A Captain's Salute to A Soldier

During the location  shooting of K.G.George's film "Elavamkodu Desam"(1998) at Olappamanna Mana at Vellinezhi,  actors Thilakan, Narendra Prasad and Captain Raju were staying in the same hotel near Ottappalam. Although Captain Raju did several roles in many films as Villain, it was the character of Aringoder in ORU VADAKKAN VEERA GAADHA that brought up his acting potential in him. After that film onwards he had changed his mind and refused to do negative character roles in further  films.

During one of the after shooting drinking sessions, Thilakan, Narendra Prasad and Captain Raju were having a heated discussion about performing in films, stage etc. Prof Prasad and Thilakan went deep in to the merits and demerits of various styles of acting in theatre, dance, classical arts etc about which Raju didn't have any clue at all. Finally when Thilakan remarked something about the wooden faced expressions of Raju, he could not bear any longer  and burst up - " Thilakan! You may be the Award winning Best actor in India, but remember I am a Captain in the Army and you were just a foot soldier. As a superior Officer whenever you see me,  you are bound to stand up in attention and salute me !."

Captain Raju's Farewell Salute to Thilakan

Whether it was intentional or not , the above incident came to my mind when I witnessed the scene of Captain Raju giving the Farewell salute  to Thilakan's body lying in state at the V.J.T Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. Here is a Captain saluting a Soldier - yes, a Bold, Brave Soldier who single handedly fought against all evils in the film industry!

Thilakan and Babu Nambbodiri in

Elavamkodu Desam

On Location at Elavamkodu Desam ( From L to R) Bharat Gopi, K.G.Georgr Mammootty, MAK Ali, myself and Thilakan

I had known Thilakan for more than 40 years,  ever since he started his career in films in P.J.Antony's Directorial venture PERIYAR. At that time (1972) I was at Alwaye shooting the film RAGGING (Director: N.N.Pisharody ) which was scripted by P.J.Antony. Later on we worked together on  K.G.George's film KOLANGAL  based on P.J Antony's subject. It was only YAVANIKA which brought Thilakan to limelight and earned him the First of the many State Awards. Since then I had the opportunity to work with him in several films including a Double role in  MUGHAMUDRA directed by Ali Akbar.

Like a jack fruit he had a tough thorny outside  but a soft sweet interior. His tough looking exterior might frighten people but when you become closer you will understand his goodness and outspoken nature. He had the  natural tendency  to pick up arguments for argument's sake, and relish it. For example, when some one on the sets greets him "Good Morning , Sir!"He will call him and tell  " Hey, what is so good about the morning, today is just like any other morning, so don't use the word  good  when you are wishing" Then the guy agrees " Ok. Morning Sir!" Then Thilakan will retort " Oh man, It is morning only and everybody knows it and why you have to say it again" The guy surrenders and says just  " Sir" Thilakan  cuts him off by saying"Look , we are all human beings and all men are equal,so  please don't call me sir" The dumbfounded poor fellow avoids greeting him from the next time onwards.

He was always precise with his words. When he reads the script he will point out unnecessary words and repetition of dialogue. And most of the time he as correct and the Directors made the necessary changes in the script. Being a Theatre Director,  he had an excellent sense of performance and dialogue delivery.

I distinctly remember him arriving on the location of the film GHAZAL (1993) at Perinthilmanna in his Fiat Premier 118NE car. It was just after his By Pass Surgery at Chennai and he had driven the car all the way from Thiruvananthapuram to Perinthalmanna all alone. When we asked him why he had not taken the services of a driver , he said he never liked others driving the car. He had consulted the doctor regarding the driving and he had advised him to take a few minutes rest and a little walk after every hour of driving. But he didn't stop that many times and drove on . That shows his will power and boldness. Any other person would have arrived with a driver and helper just to show off.

