Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan - Part 5

Dear Murali,
Your write up on Neelavanam is amazing. Certainly Neelavanam is my all time favourite. During the rerelease it ran for two weeks at the Megala Theatre with full house. And that particular scene where NT will reveal Devika's disease to herself which she did nt expect was later on absorbed in few more films. Chinnanchirusugala with Prabhu in the lead role, was one such where Mohan and Sulakshana would reveal facts which Prabhu wouldnot have expected. Such was Neelavanam's impact. Had Balachander worked more films with NT, we would have more and more classics from that team. (He was adamant to stand alone away from MGR and Sivaji and to establish his individuality which is understandable. But NT was a director's actor and Balachandar would not have had any problem with him. So I personally feel ego would have been the only reason for KB not to associate himself with NT after Ediroli).
Coming to Rajasri, she had acted a few more films with NT (I do not exactly remember). But she has given good performance in whichever film she acted with NT. Even in Sorkkam her performance was good. She was fully utilised by KB in Bama Vijayam, Anubavi Raja Anubavi, Poova Thalaiya etc.).
Regarding Mellisai Mannar's films I am giving below the first few films released date wise:

1. FILM: NEE
Banner: Sri Vinayaka Pictures
Length of the Film: 3977 metres
Date of Censor: 17.08.1965
Date of Release: 21.08.1965

2. இரண்டாவதாக இடம் பெறுவது சரவணா பிலிம்ஸ் கலங்கரை விளக்கம்.
தணிக்கையான தேதி 23.08.1965
படம் வெளியான தேதி 28.08.1965

3. இவ்வரிசையில் மூன்றாவதாக
நாவல் பிலிம்ஸ் மகனே கேள்
இயக்கம் - V.சீனிவாசன்
கதை வசனம் - இராம. அரங்கண்ணல்
பாடல்கள் - பட்டுக்கோட்டை கல்யாணசுந்தரம்
தணிக்கையான தேதி - 22.10.1965
படம் வெளியான நாள் - 19.11.1965

4. 4. AVM ப்ரொடக்ஷன்ஸ் குழந்தையும் தெய்வமும்
இயக்கம் கிருஷ்ணன் பஞ்சு
கதை வசனம் ஜாவர் சீதாராமன்
நடிகர் நடிகையர்
ஜெய்சங்கர், ஜமுனா, குட்டி பத்மினி, மேஜர் சுந்தரராஜன், ஜி.வரலட்சுமி, நாகேஷ் மற்றும் பலர்
தணிக்கையான தேதி 15.11.1965
வெளியான நாள் 19.11.1965

5. பட்டு பிலிம்ஸ் நீலவானம்
தணிக்கையான தேதி 04.12.1965
வெளியான தேதி 10.12.1965
தயாரிப்பு வரதன்

This is based on date of censor and release. But Neelavanam composing was starting much early and there was not much delay in production too. But other films got released even earlier. And in fact Anandhi is supposed to have been the last film in Viswanathan-Ramamurthi duo, since most part of that film was done by them. But a little delay in production made things different. The last few portions of the film Anandhi was done by MSV as a solo md and completed by him. The song kannile anbirundal was composed by Viswanathan Ramamurthi and recorded in P Susila's voice. But during the last schedule TMS wanted to sing the tune and the situation was contrived in recorded again by MSV individually with TMS' s voice.
But I think the title of Anandhi read MSV's name only.
So actually Anandhi is supposed to be the last film of Viswanathan Ramamurthi.

Raghavendran.

Just finished reading. Excellent review, Murali-sar.

I have the VCD of this film and have watched it sometimes back. I thought it was the best performance by the one and only supergorgeous Devika. Such a natural in a role, the types that are hardly available for current day actresses. Certainly in top five of my favourite NT/Devika combo (may I add that this review for you, sir, coming after Andavan Kattalai review recently is hardly a coincidence :wink: ).

NT is NT, doing what he can with the role, and doing more. Much has been discussed about K.B, and I think director Mathavan should be applauded too, for keeping things simple.

Thanks for re-writing those terrific scenes and relating to us the details of the performance. Certainly worth revisiting.

Note: I noticed three of the songs starts with "O", MSV entha moodla iruntharoo? :D

Raghavender Sir,

Thank you so much for the details. So Nee is the first movie to have come out under MSV's name after the break up. One surprise is Magane Kel having songs written by Pattukottai because he had passed away many years before that. Probably they must have used his already written songs.

