Vaazhappala Kaamedy Kalagam HO: NiRuvanar VaLLal Goundamani

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Goundamani snubs leading channel

An old proverb in Tamil says that “Maadu Ilaichalum Kombu Ilaikkadhu”, which when translated into English would mean that ‘even if the bull gets weaker, its horns remain as strong as ever’. This appears to be the case with ace comedian Goundamani, who ruled the roost in Tamil films for close to three decades from the eighties.

Recently hospitalized for treatment of a heart-related ailment, Goundamani is said to be recuperating at his residence. From time to time, Goundamani used to call his journalist friends to his house and wean away time chatting merrily with them. Such informal interactions would, however, come with a rider that not a single world of what is uttered during the interaction would figure in the print media.

He is also reportedly very averse to giving any interview to the print and television media. Despite his indisputable status at the leading comedian for so many years, none of the magazines and television channels was able to get a formal interview from the comedian-par-excellence. A leading vernacular TV channel, meanwhile, tried to get Goundamani interviewed so that the programme could be aired on the eve of Tamil New Year.

As he usually does, Goundamani steadfastly refused any interviews. In his typical characteristic satirical ways, Gounder is said to have shot back that when the channel was raking in lots of money by repeatedly airing comedy sequences from his innumerable number of films, there was no need for him to give an ‘exclusive’ interview.

When the ‘head’ of the channel got in touch with the ace comedian over phone later, Gounder again reiterated his stance when he reportedly said that he knew what he was talking about and with whom he was speaking to. This hasn’t gone down well with the channel’s administrators.

A couple of days after the incident, Goundamani casually remarked to a journalist friend of him that ‘he didn’t need the channel’s support for survival’ and that ‘they only needed his services (meaning sequences from his films)!’

He sure hit the nail on its head!