V.P.Raman , My father

A sunny day in LLoyd Road




He took to smoking when he was past 50 - still injurious.






Pensive mood.







At his "Castle" - Glen Gyle in Kodaikanal








VENKATA PATTABHI RAMAN or simply Bala to his friends

I just wanted to write a few lines on my father. If ever there was a list of men whose amazing intellect was to be revered for the sheer variety of subjects they could intelligently converse on , I guess my dad will be somewhere right on top of that list.

Born on 3rd October, 1932 . He was brilliant academically and finished School from the Church Park Convent ( Yes it was Co-ed ) then. He , having had 2 double promotions on the way to finishing could not join College right away and spent that time reading, learning shorthand and typing , accounts and the Violin - from the noted violinist Pappa Venkatramaiah. I have heard some really great ( I am given to understand) Jam sessions in my house. Ramnad Krishnan and my Mother ( who is today on the Grading and selection Panel for All India Radio) Smt.Kalpakam Raman sing, with dad on the Violin , Joined in by S.Balachander on the Veena ( My grandmother has a few at Home) and Mali on the Flute.....wish we had those sessions Taped.

My Dad then joined loyola College for his B.Sc in Physics , he was not too taken up with Science and did not do his usual Brilliant best. Thereafter he Joined the Madras law College and in those 3 Years set records that to this Day remain unbroken. He stood first and obtained the Gold medal in so many subjects that the record stands unbroken - even after 55 years. He was offered a Lecturership straight after his Graduation which he took up for a while. Many an Advocate has told me of how he used to make Dry subjects like Hindu Law and Jurisprudence interesting.

He had by then finished experimenting with Communism and joined the DMK Party where he was given the alliterative title/name of "Vazhakkarignar VPR". He along with M/S EVK Sampath, Era Sezhiyan wrote the Constitution of the Party. In 1955 he married my mother and the next year in 1956 I was born.

His life was filled with so many highlights that I can proudly say that even to this day...some 17 years after his passing away , his name still spins magic and opens doors for us. His forte was his

sharp intellect , swift repartee , ability to grasp a problem and reduce it to the simplest of terms , and all this , thinking out of the Box. His approach was so different , his language , so fluently stylish. His speech - crystal clear and crisply to the point that as an Advocate he simply stood out. At the young age of 34 he was made the Public Prosecutor and this was when the State had an Advocate general and a Public Prosecutor - not the big band of Law Officers that the States these days seem to require. ( That My brother P.S.Raman - is the current Additional Advocate general is another matter for another Blog maybe).

In 1975 he was called to Delhi to take over as Additional Solicitor General , again at the age of 43.

He made his mark in Courts all over India - by appearing for the Government of Smt. Indira Gandhi , defending the Fundamental Rights case. Indeed , Sri L.K.Advani commented that Mr.Raman was one of the fairest advocates to have prosecuted him !!!

My father's adherance to Truth and Ethics of the profession was obsessive. Almost a disorder. He could not Stomach many things that happened , which is why he could never make it in the political Arena. His contacts were numerous but they were all in dread of his tongue as he never hesitated to call a spade a spade. Diplomacy and tact were alien to the Man. After the Emergency was called off and the Congress lost power he came back to Madras to be appointed the Advocate general of the State in 1977 for Sri.M.G.Ramachandran. Our relationship to this legend requires another Blog - I promise it will be there. After 1979 he did not take up any Law office but focussed on his Private Practice. He passed away in 1991 at the age of 59. Having packed enough in that lifetime that a 95 year old would not have.

To me he was a friend - so too to my brothers , and I can safely say that he was the first friend we lost.......Many left thereafter , each leaving a small cut in our hearts but Dad's passing left a gash so big that even now , at times it opens and silently bleeds......

My eternal regret is that he could not see his children become successful and his grand children grow up. He was very well connected to the film world what with Anna, Kalaignar, MGR, Gemini,Kannadasan,Visvanathan Ramamurthy,ALS,AVM,Saroja Devi , Sridhar and Sivaji being some of his clients ,and would have been thrilled to see me do so well in the silver screen.

Arivalur Ayyanar Temple - Renovation underway

Poorna Pushkala Sammedha Arivalur Saastha -(Ayyanaar).




Additional Building of a small Enclosure for devotees to Stand and Pray.
Compound Wall , Horse Vaahanam and other works to be undertaken.






The Work in Progress on the Temple





The Temple - Before Renovation work started

It was a great feeling when my friend Mr.Pattabhiraman , whose family is spearheading the renovation Project sent me Photographs of the Progress made in this. The Temple is well on the way to getting a Total facelift and hopefully devotees will have better facilities when they come to worship.

