Pick of the week: 1 Mar to 5 Aug 2006

There was this discussion about Gemini Studio. Ellorum Nallavare was the last film made under this banner though Janani used the Gemini banner. The business magnet name was Palaniappan Ramasamy, who was running Gemini cinema, a film weekly in the eighties. Regarding Sirithu Vaazha Vendum (a Udhyam Prodn/Manian), it was directed by SS Balan, but it was in 1974, whereas EN was released in 75 April. Now the director Charan has named his prodn company as Gemini Film Circuit

While discussing Sivagangai Seemai, Ramki had mentioned about V.K.Bomman and somebody had mentioned that he had read that it was not a hit when released first. That is not correct. VKB was a smash hit in its first release itself and it was one of the two Silver Jubilee films of Sivaji in 1959, the other being Bhaga Pirivinai. The hubber probably meant Kappolotiya Thamizhan, which didn’t do well when first released in 1961,but went on to do well in subsequent releases.

While discussing Oru Kai Osai, Mahesh had said that he saw the film from Madurai-Deepa. But it was released in SriDevi (1980- July) and Deepa came into existence only in 1983. Probably the confusion must have arisen because both the theatres are located in the same street

The interludes between S.Balaji & Usha Sankar were interesting and poignant. But during that discussion (or afterwards?) Usha is seen mentioning about seeing Praptham, Uravukku Kai Koduppom during school summer hols. As myself also happened to be a school student at that time, it was memory revisited. But I think there is a slight disconnect here in the sense that Praptham was released in 1971 April and Uravukku Kai Koduppom was in 1976.Probably she might have seen Praptham in the 2nd, 3rd run? Talking about Praptham, it made it’s way from Hindi (Milan?) and Savithri produced directed it in Telugu (with ANR) and Tamil. The reincarnation story (probably Nenjam Marappathilai was still fresh in mind at that time) along with river & boatman surrounded village (common in Andhra & Kerala but somewhat alien to TN) plus over dosage of sogam were the pitfalls. But the songs (KVM) were simply superb (while listing one forget Netru Paritha Roja song, I think) and they were much popular even before the film’s release thanks to VB. I remember Kumudam’s review, Ella padalkalum “thenkinnathil” thoiythu edukkapattavai. This Black & White movie starring for the last time Nadigar Thilagam & Nadigayar Thilagam together unfortunately had to compete with another Sivaji starrer releasing on the same day (April 14th, 1971), the colourful entertainer Sumathi En Sundari, and went down.


Regarding Uravukku Kai Koduppom, there is this interesting info. It was a stage play by Visu. It was made into a film by KSG and it sank without a trace. 10 years later when AVM asked Visu to make a movie, Visu discussed UKK with Saravanan. AVM got the rights back from KSG and Visu made some alterations here and there like changing the climax and adding Manorama’s character. The movie was made with a shoestring budget and it’s BO success is history now in addition to President’s gold medal it got (first Tamil movie?).

