good bye, sambhar

Hey..

Yesteryear movies -specially Black & White ones- are remembered with so much fondness by our parents, grandparents and by us. They were of the gentle, romantic, family-oriented ones that could be watched almost anytime, unlike today's (Hindi) movies, where one has to watch with one hand on the remote ready to switch to ESPN if someone walks in. Old Tamil movies had an excellent cast with each performer trying to outperform the other. MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, SSR, JaiShankar, SV Ranga Rao, Nagesh, Savithri, Padmini, Saroja Devi - the list of immemorable names goes on and on..

There was always the one man who brought 'colourfullness' to the B&W movies. His movies boasted of light romantic stories, wonderful music and songs and an amazing performance. His films neither boasted of 'action scenes' like that of MGR's nor heavy sentiments like that of Sivaji's. In today's terms, he had a late entry into the films, at the age of 34; but Gemini Ganesan was one of the most popular hero and a ladies-man of that era. He fitted aptly into the roles he played - whether a middle-aged middle-class hero driving a cycle or as the young prince Abhimanyu rowing a boat with his consort. Typically cast in movies that needed a 30 year old hero romancing (yes - there was a time when only 30 year olds were romancing), or just married having a small happy family, Gemini Ganesan was the soft-star of the 60s; A star who didnt enter politics like his peers.

A well educated guy hailing from a orthodox brahmin family from down South, Gemini Ganesan was a Chemistry professor at the MCC. Maybe he learnt the art of romancing from his students during this tenure !!. He was affectionately referred as the Kaadhal Mannan. And this was by no means a surprise. For Gemini was a colourful person not just in the movies but in personal life too. Though he acted in Iru Kodugal - where he had 2 wives, in reality he had Many Kodugal. He had many marriages, the latest when he was in his 70s.. his movies were a real reflection of his real life love stories - a different herione in each one of them. PB Srinivas and AM Rajah rendered most of the songs for this passionate hero. Their tones and tunes matched with the gentleness of Gemini's voice.

I have watched a number of Gemini's movies with great interest. Missiamma, Konjum Salangai, Then Nilavu, Kalyanap Parisu, Maya Bazaar stand at the top of my favorites. A couple of his best performances came in his later years in Unnal Mudiyum Thambi and Avvai Shanmughi. One could tell from these movies that the man had a passion, a flair for acting. Another interesting movie is Naan Avanillai, where he played nine roles - a feat comparable with that of the other Ganesan in Navarathiri.

People age and they pass away. Only few of them leave such a rich legacy to the industry that they grew and dwelled in. Gemini was undoubtedly one of them. His presence in the movie zone was enchanting and he will be fondly remembered as a "gentleman" of Tamil movie. I always prefer to remember him by his famous nickname - sambhar.

Chao..