Veterans recapture the past
S. R. ASHOK KUMAR
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Five yesteryear actors get together to recall the beginnings of their artistic journey.
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PHOTO: R. SHIVAJI RAO
DOWN MEMORY LANE: (From left) S.Varalakshmi, Y.Gee.Mahendra, A.L.Raghavan, M.N.Rajam, M.Saroja, and B. Lenin.
It is not often that yesteryear stars are remembered leave alone honoured. Y.Gee.Mahendra, who has great respect for veterans has decided to use the birth anniversary of his father, the late Y.G.Parthasarathy (September 30), and that of the legend Sivaji Ganesan (October 1) to turn the spotlight on some of the stalwarts who played significant roles in the growth of Tamil cinema.
The chosen ones are Padmini, M.Saroja, M.N.Rajam, S.Varalakshmi, A.L.Raghavan, `Valampuri' Somanathan and B.Lenin. The artistes, except Padmini and Valampuri Somanathan, gathered in the hall near the Bharat Kalachar auditorium. (It was touching to learn that Padmini, as she was taken to hospital on Sunday, remarked that she had an appointment to keep in the afternoon.)
The veterans became nostalgic as they recalled their association with the stage and Sivaji Ganesan. Excerpts:
M.N.Rajam: I went on stage at the age of seven. In those days, only people who were not inclined to studies opted for acting. But YGP's troupe was different in that most of the actors were educated.
YGM: At home I used to get contradictory advices, especially on the eve of an exam. While mother would sternly tell me to focus on my books, father would quietly ask me to rehearse the lines. `You can repeat the paper in September. But it is absolutely important that we make this play a success.' Such was his devotion to theatre.
A.L.Raghavan: I had my initiation with Ramabala Gana Vinodha in Karaikudi, also at the age of seven. Then I came to Chennai and joined Suguna Vilas Sabha.
YGM: Both YGP and Pattu were part of SVS. Then they started UAA.
A.L.Raghavan: I remember "Krishna Vijayam" for the scene in which six Krishnas appeared. One of them was Chinnappa Thevar.
S.Varalakshmi: I only had a short stint with stage — two plays, one of them was Valli and my co-stars were T.R.Mahalingam and MM.Mariappa. I entered cinema when I was 7. Director Ramabhrammam was searching for an actor. I came to Chennai to act in his film. Then I acted in "Seva Sadan" and I was cast in the Hindi movie "Prem Sagar." Thus at the age of eight, I had acted in three languages.
M.Saroja: Well, I never had theatre experience. You might be surprised to hear that the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, was instrumental in my entering cinema. Modern Theatres had advertised for new faces and in the first round, Rajasulochana, Kalyani, Subadhra and I were selected. Mr. Karunanidhi, music director G.Ramanathan, cameraman G.OR.Nanthan and the producer formed the panel that selected the actors at Salem. Mr. Karunanidhi predicted a bright future for me. His words won me a place and there was no looking back.
B.Lenin: My father Bhim Singh directed Sivaji Ganesan in many movies, all of them hits.
A.L.Raghavan: I used to sing for the hero in both the Seva Stage and also in the plays Sivaji Ganesan acted.
S.Varalakshmi: Have you seen Sivaji Ganesan play spectator when a co-star is performing? It happened in Raja Raja Chozhan. As I sang the lines of the song, `Edu Thandhanadi Thillaiyile..," he would just stand there listening. He in fact had his own doubts about the scene. But after seeing the shot, he hugged A.P.Nagarajan and said it couldn't have been better. Such was his magnanimity.
Madhu Enterprises, Alandur Fine Arts and Indian Overseas Bank join hands to felicitate the artistes, who will be presented the Sivaji Award of Excellence, at a function to be held at Kamarajar Arangam, Chennai, tomorrow, September 30. The event is dedicated to Padmini.
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