Rakesh,

Thanks. Yes, it is one of the best by Devika. I do admit it is no coincidence that reviews of Aandavan Kattalai and Neela Vaanam came one after another. They belong to my favourite set of movies. Another thing is our friend Sivan wanted that each and every film of NT to be discussed here and friend tacinema wanted the lesser known jems to be highlighted. So putting both views together, this is being done. Again if you check the films during that period (ie) from 1962 to 1972 or so, you would find lot of interesting films and with NT at his best in appearence, they are worth watching many times.

Regards

மாலை சூடிய மணநாள் - சிவாஜி
ரசிகர்கள் வாழ்வில் திருநாள் - தினம்
வாழ்விலும் துயிலிலும் வாழ்த்தி
எம்மை நடத்திடுவீர் வழி காட்டி!

ராகவேந்திரன்

Murali,

As usual, wonderful writings on Neela Vaanam.

There is an interesting article about MGR & his movie rickshawkkaran on this blog: http://tamilmagan.blogspot.com/2009/04/30.html
Scroll down to the para-heading எம்.ஜி.ஆருக்கு தெரியுமா?

NT veterans: Anyone aware of this?

How unlucky our NT was!!

tac,

Thanks. I knew you are trying but try to be more frequent in this thread. I remember you had mentioned about NeelaVanam some time back. Ofcourse being a NT- Devika combo, it is bound to be our favourite.

Regarding the link and the news in it, I very much doubt about the veracity of the same. Because it starts with an assumption that selection commity had decided to award someone from TN. How can that be decided? What happens if no Tamil film had come for contest? Actualy what transpired in the award process was something that was influenced by "then political powers" and as you know, post mortem of the same would only leave a sour taste.

மே ஒன்று. இன்று நம் நடிகர் திலகத்தின் மண நாள். கமலா அம்மையாரை கரம் பிடித்த நாள். அன்னை இல்லம் விழாக் கோலம் கொள்ளும் நாள். இப்போது விண்ணிலிருந்து அவர்கள் "பிள்ளைகளை" வாழ்த்தும் நாள்.

Regards

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Murali Srinivas

மே ஒன்று. இன்று நம் நடிகர் திலகத்தின் மண நாள். கமலா அம்மையாரை கரம் பிடித்த நாள். அன்னை இல்லம் விழாக் கோலம் கொள்ளும் நாள். இப்போது விண்ணிலிருந்து அவர்கள் "பிள்ளைகளை" வாழ்த்தும் நாள்.

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:) thakavalukku nanri Murali.. nam vaazthukkalaiyum inaithuk kolvoom.
I have to say .. u r doing a gr8 job.. i was reading a lot of your posts when i find time.. so informative and amazing.. hats off.. the argument u have put to set the records straight to prove the BO power of Sivaji is excellent.. keep up the good work.. one thing is for sure.. thr wud be a lot of people like me ( who read, but dont reply :( )

நடிகர்திலகத்துக்கும் எம் ஜி ஆருக்கும் வித்தியாசம் தெரியாதவர்களா கமிட்டி உறுப்பினராக இருந்திருப்பார்கள்?
I can't believe this

Thank You so much Hamid for your Kind Words. I am aware that there are so many silent readers [which includes hub members as well as guests] of this thread but a small post like yours lifts the spirits and makes us give out more. Thanks again.

Regards

நடிகர் திலகத்தின் நெருங்கிய நண்பரும் நடிகர் திலகத்தை வைத்து மிக அதிகமான படங்களை (17) தயாரித்தவரும் நடிகர் திலகத்தின் சாமான்ய ரசிகனின் மனதை புரிந்துக் கொண்டு அதற்கு ஏற்றவாறு நடிகர் திலகத்தின் கதாபாத்திரத்தை வடிவமைத்தவரும் நடிகர் திலகத்தோடு பல படங்களில் இணைந்து பணி புரிந்தவருமான பாலாஜி அவர்கள் காலமானார் என்ற வருத்தத்துக்குரிய செய்தி அனைத்து சிவாஜி ரசிகர்களையும் சோகத்தில் ஆழ்த்தியிருக்கிறது. அந்த வருத்தத்தில் பங்கு கொள்ளும் நாம் அவரை இழந்து வாடும் அவரது மகன் சுரேஷ் மகள்கள் சுஜாதா, சுசித்ரா மற்றும் குடும்பத்தினர்க்கு ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்ளுகிறோம்.