Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan

Dear Ramaswamy,

Welcome to NT's thread. I have seen your posts in POW section and song picturisation thread. We have discussed about comedy roles played by NT. I remember tacinema asking me about the same and what are all movies you had mentioned were discussed but of course not very much in detail. You can find the same in earlier pages.

NT as villain, yes as you mentioned quite a few were there. Other than Andha Naal, Thirumbi Paar, Tuli visham(KR Ramasamy as hero, I have heard NT did a great job, though I have not seen it myself) and Rangoon Radha, there was Pennin Perumai and you can also include Vikraman character of Uthama Puthiran in this category.

Prabhu Ram,

Ele my friend is a English movie which was directed by NT's younger brother VC Shanmugam's son Murali. His full name is Muralidharan and he and his elder brother Giri (married to a US girl (Linda?) are settled in US. Murali married into NT's close friend's family in Vettaikaranpudhur near Pollachi, changed his name as Dharan Mandrayar (just like Rathinam Subramanian became Manirathinam) and did this movie. It was shown in festivals. About it's theatrical release, I don't think it got released in India. He (Dharan) also recently completed a feature film about the plight of young widows of Varanasi, who are affected by child marriage and the name of the film is something like "White -- " ( I am not sure). Read a good opinion/preview in TOI/ET.

Ramesh,

Your post also takes me to my school days.

Regards

Dear Groucho070,

NT was always fond of doing real life heroes on the screen. Probably the stage experience made him like that. Till the early 60s', he did such roles. Later when the trend changed, he had only a few opportunities. Still whatever came his way, he grabbed it.

Chatrapathi Shivaji in R.E.Ramanadi, Bhagat Singh & Tiruppur Kumaran in Rajapart Rangadurai, Gautama Buddha in Anbai Thedi, Samrat Ashokan in Rojavin Raja and Vanchinathan in Cinema Paithiyam etc are some of the examples that readily spring to mind. As for as Periyar is concerned, I think the role he did in Petra Manam(1960) resembled Periyar it seems. Again I have not seen the movie but read NT's own comment that it was a chance to enact Periyar in the film. Anybody who has seen can please update.

Regards

Here’s my NT thought for the day:

I guess all praises aside, it would be nice if we analyse his career. We have analysed his greatest moments (my favourite would be late 60s and early 70s) but…

What happened in late 70s and 80s?

While Murali sar will gladly reveal the socio/political background that had influenced NTs decision on roles, let me look at the artistic side.

While it is undeniable that NT undertook some good assignments (Thiyagam, Andhaman Kathali) during those period, there were some that looked out of place for him. More on that later.

That era was welcoming an onslaught of young heroes. There were some who had been around and are making their marks, like Siva Kumar and Vijaya Kumar. There were those who were new and hungry, like Kamalahaasan (now Kamal Haasan) and Rajinikanth. The latter duo was too hungry and if you look at the number of films they were making those years…its staggering. Plus, with fine tutelage of K. Balachander and their own talents, they were also making good story oriented films.

For every Kali and Billa, there was a Mullum Malarum and Buvana Oru Kelvikuri. For every Shankarlal and Guru, there was 16 Vayathinile and Mundram Pirai. Both are not interested in filling up MGRs shoe, they are indeed filling up NTs shoe. Both are, at that time, and even now, NTs heir.

NTs peers are beginning to compete with newer talents as well. MSV had to face Shankar Ganesh and later Ilayaraja. Kannadhasan was safe, but if he was alive after 1981, he would have found a rival in Vairamuthu. And then, the directors. All the old guards…where are they? What happened to Banthulu, AP Nagarajan, Bhim Singh, K.S. Gopalakrishnan?

Even if they do make films, they were quickly getting outdated. K. Balachander and Barathiraja brought new kind of realism (not entirely realism as per Westerners view) and the old guards were not in sync with them. Exceptions can be made. Sridhar, who left behind his serious story-oriented flicks, made entertainers like Ilamai Unjaladughiradhu and Thudikkum Karanggal.

