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Before I am asked how a film classic like Parasakthi was not honoured, while Veerapandiya Kattabomman was , I thought it wise to post what was done in the year 2002.
To mark the golden jubilee of the release of this cult classic we , again the Soviet Cultural centre and the Sivaji parabhu charities trust came together and brought out this special day cover.
Parasakthi not only launched the career of south, nay, Indian film's greatest actor but also sowed the seeds for the firm entrenchment of "dravidian" socio politico thought in Cinema and thereby paved the way for the DMK making steady in roads into the Politics of the State. It was around this time that the snap of my dad with MK etc was shot( please see my earlier blog).
P.A.Perumal , of National Pictures , one of the producers, the other being AVM, was a die hard follower of Periyar and indeed later went on to make Raththa Kaneer.......
Sivaji started working in the movie in 1950 - approximately July/August and was in the process of making the film for over 2 years.The film was released in October 1952. Sivaji had the highest regards for Mr.Krishnan ( of Krishnan-Panju) , the director , Mr.P.A.Perumal and Mrs.Rajeswari A.V.Meyyappan as they were the 3 people who stood by him steadfast on him doing this role while all others wanted to remove him and bring in M.K.Radha ( not M.R) for the role.
In fact he suffered so many humiliations and insults during the making of this film from all concerned that he once asked me......
If the trees in between the Floors were still there in AVM , I said yes.....his reply was they have all grown to this size not because of ....in Tamil.....Chettiar Vitta Thanneer illa da Mohan , indha ganesan vitta Kanneer da....(not the water that Chettiar poured but by my tears.......).
I must here mention the honour the studio has given him....Please see my earlier Blog on the Memorial they have erected to mark the spot where he began his career in AVM. A first if not only time that such an honour has been given to an actor.
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3 comments:
Truly moved by this part of the post:
"If the trees in between the Floors were still there in AVM , I said yes.....his reply was they have all grown to this size not because of ....in Tamil.....Chettiar Vitta Thanneer illa da Mohan , indha ganesan vitta Kanneer da....(not the water that Chettiar poured but by my tears.......). "
Can't imagine the difficulties he'd have gone through to express his feelings in those words. I remember watching this movie twice: Once, when I had no knowledge of tamil language (9 yrs old or so) and then later after learning the language (when I was almost 16)...The second viewing impressed me so much, I must say (surprisingly at that age)!! Love his dialogue delivery, the gestures...Falling short of words!
Mohan sir thanks for all the intersting info on the great Shivaji. The words en kannerala valarnthathu were touching. Pl write more such info on the Great Shivaji.
Regards,
Dharma
Singapore
The old images of Madras are truly nostalgic. Babu & Usha
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