We had to film an early morning song in a Mosque set with him and Vineeth and it required him to get up early at 4 AM and be ready with make up and be on the set by 5 AM. As we have to shoot just as the sun rises we had only a few minutes to take the shot. So the song was shot over several days, early in the morning and in spite of his physical conditions he was already on time to take the shot. Such was his dedication towards work.

Though Thilakan had acted in a notable role in Director K.G.George's  film KOLANGAL,  it was a stage curtain that was instrumental in landing Thilakan  his First State award winning role in  K.G.George's film YAVANIKA. The Production Executive of the film P.A.Latheef,  in order to save production costs suggested to George, that if we book Thilakan for the role of the Drama troupe owner we can also get the stage curtain for free as Thilakan was running his own  Drama Troupe at that time.So, whenever the shooting schedule of YAVANIKA was fixed, Latheef would telephone Thilakan to remind him to bring the stage curtain along with him !

The last film  work we did together was the Film SAPHALYAM(1999) directed by G,S,Vijayan and after that we could not get an opportunity to be associated together. Of course I occasionally used to meet him at public functions and at  his daughter's marriage. The last time I saw him was at the Thiruvananthapuram  KIMS Hospital a few days before his demise and that time he was in a totally unconscious state.

Indian Cinema had lost a Great Performer and upright Personality !

 

On Location of the film SAPHALYAM with Director G.S.Vijayan

My Unreleased Tamil Films - 2

The film PAADUM VANAMPADI which was the Tamil remake of Mithun Chakraborty's Super hit Hindi film DISCO DANCER, starring new comer Anand Babu ( son of veteran actor Nagesh ) was a very great Musical hit and ran for more than One Hundred days at Chennai and other centres. The Director of the film M. Jayakumar was flooded with many film offers from big production companies. After some failed projects he took up a film named KADHAL VIDUTHALAI. The Puja invitation card can be seen below:

The film starred Ramki, Janakaraj, Nizhalgal Ravi, Vennira Aadai Murthy, Nishanthi, Manorama, Subha etc. and Music by S.A. Rajkumar. The shooting took place in Chennai and Ootty and other locations.

With Director M. Jayakumar

Actress Manorama with the crew

The film shoot went on smoothly without any hitches. The editing and re-recording done and finally the first copy was taken. Unfortunately there was some dispute amongst the producers and the film never got released ever. After a few years I heard that there was a change of title and the film will be released, but that never happened.

The Director Jayakumar never could make any other film and had started a retail business for livelihood.


Another Tamil Film that failed to take off

Director Bhadran wanted me to work in his Tamil film EZHAVATHU SWARAM in which he wanted to introduce Actor Vineedh to Tamil audiences. The Puja was conducted with all pomp and publicity with Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi inaugurating the function. But the film never progressed any further!

My Unreleased Tamil Films - 1

Some time back Actor Devan called me regarding a Tamil film " Puthiya Swarangal" in which he had acted in the main role and was completed in 1991 but was not released. He now wanted to give the film for Telecasting purpose in Tamil Satellite Channels. Unfortunately the film negatives that were stored in the Prasad Film Laboratories at Chennai were damaged beyond repair. I wonder how many such films of the past in different parts of our country are getting lost because of our carelessness. Already a large portion of our film heritage in Black and White films have been lost for ever.Still we do not have a Film archive in South India!

It was the First and only film Directed by Tamil actor Vijayan and produced by Good Knight Films. Being a very popular actor and a favourite of Director Bharathi Raja he had all top technicians lined up for his maiden venture in Directing - Music by Ilaya Raja, Lyrics by Kavinjar Vaali, Gangai Amaran, Editing by V. Lenin etc. The song cassettes released were very popular.

Song Cassette

Details

So much effort was put in the making of film in locations at Chennai and Ootty where Art Director Radhakrishnan had erected some beautiful sets in studio floor and out door locations which were enhanced by glass Matte paintings.

Even though the film was complete and the first copy was taken, for some unknown reason it was not released and still lying in the cans,

Vijayan

Diwali Greeting Card

Below is the Pongal Greeting Card sent in 1991 as part of film publicity, that was 22 years ago!