In 1977, NT was fifty years old. Its not an easy age for actors in this part of hemisphere. But that is not true as well. Let’s see what happened to the great actor in Hollywood, with whom he is always compared with.

Marlon Brando, at the age of 50 (1974) had just finished The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris. It has been downhill ever since, with occasional shots of brilliance (Apocalypse Now, A Dry White Season). Nobody knew what to do with him. There were brave, new young actors (Al Pacino, De Niro, Hoffman) who could do what he did in his younger years. There were choices for the filmmakers. With Brando, you would have a lots of expectation, and times has changed.

Likewise, with NT, there were many types of expectation. This is both blessing and a curse. There was audience for strong story-oriented flicks. There were also audience for action oriented films. NT can and have delivered both. At the same time, the other heroes were doing the same. Audiences were split. Worse, his rival, MGR has left the field and NT was left alone in the court. All this may have turned his enthusiasm down.

Late seventies saw the beginning of writer/director oriented films. Audiences can expect certain types of films with Barathiraja, Balachander, later T. Rajendar, K. Bagyaraj, Visu and Manivannan. Also, beginning the eighties, NT’s own son was entering the hero market.

If NT were to compete with the younger heroes, he would inadvertently be competing with his own son. Hence, the many films he worked with his own son. While he may have done some youthful roles in some of them, he took on patriarchal roles in many. Doing such roles is not a big transition, he had already done that long time ago.

All that, plus the quality of story telling were going down. As mentioned earlier, it became writer/directors decade. They usually impose their own stories, some good and some bad and they don’t want someone too strong like NT, whose strong performance may or not override their own story telling credits. Exception, of course, occasionally when they have used NT and turned out that NT serviced their stories and serviced them too well (Muthal Mariyathai, Thavanik Kanavugal, Jallikattu).

The biggest accusation would be against NT himself. He had done too many roles, and too many times. They simply ran out of idea what to give him. It was back to patriarchal role for him…easy way out. Tamil film industry was simply not ready for matured roles taking the lead. Still in the mentality that 50 years old are usually dads or grandads.

And, of course, the fact that he had put on weight. But that is nonsense. They could have drawn great characters. The truth is, the audiences has changed. Blame it on the Hindi flicks, which, at that time, were turning out many action-oriented flicks (some called curry-westerns like Sholay). Everyone was eager to have Tamil films the same way. Audiences were shying away from story oriented films.

Okay, I am running out of ideas for further analysis. I will continue on this. I would like responses first. Please do not hesitate disagree with me…it will give rise to healthy argument. Unlike some other hub users, NT fans are very civilised, polite and diplomatic. Still, don’t hesitate.

(Please bear in mind that this does not mean that nothing happened from late eighties onward. There were flashes of brilliance here and there, but most of the films were bad. NT can only do so much with his acting.)

Hi,

My sincere apologies that I am coming to the thread after a very long time. It is nice to see that this thread has grown to an unbelievable level and has become very informative. I have not gone thru all missing posts and just glanced few pages from backwards.

I am amazed with the information that this thread has and importantly, I would like to congratulate one very important Sivaji rasigar: Murali Srinivas. Murali: You have a very sharp memory power and giving us exact date of releases of different NT movies. BTW, are you a scientist by profession?

I have seen different hubbers narrated about how they became NT fans. For me, I am not from Sivaji prime time era. I am 30 years old and my mom and uncles are Sivaji fans. Especially, my second uncle, who was running NT rasigar mandram while he was in college. I am always fascinated by different on-screen qualities of NT, especially the follwing:

1. dedication to the roles he performed
2. strive to acheive excellence for different roles
3. versatility

These qualities made me his fan. Additionally, when you are growing in Madurai, you get to see most of NT old films, where they are always in demand and running in different movie halls. This provided me an opportunity to see some of NT evergreen hits, which made me realize that NT is the finest actor that TN has ever produced and he is in fact, comparable to any best actor in the world.