In my earlier Blog I had mentioned of the need for this and I am happy to report that our efforts to raise funds have met with great success thanks to the Blessings of Saastha. I wanted to share my joy that the Work is underway and will be completed for us to hold the Kumbabishekam on the 15th of march this year.I am posting a few Photographs for all to see the work done so far.

I am indeed beholden to my friends and schoolmates from Vidya Mandir-Mylapore, my XLRI batchmates , and my Film Fraternity , many of whom gave us sizeable contributions. A few other Philanthropic Industrialists have also helped Considerably. Many in my family too have chipped in to augment resources.

We have so far between the two families collected nearly 5 lakhs ( and already paid 4 to the contractor). The Contractor must be thanked for he is a devotee and has agreed to do this project on a cost to cost basis.

The Total estimated cost for renovation and Kumbabishekam with the 45 Days of Mandala Pooja thereafter is in the region of 9 Lakhs. I have firm commitments for another 2 lakhs from my immediate family.

Needless to say much more is required in terms of Funds and Material but I am confidant that........

The Lord will Provide .....

அய்யனார் - அறிவளுர்

இதை தமிழிலும் போட வேண்டும் என்ற காரணத்தினால் ....நூறு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் என் தாத்தா ( A.V.Raman) அவரின் சொந்த ஊரை விட்டு வந்தார் . ஏதோ காரணங்களால் அப்பக்கமே திரும்பவில்லை . என் தந்தை (V.P.Raman) கூட அந்த கிராமம் எங்கு இருக்கிறதோ என்று ஒரு சில முறை தேடிவிட்டு முயற்சியை கை விட்டுவிட்டார். தாத்தாவின் கூட பிறந்தவர்கள் (Muthukrishnan,Pattabhi ,Swami ) ரங்கூன் சென்று வ்யாபாரம் தொடங்கினர் . இவரோ இங்கிலாந்து சென்று தனது இன்ஜினியரிங் கல்வியை தொடர்ந்தார் . உறவுகள் இருந்தனவா ? அந்த ஊரில் ? இரண்டாம் உலக போர் முடிந்ததும் அவரின் சகோதரர்களில் ஒருவர் பர்மாவிலிருந்து அகதியாக வந்தார்( A.Swami ). அவர்கள் சந்தித்தது சென்ட்ரல் ஸ்டேஷனில் ...அகதிகளுக்கு உதவ சென்ற என் தாத்தா ...திடீர் என்று தன் சகோதரரை போல் ஒருவரை பார்த்து ....நீ சாமி தானே என்று கேட்க ..... சந்தோஷம் .இருந்தாலும் மயிலாடுதுறை (மாயவரம்) அருகில் உள்ள அவர்களின் சொந்த கிராமத்துக்கு யாரும் செல்ல வில்லை. கிராமத்தின் பெயர் அறிவளுர். ரயில் விபத்து நடந்த அறியளுருடன் குழப்ப வேண்டாம் . ஒரு முறை படப்பிடிப்பில் சொந்த ஊரை பற்றி பேச்சு வரவும் நான் எங்கள் ஊரை தேடிக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறேன் என்று கூறினேன். எங்கள் புகைப்படக்காரர் உடனே கூறினார் .....அது எலந்தங்குடி பின்னால இருக்கு என்று ....கேட்டவுடன் மெய் சிலுர்ததது....சுமார் 1895 க்கு பிறகு இப்பொழுதுதான் சொந்த ஊரை எங்கள் குடும்பம் மீண்டும் தெரிந்து கொண்டது என்று. அடுத்த மாதமே சென்று அம்மண்ணை வணங்கினேன் . எங்கள் குல தெய்வம் அங்குள்ள ஒரு சாஸ்தா - அய்யனார் என்று என் பாட்டி குரியது எனக்கு நினைவில் வந்து அந்த கோவிலையும் தேடி கண்டுபிடித்தேன் . மனம் நேகுழ்ந்தது. இதெல்லாம் நடந்து நான்கு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேல் ஆகிவிட்டது. அதே ஊர் அதே குலதெய்வம் என்றுள்ள சில நல்லவர்கள் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து இப்பொழுது அந்த கோவிலுக்கு திருப்பணி செய்ய முன் வந்துள்ளனர் ....ஆகவே தான் இதை நினைவு கொர்ந்தேன். காணமல் போன எங்கள் குடும்பம் மீண்டும் குலதேய்வத்தை வந்தடைந்தது அந்த தெய்வத்தின் அருள் என்று தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும் . அய்யனார் என்ற கடவுளை பற்றி தெரிந்தவர்கள் அவரின் சரித்திரம் , ஸ்தலங்கள் போன்றவை பற்றி ஏதாவது குறிப்புகள் இருந்தால் எனக்கு அனுப்புமாறு கேட்டுகொள்கிறேன்.

