of November
2008</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;"> and will be
remembered for being the Good man , who was Bad on screen and Holy in real
life.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-46857597489102705222012-08-09T04:10:00.001-07:002012-08-09T04:12:00.458-07:00Sivaji in 3 D - Delightful , Dazzling and Divine.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_5kliNAWFZG1OJ9Ys5vLlMFXY6FOART7bcAFsXcO9mBil5-qnO_L1jCp8aApfsGROeL9fwuQ8c5r_fvIGfo34cQqWeH_MHjykFy3YQF6KJLEJEEcp1X4mdDfhINmjhNgDh2hfCuFE6ym/s1600/sivaji+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_5kliNAWFZG1OJ9Ys5vLlMFXY6FOART7bcAFsXcO9mBil5-qnO_L1jCp8aApfsGROeL9fwuQ8c5r_fvIGfo34cQqWeH_MHjykFy3YQF6KJLEJEEcp1X4mdDfhINmjhNgDh2hfCuFE6ym/s400/sivaji+1.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I happened to get a chance to view some parts of the film Sivaji ( The Boss) recently converted to 3 D and boy what an experience it was !!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I say that I was totally blown away , it is not an exaggeration. I have always been a bit doubtful of this technology and the results it produced and I must confess that I have revised my opinion in toto. Kudos to the Team at Prasad , they have done an absolutely splendid job. Every frame is so "alive" and I felt that Superstar as well as the others looked even better than they did in the film - so beautifully Cinematographed by K.V.Ananad. Shankar's larger than life canvas and his taste for the opulent is truly shining in this version. The sets that were breathtaking in the original are absolutely "Jaw Dropping" - another Kudos , this time to Thotta Tharani. We can safely expect that AVM will be doing its utmost to ensure that we can view this in all our favourite Cinema Halls/Multiplexes and of course they are the masters of Publicity , so we will all be well warned of the arrival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was talking to one of the Producers who told me that this was a project in which 400 people have been working for more than a year - WHO SAYS THAT THE FILM WORLD CANNOT KEEP A SECRET ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not a word of this came out till a few days ago. They have gone one step better than the earlier conversion attempts. They have gone for "dual" image , which requires Two Projectors and the Server in the Theater to handle both , this has contributed to the sparklingly crystal clear 3 D images.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have always been a fan of the "Superstar" and when the Titles come on and each of the letters S U P E R etc starts to jump out at you , I am sure the Theater will Thunder - Summa Kettala Adhurudhu Illa ???? I am given to understand that Superstar watched a few parts and was totally impressed with the quality of the work and has given his Thumbs up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like the rest of Tamil Cinema Fans , I am looking forward to the release which I understand is not very far off.......so Rajini fans can rejoice that their "Thalaivar" is going to come "live" and boy are we in for a Roller Coaster ride.......To me it was like watching a "brand new" Rajini film - this 3 D has made such a difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When he tosses the coin up.....it almost comes and hits you in the eye.....this is no toss of a coin, it is a sure blockbuster. The 3 D's I saw can simply be described as Dazzlingly Delightful and a Divine experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What makes me prouder is that all this hi tech conversion work was done here in NAMMA CHENNAI - </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-5343464570801653572012-07-27T02:21:00.000-07:002012-07-27T02:21:05.603-07:00Sandow M M A Chinnappa Devar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wrote an article for the HINDU Metroplus (25th July 2012) on Chinnappa Devar and Rajesh Khanna. THE FULL , UN EDITED Version is this.......<br />
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THE SANDOW AND THE SUPERSTARS</div>
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“If Aradhana had flopped will you ask me to reduce my salary
? , No , Devar Ji , I will do the film in the salary we spoke , you even made
full payment even before we started and showed your faith in me “ was
“Superstar” Rajesh Khanna’s reply to Sandow M.M.A.Chinnappa Devar recalled R.Thyagarajan the son in law of
Devar. The picture Haathi Mere Saathi came about in early 1969 as Devar , who
was making a few small budget films without his usual “superstar” MGR , wanted
to make a big film . MGR was busy with his political activity and could not
accommodate dates. Director Sridhar, his neighbor and close friend suggested to
Devar to make a Hindi Film.</div>
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Devar had earlier made a film “Deiva Cheyal” – the
protagonist was a middle aged man who is helped by an elephant. This was
reworked making the protagonist young and the first half had romance and action
while the second half had its fair share of sentiment. Devar went to Bombay and
narrated the script to Sanjiv Kumar , who immediately said that he may not be
suitable for the first half of the film and suggested the name of a rising star
– Rajesh Khanna. Upon hearing the script Rajesh who was shooting Aradhana
immediately agreed and recommended two young boys to assist Devar in the script
– Salim -Javed. Aradhana was a super hit and Rajesh Khanna’s salary had
quadrupled , this prompted Devar to go back to Bombay and ask him if he wanted
more money. Devar is said to have made the classic remark in his characteristic
broken English to Rajesh Khanna as he handed over the entire amount – “Rate you
– Date me” – meaning I have paid what you asked , now give me the dates that I
want. </div>
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The shooting commenced in Vauhini Studios in early 1970 and
the outdoor portion was shot in Ooty. The film was Directed by M.A.Thirumugam ,
Devar’s younger brother , a competent Director/Editor. They released the film in
26 Theatres in Delhi and its suburbs. The competition was “Maryada” with Raj
Kumar and Rajesh Khanna. The results of the first few days was not encouraging
and Devar was disappointed. Rajesh Khanna rang him up and told him not to lose
hope and to come to Delhi via a few towns . By the time the group from Madras
reached Delhi , the film had become a box office hit. Rajesh Khanna sent Devar
a Telegram that said “Your and Our Lord Muruga has not let us down”. Rajesh
Khanna and Shakthi Samantha formed a company called Sakthi Raj films , bought
and released the film in Bombay where
too , like the rest of India the film was a top grosser. </div>
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Devar had booked Shankar Jaikishen to do the Music for
Haathi Mere Saathi. Director Sridhar adviced him to approach Laxmikanth
Pyarelal as they were more suited to Devar’s quick style of functioning. When
he approached they said they were too busy. During the meeting he recalled the
mention of a “Party” and when he enquired he was told it was the first birthday
of Laxmikanth ‘s child. He quickly went to Jewellery shop and purchased several
Gold coins and uninvited went to the party. No one knew who the Dhoti clad
simple man was , when he proceeded to shower the child with Gold. Mrs.Laxmikanth enquired and told her
husband “You compose Music for all those
who come home and drink at your expense and refuse the Man who showers our
Child with Gold “? Needless to say the stratagem worked and the song “Chal Chal
Chal mere Haathi” reverberated all across India – Composed by Laxmikanth
Pyarelal. Mr.A.V.M.Saravanan recalls
that Devar made it a practice to pay all money in 10 Rs notes – the logic was –
“ it will appear as if I am giving a lot of money. “
</div>
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Marudur Marudachalamurthy Ayyavoo Chinnappa Devar was born
on the 28<sup>th</sup> of June 1915. His father was an agriculturist. Devar stopped
with his 5<sup>th</sup> Standard and started to work. He was told that unless
he had a good physique he could not enter the film world. To that end he
proceeded to master the various forms of fighting and also improve his
physique. He and his brother first acted in the 1940 film “Thilottama” ,
actually it was a fight sequence where only their Shadows were filmed fighting.
Devar earned the title “Sandow” because of his well developed Body and skills
in the Martial Arts. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
He had started playing various small roles in the films shot
in Coimbatore and in 1947 while acting in the film “Rajakumari” a deep and
abiding friendship developed with the hero MGR. As a hero MGR too recommended
Devar in all the films he worked. This went on till the mid 1950s when Devar
started a Production company in Partnership with A.P.Nagarajan and two others.
The film just about broke even and they all parted ways. Devar then asked his friend
MGR , who readily agreed and they made “Thaikkupin Thaaram” in 1956. The film
was a success and Devar was launched as a film maker. He had a policy of
Muhurat shoot on a New Moon day ( Amavasya) and the picture will be released by
the 3<sup>rd</sup> Amavasya. MGR had become busy with his own production
“Nadodi Mannan” and Devar was forced to make a few small pictures. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then in 1960
he started to record the music for his film “Thaai Sollai Thattadhe” where he cast
Ashokan as the hero. When the recording was over he felt a hand pressing him on
his shoulder , he turned and it was MGR . He heard the songs recorded and then
asked for the story to be narrated. MGR then asked Devar to come to his house
where in front of MGR’s mother’s picture he made a promise that he will adhere
to all of Devar’s conditions and in return Devar should make films only with
him. This “agreement” led to Devar making 16 films with him , the last being
Nalla Neram in 1972 , the Tamil remake of “Haathi Mere Saathi”.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Devar had a penchant for using Animals in his films from
Snakes to Goats to Elephants he used them. The elephants for Haathi Mere saathi
were taken from the Great Oriental Circus and he housed them in a 2 ½ acre plot of land on Arcot Road. This used
to belong to M G R and later to Venus Pictures. Later The Kothandapani Audio
Studio was built by the singer S.P.Balasubramaniam on part of this plot. </div>
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“Devar was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga . He used to
donate 1 out of 5 Rs Profit to a Murugan Temple .The road to Marudamalai , The
Prakhaaram at Thiruchendur and the main Hall in Vadapalani Temple are all his
contribution. While Shooting if he wanted the Sun he will shout at the heavens
and ask his Murugan to send the Sun out , for him everything was Murugan
“recalls Film Producer A.V.M.Saravanan. Director SP.Muthuraman recalls visiting
his set in Vauhini Studios when they were shooting the film “Muruhan Adimai”.
They had lined up a complex shot of a Peacock , a Bird that just cannot be
trained , flying through a series of Doors and reaching the idol of Lord Muruga
in the sanctum sanctorum. Everyone was wondering if this would ever happen when
Devar stood up Prayed to Lord Muruga and said – You make it happen , I don’t
care ….and asked for the Cameras to roll and the peacock to be released. The
peacock flew beautifully through the four or five doors and landed at the feet
of the Idol . all of us were totally amazes not just at this but at the
implicit faith Devar had in God.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In his later years with MGR getting more and more into
active politics , Devar started to make films in the Socio –mythological Genre.
They were films set in modern times with the Central theme that faith and belief in God will solve
one’s problems. When The Paramacharya of Kanchi heard about Devar and the films
promoting theism like “Thunaivan” , he sent word to Devar wanting to meet him. Devar was hesitant as he
was shooting with MGR. When MGR heard about this he told Devar to immediately
go and seek the blessings of the Sage and that he will personally supervise the
Shooting of the next few days. Devar and his family rushed to Kalavai where the
Paramacharya was camping. He blessed Devar and told him not to worry as Lord
Muruga was the watchman in his house and the sage added “if possible put in a
good word about me to him”. Devar broke down on hearing this from the
Paramacharya .</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When The Paramacharya of Kanchi heard about Devar and the films promoting theism like “Thunaivan” , he sent word to Devar through Mr.Lakshmana Iyer of Ananda Pictures wanting to meet him. Devar was hesitant as he was shooting with MGR. When MGR heard about this he told Devar to immediately go and seek the blessings of the Sage and that he will personally supervise the Shooting of the next few days. Devar and his family rushed to Kalavai where the Paramacharya was camping. He blessed Devar and told him not to worry as Lord Muruga was the watchman in his house and the sage added “if possible put in a good word about me to him”. Devar broke down on hearing this from the Paramacharya .