Sometimes back, I read some actor fans narrating how they celebrated their idol movie in the opening show. Can some NT fans describe how was their celebration for his movie opening show? Here it is better to elaborate NT's prime time movies. I would like to hear how NT's veriyar celebrated his movie in the opening show.

I will read the rest of the posts soon.

Those living in North America, any one attending Tamil sangam festival that is going be held this weekend in New York?

Best regards.

Dear tac,

Welcome back and thanks for your kind words. I am not a scientist by profession though I am a Science graduate (Chemistry). You have thrown up a nice option of asking us to describe an opening show of NT film. This was in my mind sometime back and I will do it soon. Before that, the task of finishing what I have started (NT's politcal innings) looms large and let me finish it. Venky Raja also had suggested to nominate 10 Top Ten movies of NT and this is sure to throw up different choices. ( I remember Top 10 of NT was discussed in this thread when someone wanted it for buying VCDs/DVDs). BTW, tac did your uncle reside somewhere in and around Meenakshi Amman Kovil ?

Regards

Thanks to Raj TV celebrating 75 years of Tamil cinema by telecasting movies daily at 9 pm(for 75 days), I could watch some great films of NT within a short span. They were

Aalaya Mani
Karnan
Vasantha Maaligai
Annan Oru Koil
Paasa Malar (yesterday).

If it was Aalaya Mani hang over 10 days back, today it is Paasa MAlar. If I start to write about all the above mentioned movies or Paasa Malar, my job at hand will be affected. Just a few vignettes here.

4 or 5 scenes that I would point out

The scene at NT's house where NT brings in Gemini for the first time. Introduces Savithiri and says "Ava Siricha Naanum Siripen; Ava Azhutha Ayyayo Ennalo Thaangave Mudiyathu" a very casual NT neverthless putting forth his powerful expression of affection.

The scene at Factory office where GG comes and argues for the dismissed employees. Before the final parting,GG will ask "Kadaiseeyaga Unnai Ketkiren! Ivargalai Velaikku thirumba edukka mudiyuma? mudiyatha?" NT out of frame till then enters and point blankedly says" No.I say No." and again gos out of the frame.

NT with anger and fury rushing to the garden with a revolver in hand on hearing that GG is talking with Savithiri will stand still and after listening to Savithiri putting him(NT) ahead of GG in her argumements will wipe the tears with the revolver from his left eye.

Vaarayo en Thozhi song; Sukumari will sing

Malaratha Penmai Malarum:Munpu
Puriyatha Unmai Puriyum
Mayangatha Kannum Mayangum:Munpu
Vilangatha Kelvi Vilangum
Iravodu Nenjam Urukatho;
Irandodu Moondru Valaratho

When the final words are sung, NT-in mugathil oru mandagasa punnagai udithu,piraku geli cheyyapaduvathi than Thangai enbathai unarthavudan thalyai lesaga kuninthukondu antha punnagaiyodu manamedaikku pakkathil povar.

(It is another story that censor officer Mr.Sasthri initially objected to these lines but on pesuasion by Bhimsingh and Kannadasan agreed

Mayagugiral Oru Madhu song:

First Night scene. Savithri will sing and GG will be with sitar. MN Rajam all shy and nervous, NT as usual with a cigarette in hand and stylish to the core. Savithri sings

Thozhigal Kathai Solli Tharavillaiya;
Thunivillaya, Bayam Vidavillaiya
Naazhigai Selvathum Ninaivillaya?

NT will be looking at MNR and on hearing the song will move away with a puff and a smile on his face.

Second saranam Savithri will sing

Paarvayil Ayiram Kathai Solluvar.
Padithavalthan Athai Maranthu vittal;
Kaadahalai Naanathil Maraithu vittal;

NT standing near the balcony will throw off the cigarette, pakkathil irukkum table-irku poyi Savithri-GG photo-vai thiruppi vaithuvittu vanthu bed-il MNR pakkam utkaruvar, antha punnagai maaramal.