My Arivalur Ayyanaar

This is a story much like the Alex haley one - Roots. It all started a century or more ago. Around the late 1890s my grandfather left his native village and went to England ( not sure of when exactly) . He had a few brothers Muthukrishnan , Pattabhi , Swami all of whom were to leave for Rangoon or had a few of them left ??? and another younger brother Srinivasan who went on to pursue medicine. The net result was a total severance of links with his ancestoral Village - ARIVALUR. This is near Mayiladuthurai ( Mayavaram) on the Thiruvarur Road , behind the Village of Elandhangudi. Anyway Venkartaman , my grandfather , after whom I have been named, son of Agneeswara Iyer , left his Roots for Good.

For years , my father and his cousin ,the son of pattabhi made attempts to trace this Village which is often confused with the Ariyalur of Train accident fame. No one in my family had been there for over a 100 years for they did not know where it was. Post world war II the brothers from Rangoon returned and I am not sure how much they were all in touch. The people in Swami's family and pattabhi's family were in touch with us and happily still are.

Once while shooting for a serial there was a mention of native villages etc and I mentioned the name of mine , when a still Photographer said he knows it....My heart leaped and I got him to tell me exactly where it was and within the month went there.....visited my Kuladeivam Temple an Ayyanar One. It was a really great moment for me. My relatives and brother etc too later came with me and my aunt has been going there for a while.

What was uniquely satisfying was when a former colleague of mine from my days in Binny Ltd called me to tell me that his family too hailed from the same Arivalur Agraharam and that they too shared the same kuladeivam and that they were planning to have it fully refurbished and repaired.....Truly satisfying...If you happen to know of anyone who hails from these parts , let them know and ask them to get in touch.

Travancore Sisters

Today was the day acting was born...yes, today , the 1st Oct was the birthday of Sivaji Ganesan,the great Thespian.

Every year to mark his passing away , the family of Sivaji , through the Sivaji Prabhu Charities trust honours in association with the Postal department by issuing a Special Cover and Cancellation. This cancellation is unique and after a Postage Stamp this is the next highest thing the department does to honour achievers and achievements.

We have till date brought out cover to honour/mark

1. 50th anniversary of Parasakthi

2. M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar

3.P.U.Chinnappa

4.M.K.Radha

5. P.Kannamba

6.M.R.Radha

7.A.Bhim Singh

8.J.P.Chandrababu

and this year the Travancore Sisters - Lalitha,Padmini and Ragini.

Instead of 21st July we released it today to celebrate his 80th Birthday....

Truly remarkable function with Vairamuthu and actor Sivakumar speaking and Kalaignar Karunanidhi the chief Guest.....Y.G.Mahendra and yours truly were the comperes of the function held at Anna Arivaalayam to a capacity crowd...not even Standing Room...

M.R.Radha Centenary Tribute Lecture

The Hindu - August 22nd.

The Indian Express Sept 2nd

Times of India - 21st August

I had a great time giving these lectures and an even greater time preparing for them.


Gave me an opportunity to view several films.....WOW , they really made movies then , as they


truly moved you.


The Press has been kind to me and they covered the talks....I am attaching the cuttings ...I must thank those of you who attended the talk and those who gave me their encouragement and support.

Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

After a long gap I had the blessing to visit the
abode of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai - Swami to us
his devotees. What a wonderful two days it was.
Indeed , I have been planning on blogging my
limited experiences with Swami and have been
wondering if it should be in this thread or whether I should start something fresh. I wonder and look to you , the readers , to guide me. Considering that he is the Universal Director , maybe , it fits the rest of the Blogs content. Friends I request all of you to let me have your views.
The above picture was taken during Ramnavami of 1988....It was in the evening when Swami suddenly looked at the clock and said ....Ah , correct time , nakshatra ,lagna etc...just now Rama was born....and materialised this wonderful statuette ( approx 2 inches) and gave it to me .....Guess I must have done something good in my earlier births.In fact he asked me where is Rama...I thought he was referring to my father the famous senior advocate - Mr.V.P.Raman.. I said he is coming tomorrow from Madras. Swami smiled and said , No , no , he is coming now...and waved his hand in the famous circular motion , lo behold , Lord Rama was there.
I have a request to many NON Believers who may read this blog....Kindly do Not hurt the feelings of those who do by posting anything that is spiteful etc...If you do not like
or agree just click your way to the next page.
Love all , Serve all.

M.R.Radha

Last Year I was asked by Chennai heritage/Madras Musings to present a Talk with Film Clips during the Chennai Week. The topic last year was Chennai as a backdrop in Films 1930s to 1960s. Stills from that research are seen in my earlier Blog. It was so wonderful an experience for me that I unhesitatingly accepted to deliver one more this year. My Talk this year is on the famed M.R.Radha. The first is in Tamil and the second in English. It is expected that I will shut up in an hour 's time.....but even if we double it , we can all be back home or out partying by 8.30 PM.

