TAMIL
Down memory lane
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
DIARY 1946-1975: Sivakumar; Alliance Publishers, 244, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600004. Rs. 300.
SCHOOL LIFE is drawing to a close for the boys of Class X. A group photo session is organised for students, who have to pay Rs.5 each for a copy – an amount the young boy couldn’t afford. Years roll by and he becomes a successful actor. Returning to his school as chief guest of a function after 50 years, he has his old classmates gathered at the premises and has a photograph clicked! Such poignant incidents form part of Sivakumar’s diary.
If you think this is a string of anecdotes of his early childhood and struggling days as artist and actor, he proves you wrong. Written in narrative style, the book discusses art, architecture, social maladies, health and much more. Of course, his jottings of occurrences form the peg. In a simple yet graphic style, he dwells on his urge to make a mark in life.
The chapters dealing with Sivakumar’s early life in penury and later on the tragedy of losing his niece in a fire accident stir a sympathetic chord. His perseverance should be an inspiration to youngsters. Description of his school days is peppered with humour too. The footnotes at the end of certain chapters in print form of his handwriting, lend uniqueness. The pages are interspersed with telling photographs, awesome sketches, pen drawings and portraits. The portraits in particular, have explanatory notes that give vital information about the person or place in the picture. But some of the chapters seem to end abruptly. Probably, the writer felt that segments of a diary cannot be rounded off in a smooth fashion. Giving interesting insights into the life of a man who aimed high and realised his aspirations, this is much more than a mere record of daily events!
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