Khan Saheb Kamal Haasan's Jamaat/Jeba Koottam/Devasthaanam - Part 8

[sakaLAKALAKAlaa Vallavar]

Also he looks very tired, nowadays

[joe]

Iru Nilavugal...

...

[equanimus]

How many people do you think remember these films as SB films, as against Kamal films?

Rhetorical question, I know. The answer is of course obvious. But this 'absence' of a director indirectly gives way to something unfortunate. A lot of people, even those who are fans, genuinely find these films very affecting 'fail' -- to be more precise, lack the vocabulary -- to frame their assessment/appreciation of the film as the success of the filmmaker and invariably end up praising the actor. Both these Kamal performances are indeed powerful but note how that (the performance) is just about the only thing most people end up discussing (the jail meeting scene, the hospital scene in guNA and so on) when there's so much more to say about these films. (My feeling is Kamal completely recognizes this and hence ensures there's always at least a few powerful moments for the actor.)

[equanimus]

'What is the reason, I want to know the reason' for crediting someone else-nu kEtteenga.
Good question.

Kamal wanted to make his directorial debut with a bang. If not for having to take over Chachi 420, his 'debut' would have been Hey Ram.

Here, a director is not just a creator. You need to take care of a lot of grunt work. That's not totally outsourcable either. That person also has to have a creative bent of mind.

I differ somewhat from this line of reasoning though I suppose it's also valid to an extent. (Particularly the point about starting with a bang. I think Kamal certainly had such a notion in his mind.) I think the primary reason (and I believe this is close to the industry's understanding too) for Kamal not officially donning the role of a director is he invariably doesn't have the trust of the business people. That's why I think he had to pick an established name (who is also pliable) as the director.

[venkkiram]

கேரளாவில் சிறந்த கதை, திரைக்கதை, வசனம், இயக்கம் இப்படி ஆளுமைகள் பரந்து விரிந்து கெடக்குது. கூட்டணி என வரும்போது அங்கெல்லாம் எப்படி ஒவ்வொரு பணிகளும் திறம்பட கலந்து ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் உண்டான இடம் பிரபலமாகிறது? கமல் என வரும்போது, திறமையான இயக்குனர்களிடத்தில் (சிபி மலையில்-பரதன்-சேது மாதவன்).. கருத்து உராய்வுகள் ஏற்பட்டு உடைந்து போகிறது?

[equanimus]

ஏன்னா அவருக்கே ஒரு பரந்த vision இருக்கு. அவருக்குத் தேவை executors தான். This is not only true for director's 'grunt work' but also that of a whole set of technicians. The cinematography for instance in his films is first-rate more often than not but note that he never seemed to have the need to stick to collaborating with one established cinematographer. Many of his 'complete' films (i.e. those that are well mounted visually and so on) are shot by enthusiastic newcomers. He works with them for some films and then moves on. Or at least that's how it appears to me.

[P_R]

I've seen on SB interview where he talks about how it was a huge effort to get the cameras in and out of the caves. They ha to build cables to lower and bring out the equipment.

Thats what I meant by the executor being someone who had a creative bent of mind. To know how important, and worth the effort an aesthetic achievement is. One needn't personally be the ideator to to share that passion.

Eq, what were SB's immediately pre Guna films that made him a safe bet collaborator?

[hattori_hanzo]

Iru Nilavugal...

Sommaokkaandha Sokkudhudee / Iru Nilavugal. Kamal played the role of an absent minded doctor. YGM dubbed for him in Tamil.

I have heard about a movie which came almost during the same time - 'Unarchigal'. He played a deaf/mute along with Sujatha, IIRC. How good is this movie?

[P_R]

@ cinematographers
oNdi aaLA evvaLO dhaan seyyardhunnu dhaan pidichu kudukkuRaar. SeriousA eduththukkappadaadhu.

[equanimus]

Eq, what were SB's immediately pre Guna films that made him a safe bet collaborator?

PR, actually by "established name" I simply mean a director who is known as a director, that's all; and of course willing to be an assistant to Kamal on the sets. Santhana Bharathi is after all a friend, so I suppose Kamal saw in him an able accomplice. My theory is, the business people just want an assurance that a regular director is calling the shots and not an overenthusiastic actor (who'd better stick to what he knows and does well, acting).