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
One day after performing the Kandha Sashti Pooja in
Thiruchendur, Devar told those around him that he has been doing this for 12
Years and the next year they will all have to carry on the tradition. Those
around him were taken aback and pooh poohed these remarks. Devar used to say
that he will pass away on a “sashti” ( 6<sup>th</sup> day of the Moon) when the
Star was Vishaka , considered to be very auspicious for Muruga , in fact he
used to say if it were any other date he will go up and beat Muruga. As he
desired he passed away on the 8 th of September 1978 – It was Vishaka and it
was a Sashti.</div>
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house and family was given much timely help by the current “Superstar”
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-14047828109064700482012-05-16T00:18:00.004-07:002012-05-16T00:24:02.983-07:00Roja Muthiah Research LibraryWhen I visited RMRL on Monday , a beaming Mr.Sundar,their Director , asked me to accompany him to see their latest acquisition....IRENE , before you think that it is either a Top Model or a new variety of Orchids , let me explain.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">IRENE stands for Image Reconstruct Erase Noise Etc. It is a turntable ( a record Player) with a camera instead of the Stylus. A high definition Camera captures images of the Grooves on a record and converts it into a Sound file. Records that a are to sensitive or damaged or even broken can be "read" and thereafter Listened to in this.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b>Other than the Library of Congress in the United States, RMRL is the only place to have this equipment. They hope to create an archive of our "Sound" history. Good luck to them.</b><br />
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<b>MANY PEOPLE HAVE DONATED THEIR OLD 78 RPM RECORDS TO THE LIBRARY</b>....said Sundar , when I went ( to donate some of my Grandfather's old Tamil Books). I think the best way for us to get a digital disc of all this music lying in our attic is to "donate" it to RMRL. They in turn will give you a Digital Copy.You get to listen to that "old" S G Kittappa or Saigal and also ensure that this heritage is preserved well for posterity.....<br />
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<b>My entire collection of old Tamil Drama and Cinema Handbills (bit notice) was given to them to microfilm and load in their database for use by researchers. So too some of the Letters of my maternal great grandfather Rt Hon V.S.Srinivasa Sastri. I am not just talking but have walked the Talk.</b><br />
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My appeal to all of you is to take the trouble this "summer" , climb up the Attic - (Paran) and pull out those old shellac plates....Bring it over to RMRL and get to listen to the Music. For those of you who do not know about RMRL , it is in Tharamani. Just Google it......<br />
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Sundar on the Left with IRENE and the Sound Engineer managing "her"<br />
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The Image of the Groove as seen on Irene</div>
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I extract below a piece from The University of Chicago's web site.That explains the objectives of RMRL.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">The Roja Muthiah Research Library (RMRL) project was initiated to preserve, catalog, and expand the collection of Roja Muthiah, who during his lifetime amassed one of the world's finest private libraries of Tamil publications. The University of Chicago Library spearheaded a global effort, which resulted in the founding of the Roja Muthiah Research Library to house the collection in 1996. The RMRL provides research materials and facilities for students of Tamil studies in a variety of fields spanning the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. </span>
</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>The Library's notable strengths are its holdings in classical and modern literature, literary criticism, medicine, cinema and the related culture of printed works (such as song books), folklore, material by and about women, religion and philosophy, and numerous publications of historical value. The collection is comprised of more than 100,000 volumes of books, journals, and newspapers. In addition there are rich holdings of oleolithographs from Ravi Varma's workshop, nearly 30,000 journal abstracts and indexes, an enormous collection of clippings, drama notices, wedding invitations, business and family correspondence, and palm leaf manuscripts. Most of the publications date from the later half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century</b></i></span>.</span>
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The Hindu too wrote a nice piece on this "new arrival" -<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3405580.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3405580.ece</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-75285188753278245852012-05-01T12:34:00.000-07:002012-05-01T12:34:05.945-07:00Orange Cap - Purple Cap<u><span style="color: #e06666;">The Orange</span><span style="color: purple;"> and Purple Cap </span>Calculations</u><br />
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I have been wondering about the way these caps are being awarded. Needless to say that they are given to some really great Batsmen and Bowlers , not some , all of them.....but did they get it for the "right" reason ?? That is what I ask....the mere accumulation of Runs and Wickets cannot be the sole reason to be honored with a cap that bestows on you the title of the "best".<br />
I for one believe that an innings of 35 scored at a strike rate of 200 is more valuable than a 60 scored at a run a ball - unless the Team required someone to stand and stem the rot.....even stemming the rot cannot Win you the match in this format - you can pace your innings the way Chris Gayle did in one match slow and steady and then the floodgates opened taking his strike rate above 150.<br />
The collecting of wickets with total disregard to the economy rate and the bowling of dot balls during the "death" overs as the sole factor for the Purple cap cannot be fair in the overall scheme of things. Just as the Powers that be got a "team" of technical experts to arrive at a formula called "Duckworth-Lewis" , they should get some mechanism worked out. In the ICC rankings , What you get after winning against Bangladesh is totally different than what you get when you beat England or Australia. This is something that also needs to be worked out.<br />
As a start I would prefer if the Runs scored is multiplied by the Strike Rate ( not as 165 or 189 but as 1.65 or 1.89) and points awarded. The Highest Points gets the Cap. I am sure a methodology that takes into account economy rate/dot balls bowled and wickets taken will also be possible.<br />
Can we get to see the Most Valuable and Successful Batsman and Bowler wearing the Cap.....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-39966292663328729952012-04-17T22:30:00.004-07:002012-04-17T22:38:44.491-07:00Kumudam 25th April 2012 - A.V.Raman/V.P.Raman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKLpMS-M-GaOCosTPBGwhhlfHfRx6DPLdyxuJpKRI21-7h_t6XrE7DSZlyYT-U5XToi0SCU28W6Qf-hT6bEX78vNJIRdbcnqOhlrrdi6UOCDG2l-noJZUA-_YPaYR-DDEDsaPKprvmjwD/s1600/Kumudam+25-4-12+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKLpMS-M-GaOCosTPBGwhhlfHfRx6DPLdyxuJpKRI21-7h_t6XrE7DSZlyYT-U5XToi0SCU28W6Qf-hT6bEX78vNJIRdbcnqOhlrrdi6UOCDG2l-noJZUA-_YPaYR-DDEDsaPKprvmjwD/s320/Kumudam+25-4-12+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732610137494388546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9O7eCuQm7tGTyN4w_s6_cy9vn3UlpvYp7rVbBjcXpvODPNJTuAC047PCKkf4h1QRBQJjJkHzbtheZPMXHV_MRm8C5EBWNH4D1ZA8d46WWsWyHTy8yfHdWEJZPyZVQBm4o7xDtbB7EW8/s1600/kumudam+25-4-12-2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9O7eCuQm7tGTyN4w_s6_cy9vn3UlpvYp7rVbBjcXpvODPNJTuAC047PCKkf4h1QRBQJjJkHzbtheZPMXHV_MRm8C5EBWNH4D1ZA8d46WWsWyHTy8yfHdWEJZPyZVQBm4o7xDtbB7EW8/s320/kumudam+25-4-12-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732609527100462162" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Today's Kumudam (25/4/2012) carried a piece on a rare snap taken during a function held in 1968. I had Blogged about it earlier in September 2009. The link is given below. Please do read.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in/2009/09/so-many-chief-ministers-on-same-dias.html">http://mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in/2009/09/so-many-chief-ministers-on-same-dias.html</a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-30331124487383836542012-04-17T12:35:00.005-07:002012-04-17T12:47:20.392-07:00A.P.Nagarajan - The Myth Master<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtjXD7Tm9Eg7eotz9Y89HLNhfstPZ_k0ZGjLjGWVgeI-c5DUjKv5Gy9VfREkLh8cfmbR9RTb1dRgX3Ap6gY2FRzFA6A80QDi6tSgH86n14CuLZWdgqWT06hXHkKxnBRaOY4Djd-ihyphenhyphen4gX/s1600/scan0067.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtjXD7Tm9Eg7eotz9Y89HLNhfstPZ_k0ZGjLjGWVgeI-c5DUjKv5Gy9VfREkLh8cfmbR9RTb1dRgX3Ap6gY2FRzFA6A80QDi6tSgH86n14CuLZWdgqWT06hXHkKxnBRaOY4Djd-ihyphenhyphen4gX/s320/scan0067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457444447682930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKIERnYYXMgUQhO5Rxuq5WQcC5b1-mXT-XPbNeL4p59FWNyAjAYekRh5bgl5mm-pt0F_IBMa7qNUMQanz1i7Y3ZW114gw74tWUWAcJouTHPu0vA1RcPSAHdZD8VaFqcFuj6Mgpj4w5nA/s1600/scan0077.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKIERnYYXMgUQhO5Rxuq5WQcC5b1-mXT-XPbNeL4p59FWNyAjAYekRh5bgl5mm-pt0F_IBMa7qNUMQanz1i7Y3ZW114gw74tWUWAcJouTHPu0vA1RcPSAHdZD8VaFqcFuj6Mgpj4w5nA/s320/scan0077.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457148382103842" /></a>As the heroine playing sthreepart<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvdLg9_38xFtssEfKZg3wuhDaHTYu8d70CZ_eTEMKmCKakdtv0MdvMQMq8LKfGwqYKSWihg3ZarbYfqdcu3Ee8-YlSkKnk2jLVVq4-kGOJo11rcAzbNg7xodOKA00JHBytkjtw-BbPsMw/s1600/Sthreepart+as+a+young+lad.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvdLg9_38xFtssEfKZg3wuhDaHTYu8d70CZ_eTEMKmCKakdtv0MdvMQMq8LKfGwqYKSWihg3ZarbYfqdcu3Ee8-YlSkKnk2jLVVq4-kGOJo11rcAzbNg7xodOKA00JHBytkjtw-BbPsMw/s320/Sthreepart+as+a+young+lad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457140735967538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVFddUB5Yx3l5QPDg9p7kaxeIT1DiS3Cr2bHgsFR94wawTz-I1j6zvH2er5AsO-6JScInPwxaae6WyFHdM7ZVb6TvonXeAlVQMiCABdE5xGRnOTy9_H-PYwDTFsv7Sa0kaoQx1fYGneCr/s1600/with+Lakshmi+and+Seergazhi+during+the+filming+of+Agasthiar.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVFddUB5Yx3l5QPDg9p7kaxeIT1DiS3Cr2bHgsFR94wawTz-I1j6zvH2er5AsO-6JScInPwxaae6WyFHdM7ZVb6TvonXeAlVQMiCABdE5xGRnOTy9_H-PYwDTFsv7Sa0kaoQx1fYGneCr/s320/with+Lakshmi+and+Seergazhi+during+the+filming+of+Agasthiar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457120751315730" /></a>Shooting Agathiyar with seerkazhi and lakshmi<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcm7Fa-HgdQCfaz8Nr762XZZ_u2nDG9j5X0UHEKrFf8M507uoSER2JhHsPjFeXJUzHUEahAw48twG5eazic7x2KFe4R6EMlcl2LmLSlvh-dhMDHvgoxNbKFpLtpAPB97wjpV2Ahi8uMMh/s1600/With+NTR+shooting+Sampoorna+Ramayanam.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcm7Fa-HgdQCfaz8Nr762XZZ_u2nDG9j5X0UHEKrFf8M507uoSER2JhHsPjFeXJUzHUEahAw48twG5eazic7x2KFe4R6EMlcl2LmLSlvh-dhMDHvgoxNbKFpLtpAPB97wjpV2Ahi8uMMh/s320/With+NTR+shooting+Sampoorna+Ramayanam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457115952671346" /></a>with NTR during Sampoorna Ra,mayanam 1958<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienFzqXyhwmN-5dQYF-Ymqrw9zOMyg5DWvddkv1Tw5mU6mbiIeSOKUsXaDEr-bIF_pitTIAoDq7Ong8HuHfZnQJ5fX1xEjLPpPq2F62_36qQK6H7j5YeU5tkJZnWyJeDIJ_aJLSHDcvj6O/s1600/Director+calls+the+shots..jpg" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienFzqXyhwmN-5dQYF-Ymqrw9zOMyg5DWvddkv1Tw5mU6mbiIeSOKUsXaDEr-bIF_pitTIAoDq7Ong8HuHfZnQJ5fX1xEjLPpPq2F62_36qQK6H7j5YeU5tkJZnWyJeDIJ_aJLSHDcvj6O/s320/Director+calls+the+shots..jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732457115638517106" /></a>APN the Director....<div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br />I wrote an article in the Hindu on Shri A.P.Nagarajan , noted film Director/Producer. It was published on Sunday 15th April in the Cinema Plus section , here it is , un edited with a lot more Photographs.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">The Master of Mythlogy<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">The recent release and success of “Karnan” has prompted a lot of interest in the revival of some of the old mythological classics. The early years of both Silent and talkie Cinema was surfeit with Myths and Legends as the subject , slowly by the late 50s the “social” subject had almost fully taken over , the fact that the Dravidian parties and its Leaders contributed a lot to this cannot be denied. The one person who brought the “Mythological” back to celluloid was A.P.Nagarajan. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">His son C.N.Paramasivan , an NRI businessman , says that the film Karnan and the warm response given to it has prompted to him to restore and present his father’s films like Thiruvilayadal , Saraswathi Sabatham , Thiruvarutchelvar and Thillana Mohanambal. As they are all films that have been seen many times by people on Television the restoration has to make both a visible and an audible difference to the Theater audience. We need to offer them something more than just viewing a good quality print. Some of the others like Kandhan Karunai , Karaikal Ammaiyaar , Thirumalai Deivam and Sri Krishna Leela too will be considered if the restoration costs reduce says Paramasivan. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">Akkammapettai Paramasivan Nagarajan was born on the 24<sup>th</sup> of February 1928 and christened as Kuppuswamy . His family were very wealthy landowners , almost Zamindars with thousands of acres . His father Paramasiva Gounder died when Nagarajan was a young boy , his mother Lakshmi Ammal followed her husband within a few months . His maternal grandmother Manicka Ammal took charge of the young boy and brought him up. She was afraid that he may not be cared well for by the Family. After a while she took him to a Drama Company and she did not inform them of the boy’s antecedents , later he shifted to Avvai T.K.Shanmugam’s Drama Cpmpany . As there were many Kuppuswamis his name was changed to Nagarajan. Nagarajan learnt his basics of the Dramatic Arts and even went on to play the “lead” in the Play “Gumasthavin Penn”. He was a remarkable actor , who brought to life all the roles he donned. His early “sthreepart” roles being very popular with the audience. He worked with the “Madurai Jayarama Sangeetha Boys Company “ as well as Sakthi Nadaga Sabha along with Sivaji ganesan and Kaka Radhakrishnan. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">Nagarajan went on to grow in the world of Tamil Drama and started his own drama company the “Pazhani Kadiravan Nadaga Sabha” and in 1949 married Rani Ammal. He wrote and acted in several plays , when one of his plays “Nalvar” was made into a Movie . Nagarajan wrote the screenplay for his own Story and acted as the Hero in this Film. His film career had begun in 1953 both as a hero and as a writer. In an interview to a magazine he mentioned his father’s name as well as his ancestral village Akkammapettai. Some of his family members read this article and came down to meet him and he was re united with his family after almost 20 Years. Actor Sivakumar reminisced that the entire cast and crew of Thirumalai Thenkumari were hosted by the proud family of Nagarajan at the ancestral home.