Paatondru Ketten song.

NT's fingers playing on the piano like a seasoned artist while MNR sings. Of course for him it is another day at office and we have seen this in Unnai Ondru Ketpen and Ellorum Nalam Vazha songs.

Sollikonde pogalam. Normally people talk about Malarnthum Malaratha song and Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu scene when the topic is Paasa Malar and so I thought of putting up scenes where NT would have shown us the nuances of acting.

Intha scenai patri ellam ezhuthumpothu meendum paarka vendum pol irukirathu.

Regards

Murali

You have mentioned outstanding scene(s) from PAASA MALAR.
ANNA: MSV-KANNADASAN contribution MARANTHUINGALEEEEEEE.

KANNIN MANI POOLA MANIYIN NIZHAL POOLA KALANTHU PIRANTHOOMAADA

Ever green lyrics/ever green composistion.

Why no one willing to appreciate TMS(even NT never appreciated him openly. I felt too bad about NT on this issue.)gave heart and soul to NT and MGR songs. Too bad. :(

regards
ramesh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by umaramesh

Murali

You have mentioned outstanding scene(s) from PAASA MALAR.
ANNA: MSV-KANNADASAN contribution MARANTHUINGALEEEEEEE.

KANNIN MANI POOLA MANIYIN NIZHAL POOLA KALANTHU PIRANTHOOMAADA

Ever green lyrics/ever green composistion.

Why no one willing to appreciate TMS(even NT never appreciated him openly. I felt too bad about NT on this issue.)gave heart and soul to NT and MGR songs. Too bad. :(

regards
ramesh

---

Enakkum andha varutham undu Ramesh on whether NT or MG had openly acknowledged the unparelleled contributions from TMS but Saradhaji somewhere mentioned that NT appreciated once , highlighting Enge nimmadhi & Andha naal nyabagam !

Coming back to Kannin mani pola shot - NT will be lying flat on the floor looking at the top while that poor kid will be playing by his side !

Nadigayar thilagam scores during the stage when she will quickly change her reaction from cheer to tears - Kanavil nilayadha kadhal thirai vandhu piritha kadhai sollavaa !

Dear Ramesh,

Enna ippadi sollivittirgal?. MSV/ Ramamoorthy/Kannadasan/TMS/PS pondravargalai marakka mudiyuma? Neengal sonna varigalukku adthu varigalukku varungal

Indha Mannum Kadal Vanum Marainthu Mudhinthalum
Marakka Mudiyathada:

Indha Varigal mersonnavargalukkummattumalla indha padathirkkum 100% porunthum.

But you have not noticed what I have written; I said when people discuss Paasa Malar all the songs(not the scene of the song and NT's reaction) especially Malarnthum Malaratha and climax Kai Veesamma Kai veesu will find a prominent place.So I wanted to highlight other scenes and NT's reaction in those song sequences which are my favourites.

1 or 2 pages back, I had quoted a kelvi- badhil from Filmalaya regarding MSV/KD/TMS/NT. Ennuduya karuthum athu than.

Regards

Groucho070

Seems you are in peak form now ! :D great. Your share of thoughts gives a new dimension to this thread ! nice

Murali Anna,

You have almost covered a splendid song - Mayanguriraal oru madhu ! Pls add more and post it in APP thread :D
One thing I wonder in this song, rather NT's make up. The eye brows will be dark & big !

The innocent NT during the song - Engallukkum kalam varum , I mean the jumping NT with Savithri .... .will be diametrically opposite during the scene which you described with GG .....
while GG will be furious, NT will be casually sitting on his seat & reacting to all bullets DEPICTING THE MANNERISM OF A RICH BUSINESS MAN !
Vow, subtle change in behavioural pattern !

ofcourse, the most perfect portrayal of a rich businessman was Paar magale paar !