A veteran reminisces ...
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One of the early scriptwriters "Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram is famous for his family-oriented storylines. He goes on a rewind trip in a conversation with S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
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"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram
HE IS a scriptwriter and director. He has written scripts for nearly all the heroes and was
a favourite writer of Sivaji Ganesan. He has directed more than dozen films and is well known for his family themes. His stories have been made into films in other languages also. He has now turned actor on the small screen, and has to his credit quite a few television serials. He is "Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram. For him positive thinking will always succeed. At his house in T. Nagar, Sundaram talks about his past with a touch of nostalgia. Anybody who listens to him will be absorbed by his story telling power. Here is a first person account to which one can only be a silent listener:
My first play for Sivaji Ganesan was "Vietnam Veedu," way back in 1965. This was staged more than a thousand times all over the State and also in some of the North Indian cities.
The theme of the play is how retirement from service affects the principles and prestige of a man. It is the thought that a similar situation must not come to me that has kept me active till today. As I was not well educated I was made to work in a factory even at a very young age. In 1955-56 I joined Dunlop factory as a machine operator. I was taken into UAA as a service boy to work for them behind the stage. I used to narrate real life incidents with imagination and make it an interesting story. This made me a good storyteller among my friends. I was one of the early scriptwriters who made a hat trick with three films released one after another — "Vietnam Veedu", "Gnana Oli" and "Gouravam."
Social fantasies
With Sivaji Ganesan ... a strong bond
After thirty years I am still recognised as a good scriptwriter. I was the first to try out social fantasy in films.
Family drama combined with religious sentiment made my film, "Namma Veetu Deivam" with K.R.Vijaya in the lead, a hit. I can proudly say that when popular stars like Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, Karthik and Satyaraj acted along with the late thespian Sivaji Ganesan I was involved in the films in one way or the other. I think beyond tomorrow. So when the new generation entered the industry I decided to work for the small screen. Television interested me.
My stage experience gave me a helping hand. I not only wrote "Krishnadasi" but also acted in it. Kutty Padmini produced the serial. Y. G. Mahendra encouraged me to act as a blind person in his serial "Enakkul Avan." I was well noticed by all including the youth, in "Metti Oli". Whenever I enter the set as an actor I forget that I am a writer or director and I am always ready to learn.
The "Metti Oli" unit and director Thirumurugan in particular, made it possible. In fact the unit has been exceptionally co-operative. I was the first to try social fantasy in films and I got a similar opportunity on the small screen with "Velan." I acted as an old man in "Nee Nan Aval" and as the "boodham" (spirit) in "My Dear Boodham" directed by B. R. Vijayalakshmi.
My only regret now is that the great Sivaji Ganesan who made me a scriptwriter and director is not here to see me act.He fully knew what I would write for a particular scene and I could tell how he would perform. It was a strong bond, which existed till his death. I learnt dedication, punctuality, dialogue delivery and sense of time from him. If at all I am here today it is because of him. He had a knack of studying a person without the otherparty knowing it and later on he would use it in films in a remarkable way. When I was a writer, people knew "Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram only by name. But after I began acting it has been different. The credit goes not to me but to Sivaji Ganesan.
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