During the last week of February , 2013 myself
Directors G.S. Vijayan and Joshy Mathew went to the Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam
residence of veteran Producer T.E.Vasudevan to invite him for the Madhavasandhya
function organized by MACTA. There were two gates for entry to the house, one
big and the other small. We rang the calling bell installed at the gate and no
one opened the door for a few minutes. Then I remembered an incident that took
place years back and told my companions to move and stand a little away from
the gate as both of them are bearded. They were curious to find the reason
and I promised to narrate it later.
After again ringing the bell his daughter came out and
asked us to come inside through the smaller gate and since Shri. T.E.Vasudevan
was not at home we gave them the invitation letter and promised to come back on
another day.
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| T.E.Vasudevan |
The year was 1971. I was doing my debut film as
Cinematographer for John Abraham’s Maiden Directorial venture in Malayalam “
Vidyarthikale Ithile, Ithile” We were all staying in the office cum residence
of Mehboob Movies at Mahalingapuram. Since there was a gap in the shooting
schedule, Azad and others had left for their home town and only John and myself stayed behind in that flat.
Our Producer
entrusted the safeguarding of John to me and always handed over the money for
daily expenses to me and not to John.
John was left penniless so that he will not go after liquor. From the
money I had, I paid for all John’s needs like food, beedi and other expenses but liquor was
the forbidden item.. I was always with him to see that he doesn’t get access to
country liquor sold under the Kodambakkam bridge. Even if he begs, I will not
give him money for drinks but once in a while ,
I’ll give him a rupee for a ganja
smoke. When he is high on ganja he is a very different personality altogether,
very docile and soft mannered and becomes creative singing songs and composing
poems. I found that only liquor makes him violent and boisterous bringing out
his Satanic nature
One day I received a call from K.G. George frantically asking for John’s whereabouts,
and he told me to find John immediately and keep him in some safe place as John’s
life is in danger . I asked him the
reason for it. It so happened that a drunk John went to meet George who was
working as Assistant to Ramu Kariat for the film MAYA. George was supposed to
be at the Jayamaruthi pictures office
which was a part of the residence of the Producer T.E.Vasudevan. When John went there George was not there and the
doors were closed. The house had two gates, the larger one was permanently
locked and the other smaller one open. John was standing in front of the locked
gate and rang the bell. No one opened the door, but he could see some movement
behind the window and sensed that there are indeed people inside the house.
Actually what happened was, there were only womenfolk inside and seeing John’s shabby dress and beard mistook him for
a beggar and did not open the door.
Since whoever was inside were not deliberately opening the
door, John banged at the gate and made a big noise. Those inside were frightened
by this sudden development. Finding no one coming out of the house, he jumped over the gate, reached the main
door and started banging it repeatedly. In fear of their life the inmates
called their near and dear for help. The news spread like wildfire in the film
industry as Producer T.E.Vasudevan of Jayamaruthi pictures was one of the most respected people in Madras. It was atrocious that
someone created trouble when only women folk were there, and it was decided
that whoever responsible was to be given a severe beating. Harry Pothen’s
drivers, Padmini’s brother Aniyan, Sobhana Parameswaran Nair, Manikandan Nair and a whole lot of people were in search of
the culprit John. They were looking for him in every possible place at Madras.
It was then George telephoned and told me that any moment
they will catch hold of John and beat him up. I then contacted our Producer
Minnal and together searched and found John in one of his regular arrack den.
We told him a lie that his brother at Kumbakonam wants him to come there on
some urgent matter. John was taken to Egmore Railway station and was put in a
second class compartment (those were the days of First, Second and third classes) and waited till
the train left. On seeing the shabbily dressed John sitting in the second class compartment,
a gentleman passenger seated nearby was staring at him with suspicion. Sensing that,
John immediately pulled out his ticket from his pocket, showed it to him and
said “Look, I have got a second class ticket”. The man hung his head in shame as he had thought John was some vagrant
travelling without ticket !
John returned months later well dressed with his shirt
tucked in and with a clean shaven face and a nice moustache. He had transformed
himself into an entirely new person, totally unrecognizable!
On our back in the car, I explained to my friends about the
incident involving John Abraham, that
happened 42 years back at Madras. This time also there were two gates to Shri. T.E.Vasudevan’s house and instead of one bearded
fellow there were two, and Vasu Sir was not at home. I was wondering about the
similarity and what will be the outcome…..
Next day we
three, once again went to Panampilly Nagar, this time accompanied by another
lady member of MACTA, Dubbing artiste Bhagyalakshmi. Vasu Sir warmly welcomed
us home and we had a long chat and he happily agreed to come for the function.
He kept his word and presented the Memento to Shri. Madhu and honoured him on
the Madhavasandhya Function held on 28 th February, 2013.