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"> He also acted in many movies for Producer M.A.Venu formerly of Modern Theatres like Mangalyam , Nalla Thangal , Pennarasi , wrote for Town Bus and by 1956 decided to focus on his writing. He wrote “ Naan Petra Selvam” , Makkalai Petra Maharasi , in the latter he introduced the “Kongu “ Tamil accent for the hero. The first of his many Mythologicals - Sampoorna Ramayanam ( 1958) was a big success and Rajaji , who had little regard for cinema watched this film and praised Sivaji Ganesan’s performance as Bharatha. He then started to Produce in Partnership with the actor V.K.Ramaswamy Nalla Idaththu Sammandham (1958) , Thayai Pol Pillai, Noolai pol selai (1959) , Paavai Vilakku and made his Directorial Debut with Vadivukku Valaigaappu (1962) . He launched his own Production Company with Navarathri and then went on to make his mark in the field of Mythologicals as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">In 1965 , a year after Karnan , Thiruvilayadal hit the screens and set Box office records everywhere. This was followed by Saraswathi Sabatham , Kandhan Karunai , Thiruvarutchelvar , Thirumal Perumai , Agasthiyar , Thirumalai Deivam , Karaikaal Ammayaar and Sri Krishna Leela. He made Thillana Mohanambal and Raja Raja Chozhan , both of which too deserve to be restored. His son plans to re release some of the classics next year when Indian Cinema celebrates its century and his father’s 60 th year of entering Cinema.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">A.P.Nagarajan passed away in 1977. A self taught man whose life was as much of an epic as were his Movies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; "></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; "><i><span >Nagesh On Thiruvilayadal<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%"><i><span >In his autobiography Nagesh wrote – “ Everyone kept telling me that I had done a superb Job and at times even stole the scene from the hero , so I was extremely scared that it may not see the light of day as the Director was as it is struggling to trim the film’s length. One day as I was in the recording Theatre Sivaji walked in and wanted to see the “Dharumi” piece. He did not notice me in the dark sound engineers room. He watched it once and then wanted to see it again – by this time I was sure that my scene , especially the solo lamenting, will be axed. To my astonishment , Sivaji turned and said – Do not remove a single foot from this episode as well as the episode with T.S.Balaiah , we can cut anything else. These will be the highlight of the film. This is my opinion but as the Director you have the final say. Whatever Dubbing additions have to be done , get that fellow (Nagesh) and lock him up in the Studio and don’t let him run away till he completes it to your satisfaction. He has done outstanding work. That was his generosity to his fellow actors “ .<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><i><span >How prophetic , for these two turned out to be all time classic performances and the backbone for the film’s success.</span></i></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><i><span ><br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; "><b><span >The Achievement of KARNAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span ><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; "> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">When first released it was the first of the mythology series that made a comeback in the 1960s. It was an answer to the “rationalistic” dialogues that started catching up in the early 50s and totally drowned the Mythology genre. A trendsetter even then.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span ><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; "> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">In its re release Karnan became the First Tamil Old classic to be fully digitally restored.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span ><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; "> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">The first to be re released in 72 Centers all across tamil nadu<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span ><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; "> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">The first to be re released in 10 Screens in Chennai City<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; "><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span ><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; "> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%">The first re release to celebrate 25 days in 30 centers , 5 in Chennai and 4 in Madurai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><b><span >Despite the Examination season and the IPL it is still showing a healthy collection with many shows sporting the House Full sign. On the day of the first Chennai Super Kings Match while many a Theater went a begging, Sathyam saw an almost full house</span></b>.</span><p></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-42547046177596681212012-02-17T23:57:00.000-08:002012-02-18T00:23:52.794-08:00Is this India ? If we want, we can<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsZ0pBbSZejbRpv1tl9o6JfRXDDQbjx3HYfb4F0UupdrHAbNxdfzxZGCiq6z0m5hCkAWApVlBggSUMSfK5fd4W-aE5UYzYq0cxdSUrXLPHo2MhHdckVD5OTM77oAA6KYUe2V9vwR8cwxy/s1600/PSK.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsZ0pBbSZejbRpv1tl9o6JfRXDDQbjx3HYfb4F0UupdrHAbNxdfzxZGCiq6z0m5hCkAWApVlBggSUMSfK5fd4W-aE5UYzYq0cxdSUrXLPHo2MhHdckVD5OTM77oAA6KYUe2V9vwR8cwxy/s320/PSK.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710387747214958930" /></a><div>This is an image of a standard Seva Kendra.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yammrMZMUDA_LzUypZRYPcTqkIWeR_zinQUiqdAd0-MLceCbhmK1aYiSm46W0zFBGjOBSwMij7zPFNrdLYFAJtFAzhgYBCUpCTyYRRN5TScC8gU-2b-cL0JGzdO92HqW-_Yjk8BxAa5v/s1600/passport.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yammrMZMUDA_LzUypZRYPcTqkIWeR_zinQUiqdAd0-MLceCbhmK1aYiSm46W0zFBGjOBSwMij7zPFNrdLYFAJtFAzhgYBCUpCTyYRRN5TScC8gU-2b-cL0JGzdO92HqW-_Yjk8BxAa5v/s320/passport.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710387739933607010" /></a><br /><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">My wife Padma and I had to go to the Passport Office to get her Passport renewed. I was so totally taken aback at the experience.</span></span></div><div><span ><br /></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">For a start there was no need to get a form and sit and patiently fill it up, go for Passport photographs etc. All this was done On line , from the comfort of our home. A receipt acknowleding the same was also Printable and Printed.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Then the appointment - a fixed time appointment is given and we go across to any of the three Passport seva kendras - we opted for the one at Nelson Manickam Road , just behind Ampa Plaza. There are two more, one each at Tambaram and Saligramam.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">What a sight welcomed us !!!! A superbly appointed , neat Office with Smiling Staff who went out of the way to find out what our problem/need was. I found out that they were all employees of TCS and that TCS has been given the Front Office Management. We were there on Wednesday 15th of February. We entered the process at 12.01 PM and went through 3 Stages. A , B and C. The latter two being manned by Government employees who were again helpful and courteous. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">In the first section they checked the documents , took a passport sized snap , Finger prints and off we went to the next section. A notice board kept blinking our token number and the counter to which we had to go next.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">Then to C and we were through with a small exit counter where they gave a form and asked for our feedback. </span><b>It took a grand total of 35 Minutes.</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Just about an Hour ago the passport came by speed post. we had applied for the Tatkal scheme, I am told re issue of Passports takes a week only in the normal course and Tatkal is 3 days.</div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">A classic case of </span>Privatizing<span style="font-size: 100%;"> the front end without loss of Control and Security. The most important factor being the Cost is still the same Rs 1000 for re issue and an additional for a Tatkal that we needlessly asked for.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I am proud of my India. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><span >A clear case that if we want , WE CAN.</span></b></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-15671309775768475802012-01-29T00:33:00.000-08:002012-01-29T00:58:12.104-08:00STAR COUPLES....My article in Metroplus on 25th January<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-0wLFRCWSvkD4fSQy-hObz3FUsWwmK__RMIVYDHaZu5mcy3vq0bTbuyTl1SFnLbnzN-rjDiM6lb-rT931fuSKCGBb5GHcqZ0eiPs00ivaHiuAfMrNT5eegvaEDumvvsTHcdmxiWSqqLc/s1600/titanic1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFW1jWzgMb_wyzeUWV2r-2US-EhE84M_u59TjPUys26nHfQ4VYu9ZRkzin_bQ1rhrpaF0rsK1c7qzu6F0aJntSk6ia4v6Yw9ai4ABDQDpk2265-VrQSEPtZ7QIOlqnf9HmbQ5HwXE3Wxg/s320/Devika.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702973114909455314" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYEWgaWtr7vOnbj5jFYxxldHQQ4vGRGhwFpCox0Y9yXFZ5we3ObSux0Rc6YIfYQOOMKGc8qyZCu91-MudRvO3wf-s2H6an4P2toe2B17fnG8y3QuZQ6hbBLXbVXV8AWmpK0ju3AeWH92H/s1600/Svetoslav+Roerich.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYEWgaWtr7vOnbj5jFYxxldHQQ4vGRGhwFpCox0Y9yXFZ5we3ObSux0Rc6YIfYQOOMKGc8qyZCu91-MudRvO3wf-s2H6an4P2toe2B17fnG8y3QuZQ6hbBLXbVXV8AWmpK0ju3AeWH92H/s320/Svetoslav+Roerich.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702973107889191154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7gb2XcVG9pA48At7k1e0lrpMCmJp4qoUhpCC7rVTyV5a42xXvU-pAvonUJmtHUONJdgOj8k_YcxSbxLQaaWSPy3bUlRvniwLs2MtEoXK-4bd8B9Ct3Gq7vHy4b0_3j161u8Au7SANL3T/s1600/wedding.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7gb2XcVG9pA48At7k1e0lrpMCmJp4qoUhpCC7rVTyV5a42xXvU-pAvonUJmtHUONJdgOj8k_YcxSbxLQaaWSPy3bUlRvniwLs2MtEoXK-4bd8B9Ct3Gq7vHy4b0_3j161u8Au7SANL3T/s320/wedding.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702973102224317954" /></a><br />I wrote an article for the Hindu Metroplus dated 25th January.....It was edited from a slightly bigger article , more general and with a fuller world view....here is the total version , for those interested in reading what came in the Hindu - here is that link too -<div><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2835622.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2835622.ece</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">A COUPLE ON STAMPS.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Marriages are made in Heaven is an oft repeated phrase. With Valentine’s Day round the corner “love is in the air”. Many marriages have stood the test of time and tribulations but more often than not The marriage of a couple from Tinsel Town has always been viewed at with doubts about its longevity. Indian Cinema too has had its fair share of break ups. This problem becomes more acute when both are from The Film Industry. The formula for leading men in those days was to Marry a quiet, simple Homemaker and for the leading lady it was to marry a successful businessman preferably from overseas. What was almost an essential was for the Lady to quit her Profession. I must add that many a film marriage has been quite successful and both have scaled heights of professional excellence.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> One of the greatest honours a person can get is when he or she is featured on a Postage Stamp. It is quite a rare occurrence for a Husband and wife to be featured together on a Stamp – Pierre and Madame Curie were on several Stamps , one of the earliest being the French Issue in 1938. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Recently Monaco honoured Baba Amte’s son Dr.Prakash Amte and his wife Dr.Mandakini Amte with a Postage stamp. The Comedienne Lucille Ball and her actor, singer husband Desi Arnaz too feature in a Stamp.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style="width:450.75pt; height:297pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="Screenshot_4"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="prakash amte monaco.jpg" style="width:261pt;height:153.75pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg" title="prakash amte monaco"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_29" spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="I love lucy.jpg" style="width:177pt;height:178.5pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg" title="I love lucy"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">During Royal Weddings , the couple is often featured in Stamps issued to commemorate the occasion. Even the latest wedding of Prince Harry was featured in Stamps issued by UK, New Zealand, Gibraltar. Actress Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco was also one such. </span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_20" spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0014.jpg" style="width:221.25pt;height:132.75pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg" title="scan0014"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_0" spid="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="wedding.jpg" style="width:337.5pt;height:179.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg" title="wedding"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">It has always been a practice till recently by all recognised Philatelic Countries , not to issue Stamps for people who are still alive – Royalty and Heads of State apart. Dictators like Idi Amin had their way , either it was their head on a Stamp or the official’s on the Block. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Since Independence, India has issued around 2700 Stamps and The Father of the Nation and Kasturba Gandhi have been honoured on Stamps both Individually and together. In fact Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most featured people on Stamps by the largest number of Countries. The Couple adorn both a Stamp and a Postcard.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="kasturba and bapu.jpg" style="width:276.75pt; height:237pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg" title="kasturba and bapu"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru too have been issued with Individual Stamps. His daughter Indira and grandsons Sanjay and Rajiv too have been featured on Stamps.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8" spid="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0011.jpg" style="width:248.25pt;height:164.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg" title="scan0011"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" spid="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="images.jpg" style="width:158.25pt;height:158.