While hosting Sridhar’s AOM song, Ramki had given a link to a discussion about Sridhar and it made interesting reading. In that Anand Sankar as music director for Sridhar’s film was discussed. He worked for Yaaro Ezhuthiya Kavithai. This was a movie based on Vaasanthi’s kuru novel (Kalki?). A bus on a hill terrain meets with an accident and the passengers are hospitalized. Out of them one woman due to the accident is affected by amnesia and nobody comes enquiring about her. She (Jayashree) stays back in the hospital/home of the Dr. (Sivakumar). Slowly he develops a liking for her and she starts to reciprocate. They decide to get married. Suddenly there is a twist. Somebody comes in search of her and it turns out that this woman is already married and the person is her husband (Rajesh?). True to Tamizh Panpadu, Sivakumar just hands over the woman to her husband and walks back. The same movie was made in Malayalam (“Innalae” meaning yesterday) by the famous Script writer/Director Padmarajan and I was fortunate to se that. It had Shobana, Jayaram (Lover, but here her mother was the Dr. played by SriVidya) and Sureshgopi did the Husband’s role. When Sureshgopi comes in search of Shobana, Jayaram becomes angry and tells SG to get lost. SG shows all the photographs but still J refuses to believe. SG pleads and J agrees to take him to Shobana on the condition that if Shobana recoginises SG on her own, she will go with him. If not she will stay with J. SG agrees because he believes she will immediately rush to him since they were a sort of made for each other couple before she embarked alone on that bus trip. J tells her that his old time friend is coming to meet him and his “would be”. When SG arrives, Shobana comes out and with a matter of fact face welcomes him and talks to him as if she had met him for the first time. SG is crestfallen and J couldn’t hide his joy. When Shobana goes in to prepare coffee, J simply rushes in and takes her in his hands and starts kissing. Shobana is unable to understand the sudden behaviour of J and feels embarrassed because somebody is sitting in the hall. But J is uncontrollable. Imagine the plight of SG, who can make out what is happening inside. When finally J& S come out, SG is not there and is seen getting into the car and driving away. The film ends there and this knife-edge story/scenes were beautifully handled by the Director and all the lead players were excellent. Compared to this, Tamil was a damp squib and the only saving grace was two good nos by Anand Sankar, one lovely song by KJY (I don’t remember the song, though it reminded me of a old song). At the end instead of usual Vanakkam, the title card will say “Ithu Sridhar Ezhuthiya Kavithai” the only novelty if you can call this as one. Sridhar had another release “ Naanum oru Thozhilali” on the same day (May 1st, 1986) a rare incident when two films of the same director is getting released and that too on a non festival day but unfortunately both bombed at the BO

Murali Srinivas, thanks for your posts. Hope to see more from you in the future.

Pick #281

http://raretfm.mayyam.com/stream/pow06/alli_map.rm

Song: alli pookaLae
Film: maNNuketha ponnu
Singer: SPShailaja
lyrics: vaali
Music: Gangai Amaran

Maniam krishnaveni requested this song through email.
MP was released at the time when SPS was singing mostly rauncy, dappankuthu songs. This melody was a refreshing change and she makes good use of it.
'MP' is one of the several insipid Pandian-iLavarasi films that graced the screen in mid 80s. MP also had NaLini and nizhaLgal Ravi in guest roles.
'poongaathe en ponnukitte'(PS,MV) is another popular song from MP

Varudhu varudhu vilagu vilagu song-ai host panna mudiyumaa, Ramki? :)

Sabita's song is not enjoyable, may be due to poor tamizh ucharippu. we cannot expect that quality in pronounciation in her only and early attempt but rasikka mudiyalai :-(

SPS song is really good, she did a good job.

Sathyakabali, A1 write-up On veLLi radhangal song and the film. I don't know whether the film was a hit, your write-up was very interesting to read. You narrated with apt expertise. Great. Please continue to share your wealth of information.

Rgds
Vel

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Murali Srinivas

Talking about Jolly Abraham, I think there is one more popular song from him, a duet with VJ from the film Neethiku Mun Neeya Naana (a 1979 release *ing Vijayakumar & Latha, music by MSV, I think most of the people would not have even heard about the movie). I just remember few words like erumbu, seeni, malai etc (not sure whether it is in Pallavi or saranam). The meaning was somewhat like this; an ant will even climb a mountain provided it is made of sugar. I hope somebody can throw light on this.
.

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The song is aasaiyuLLa maappiLlaikku thoodhu sella yaarumille
by JA and P.Susheela.

The lyrics mentioned here with erumbu, sugar and malai are:

vellak katti mElE vachchi eRumbaik konjcam kIzhE vachchaa
chinna chinna eRumbu kUda imaya malai ERaadhaa?

Hi murali
I am really amazed at your nyabaga sakthi.
What I mentioned about oru kai osai was that I saw it in a 'dappa' theatre (not deepa theatre)
Mahesh