PUTHIYA SWARANGAL CARD

Yet another Pongal...... All my Best wishes to every one!

Man's Best Friend

I have never had a Pet dog at home until I built a house and settled at Trivandrum. Our Labrador was named as Kittu and I was introduced to the world of unconditional love and affection of dog, described as man's best friend. He became one of our family and was great fun as a puppy and used to like bread slices soaked in milk. When he grew up it was bread and butter. Though a cage was built for him, he spent much of the time inside the home and mostly at the kitchen. It was on 18, December, 2003 that he died due to Distemper infection, leaving us all in great sorrow. Though the veterinary doctor had given anti rabies injection etc we were not aware of vaccines for distemper and he died at an early age of two and half years.

KITTU

In order to overcome the loss, in the next month itself, we bought a similar black Labrador pup and named him Muthu. He got much more affection from all of us and was a much pampered person. He used to eat all sorts of fruits like jack fruit, apples, fish like Tuna or Netholi and snacks like egg puffs, pakoras. Ice cream, squashes and milkshakes are also his favourite items. The joy and the warm welcome he gives whenever return home even after a short trip is unbelievable. He will jump with happiness, bark and express himself, until I pat him down and allow him to lick my cheek. For nearly eight years he was the guardian of our home and love of our life.

Last October, he was having cold and cough and the doctor who treated him asked us to bring him to the hospital at P.M.G. Junction to have blood tests taken. He was found to have some liver problems and medicines were given. After about 15 days he stopped eating any food and doctor was summoned and Muthu was given intravenous glucose drip and many injections. But early in the morning of 31 October 2011, he died peacefully in his sleep. Till the last day he was healthy and walking and we never expected him to die so soon and so suddenly. His sudden departure had left a void in our life but we still feel his presence in every corner of our house.

Three months old

Kittu at 6 Months with son Abhilash

Playing with a bottle

Looking up to me with affection

KITTU and MUTHU

Thank you both for showing me what unconditional love and affection means.

May you Rest in Peace

Like a Meteor she vanished …….

The year : 1972. Location : Kollam Hotel Neela. 
 

Cinematographer Ashok Kumar was on the camera shooting a scene involving Shobana for the film “Chemparathy” being directed by P.N.Menon. After my first film “ Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile” with John Abraham, I was into my second feature film “Ragging” directed by N.N. Pisharady. We started the film with newcomers in the main roles, but on seeing their dismal performances we decided to rope in well known artistes. Hence myself, N.N.Pisharady and Aluva Thampy went to Kollam to contact Sudheer and Rani Chandra and get their dates for our film. That was my first meeting and she was a simple and friendly person. Though she was selected as Miss Kerala, I found her to be a typical Malayalee girl with curly hair and tanned skin with an out going nature. At Neela Hotel Bamboo bar we also had an eventful meeting with veteran Malayalam writer Kakkanadan too along with S.K.Nair playing host.

On the set of "Ragging " she was simple and friendly with every one and didn’t show any airs of stardom and was at ease with other new comers like Balan Nair and Somasundaran. Others in the cast included Vincent, P.J.Antony and Jameela Malik .

On the set of RAGGING

It was only in K.G.George’s film “Swapnadanam” her acting talent rose to its summit. It was such a powerful role and she took all efforts to perform as the director had intended. K.G.George was instrumental in polishing her talent and bringing out the hidden talent in her. Her acting in “Swapnadanam” earned her Kerala State Award for the Best actress in 1975. After that she was flooded with offers to act in many films including well known Tamil production houses.

Rani Chandra and Dr.Mohandas

Mallika, Rani, myself & Dr.Mohandas in SWAPNADANAM

Thirty five years back, on 12 October 1976, after a film career spanning only eight years, Malayalam actress Rani Chandra died in a tragic accident near Bombay Airport on a flight to Madras in an Indian Airlines Caravelle aircraft. Her last film was “Badrakali” (Tamil) in which she starred opposite Siva Kumar, was completed with a similar looking actress enacted Rani’s scenes and released after her death was a huge success.