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg" title="images"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> Durgabhai Deshmukh, Freedom Fighter and Social Reformer and her husband C.D.Deshmukh , the first Indian Governor of Reserve Bank of India , have also been featured in Stamps. She was a member of the Constituent assembly while he went on to become the Finance Minister of the Country from 1950 to 1956.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_9" spid="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0013.jpg" style="width:173.25pt;height:119.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg" title="scan0013"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_19" spid="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="deshmuk.jpg" style="width:148.5pt;height:111.75pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image010.jpg" title="deshmuk"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The three other couples so honoured are related to the Film Industry and the world of Arts. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Devika Rani , the famous actress and her Husband Svetoslav Roerich were both honoured with Stamps. He was a famous Painter. His father Nicholas Roerich too has been honoured with a Postage Stamp making it a unique family – Philatelically speaking as well.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11" spid="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Devika.jpg" style="width:222pt;height:165pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.jpg" title="Devika"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12" spid="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Svetoslav Roerich.jpg" style="width:215.25pt;height:161.25pt; visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image012.jpg" title="Svetoslav Roerich"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Gemini Ganesh and Savithri have received this great honour. In a career spanning 50 Years Gemini had acted in more than 200 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and even Hindi. He was affectionately called the King of Romance ( Kadhal Mannan). In her 30 plus years of acting Savithri acted in more than 300 Films. She has also Directed a few Films and was known for her portrayal of tragic roles. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_13" spid="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="savi.jpg" style="width:222.75pt;height:163.5pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image013.jpg" title="savi"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_14" spid="_x0000_i1038" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0010.jpg" style="width:223.5pt;height:163.5pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image014.jpg" title="scan0010"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The multi talented Singer, actor Kishore Kumar and his wife Madhubala have both been featured on Stamps.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_15" spid="_x0000_i1039" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0007.jpg" style="width:268.5pt;height:268.5pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg" title="scan0007"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_16" spid="_x0000_i1040" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0008.jpg" style="width:177.75pt;height:232.5pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image016.jpg" title="scan0008"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The one on screen couple that shook India in the 50s was Raj Kapoor and Nargis Dutt. They too have been honoured. In Nargis’s case the stamp shows the logo of the Spastics Society of India, an Institution for which she was the first Patron. Sunil Dutt sending a letter using the Stamp honouring his wife Nargis is truly poignant . Sunil Dutt specifically forbade any such move to honour him and so collectors like me lost a golden opportunity. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_17" spid="_x0000_i1041" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0003.jpg" style="width:156.75pt;height:230.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg" title="scan0003"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_18" spid="_x0000_i1042" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="scan0004.jpg" style="width:168.75pt;height:126.75pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image018.jpg" title="scan0004"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" spid="_x0000_i1043" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="dutt cover.jpg" style="width:451.5pt;height:260.25pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image019.jpg" title="dutt cover"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">From International Cinema we have The Star Couple of Lord Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh joining the ranks while the entire Barrymore family feature in a stamp of the United States. Lionel, Ethel and John , the grandfather of Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore. Alfred and Lynn Fontane , the famous actor couple too have been featured in a Stamp.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">With almost half the Indian couples honoured for Professional and Social excellence by a Postage Stamp hailing from the Film Industry , It must lay to rest the adage that “Filmi” marriages do not result in a fair deal for both. All of them truly had the Stamp of a great Couple.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_25" spid="_x0000_i1044" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="barrymores.jpg" style="width:75pt;height:114pt;visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image020.jpg" title="barrymores"> </v:imagedata></v:shape> <v:shape id="Picture_x0020_27" spid="_x0000_i1045" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="vivien leigh.jpg" style="width:101.25pt;height:101.25pt; visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image021.jpg" title="vivien leigh"> </v:imagedata></v:shape> <v:shape id="Picture_x0020_28" spid="_x0000_i1046" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Olivier.jpg" style="width:84.75pt;height:124.5pt; visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image022.jpg" title="Olivier"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_33" spid="_x0000_i1047" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="alfred and lynn fontanne.jpg" style="width:151.5pt;height:101.25pt; visibility:visible"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MOHANR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image023.jpg" title="alfred and lynn fontanne"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-5780408696225371032012-01-08T06:08:00.001-08:002012-01-08T06:59:46.707-08:00Earning Potential Sivaji Ganesan or Sivaji Rao (Rajinikanth) ??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcVnvtvtDXnDOrrL8lYtfraMjCYDoYc2GjREwicpoRKvFDTKkafpNg9ra8ZpqkimMv6dga3Ap4ILa4ef8jp-evxX8D2ll0gWjQLwjlZVOcEgPUN7D9LND0kOAkuuNkmdaXHzEmG1KndoI/s1600/images+%25287%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcVnvtvtDXnDOrrL8lYtfraMjCYDoYc2GjREwicpoRKvFDTKkafpNg9ra8ZpqkimMv6dga3Ap4ILa4ef8jp-evxX8D2ll0gWjQLwjlZVOcEgPUN7D9LND0kOAkuuNkmdaXHzEmG1KndoI/s320/images+%25287%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695275421588810002" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AR7XIx_XAUXnClNmWdUhSib3SIxEbrCYsPekItkw-MNzlnHkuQY8m7BEK6RRZnCWsFPbaMlnQOPyS4hEPdrSvPa9VR2B_DjcutCFbF3-RardW5WVF8l7vKii5ET8rMyWiZ7z0Cq0GC6I/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AR7XIx_XAUXnClNmWdUhSib3SIxEbrCYsPekItkw-MNzlnHkuQY8m7BEK6RRZnCWsFPbaMlnQOPyS4hEPdrSvPa9VR2B_DjcutCFbF3-RardW5WVF8l7vKii5ET8rMyWiZ7z0Cq0GC6I/s320/images+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695275420058883890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6beOovdgxQKbEd9CJb4qGrYafAjKpMof3SfpBTzOwjvb9f26wvKNNDIYKPJu9Ixor3jwzKn98xEUYnylWzNIzDt7jf4gL_xMydm7E7NuR8-9qSfuCvxThsrovAQ4Iu1mwUJEe72gF6IY/s1600/images+%25285%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6beOovdgxQKbEd9CJb4qGrYafAjKpMof3SfpBTzOwjvb9f26wvKNNDIYKPJu9Ixor3jwzKn98xEUYnylWzNIzDt7jf4gL_xMydm7E7NuR8-9qSfuCvxThsrovAQ4Iu1mwUJEe72gF6IY/s320/images+%25285%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695275416301993426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2QCSjhDJsySCiTrRnMUAfvApmqw0JD4QBb1FSUxbxgJ4FCPSaTS4HTubVRl3TjRA5mrokQCSIuf2_xXSd5qqHXgr-hw7RJUGO_XcwgIeDsaCTmSv7dJui9sW2z4EqkkBzicpCbpBy6bb/s1600/images+%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2QCSjhDJsySCiTrRnMUAfvApmqw0JD4QBb1FSUxbxgJ4FCPSaTS4HTubVRl3TjRA5mrokQCSIuf2_xXSd5qqHXgr-hw7RJUGO_XcwgIeDsaCTmSv7dJui9sW2z4EqkkBzicpCbpBy6bb/s320/images+%25283%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695274915774866530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS3ueFpGif8Ua9f7-UixhtyvSTW1sXaoyUGAJypAdawh00mB_IrTVRE7YXU3s8SCEvZvmOS_6Fk25WLEU8nVgoDDKQQx-QQYznmUsaxh3UjtO-74XZZt9BrltvwdiA6K3-llvCxxinWuv/s1600/images+%25284%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS3ueFpGif8Ua9f7-UixhtyvSTW1sXaoyUGAJypAdawh00mB_IrTVRE7YXU3s8SCEvZvmOS_6Fk25WLEU8nVgoDDKQQx-QQYznmUsaxh3UjtO-74XZZt9BrltvwdiA6K3-llvCxxinWuv/s320/images+%25284%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695274897536174722" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq-DzbhelaTEYekNihpFbCAHI7EtFqk7Khp5g3o1wSG8Cgj-YeIp7L2sm2rWnAZj7S4pnIKdeBD7c3jauKQaxNx6zGpxw-bCQFvb4-1TsDviPh8j0YFO4isqIPtYjFfm0hUmRXOujcvZ9/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq-DzbhelaTEYekNihpFbCAHI7EtFqk7Khp5g3o1wSG8Cgj-YeIp7L2sm2rWnAZj7S4pnIKdeBD7c3jauKQaxNx6zGpxw-bCQFvb4-1TsDviPh8j0YFO4isqIPtYjFfm0hUmRXOujcvZ9/s320/images+%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695274898073665138" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Someone asked me the other day , when I remarked that during their heydays actors of the 60s were quite reasonably paid , those who had invested wisely are till today comfortable and those who frittered away their hard earned money are facing tough times.<div><br /><div>My friend remarked that at his peak in the mid 1960s Sivaji is reputed to have charged a 1,00,000 or maybe a 1.5 lakhs , whereas today's Heros are all charging several crores - this set me thinking on who will have the greater earning Potential ?</div><div><br /></div><div>Though the Title suggests the names of two leading actors, these observations are general. When I went through a historical record of the average Gold price for 10 gms of Gold in India , Yearwise I was quite surprised - Just for information , the data is as below.</div><div><br /></div><div><span ><b>In 1932 , the Year my father was born it was - Rs 23 per 10 gms ( average price)</b></span></div><div><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span >In 1956 , when I was born it was - Rs 91</span></b></div><div><b><span><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span >Whereas the price in the 60s ranged from Rs112 In 1960 and it rose to Rs 175 and in 1969.</span></b></div><div><b><span><br /></span></b></div><div> Let us average it as Rs 150 for the 1960s and the quantum of Gold a Top hero could have bought from a Picture's earnings would have been 1000 , 10 gm coins - assuming 1.5 lakhs as his income.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <b>2011</b> average Gold price is given at <b>Rs 26, 400</b>. <b>( 2006 . -Rs . 8,400 , 2007 - Rs.10,800 , 2009 - Rs.14,500 and 2010 - Rs.18,500 ).</b>......To Buy 1000 coins of 10 gms , we will have to spend Rs 2.64 Crores now, or 1.45 crores in 2009. This is surely much more than what a top hero gets paid..... Does it mean that Today's stars are getting more ?</div><div><br /></div><div>The answer is far different if we do some Historical analysis - I have heard that The Bungalow in Boag Road , as it was then called was Purchased for a Cost of One Picture's earnings. At a modest estimate of Rs 4 Crores per Ground (2,400 sq feet) , todays hero will have to shell out More than 60 Crores to acquire such a Property , if available.....Here I am not sure of the price as a single plot can probably fetch more too. I cannot think of any Hero making that kind of Money in Indian Cinema Today in one Film. (Unless he is Producing it as well.)</div><div><br /></div><div> In the 1960s my father was offered a ground at about Rs 2,500 in Poes garden , When Anna Nagar was formed the price of a ground was even less in the late 1960s and early 1970s , so I think when we compare the Real estate Value of Money , The yester year Heros do fare far better.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the Sting in the Tail - Please remember that In the 1960s , 70s and even 80s for all those declaring a net Income of over 6 figures , the Income Tax Rate was 90 plus percent.....Compare it with the Highest tax slab today....what does it reveal ??? </div><div><br /></div><div>That those who invested wisely , and let the real Estate Holdings just appreciate are far better off ? </div><div><br /></div><div>I am just as confused at the end of this piece as I was at the beginning.....</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever be the amount they earned - Those legends left a telling mark because of their Competence and professionalism , as well as their concern for Society. It is my Prayer that we follow all the Good things they stood for and eschew that which we find bad. </div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-57736189214560130812011-12-31T23:45:00.000-08:002011-12-31T23:55:39.985-08:00Murugan Talkies , Mint -Article by me in the Hindu Metroplus.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbyX6T1k_I3c1f6YTisp8sS5NkKkkh2hFpLrd9nbZsU3VAsvdSdCh4qqRiKNZyiqfozW5SIOZ1t0NlvcJqIl_cHMZmJMpYLetCT5xzx0jLUov8WfOSmpJPs1uyg31bWUBhpflMIbpuHLI/s1600/mrugan.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbyX6T1k_I3c1f6YTisp8sS5NkKkkh2hFpLrd9nbZsU3VAsvdSdCh4qqRiKNZyiqfozW5SIOZ1t0NlvcJqIl_cHMZmJMpYLetCT5xzx0jLUov8WfOSmpJPs1uyg31bWUBhpflMIbpuHLI/s400/mrugan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692568615406529218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz9TlNfLuF2MlDArq4FRSC1xiLzsSXDJew_uEZBLGQMS2VFAMUoTdZy8sBR3sMiRqIr5uCC5njEVaj5GCGmHrW3oEMtbLAou7AoMBzZKIGtIuBsRuUOiVEty4JgvcB5TdJG7KwWniYhbV/s1600/scan0004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz9TlNfLuF2MlDArq4FRSC1xiLzsSXDJew_uEZBLGQMS2VFAMUoTdZy8sBR3sMiRqIr5uCC5njEVaj5GCGmHrW3oEMtbLAou7AoMBzZKIGtIuBsRuUOiVEty4JgvcB5TdJG7KwWniYhbV/s400/scan0004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692568145301515794" /></a> <b style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">from Hindu April 1932 ,</b><br /><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Another one bites the Dust. ( Kinema Central – Sri Murugan Talkies is no more)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is a common site for a Chennaiite to see an old building being torn down to make way for a modern structure. Residents of Xavier Street , in Mint woke up last week to find one of their iconic structures being brought down –The Sri Murugan Talkies . With this demolition one more Single Cinema Hall is reduced to rubble. “It is not because the Theater is doing badly, as we were screening B Grade dubbed films that draws a fair crowd but to more effectively utilize the land and create better facilities” said Balasubramanian the Grandson of the founder. The proposed Construction plans to include a mini Theater , so that the 100 plus year old tradition started by his grandfather continues.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In 1895 , Murugesa Mudaliar, a rich Landlord from Ponneri came down to Madras to start some Business. He acquired a square plot of 10 Grounds , surrounded by streets on all four sides and built a “Market”. Sadly the business did not take off as he had hoped. During his frequent travels to Bombay he had noticed many Halls built for staging Plays. He came back and in 1910 converted the Market to a Theater and called it “Majestic Theater”. Many popular Drama Troupes like T.K.S Brothers , Kali N Rathinam, S.G.Kittappa and M.R.Radha staged many Plays here. “Avvai” T.K.Shanmugam recalls in his autobiography that it was in Majestic Theater that he first played under Electric Lights and it was also the first time he ate “Poori – Potato”. He also called it “Grand” and not Majestic.According to the family In 1915 Murugesa Mudaliar went to Bombay and purchased equipment to screen Movies. A huge crowd gathered to welcome him and the Projection equipment at the Central Station and he was taken in a procession led by a band and folk dancers to the Theater. He started screening silent films . Huge crowds gathered to watch this wonder , called the Motion Picture and Business was booming.hey built a second Theater in 1923 on the same plot and called it Prince , to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales to India. The Theater ran into a problem with the licensing authorities and shows were suspended after a few months, so the first multi Theater venture did not take off.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In 1931, Majestic’s name was changed to “Kinema Central” , it soon screened “Alam Ara” the first Indian Talkie. People from all over Tamil Nadu were fascinated with this new audio visual experience and flocked to the Theater. People came by Road and Rail to watch this film. There were 2 shows every day and the highest class Ticket was priced at One Rupee only. People used to bring food, snacks and even drinking water to the shows.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> On October 31<sup>st</sup> , 1931, the first “Tamil-Telugu” Talkie Kalidasa was also screened here. It is ironic that exactly 80 years later the Cinema Hall is coming down. Soon the films of M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, P.U.Chinnappa , T.P.Rajalakshmi , K.B.Sundarambal , T.R.Mahalingam were all screened here. The Theater was made to look like a Sivan Temple for Avvaiyar and that attracted huge crowds who broke Coconuts and lit Camphor outside the Theater. The Lobby has a huge collection of Photographs , a film historian’s delight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> After Murugesa Mudaliar passed away in 1942 , his son Paramasiva Mudaliar took charge and for 60 plus years his practice of opening the counter and selling the first 11 tickets daily till he passed away in 2006. He changed the name to Sri Murugan Talkies in 1948 in memory of his father. It had a capacity of 908 seats. It was his Passion for Cinema that kept the Theater functioning despite all odds.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="_x0000_s1027" style="'position:absolute;"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout; position:relative;z-index:-1"><span style="position:absolute;left:-12px; top:-8px;width:633px;height:133px"><img width="633" height="133" src="file:///C:/Users/MOHANR~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1027" /></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Classics like Meera, Shakunthala , Avvaiyaar , Chinnappa’s Uththama Puthiran, MGR’s first film Sathi Leelavathi , K.Subrahmanyam’s Thyagabhoomi were all released here. MKT’s Ambikapathy , Thiruneelakantar, Ashokkumar enjoyed great runs and Chinthamani ran for nearly 3 years in Kinema Central. Once MKT wanted to watch the film along with the audience and a special Box was built to accommodate him.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:-2"><span style="position:absolute;left:-14px;top:-13px;width:639px;height:152px"><img width="639" height="152" src="file:///C:/Users/MOHANR~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026" /></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>MGR was a close friend of Paramasiva Mudalier. He re- released “Maruthanaattu Ilavarasi” and gave it a lot of Publicity to coincide with MGR ‘s taking over as Chief Minister. MGR wanted to watch this film and when they offered to send the Print over , MGR refused and said , though the Theater did not have Air Conditioning he still wanted to watch the Movie in Murugan Theater. Normal shows were suspended and the Chief Minister and his brother , and many friends watched a private show , re living memories of their youth when MGR used to stay near Wall Tax Road and watch movies here.<o:p></o:p></b></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-55857927603929534122011-10-01T14:02:00.000-07:002011-10-01T14:07:50.298-07:00My Article in the HINDU on P.Kannamba , Actress.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrVKkCYJS9_r0LTfSur-X14eqxCzvxe9zi7Weu-cFU0Eyc72qx-RCiqb1MPoru4LXOOOByEO3fYboQ91MJMFQI8F1K97pI1XppPWhHcDHGfyjNLNNlmoCSv0UpVPxEquogSYgX4ZKioaR/s1600/snap+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrVKkCYJS9_r0LTfSur-X14eqxCzvxe9zi7Weu-cFU0Eyc72qx-RCiqb1MPoru4LXOOOByEO3fYboQ91MJMFQI8F1K97pI1XppPWhHcDHGfyjNLNNlmoCSv0UpVPxEquogSYgX4ZKioaR/s400/snap+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658633371168651618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWXs9fy0OTEcrLW-K7KsNXbbDd0-QbrQ7EuaDd4t_wxoUwkBjpALKyg2eJ7cvKSycsbyQNmAbLCUTrbWejJp_Wq8x0DUXEpRWccZ6GoWZnTCxUxNdhGwUW9q_b1pIMAIu4Aas__pPSci9/s1600/scan0005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWXs9fy0OTEcrLW-K7KsNXbbDd0-QbrQ7EuaDd4t_wxoUwkBjpALKyg2eJ7cvKSycsbyQNmAbLCUTrbWejJp_Wq8x0DUXEpRWccZ6GoWZnTCxUxNdhGwUW9q_b1pIMAIu4Aas__pPSci9/s400/scan0005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658633371969802098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC1p2UeQBTHUstUV-aY89XWaKm7kqnvYxaLqtmBAe5Y9g9Hh0Y41oXNWbOyqhakIKFSMJeDuCZBU7-N3W-S2Ih-8w6cnIWeqQIRBh7xdxGL2gE_c8n0pg302LWRU9rhQF58I5K7PLmHA5/s1600/mangayarkarasi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC1p2UeQBTHUstUV-aY89XWaKm7kqnvYxaLqtmBAe5Y9g9Hh0Y41oXNWbOyqhakIKFSMJeDuCZBU7-N3W-S2Ih-8w6cnIWeqQIRBh7xdxGL2gE_c8n0pg302LWRU9rhQF58I5K7PLmHA5/s400/mangayarkarasi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658633367377473186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6TSGy0qsSoED1eGPQkKlftBneNUukfKvkgZfx7gFsihYVY8pWm3map6D83IDsIHFdPzy99IiQPpghZ9aA3X1Gqpi2T7RprrzOTwmS-I_aE20Ds4z_1nal6ru-TzPnglokWy0iAhetx4u/s1600/snap+3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6TSGy0qsSoED1eGPQkKlftBneNUukfKvkgZfx7gFsihYVY8pWm3map6D83IDsIHFdPzy99IiQPpghZ9aA3X1Gqpi2T7RprrzOTwmS-I_aE20Ds4z_1nal6ru-TzPnglokWy0iAhetx4u/s400/snap+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658633366113572658" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; "><br /></p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">Nobody is sure of Pasupuleti Kannamba's date of birth. Various forums mention the year as 1910, 1912 and 1913. However, in an interview to<i style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Pesum Padam </i>in October 1949, Kannamba said her date of birth was October 5, 1911, which makes this her centenary year. It is probably the earliest recorded interview of hers, giving personal details. Here her daughter-in-law Kalavathy gives insights into the legendary actor-producer's life.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">Kannamba was born in Cuddapah to Lokamba and M. Venkanarasaiah, a Government contractor. She was their only child and grew up with her maternal grandparents in Eluru. Her grandfather, Nathamuni Naidu, was the village doctor. Her grandmother doubled as the village nurse. Even as a child she could sing well and was taught Carnatic music. Her grandfather who was a lover of literature and poetry supervised her education.</p><h3 style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(55, 53, 53); text-transform: uppercase; line-height: normal; ">ENTRY INTO THEATRE</h3><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">In 1927, when she was 16, she attended a play, titled “Harichandra”, staged by the Narala Nataka Samajam in Eluru. In the play, the actor who played Chandramathi sang and cried herself hoarse, but the audience laughed. Kannamba shouted that she should perform better. Upset, the actor said acting was not easy and dared the girl to try it. Kannamba jumped onto the stage, sang, acted and moved the very same audience to tears — a precursor of things to come. From the very next day, she became the leading actor of the drama company and went on to play Anusuya, Savithri and Yasodha to great appreciation.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">One of the organisers of this drama group was K. P. Nagabhushanam. He fell in love with Kannamba and they married in April 1934 — this was his second marriage. The same year the couple launched their own drama company called Sri Rajarajeswari Natya Mandali and performed all over the Madras Presidency and the Nizam's Territories. The next step was obvious. A. Ramaiah of Star Combines approached her for the role of Chandramathi in their production “Harichandra”, to be shot at Shalini Cinetone, Kolhapur. She accepted the offer and thus her film career was launched.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">The Saraswathi Talkie Company from Bezwada (Vijayawada) approached her for the title role in “Draupadi Vastrapaharanam” (1936) again to be shot in Kolhapur. In “Kanakadhara” shot at Vel Pictures, her portrayal of pathos got her rave reviews and she inched her way to stardom. She partnered with H. M. Reddi and B. N. Reddi in their production “Gruhalakshmi” (1938). She also acted in “Kalidas” made by Jaya Films, which became Shobanachala Studios and Venus Studios much later. In partnership with Saraswathi Talkies, she made “Chandika” and played the title character, displaying a gamut of emotions — anger, hatred and passion all of which were new to her tragedy queen image.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">When Rajagopal Pictures wanted to make “Krishna Thoothu” at the Motion Picture Producers Council (later Gemini Studio), director Raghupathy Prakash approached her for her first Tamil film. Her dialogue delivery left much to be desired and her pronounced Telugu accent was one of the reasons why the film failed. Thankfully, the producers of the M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar classic “Ashok Kumar” approached her, despite the earlier debacle, and she delivered screenwriter Elangovan's lines in Tamil so perfectly that she became the automatic choice for the title role in the 1941 film, “Kannagi”.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">By this time, she and her husband had started their own banner, Sri Rajarajeswari Film Company. She learnt Bharatanatyam to dance to MKT's singing, and this “<i style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">ivar paada – avar aada</i>” type of scene was so well received by the audience that it became a trendsetter.</p><h3 style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(55, 53, 53); text-transform: uppercase; line-height: normal; ">ICONIC PERFORMANCE</h3><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">In the Jupiter Films production of “Kannagi”, directed by R. S. Mani and written by Elangovan, she handled the literary and poetic Tamil without compromising on emotion, diction or cadence. Her performance in that film remains iconic. Kannamba became synonymous with Kannagi.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">The question and answer in song between her and U. R. Jeevaratnam in this film became a pattern that many movies later followed. The music director of this film S. V. Venkatraman (who too celebrates his centenary this year) got this break because he was already composing for Kannamba's home production “Thalli Prema”. He went on to give classics such as “Meera”.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">A pious person, Kannamba performed pooja every day before leaving for her film shoots. She was not blessed with children and adopted a son and a daughter. The daughter Rajarajeswari married director C. Pulliah's son, C. S. Rao, also a director. Kannamba's son was a tabla player. Her performance as the Queen Mother in “Manohara” was another highpoint in her career of over 150 films as an actor and over 25 films as a producer.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">Veteran actress Anjalidevi recalls how helpful Kannamba was to aspiring actresses. “She taught us how to deliver dialogues in Tamil and even simple things like how to greet people with a Namaskaram. She was the inspiration for many Telugu-speaking actors to enter the Tamil film world.”</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">Kannamba passed away on May 7, 1964. Kannamba proved that you can excel as an actor in any language, provided you decide to learn it — a lesson many today need to learn.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; ">(This was published in the Hindu Metro Plus of 1st October 2011.)</p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-5360266770154771622011-09-17T01:16:00.001-07:002011-09-17T01:47:50.209-07:00GOWRAVAM – Re visited.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A1zxyPnQKtahDNulqPYNXjtgK9GkRFJqEMh675wNBmImtW7KvUY1qH3sH54vcD2eZaNwzGmQUsn87g1kxMyQqu0FkiRkutwMHfAxhTIdwFkE_TY5MOBLbZZkTVxMvqx1XXnR6BZx0nBv/s1600/with+Sivaji+sets2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A1zxyPnQKtahDNulqPYNXjtgK9GkRFJqEMh675wNBmImtW7KvUY1qH3sH54vcD2eZaNwzGmQUsn87g1kxMyQqu0FkiRkutwMHfAxhTIdwFkE_TY5MOBLbZZkTVxMvqx1XXnR6BZx0nBv/s400/with+Sivaji+sets2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653245385967658690" /></a><div><br /></div><div>With Sivaji in Meendum Gowravam where he reprised the Role for a TV serial</div><div>made by Sivaji Films for Doordarshan - we clashed in the Court. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQoFw8UujAdzsMM7AzNq_lbX7UxTxFPuwdMpa81VlSnAOEbvFloM34MvGK2keQCBOt2IZPMLKFZL6Uhyphenhyphen3774LPg42rlUdsTZfp6Id3mpk5adU3F9pZDr6LSIWsmqG84CN0zqm684YaCT/s1600/06-10-06-gowravam.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaQoFw8UujAdzsMM7AzNq_lbX7UxTxFPuwdMpa81VlSnAOEbvFloM34MvGK2keQCBOt2IZPMLKFZL6Uhyphenhyphen3774LPg42rlUdsTZfp6Id3mpk5adU3F9pZDr6LSIWsmqG84CN0zqm684YaCT/s400/06-10-06-gowravam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653244469503079362" /></a><div><br /><div>Barrister Rajinikanth - in Gowravam</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpDVuj7xEOsIZfD0OVsP3f8OGt1s3VBlsTcFWIAxiCA2VQK6O2vZotsBgExQ69q0vqE10ICbIcaT1V8YqsMNDOfO0Vcm8S9dEKDhIFaNO0YgFtQ406_AwiTmZV9rjYAejKMCQuGgRrhuD/s1600/bala+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpDVuj7xEOsIZfD0OVsP3f8OGt1s3VBlsTcFWIAxiCA2VQK6O2vZotsBgExQ69q0vqE10ICbIcaT1V8YqsMNDOfO0Vcm8S9dEKDhIFaNO0YgFtQ406_AwiTmZV9rjYAejKMCQuGgRrhuD/s400/bala+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653244124728690978" /></a></div><div><br /><div>My Father Senior Advocate Sri V.P.Raman</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkVoPQ2rbbIM58pBS6GHFKM36kGY21frHDQRLlKyx6fKqLeSmyKDG6_MYs_hbVGVS6b73k2nGIzpmE09LnBmz5N8NAtKPIhP4lqXkwS5AoMSggOXc36mY_mO8Gr3JBuZuKgjcmo3UThz5/s1600/Photos_man02new.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 85px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkVoPQ2rbbIM58pBS6GHFKM36kGY21frHDQRLlKyx6fKqLeSmyKDG6_MYs_hbVGVS6b73k2nGIzpmE09LnBmz5N8NAtKPIhP4lqXkwS5AoMSggOXc36mY_mO8Gr3JBuZuKgjcmo3UThz5/s400/Photos_man02new.