An inspiring life history
HE IS a respected national leader, a source of inspiration for children, an educationist who wishes to instil in the young a thirst for scientific knowledge and a role model for budding aspirants from a humble background. In short the President of India is a perfect subject for a film for children. Minveli (303-C, PSG STEP Software Park-II, Coimbatore — 641004 (Ph: 0422-2578423; 98422 85256. email: info@minveli.com) that comes out with Pattaampoochi, a monthly VCD magazine for children, has brought out a short film on CD on the life of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as its March issue. The VCD (Rs.150) is available at all the Head Post Offices and at the Sri Krishna Sweets branches in Tamil Nadu.
Called "Kuruththu," the short film in Tamil takes the viewer from the President's home in Rameswaram, his school, the colleges he studied in and so on, right up to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Dr. Kalam's friends from his school and college days, his brother, neighbours and associates share their experiences in this short film that is an eye opener in many ways. The pride and joy you see on their faces is genuine. Eminent personalities such as Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi Math, poet Vairamuthu and scientific advisor to the Punjab Government and poet Y. S. Rajan, voice their impressions of and interaction with the President.
All these are woven into the story of the young schoolgirl, Deepa. Meena, Deepa's mother, works as a maid. Though Deepa is bright in studies, Meena is unable to make both ends meet and is forced to stop her from going to school. Deepa's teacher who is puzzled that the girl has not been attending classes for a couple of days, goes to her house. Deepa is thrilled to see her teacher at home and tells her that she had discontinued her studies and taken up a job as housemaid, like her mother. The shocked teacher sits down with Meena and Deepa and narrates the story of Abdul Kalam, his humble beginnings his diligence and the fruits of his labour. He makes the mother understand the importance of education. Thus the President's life history is brought out in flashbacks that drive the message home. The inspired mother vows to make her daughter study further, whatever be the odds. The sequence in which, like a great teacher and kind friend, the President gives his e-mail address and requests the children sitting in front of him to write to him so that he could correspond and clear their doubts, is heart warming in its sheer sincerity.
With a strong purpose as the driving force, director Dhanapal delineates a graphic picture of the poor woman who does not know the value of education and her lack of worldly wisdom that would have made her daughter's future bleak, but for the teacher's timely intervention. With Dr. Kalam as the pivot Dhanapal presents a crisp and telling tale.
The artistes are familiar faces that you've watched on television and it's gladdening to note that they have shown the will to be a part of the worthy project. In fact, "Kuruththu" can inspire both young and old to work and make their lives meaningful.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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