Originally Posted by
Murali Srinivas
H_H,
Ram Lakshman was a commercially successful movie. Kadal Meengal was a direct remake of Meen from Malayalam which had Madhu and Jayan but in Tamil iKamal did both the father and son's roles. It was an average success. Shankar lal was started by T.N.Balu right after Sattam En Kaiyil and in fact Kamal had once said that he had agreed to do one film every year with Balu. But before finishing the movie Balu passed away and Kamal and the movie's cinematographer N.K.Vishwanathan completed the movie. It was released on 15th Auguat,1981 along with Netri Kann and Shankar Lal was again average at BO.
After the very successful Kalyana Raman, the same combination of Kamal, GN,Rangarajan and Panchu Arunachalam started Ellam Inba Mayam [{A Art Productions - Panch's own company] that came out in December 1981. It was above Shankar Lal and Kadal Meengal in BO.
As I told you, Anurag was the original movie in Hindi from which Neela Malargal was remade. There was a Telugu version also I believe. It was famous for one reason. KR Vijaya who had steadfastly refused to do widow's roles till that time did it in this movie as she very much liked the role. Veterans Krishnan Panju who had introduced NT in films directed this movie. It came on Deepavali day of 1979 along with Annai Oru Aalayam but fell at BO.
Savaal was a remake of Hindi Haath Ki Safai [produced by Balajee] and it came out on July 3rd of 1981. Muratu Kaalai got released on 20th December of 1980 and yes you are right. But Savaal was successful at BO.
Regarding Janagaraj matter, what transpired was something else. During the dubbing of Guna, RS Sivaji the brother of Sanathana Bharathi acting in the capacity of Assistant Director was overseeing the same. You know RS Sivaji also used to act [Remember Neenga Engayo Poittenga in Apoorva Sagodhargal] and he was not ok with Janakaraj's dubbing. RS Sivaji asked Jangaraj to do it again and Janakaraj did not like it. Arguments followed and suddenly things went out of hand with Janagaraj slapping RSS. This became a big issue and Santhana Bharathi refused to continue with Janagaraj and vice versa. Kamal had to intervene to sort things out.
It was rumoured tgar Jangaraj at the time of the incident was in an intoxicated condition and since Guna was Raj Kamal's production, Kamal took it as a direct attack on him and Santhana Bharathi being his long time friend, the dice fell in favour of SB and Jangaraj never had another chance to work with Kamal.
Regards
Thanks Radio Chandra! Sorry, I forgot to mention your name in the first post.