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653242521322071394" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Sri.T.S.Narayanaswami<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnro6GvrNFs6UsRV05LBNWrDQJE85jFUSbT70TAxJvne7IDMRKjvnzwbs8iShbRTtOUlEzw3opxa3CdJrkjupk55G-VAz3nOiAUdDlF9P4s57mQPtjYxQY9GpUNvCCLNJ6851U7No4_of/s1600/10mpmemories2_jpg_60919f.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnro6GvrNFs6UsRV05LBNWrDQJE85jFUSbT70TAxJvne7IDMRKjvnzwbs8iShbRTtOUlEzw3opxa3CdJrkjupk55G-VAz3nOiAUdDlF9P4s57mQPtjYxQY9GpUNvCCLNJ6851U7No4_of/s400/10mpmemories2_jpg_60919f.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653242053298136082" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Cho, Mrs YGP, YGP, MGR, ARS and Y.G.Mahendraa<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">When a number of us (including the YG family) went to watch the re run of the Sivaji starrer – Gowravam at Shanthi Theater , my mind went back to how the movie came to be made. Some 40 plus years ago , Mr YGP , the founder of UAA , a Stage Play group came to my father , late Sri V.P.Raman , with a request to check out a Play written by “Vietnam Veedu” Sundaram .<span> </span>YGP’s reasoning was that the Play was based on the travails of a Barrister’s family because of two Trials -<span> </span>The first where Barrister Rajinikanth the Senior Advocate gets a man acquitted from Murder charges and the second where the same man is again accused of another Murder. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">My father was initially reluctant to do this task but his close friendship with YGP could not get him to refuse. So , Vietnam Veedu Sundaram , the writer , came home and read out the Play – scene by scene. I vividly remember these sessions , when my father used to correct the legal angles , The Court Dialogues , the Judges normal comments etc . The difference between the Trial in the Sessions court and the High Court appeal was correctly portrayed probably for the first time on Tamil Stage. There were many scenes in which my father , who was himself a great lover of Cinema , allowed “poetic” licence to the playwright. In the end YGP was satisfied that the Play had been “legally vetted”. Then they inaugurated “Kannan Vandhaan” – this was the original title and every time the Play was staged , my father’s name was mentioned in the Titles as the Legal consultant. In fact when UAA Celebrated its Golden Jubilee Y.G.Mahendraa gave a memento to my late father that I had the honour of receiving.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">When Sivaji wanted to make this Play into a film , one of the first questions he asked was – “is it accurate – legally ?” – He was told that my father had corrected the script and that satisfied him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">Many years later , after my father had passed away , Sivaji asked me whether I knew the inspiration for the character of Barrister Rajanikanth , that he had essayed on Screen . He then elaborated that the Pipe smoking style was inspired by the Industrialist T.S.Krishna of TVS , The hair style was inspired by the other Industrialist T.S.Narayanaswami of India Cements and some of the other aspects were from my Father. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">I was stunned to see so much of my dad on screen. The “rationalist” – anti ritual thoughts from a man belonging to “orthodoxy” , the love for a glass of “ale” , the swanky dressing , the mannerism of clasping the hands behind the back and walking , the sheer confidence in one’s own ability and talent and so on. In fact to quote Sivaji he said - "maththa ella thimurum unga appan da". The ability of Sivaji to pick traits from various people and blend them into a stylish package amazes me. He was always so keen an observer , noted various points from various people seen in various times and all of that was stored in that Computer Brain of his, to be suitably modified and blended for later use. What an Actor !!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%">Almost as if the Circle had to be completed – Sivaji reprised the role in his only ever Television Serial – “Meendum Gowravam” – I played the Public Prosecutor and opposed him in Court , that still remains the highpoint in my career.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-4227660895646663442011-06-23T02:11:00.000-07:002011-06-23T02:22:21.107-07:00Cinema Rani - The first Lady Director and Super Star of Tamil Cinema<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ERcaJ5EviRxOf-MlPc0hDEnRN9kAC4Aws5ijkB0-zwzhav7MClsPlFqwnX-ML8KMJmUNsVJOFTTGkwkFmPk-kkKhWvU0SMAuPu5P5rE6U6iDK8iDVbbHtLGnTLpB3RgPn3Zi8LovMb2G/s1600/T.P.Rajalakshmi+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ERcaJ5EviRxOf-MlPc0hDEnRN9kAC4Aws5ijkB0-zwzhav7MClsPlFqwnX-ML8KMJmUNsVJOFTTGkwkFmPk-kkKhWvU0SMAuPu5P5rE6U6iDK8iDVbbHtLGnTLpB3RgPn3Zi8LovMb2G/s400/T.P.Rajalakshmi+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621341001618930594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJrItBvonf1RzTcv6iT5gbBDTeMjHJ_FrbgtTeFr-HG2WpBpL-MiIZwLzVuKC5PaXX2FTrYXb9TzUUHXpBCkoARkAa2VQEekS5JeAZXOxyD-Jt3Izo7ggpLKzl0upexCjBWojwvRccC4M/s1600/Madurai+Veeran+edit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJrItBvonf1RzTcv6iT5gbBDTeMjHJ_FrbgtTeFr-HG2WpBpL-MiIZwLzVuKC5PaXX2FTrYXb9TzUUHXpBCkoARkAa2VQEekS5JeAZXOxyD-Jt3Izo7ggpLKzl0upexCjBWojwvRccC4M/s400/Madurai+Veeran+edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621340986881590594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusaZuph_q89dQdFRHHnvDUTZcNYI1LUEKa0GAJqTK8GC_BKGwHZgY6yIUHhvQaODKaJoGQnHuoGtWmpuLCx7QoypF47f0aFTp5kXFE6RHiI3C1r0H9pmqni7eHmdEPyrYgemIKhbY_0A9/s1600/18062011507.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusaZuph_q89dQdFRHHnvDUTZcNYI1LUEKa0GAJqTK8GC_BKGwHZgY6yIUHhvQaODKaJoGQnHuoGtWmpuLCx7QoypF47f0aFTp5kXFE6RHiI3C1r0H9pmqni7eHmdEPyrYgemIKhbY_0A9/s400/18062011507.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621340977813027698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiujwfh4G562NcQ8u8uDH7sydG6GHD644Ph8-qda16XR7j72sVYsMsiFgcLzYnHS9vvkibC83A1AiiLwGSM64ushFAzST30nwPCPIeI7rOfHaDBd2Iz5wTbfPOVBUq6f20B5Et4yCBNlyj/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiujwfh4G562NcQ8u8uDH7sydG6GHD644Ph8-qda16XR7j72sVYsMsiFgcLzYnHS9vvkibC83A1AiiLwGSM64ushFAzST30nwPCPIeI7rOfHaDBd2Iz5wTbfPOVBUq6f20B5Et4yCBNlyj/s400/IMG_0004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621340969097935522" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>I have written an article that was published in today's ( 23/6/2011) HINDU -Metroplus.... on the first lady film Director from South India - Mrs T.P.Rajalakshmi.</div><div>I am publishing here the article as Unedited....this gives her date of birth , researched and found out by me for the first time...... she was born on 11/11/11...... A truly No 1 , date of birth.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">“CINEMA RANI “IS 100 – <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">This is the centenary year of Smt. T.P.Rajalakshmi. There are many legends in the history of South Indian cinema. Among them TPR holds pride of place. She was the first woman director in South Indian Cinema – and second in Indian Cinema after Fathima Begum . She was the path breaker for P.Bhanumathi, Vijayanirmala, Jayachithra, Sripriya, Suhasini , Revathy , Jayadevi and V Priya , all Ladies who have successfully wielded the directorial baton in Tamil cinema. TPR Produced, Directed, wrote and donned the lead role in her films Miss Malini , which she Edited too and Madurai Veeran in the 1930s . Her remarkable life was an example of dogged determination and a willingness to go through hardships in order to realize her potential. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">TPR was born to Panchapakesa Sastri of Thiruvaiyyaru, who was the Karnam of Saliamangalam Village. As a child she could sing any song that she<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>heard. She studied upto 5<sup>th</sup> standard. Hers was a child marriage. At the tender age of 7 she was given in marriage to a Muthumanii. Soon after there was some misunderstanding between both families and she never went to her husband’s home. Her father died – he did not commit suicide as is often written.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Her mother Meenakshi did not get any support from her family and moved to Trichy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >TPR has given an account of her life in an Interview to a Tamil Magazine “Kundoosi” in 1950 – she states she was born in 1911 ( Virodhikkridhi ) <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>– based on the Punarvasu Star she mentions for Aippasi month we can say that she was born on the 11<sup>th</sup> of November 1911. She also mentions that it was a Thursday and the 13<sup>th</sup> day of the month , these do not tally with the Almanac.This is verified by the Head of the Department of Astrology at the Madras Sanskrit College.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">In Trichy, she <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>joined <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the Theater to help the family which faced abject poverty. Her mother took her to meet V.S.Shamanna Iyer, whose Drama Company was camped in Trichy. Luckily for TPR, Sankaradas Swamigal who was there recommended her as she had nice features. TPR always felt that the blessings of the father of Tamil Theatre Shankardas Swamigal helped her in life. This move angered her family and the orthodoxy that they cut off all links and excommunicated her. The family of Muthumani formally dissolved the marriage .<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Her first role was in the famous play “Pavalakkodi”, a play that went on to become a movie launching the careers of M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S.D.Subbulakshmi and its Director K.Subrahmanyam. She then joined Aryagana K.S.Chellappa’s Drama Company and moved on to K.P.Moideen Sahib’s troupe. Here she was to remain for 3 years, the longest she spent in any Drama Troupe. Here she started playing the lead role in all the plays and even travelled to Rangoon toperform. On her return she joined the famous Cunniah Company – she was the first woman to be admitted there – here she played Sita to S.G.Kittappa’s Rama. From here on she stopped working for any particular drama company but became what is known as a “Special Drama” – Star. She even acted opposite MKT in the early staging of Pavalakkodi in Chennai, when MKT was contracted to Nataraja Pillai.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">In 1929, she joined The General Pictures Corporation founded by A Narayanan to act in the Silent Film “Kovalan”. The film bug had bitten her and she shifted to the Associated Film Company in which K. Subrahmanyam was involved. She worked in “Ushasundari “and Rajeswari “in 1931, playing the lead in the latter opposite Raja Sandow. When the Imperial Film Company was keen on making a “Talkie” film they approached K.Subrahmanyam for casting suggestions and he recommended TPR. She donned the heroine’s role in the first South Indian Talkie, sang two keerthanas, two patriotic songs and performed a kuraththi dance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She then did Ramayan (1932) and Sathyavan Savithri (1933). In 1933 S.Vincent made Valli Thirumanam – this shot her to Stardom and she was bestowed the title – “Cinema Rani “. It was here that she met and fell in love with and later married the actor playing Narada – T.V.Sundaram.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She stayed on Calcutta to make several films like Kovalan, Draupadi Vasthrabharanam, Harichandra, Gul e Bhagavali, Lalithangi. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">On her return she started Sri Rajam Talkies and wrote, Directed , edited and Acted in “Miss Kamala” – 1936. She followed this up with “Madurai Veeran” where she paired up again with V.A.Chellappa, this proved to be a Hit. Her next Directorial venture – “Indhiya Thaai” proved to be a financial failure – undeterred she carried on gamely. Her younger brother T.P.Rajagopal was a talented musician and composed the music for all her home productions. Her other brother T.P.Rajasekharan assisted her in her business. She passed away on the 20 th of August 1964.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“She was given the Kalaimamani award in 1961 and as he did not want her to come in a taxi , MGR personally sent his car to pick her up and have her dropped back” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>recalls her daughter Mrs. Kamala. Kamala’s only tryst with the film Industry<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>was when she played the infant Nandhanar in the 1938 film Nandhakumar. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We owned several properties in Kilpauk , all of which were steadily sold to maintain the upkeep of the family. In the end she suffered a stroke and without her knowledge she was shifted to a rented premises in Aspiran Gardens and our house in Rajaratnam Street too was sold . She wanted to celebrate her grandson’s first birthday and the family took the Gold in her Kalaimamani award , melted it , made some rings and gave it to TPR to present to her grand son. She was not aware of the dire financial straits that the family was in.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">Her daughter asked me in a voice filled with emotion – this is my mother’s centenary year, will anyone remember her in a fitting manner?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did not know what to reply – Will the Cinema Industry and the Government wake up and honor the first Queen of South Indian Cinema?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-6731100107777862882011-03-07T06:51:00.000-08:002011-03-07T07:15:25.624-08:00Book on M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrj7v9HdCX7a6UVVDxz7H8pBupD0Do-A3pn7rP7hK6XlWHqsfe3YtW_Xo9ofBa2fHTUBbs6qj0ZgNd4IS_9ISlylOGh3qA_LVZD3dRZtr4YpdgWEUAOkfRiOXOmJ_WkB7I90LJthbX-7I/s1600/MKT+Book.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrj7v9HdCX7a6UVVDxz7H8pBupD0Do-A3pn7rP7hK6XlWHqsfe3YtW_Xo9ofBa2fHTUBbs6qj0ZgNd4IS_9ISlylOGh3qA_LVZD3dRZtr4YpdgWEUAOkfRiOXOmJ_WkB7I90LJthbX-7I/s400/MKT+Book.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581351130096270082" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>At long last a definitive work on the life of MKT. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder if Passion is also transmitted through Genes ? Some years ago , in 2000 to be exact, I met a Mr Bala (Balakrishnan) who was a retired Bank Officer and one of MKT's biggest fans. He had written a small booklet in Tamil on the Films etc of MKT. We were in touch for a while and then I lost contact....</div><div><br /></div><div>Two days ago my friend Kavithalaya Krishnan wanted to get a book on MKT in English , to which my answer was - not to my knowledge (barring articles on him by Randor guy ) ... then he came up to me this morning with a wonderful book....I was stunned to say the least...Immediately I went to meet the Author , a young man, born probably after MKT died , and he turned out to be Mr Bala's son.... Mr Suresh Balakrishnan , he is an advocate by profession and had done his legal studies in England. He seems to have inherited his fathers passion for MKT and the result is this book - all 514 Pages of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>There has been tremendous research and I sure see a labour of Love. I have scanned the Book in full and have read the first 50 pages - am actually writing this blog in the gap between reading. It has a very exhaustive account of the Lakshmikanthan Murder Case and being an advocate he has analysed it very well and dispassionately. Indeed , many a small error , found in Randor's writing of the case has been corrected here.