It was really shocking news to the Malayalam Film Industry that she had left this word at the height of her career blazing a trail, she vanished like a Meteor.

I felt deeply on losing a personal friend and real human being, and on that occasion I wrote the following lines:

NOT EVEN MEMORIES

- (To Rani Chandra)

Through fire you made your exit

That was no trick shot.

All that remained in the end

Ashes, an indistinguishable lot.

Many longed for you

But not in this form.

Among the mourners I spot

One who still loves you.

A fellow traveller,

On a journey in dream,

Oh, a friend sweet and lovable

You sailed through enormous sufferings

A rare one who cared for others

Even if others cared not.

Your absence

None can replace

Not even memories.

An abridged Malayalam translation of this article was published in Metro Vartha on 13 October 2011.

Oops! Our Indian English Spelling

There are numerous occasions where we come across misspelled English words in boldly written sign boards etc in our country. For example in a Juice shop in Trivandrum I saw this list of milk shakes and fruit juices available there. I can understand the spelling mistake of Chocolate - written as Chockolate, may be because of the choking effect after drinking it. But what about " JINGER LAME" ? Will you become lame afterwards? Actually it was meant to be Ginger Lime !

The other day I noticed this blatant spelling mistake written on the side of the out door unit van of Kerala State Film Development Corporation. Film is spelled as " FILIM" and Development as "Devolepment". It is no wonder that any Development of the Film Industry is not taking place at Chitranjali Studios over the many years of its existence.

On the side of the Out door unit Van

Even our TV Channels do turn out to be error prone. See the picture below of CNN IBN Live Channel News Program. Read it carefully - The Government has drafted a policy to shit... what was that? Did Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi write the News headline?

CNN IBN LIVE Channel

Whatever we may be at home we are the best when it comes to English spelling in U.S.A. Just look at the list of Spelling Bee Winners in U.S.A and you will find lot of Indian names. The 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee winner was Sukanya Roy of South Abington Pennsylvania, a person of Indian Origin ! Sukanya Roy won after spelling the word cymotrichous.

Can you guess what it means...... no way!

I just looked it up in the Dictionary, and the meaning is -
Curly-headed, having wavy hair

Returning to school after 50 years

Recently I was shooting the Malayalam film LITTLE MASTER starring Lal (Siddique) and Lakshmi Gopalaswami, being directed by L.Rajendran in Thiruvavananthapuram . The location was S.M.V. High School which was one of the oldest schools in Thiruvavananthapuram established by the Maharaja Sree Moolam Thirunal and hence the name Sree Moola Vilasam High School.

Shooting at SMV H.S with Lal (Siddique)

During the shooting interval, my friend veteran Art Director and Director Radhakrishnan ( R.K.) paid a visit to meet me. He told me a very fascinating information that he had once been a student at the S.M.V. school 50 years ago and since then nothing had changed much there. The old tiled buildings and even the benches and desks in the classrooms were the very same ones from his times. Those old wooden benches had cast iron frames which were imported from England. He also told me that a portion of the school was formerly used as Police premises and lockup cells were there.

Going back in time he located the class room and the very bench where he sat during his days as a student there.

R.K.in his old seat at school

In his student days he had a leaning towards Communist ideology and became part of the leftist student organisation SF. In his fervour towards the party he had carved the Sickle and Hammer Party symbol on the surface of his bench.

The hand that etched...

Sitting in his old seat and running his fingers over his art work, Radhakrishnan said that he was coming there for the first time, ever since he left the school 50 years ago. It so happened only because I invited him to visit our shooting location. Though he had been living for the past many years in Thiruvananthapuram and passed the school on his way many a times, it never occurred to him to get inside and see the place.

R.K's art work

I am happy that I was instrumental for his reunion with his Alma Mater and was able to record it for posterity.

More about R.K.in THE HINDU newspaper: