from my CINE DIARY

Thiraichuvai

-MAJORDASAN
Senior Tamil Cinema Reporter &
Cinema P.R.O

When MGR asked him whether drinking tea often would not harm his health, he replied that he liked tea very much and that he liked another seven ‘T’s. He continued and said – “Duty, Surety, Quality, Security, Responsibility, Sincerity and Punctuality! And, you’ve the eighth ‘T’, namely Personality!” While returning, MGR told me in a lighter vein that Dr. Radhakrishnan had left out the ninth ‘T’, that was ‘Pondaatti’ (wife) and that he had two instead! MGR gave me a book written by the former President and asked me to translate it. MGR enjoyed ‘Madigal’ part of that publication very much. After this incident, on the third day, MGR’s second wife Ammukutty died of tuberculosis despite very good treatment. MGR gave up tea after her death in her memory. MGR’s personality, briskness and the socialistic views expressed through his films attracted all. I remain his fan even today because of the many good things that I learned from his films. Part of the shooting for the film ‘Ther thiruvizha’ of ‘Sando’ Chinnappa Devar was held near Covelong River. The shooting crew included big stars like MGR, Jayalalitha, Muthuraman, Asokan, Vijayakumari, Nagesh and Manorama. The shooting continued for one week and everyday, there used to be huge crowd of fans. The way MGR controlled the crowd and ensured safe return of the artistes to the lodge where they stayed was really amazing. When the police lathicharged to control the crowd, MGR requested the police over mike not to beat the fans and said that if the police continued their action, the shooting would be cancelled and the crew would return to Madras without completing the work. At this, the crowd instantly became disciplined! While leaving the place after completion of the schedule, MGR thanked his fans for their cooperation from an open van. The fans were excited … Script-writer Ravindar, who was close to MGR for more than 35 years, shares with the readers of the film magazine Bommai some interesting anecdotes involving MGR … “The Central Government confers the titles ‘Bharath’ to men and ‘Urvasi’ to women if they excel in their fields. Bharath means fullness. MGR was the first actor to receive Bharath title (Film: Rikshawkaaran). MGR left for Calcutta to receive this honor. A function was got up at Sathya studio in appreciation of this title to MGR. Those, who spoke, referred to MGR as ‘Bharath MGR’. Two days after this function, I explained to MGR the meaning of the title ‘Bharath’. He asked me why I didn’t mention it in my speech at the felicitation function. I told him that I felt it wouldn’t be the right occasion for it. MGR expressed his heart-felt happiness and said that he felt that the title had the result only then. I couldn’t understand what he meant. MGR explained – “Calcutta is famous for rasagullas. My brother Chakrapani and I had been to Calcutta in the year 1936 for the shooting of the film ‘Maya Machindra’. At that time, my salary was only Rs. 200. We felt caged for one month during the schedule. In those days, there were no studios in Madras. I was very eager to eat rasagulla. The cost was four annas per rasagulla. But I didn’t have the money to buy even one. Kuldip, the server who was appointed as our cook fulfilled my wish. When I went to Calcutta now, I thought of this incident. When I came out after receiving the title, the fans were so excited that they shouted in one voice ‘Long live MGR’. In the crowd, I noticed Kuldip, looking very aged, standing in a corner with a garland in his hands. But he hesitated when I approached him. I took him to my room. He said he had two grandsons. I gave him a good sum of money when I realized his condition. He refused to accept it but I insisted and made him accept the money. I didn’t get the feeling of ‘Fullnes’ when I received the title, but I got that feeling when I got an opportunity to show my gratitude to Kuldip.” This was what MGR was …!
EXCLUSIVE M.G.R. ANSWERS
In those days, some magazines were publishing a ‘Question & Answer’ column. They received queries from the readers and got the replies from MGR. I’ll recall some of those very interesting questions and MGR’s very thoughtful replies that would make anyone to think over.

Q: Can students enter politics or not?

A: When a situation arises where the sovereignty of a country or the democratic life of its citizens or the mother tongue is threatened, students can surely get involved.

Q: Which married life can be considered as having ‘fullness’?
A: If there’s mutual love and duty-consciousness, the marriage can be considered the best.

Q: What is it that is not destroyed and that is destroyed by time?

A: Truth can never be destroyed. You can understand what is destroyable.

Q: Where can we see the God?

A: In your good deeds.

Q: When does the man become an animal? When does he become a real man? When does he become the God?

A: The man becomes an animal when he is frenzied; he becomes a real man when he receives love; when he sacrifices himself for the sake of a noble aim, he becomes God.

Q: What do you like, what do you hate?

A: I wish that everyone should live working hard till he breathes his last; now you can as well understand what I hate.

Q: I want to be your heir, I want your approval!

A: There’s no need for anyone who wants to become my heir to get my approval. All those who follow my principles are my heirs.

Q: Who is your role model in the film world?

A: In some of the things, I follow Kalaivanar.

Q: Please name the leaders who were responsible for your entry into politics …

A: Subhash Chandra Bose.

Q: When did you get the desire to don the role of Christ?

A: The wish blossomed when I watched the movie ‘King of kings’ of Cecil Be Demille.

Q: What provokes you, what pleases you?

A: When people keep repeating lies, I am angered. When a person admits frankly his true self, I feel happy.

Q: Do you believe that there’s a power beyond the power and rationale of man?

A: I am alive even after 12 January, 1967 (the day when actor M R. Radha shot MGR)! This itself is an instance to substantiate that there surely is a power above us.