</div><div><br /></div><div> He has in London , collected some material , especially the coverage of the Trial by "The Mail" Newspaper and also to the film archives in Poona - where he even watched MKT's first film "Pavalakodi" in the archives... wonder why the archives have not bothered to release it as a DVD for all to see, after all it is the EARLIEST TAMIL TALKIE available.... Wish the K.Subrahmanyam family will take it up.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book is being sold at Higginbothams , he has not been able get through Landmark/ Cross word etc....A pity , wish some Book Distributor helps him do so. The Book costs Rs 495 , and every paise is well worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div>He may be contacted at</div><div> catch.suresh@yahoo.com</div><div>New No 22 Devanathan Street</div><div>R A Puram , Chennai - 600028</div><div><br /></div><div>PS - I am not his Press agent....ha ha ha....but would like every film buff who loved the early Musicals and the Music makers to read this work.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-18265442457131862102011-02-27T06:19:00.001-08:002011-02-27T06:50:24.667-08:00Heroines at last<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cKx_2nlY-stkYMblwRdHkxSHoCS2yTEfSO8OWNLoA4iSk3F99ksmRo2ONedc1AYbIdoAS9nj3GZSs4oCyjvsnEmQvgH1dTXFjzqRgoY3r4rDgC-FkYLwC4tZAWy3JepWb8xUgt0YkKWU/s1600/Savithri+stamp.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cKx_2nlY-stkYMblwRdHkxSHoCS2yTEfSO8OWNLoA4iSk3F99ksmRo2ONedc1AYbIdoAS9nj3GZSs4oCyjvsnEmQvgH1dTXFjzqRgoY3r4rDgC-FkYLwC4tZAWy3JepWb8xUgt0YkKWU/s400/Savithri+stamp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578374341980852530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlChSEP51QrQCpkGy15Q22E7iXtfdJiHzy017EqacJ9Osgh9I5YnhLPz52Ah8-4hj7FhymV6QpEPfXmVFLuX40aH-Ei0vzNQgyFmGLQFTSbATd4Us4wrGQjEBL7_vEuqgD1GQImPOq6-bH/s1600/Nutan+stamp.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlChSEP51QrQCpkGy15Q22E7iXtfdJiHzy017EqacJ9Osgh9I5YnhLPz52Ah8-4hj7FhymV6QpEPfXmVFLuX40aH-Ei0vzNQgyFmGLQFTSbATd4Us4wrGQjEBL7_vEuqgD1GQImPOq6-bH/s400/Nutan+stamp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578374338047284514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmXBl-_WEfmu4I03fGFmH1rf4LEDSZiEnyc3MaiIlzmr_SA5RZSH-b6bBgfWxVioAevmrBOH-B_2zc8_lpsb81dbDZDkisegCNH8dB6z0GS7b40WxaL5pmOX91tMH4wBrXX_G76RtlSEu/s1600/meena+kumari+stamp.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmXBl-_WEfmu4I03fGFmH1rf4LEDSZiEnyc3MaiIlzmr_SA5RZSH-b6bBgfWxVioAevmrBOH-B_2zc8_lpsb81dbDZDkisegCNH8dB6z0GS7b40WxaL5pmOX91tMH4wBrXX_G76RtlSEu/s400/meena+kumari+stamp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578374337682224002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK4qaOBxltHO3-cXrbm5_2FaIpgJB8T_H2PnjdtdWzX5vDVJ5yjS_xN9vsZIwzYkIXKdThShqQgopQXc0dBYCPbPDoUf21r41EOE9xaAA89LAwCTVcPLZVAwK_6ka8RivOSfT75bQQdIm/s1600/Heroines+stamp.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK4qaOBxltHO3-cXrbm5_2FaIpgJB8T_H2PnjdtdWzX5vDVJ5yjS_xN9vsZIwzYkIXKdThShqQgopQXc0dBYCPbPDoUf21r41EOE9xaAA89LAwCTVcPLZVAwK_6ka8RivOSfT75bQQdIm/s400/Heroines+stamp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578374333754169858" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>India Post has honoured six legendary heroines drawing from the earliest like <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Devika Rani</span></b>, who dominated the early silent and talkie era. She was Tagores niece, and had studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts....she married Himanshu Rai and co founded bombay Talkies....her role in Achyut Kanya (1934) ensured that Pandit Nehru became a fan of hers.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Kanan Devi</span></b> , started first as Kananbala became a legend of early Bengali cinema. She started as a Child artiste and went on to act in Barua's Mukti, and soon became the top star of New Theatres which she left in 1941 to freelance in both bengali and Hindi Films.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Leela Naidu</b></span> , was the femina Miss India in 1954 and was featured in Vogue as one of the most Beautiful women of the world. She made her film debut in 1960 with Hrishikesh Mukherji's Anuradha. She acted in a few Merchant Ivory films like the Householder and Guru.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Nutan</b></span> - Daughter of actress Shobana Samarth , made her debut in Hamara beti, to be moulded by Bimal Roy and his successors like hrishikesh Mukherji, Bimal Dutt and Sudendu Roy. Her song with Kishore - Yeh ratein yeh mausam , is one that still haunts me and is a favourite of mine. Her classic beauty is so very evident in the image on the Stamp.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Meena Kumari</span></b> - Born Mahjabeen , renamed baby meena , joined films at the tender age of 6 and went on to become one of our most celebrated actresses. Renamed meena Kumari for Bhatts baiju Bawra , she acted in all genres , comedy - Miss mary, Socials - Parineeta and the classics like sahib bibi aur Ghula, Do bigha Zameen and her husband kamal Amrohi's classic - Pakeezah. She also wrote urdu poetry under the pen name Naaz. A tragedy queen , had a tragic life too much like the next heroine to be honoured with a Stamp.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Savithri</span></b> - What can I say about this brilliant actress ? Just ask people to watch "Paasa Malar" , made during her peak or even Chandrababu's Thattungal Thirakkapadum , made during her last days and you will know. She started as a dramatist , worked in Drama with NTR, Jaggiah etc. Made her debut with L V Prasad's samsaram and K V Reddy's Paathala Bhairavi until she hit stardom with her role in Pelli chesi choodu.</div><div><br /></div><div> I personally think this is probably the only case of Husband and wife both being honoured with a stamp in the Film world . Gemini , got it a few years ago....of course actress Devika Rani mentioned above , went on to later re marry the Russian Painter Svetoslav Roerich , who has also been given a Stamp.</div><div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-66607036674906143982010-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:002010-12-18T09:13:21.863-08:00Balasaraswathy , Dhanammal and T.N.Rajarathinam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGMxAAxORy5svIhIs528YK265Uzr-40b8KDXuazQpEvW5_FU8PybBpV8Zp4UKpcJUrXzgXUzbe6BX7OcZu4B4S-WrjvhGWNpiGwAT7ElIKhuBG2CXJiZwzE2RIuhLSY6t4NRqyruAqXHm/s1600/T+N+Rajaratnam.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGMxAAxORy5svIhIs528YK265Uzr-40b8KDXuazQpEvW5_FU8PybBpV8Zp4UKpcJUrXzgXUzbe6BX7OcZu4B4S-WrjvhGWNpiGwAT7ElIKhuBG2CXJiZwzE2RIuhLSY6t4NRqyruAqXHm/s400/T+N+Rajaratnam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552070464055428834" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>T.N.Rajarathinam Pillai</b></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGMxAAxORy5svIhIs528YK265Uzr-40b8KDXuazQpEvW5_FU8PybBpV8Zp4UKpcJUrXzgXUzbe6BX7OcZu4B4S-WrjvhGWNpiGwAT7ElIKhuBG2CXJiZwzE2RIuhLSY6t4NRqyruAqXHm/s1600/T+N+Rajaratnam.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECzL03sJmta62axMSXAH1gLTpx_IwgNc8yqa_a7-JPkSp8S1qSHeYsYMr-D_3FRbMDbizU51AN4mbNoi8S22XqwZ01yBLt7wBTx7ghIzsgvG1IQM6JPaznFdvGMzOHa3NSytBKDArWL-p/s1600/scan0003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECzL03sJmta62axMSXAH1gLTpx_IwgNc8yqa_a7-JPkSp8S1qSHeYsYMr-D_3FRbMDbizU51AN4mbNoi8S22XqwZ01yBLt7wBTx7ghIzsgvG1IQM6JPaznFdvGMzOHa3NSytBKDArWL-p/s400/scan0003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552070465032311794" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECzL03sJmta62axMSXAH1gLTpx_IwgNc8yqa_a7-JPkSp8S1qSHeYsYMr-D_3FRbMDbizU51AN4mbNoi8S22XqwZ01yBLt7wBTx7ghIzsgvG1IQM6JPaznFdvGMzOHa3NSytBKDArWL-p/s1600/scan0003.jpg"></a>Thanjavur Balasaraswathi</b></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsdUk0v1sf2nh_MaBFCmAJ1wm3ljOJq2TV7YaPs3uA8qm1QVzmz_Nf-VXFkEDcOwnNHaudXSULmltKjcS_rWeijOPtg5vZzU0-qSobC_eDWiSPzDm8HifrDZfxzEYVv68Pea74TfZG3dm/s1600/scan0002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsdUk0v1sf2nh_MaBFCmAJ1wm3ljOJq2TV7YaPs3uA8qm1QVzmz_Nf-VXFkEDcOwnNHaudXSULmltKjcS_rWeijOPtg5vZzU0-qSobC_eDWiSPzDm8HifrDZfxzEYVv68Pea74TfZG3dm/s400/scan0002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552070457793629026" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Veenai Dhanammal</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >On the 3rd of December 2010 , The department of Posts , released 3 stamps to honour 3 great Geniuses in the world of Music and Dance. Two of them T.N.Rajarathinam Pillai and Balasaraswathy are connected to Cinema and hence form part of my collection.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >TNR was born on 27th August 1898 in Thiruvaduthurai ( Tanjore Dist.). He was sent to learn vocal music and gave his first concert at the age of 7. On the insistance of the elders in the family and those of the late Natesa Pillai ( a legendary Nadaswaram Vidwan) he was sent to learn Nadaswaram from A Kannuswami Pillai. He mastered the art with a great deal of hard work and practice. He was famous for his alaap of ragas which would at times last for hours. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >He acted in the Movie "Kalamegham" - This film was made in 1940 , directed by Ellis R Dungan on the life odf the poet Kalamegham. The film also had N S Krishnan and Mathuram. The heroine was Dhanalakshmi and the screenplay and lyrics were by Bharatidasan.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >T. Balasaraswathi - The legendary Bharatanatyam exponent and her great grandmother Veenai Dhanammal were honoured with stamps on the same day - a first time in Philatelic History. Bala, as the Satyajit ray film on her was called , was born on the 13th May 1918. She was skilled in music and took to dancing , mastering it with a wide repertoire at her command. She travelled widely across the country and all over the world. She was Honoured with the Padma Bhushan and the Sangeetha Kalanidhi among many other awards. She passed away on 9th Feb 1984.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Her Great Grand mother was born in George town in 1867 and mastered both Veena and Vocal Music. She had a long innings of 60 years of Music and did not much care for performing before latge audiences but preferred to give her recitals before a small group of knowledgable Rasikas. She passed away on 15th October 1938. She was held in awe and was much respected for her Knowledge and life style.</span></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-8842444277207498852010-10-14T23:10:00.001-07:002010-10-16T04:19:40.771-07:00LALIT MODI - From "Raja" of IPL to "Raju" (Ramalinga type) of IPL.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j67tRIgbiaqU9M8dlODP9g5pR10uTm0YTM2Ma3XV-VvK6p7TyDTyAxygvIgKXel2L0PfxJeZu0Bin9k_a3PRbXyD9vXaul_sdKVVWv40hSkv0lJ81h0NHRN2VoVuzp9FUezrmADtq_hi/s1600/mallyamodisrini_ipl.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j67tRIgbiaqU9M8dlODP9g5pR10uTm0YTM2Ma3XV-VvK6p7TyDTyAxygvIgKXel2L0PfxJeZu0Bin9k_a3PRbXyD9vXaul_sdKVVWv40hSkv0lJ81h0NHRN2VoVuzp9FUezrmADtq_hi/s400/mallyamodisrini_ipl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528182385937434562" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j67tRIgbiaqU9M8dlODP9g5pR10uTm0YTM2Ma3XV-VvK6p7TyDTyAxygvIgKXel2L0PfxJeZu0Bin9k_a3PRbXyD9vXaul_sdKVVWv40hSkv0lJ81h0NHRN2VoVuzp9FUezrmADtq_hi/s1600/mallyamodisrini_ipl.jpg"></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">I had posted the above title on Facebook and a reaction was - why am I targeting Modi ? Is it because of my "friendship" to N Srinivasan (NS) ? - The answer is simple - I wish I was NS's friend - I am not .</span></b><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">I do know his brother and his Sammandhi , both of whom are in my Rotary Club - In fact I have seen/met him twice in the past 20 years - once , when he was the chief guest at the Inauguration of the "Mahesh memorial Cancer ward" at the cancer Institute , Adyar and the second time at the MCC club, when the Chennai Super Kings were felicitated. On both occasions we exchanged a smile and maybe a "hello" - there were more than 500 other guests present. If this can make him my friend - then , yes, I am his friend. </span></b></div><div><br /><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">My brothers are Advocates by profession ( so too my son as was my father) . As we are not a joint family staying together etc - their clients/friends are not people I meet. My brothers are too professional to discuss anything concerning their business with me.</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span"> They like all in the family are Cricket Lovers and they have played League cricket , indeed one of them as the Secretary of a Team has been in the TNCA for more than a decade - he is currently the vice President there. Still it does not make NS or anyone else from any Cricket Body "my" friend. It is as absurd as saying that a colleague of mine say -Mr Delhi Ganesh is a friend of my brother. I preface all this so that my remarks are understood in the correct context and perspective.</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. Chennai Super Kings is NOT owned by N.Srinivasan. It is owned by India Cements. India cements is a Public limited Company founded by the family of Mr Sankaralinga Iyer as well as by Mr T S Narayanaswami ( NS's father) in 1946. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> NS as an individual holds 0.05 % of the Share capital of the company - as the promoter family he and the other investment companies hold approximately 28 %. Please check out this document available if you google it as I did -</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b><b><a href="http://www.indiacements.co.in/shareholder_distribution.htm">http://www.indiacements.co.in/shareholder_distribution.htm</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT MORE THAN 70% IS HELD BY THE PUBLIC, BANKS, F I I 'S ETC. So it is NOT an Individuals team or a private consortium like The Rajasthan Royals . Probably The Ambani's holding Mumbai Indians and the Mallya's in Royal Challengers are the other few totally transparent non overseas funded totally Indian team like the Chennai Super kings - maybe the Deccan chargers too but I have not studies them.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. NS <span class="Apple-style-span">probably</span> got the Board to change the rules to facilitate this purchase - whether that was done legally or not is being questioned by Shri A C Muthiah in his appeal to the Supreme Court - the matter being sub judice, it may not be correct to comment on that - Let me add that the lower court ( Madras high Court) has held in favor of NS and Shri ACM has gone on appeal. Let us await the verdict. It is the very same ACM's father who, as Secretary of the BCCI registered it in Chennai as a Society - and today ACM's friend Lalit's advocates are stating this as an example to show that this is a personal fight between NS and Lalit. What is probably a personal fight is the ACM - NS one. