I was brought up in Neyveli till my School finals where my Dad was a Mining Engineer.I was a born sivaji fan and my entire family from Grand Parents,Parents,Siblings to Spouses incl.all are sivaji fans.My first memory was Pudhia Paravai in Athoor Swarna/Sridharan ans my attraction was a blue colour clockspring and NT stretched Hands with transparent off-white.Most of my new release outings were in Aththoor/Cuddalore/Kumbakonam(Sridharan,Swarna,Ramachandra,New cinema,Muthiah,Padali,Kamar,Babu,Jupiter,Vijayalak shmi,Diamond,Noormahal andKarpagam)where my Maternal Grand Pa was working in L.I.C.Neyveli had only two theatres Amravathi (Township)and ganapathy(Mandharakuppam) but releases were delayed by 1 month to 3 months depending on success.Infact,I take needless break just to watch NT release films in other towns.My class ,all were NT Fans or converts as they had no choice.Amravathi till the age of 10,I was finding the ladies que more attractive and easier to get Rs.0.85 Ticket.Somehow after the heavy objections(Immam Peria Pullai,Vetkamillame pommbalai Quevile Etc)from Thai Kulam(Due to my good growth with hairlines in the face)i switched to Gents Que 0.85 .Most of the films had repeated viewing on consecutive days(Being a good student not much of objection from Parents).But the cream of the old movies were viewed in Touring Talkies like Sorathur Jothi,muthandikuppam,Aduthurai RCA,Thiruvidaimaruthur Sridharan,Thirupuvanam shanthi,Trichy Raja/Ramakrishna/Wellington noon shows on Saturdays during my P.U.C.But after coming to chennai in 1976 ,I missed Amravathi(I was so used to viewing it )and atleast make it a point to see the movies in Amravathi with Friends.I vividly remember one incident.
We went on a excursion trip during my 10th Grade to bangalore and made to stay for a night in Dormitory(Aug or Sept 1973).Engal Thanga Raja was just released in New city and I didn't get company of other students for night show as teachers do not allow it.I escaped with 2 Rs and enquired many sources and reached theatre after 30 Min struggle.As the tickets were sold out,I had to return back but I didn't take the address of our dormitory and no clue(Like Abhimanyu).God!with approximation,guessing,gut feel ,I managed to reach Dormitory by midnight 1.00 and sneeked in without the knowledge of my teachers.
I saw Engal Thanga Raja during Oct'1973 in Neyveli ganapathy and 4 repeated viewing on consequent days.
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