August 20: Wednesday - At 6.30 pm.At Avvai Kalai Kazhagam, 15/9, Somu Chetty 4th Lane, Royapuram.Chennai Heritage with Avvai Kalai Kazhagam – Madras Musings Lecture Series (Tamil). M.R. Radha – Nooravadu Andu Anjali (A centenary tribute to M.R. Radha) – Talk with film clips by Mohan Raman.

August 24: Sunday - At 6.30 pm.At Welcomgroup Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, TTK Road.(ADYAR PARK....) Chennai Heritage-Madras Musings Lecture. A Star of Madras – a centenary tribute ( English) to (M.R. Radha) - Talk with film clips by Mohan Raman.

There are several interesting talks and walks organised as part of the madras Week celebrations...those of you who are interested in this topic of " old Chennai" may please check out the website http://www.themadrasday.in/ for details on events and lectures.

Some of my favourite speakers are there Randor Guy, Sriram.....these chaps are all a fund of information and those of you who can make it are bound to have a cerebrally stimulating and rib tickling time

Check out the Trailer for the talk.....

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcgoB7w2AI

It began here - chennai 65 years ago

War Memorial - yes the one in Marina .


Parrys Corner






This is an Advertisement from the Hindu of February 1915.

The first "Electric" Theatre in the South was in Mount road as it was then called .
This was built in 1900 and it was this theatre's centenary that I celebrated with Mr.Sivaji and Mr. Kamal attending the Special Cover release for Tamil Film Pioneers. Happily the bulding still stands in the Anna Road Post Office Complex as the Philatelic Bureau - Bang opposite the Shanthi Theatre..Oh, how we yearn for those good old days when we could watch a movie for 1 Re and get change to go home by Bus.......after buying some peanuts and an ice cream.


I gave a talk last year on Chennai as a backdrop in Tamil Cinema and have taken a few clips of Chennai from early Tamil films - circa 1940s.....Enjoy them too.

Natpukku Kuselan - Rajini

I haven't seen the film and I am sure that the last twenty minutes must be outstanding....for Friendship and what it means. Happy friendship Day to all those who read this...even if you are reading it later.



Much is being said about the "apology" and so on. I have one thought to contribute. The "karnataka" market for this film cannot be something so big that it prompted the Superstar to send this apology....I know that he settled probably four times that amount for the financial hardships that the distributors claimed to have suffered in "Baba". To say that he did this for money is utter nonsensense. I feel that there is more to it than what he, as a Gentleman, is willing to let all of us know. What little I Know of him , says that he is NOT a Commercially driven person. Much finer sentiments rule that Man.



In any case, to apologise and to say that he is sorry IF he had hurt someone's feelings...is an act of bravery and not cowardice. To express one's feelings in a socio - Political issue is one thing and to hurt the sentiments and feelings of a section of people is another. We must realise that the apology was for having hurt and not for having participated in the protest fast.



I wish all of us will rise above petty partisan feelings and Try to solve this problem of "cauvery" water....We have always welcomed non Tamil Speaking people in Tamil Nadu ( here I mean, people for whom Tamil is not their mother tongue) - MGR , Periyar , Jayalaithaa , M.R.Radha , Savithri , Padmini , Nagesh , Kannamba , Vai.Ko , Vijaykanth , Rukmani Devi Arundale , Dr Cherian ,Dr. Badrinath , Dr. P.C.Reddy , Nagi Reddy , Bhanumathy , Mr.Tarapore , Mr.Kothari , Mr.Dadha have all been Great Citizens for Tamil Nadu.....What they have done for us is more important than where they came from. Ambedkar has done so much for social upliftment in Tamil Nadu , he is from Maharashtra. Mother Theresa was not even an Indian by birth . So why harp on this Tamil - non Tamil Issue.


In the Genographic Project, I suggest all of us visit that site
https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/atlas.html

they have traced our ancestry .... all of us come from a small group that migrated some 60,000 years ago from africa. so where are these issues of language, State or even Country??....We seem to have had one migration 50000 years ago and one 25000 years ago. These Gentlemen ..were our ancestors....This is verified Genetically. In fact , for a small sum you can get a Kit from National Geographic and trace your gene , almost to that little pool of water in Africa...Try it.The web site makes for interesting reading , a documentary on this was also telecast. One of our friends from Tanjore was able to trace his roots , I remember reading about it in the Papers.

So let us all be FRIENDS .... Not for a moment am I suggesting that we give up our rights , lose our self respect or agree to impossible demands....let us remember that a Smile gets you much further than a slap.



SARVE JANAAH SUKHINO BHAVANTHU.