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">3. The charges against Lalit Modi are that he was involved in a "Criminal Conspiracy" and set about to defraud the BCCI. Times Now, the Channel gave a lot of details and compared him to Suresh Kalamadi - they did , not I . He is said to have been responsible for over 450 crores being diverted away from BCCI to himself ( ?) . Here too we find that a Criminal Complaint has been lodged and FIR filed. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">On the other hand NS by paying money has contributed to the coffers of the BCCI. So there is no comparison - as some have sought to make. Simply put - NS gave while Lalit took.</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Here i wish that you click on this link and check out what lalit said immediately after announcing the results of the bids in 2008 . </span></b><a href="http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/24ipl1.htm"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/24ipl1.htm</span></b></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. Many have said that the IPL was lalit's creation and concept and he was a genius etc....I question that statement too....</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The IPL was the brain child of many many others - Many don't recall that Subhash Chandra of Zee TV started this as The Indian Cricket league. Incidentally he too was a client of my brother. Check this link for a history of this league whose Inaugural season was in 2007 ( </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cricket_League"><b>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cricket_League</b></a><b> ) .</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> The Chennai Team was called the Chennai Superstars and had many like R Satish and Hemang Badani in it ( </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Superstars"><b>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_Superstars</b></a><b> ). This was considered a rebel league and did not find support with the BCCI , hence failed.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> The official version based on this model was started by the BCCI and Modi appointed its "head". To credit him with inventing this is as stupid as crediting Zee TV , for all this is based on the Cricket leagues overseas and they on the Professsional Football/Basketball/Baseball Leagues of the World.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>MODI JUST TOOK IT FORWARD. MAYBE IF A PROFESSIONAL WAS APPOINTED WE COULD HAVE HAD A MUCH CLEANER, TRANSPARENT AND SCANDAL LESS IPL.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I am surprised how people can justify his actions by saying that after all "it was his baby". IT WAS NOT. Maybe if the BCCI had asked Subhash to continue its ICL and given it official sanction then all this would not have happened.</b></div><div><b>The credit to Modi is that he converted everything - including the time taken in between balls to an opportunity to make money. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I ask , what do you think the IPL would have become like had a Professional Sport promoter / event manager headed the show and Professional Marketing people Branded it.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">I ask , how would the IPL have grown had say a Ratan Tata or a Nandan Neelankeni headed it, both being Industrialists with a spotless track record, been at the helm of affairs as a against a man whose track record for ethics is dubious to say the least.</span> Indeed his background check seems to reveal many things like the typical Soap opera.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Many have said that none of the existing BCCI guys could have done it, bit they are all people who are running multi crore companies and it some case the country - they know how to hire the right people.....in this case they did not choose correctly. Wrong choice - or knowing who were at the helm of affairs then, maybe it was intentional. ? Creating Frankensteins is a policy too.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Finally , I am surprised that many a "Tamil" is questioning NS and in fact supporting Lalit. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></div><div><b>It was the bold enterprise of NS that got us in Chennai a Team. I do not know if any other Tamil Nadu based consortium bir for this....maybe we would have been happier if a consortium of businessmen operating through a Caymen island holding company bought the franchise for "my city" - of course with the statutory 25% held by lalit modi.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>People like Vijay Mallya had bid even for the Mumbai Team but lost to Ambani. He was not exclusively Loyal to Bengaluru, his home town but viewed this as a investment opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>NS bid for HIS City, his State and bought the best players - making the Chennai Super kings , the most succesful Team in the 3 editions of the IPL. </b></div><div><b>Why then question the man who has worked to enhance the pride of every cricket lover from our State ? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Vijay Mallya is the Vice president of the KSCA and the CEO of Royal Chellengers - Brijesh Patel, the secretary of KSCA , I understand that Mr Mukesh ambani too is in a state Cricket association , people from these states are proud of "their man" -<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> the Tamil will always be different....</span></span></b></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-81850056067454265692010-10-05T23:51:00.000-07:002010-10-06T01:32:13.483-07:00My take on "Endhiran"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndgGv8ntO6QqcRLXkOvd3gLGPMFFcYu5_v85sB4Gi45utAo6nPwrfntWb1-L3JHMr2IfyIQ3_brORt01Fk6_AeWjn-mEqFb1fAYAZrZPTPLxHE_mkoQqoyIhJVPjI-j7JWQol3xaOtI08/s1600/ro.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndgGv8ntO6QqcRLXkOvd3gLGPMFFcYu5_v85sB4Gi45utAo6nPwrfntWb1-L3JHMr2IfyIQ3_brORt01Fk6_AeWjn-mEqFb1fAYAZrZPTPLxHE_mkoQqoyIhJVPjI-j7JWQol3xaOtI08/s400/ro.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524841127436874258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXTp3GDGyVbbR-OG3KDrrgX-lpRHEJ1oAFyrOM7PwPOLPqYyKh_ic7T22PFwNP2QlzZBTd-pq7LbriKAMfFM7TQXb3wmB9zKT3WOh7CJYJdBDgEY0aISUVb1OVGWg1LXbx7UaK6Oh38_9/s1600/robot.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXTp3GDGyVbbR-OG3KDrrgX-lpRHEJ1oAFyrOM7PwPOLPqYyKh_ic7T22PFwNP2QlzZBTd-pq7LbriKAMfFM7TQXb3wmB9zKT3WOh7CJYJdBDgEY0aISUVb1OVGWg1LXbx7UaK6Oh38_9/s400/robot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524841128056868274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OjoGWkR8J8qK-ixC8okHCZu7ilx2Fmop_BduSRsDHBuPn3cQwkByssXoXb4zyEg1YpaiZJjkxwGChRX4ZHnV1NTsY-_uMbh4jipDiYBx24PIKqkrs5NLqflPlGIKKvmDPX0fM0IJE3G/s1600/robot+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OjoGWkR8J8qK-ixC8okHCZu7ilx2Fmop_BduSRsDHBuPn3cQwkByssXoXb4zyEg1YpaiZJjkxwGChRX4ZHnV1NTsY-_uMbh4jipDiYBx24PIKqkrs5NLqflPlGIKKvmDPX0fM0IJE3G/s400/robot+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524841122984294818" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9OjoGWkR8J8qK-ixC8okHCZu7ilx2Fmop_BduSRsDHBuPn3cQwkByssXoXb4zyEg1YpaiZJjkxwGChRX4ZHnV1NTsY-_uMbh4jipDiYBx24PIKqkrs5NLqflPlGIKKvmDPX0fM0IJE3G/s1600/robot+1.jpg"></a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am a die hard "Rajini" fan and love him both as an actor and a human being, many an earlier blog of mine will prove this.</span></b><div><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span><div>I watched Endhiran and must say I came out with mixed feelings....</div><div><br /></div><div>The great positive vibe and feel was the "technical" brilliance that tamil Cinema has advanced to as well as the sheer gloss and richness that the film had in every frame. Kudos to Shankar and his Team.</div><div><br /></div><div>The brilliance of the Graphics especially the last few minutes with the army of Robots has to be seen to be believed. Matches any Hollywood film.... definitely beats Bollywood by a mile.</div><div><br /></div><div>They have spent crores and it was seen in every frame , every paise of it.....Hats off to the producers , who have taken tamil Film Production into a different orbit - albeit a dizzying one.</div><div>For it is this film that has made the rest of India wake up and notice us here.</div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >The other lovely part of the movie that I truly enjoyed was the "Chitti" part. Rajini has proved what a consummate actor and performer he is in his avatar as the Robot ( corrupted). What elan, what dash, what an actor.....truly deserves the sobriquet "Superstar"....</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is not a Keanu Reeves movie , a Superman, Batman or Spiderman film , nor is it the Robin Williams starrer "Bicentennial man" - which in many ways is the inspiration for this film , if you want to know more about this film's plot click here</span><span class="Apple-style-span" > - </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicentennial_Man_(film)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicentennial_Man_(film)</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now for me as a "Rajini" fan going to a Rajini film....to enjoy my "Thalaivar"</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >I always love it when Rajini dons the hero , he is the brave, honest good guy ( maybe a coward in the beginning but is transformed into a "Veeran" ) who is wronged by a Villain - he could be a friend turned bad like Sharat Babu in Annamalai , a truly bad guy like Raghuvaran in Baasha or even Suman in "Sivaji" - but there has to be a Duryodhanan - and Rajini , the Panchapandavargal all rolled into one , must in the climax "Thulp" the man out of his senses......</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Superstar can also tame the shrew as he did Vijayashanthi in Mannan or Ramya Krishnan in Padayappa <b>- BUT HE MUST HAVE A UNIQUE MANNERISM OR STYLE </b>- that is what makes him the Super star and he <b>MUST HAVE A PUNCH LINE</b> - as Aishwarya says in this film "unnodadhu Thani vazhi"....In these aspects I was disappointed with Endhiran.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>He should have had a one to one with Danny Denzongpa or Chitti ( preferably both) and kicked the @#$% out of them . On the contrary he runs away from a drunk toddy tapper who is teased earlier by Aishwarya.....My hero had NO moment of Glory except right at the end , and that too it is not physical but keeps chitti magnetically immmobile etc.... Great for Keanu but not for my Thalaivar.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Despite being the hero he must have at least one nice comedy scene - like the scooter ride with the priest as "paramasivan" or the snake around the neck in a Ladies hostel.....These are a must. Here too Endhiran disappoints</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" > A scene or two with his parents and siblings highlighting "Family" sentiments , - remember that song ? - "Amma endru azhaikkaadha...?" - maybe even a song on the thaththuvam of life like " 8 x 8 vaazhkkai" - nothing like that here - in fact there is NO solo song for him here.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>He must also have a nice comedy sidekick like Janakaraj in Basha etc or Goundamani in Mannan or even Vivek in Sivaji..... the duo in this film disappoint to say the least.....</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >His entry in the film must be with a bang - and a song - remember "Naan autokkaaran.." or "Vandhenda paalakaaran..." or "Devuda devuda..." - nothing like that here in Endhiran for Boss comes into the film without as much as a whisper......</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Songs bring me to the point that I found the re recording absolutely brilliant but the songs left me disappointed....I am a die hard fan of the music of "old times" and for me melody is the key , I still relate to modern music if I can hum the tune as I walk out of the theatre - like the "style' song in Sivaji.....I am simply not able to recall a single tune ( I do not listen to FM , watch songs on TV or listen to the CD.) , the first time I listen to the songs is in the film and it must stick to my head. Needless to say the locations and the picturisation was extraordinary , loved it when Rajini does the Robot style dancing. All in all I thought the music of Rehman , another genius, did nothing to lift the film to greater heights as it did in Sivaji or Padayappa.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >I must here say that the Stunt sequences were brilliant , probably the best in any Indian Film thus far. Peter heyn must be complimented and of course Rajini who must have had hours and hours of back breaking work - his professionalism and total submission to the Director never ceases to amaze me.....what a man !!!!!</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I thought "Chandramukhi" was itself a mild risk as it lacked the elements of the classic "Rajini" film like a clear cut, well defined villain etc but made up more than amply with the songs, the humour and the basic story, not to forget those few glorious moments when Vettaiyan comes on the screen. The Robot here I thought was an extension of the "lakalakalaka" Vettaiyyan - as usual the superstar excelled in it so much so that the last scene was extremely poignant. </div><div><br /></div><div>My Take - </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >As a Tamil film fan - Extraordinary Film -what a technical coup.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>As a die hard "Superstar" fan - an ordinary film.</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >As a fan of the "actor" Rajinikanth - a film to be relished... Chitti , takes the cake.</span></b></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515743025896718503.post-15172704298342117972010-08-19T00:57:00.001-07:002010-08-19T01:05:46.556-07:00My Talk on Chandrababu .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZabgAwtwVHa9OHixJth3pViaUQv-0WXjehxTfQuQJUxbjPpoCcRtq5lOFy4BuarmYuby_Je9AbCz6pSU9vx9pjdiXPQNLCGk6bmnKvMGpyEbXpXhqxpkPCZ94pprTBiIqTnheVJoFuhi/s1600/Indian+express+18+aug+10.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZabgAwtwVHa9OHixJth3pViaUQv-0WXjehxTfQuQJUxbjPpoCcRtq5lOFy4BuarmYuby_Je9AbCz6pSU9vx9pjdiXPQNLCGk6bmnKvMGpyEbXpXhqxpkPCZ94pprTBiIqTnheVJoFuhi/s400/Indian+express+18+aug+10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507027281301014930" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZabgAwtwVHa9OHixJth3pViaUQv-0WXjehxTfQuQJUxbjPpoCcRtq5lOFy4BuarmYuby_Je9AbCz6pSU9vx9pjdiXPQNLCGk6bmnKvMGpyEbXpXhqxpkPCZ94pprTBiIqTnheVJoFuhi/s1600/Indian+express+18+aug+10.jpg"></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZabgAwtwVHa9OHixJth3pViaUQv-0WXjehxTfQuQJUxbjPpoCcRtq5lOFy4BuarmYuby_Je9AbCz6pSU9vx9pjdiXPQNLCGk6bmnKvMGpyEbXpXhqxpkPCZ94pprTBiIqTnheVJoFuhi/s1600/Indian+express+18+aug+10.jpg"></a>Indian Express of the 18th August carried an article on my talk. I am thankful for the fine reporting. Please click on the article to get a more magnified, readable image.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535161327755111448noreply@blogger.com0