Will KamalHassan apologise for Mahanadhi ?
Background For long, KamalHaasan’s classic Thevar Magan has been subjected to criticism that it was insufficiently aware of how the film - despite its patronising and pontifical tone - would be received with a warm glow of pride by the Thevars. Indeed, there is no contesting that ‘potri paadadi ponne’ - a Thevar paen - has come to become a peerless anthem of sorts. While the extent of ‘out-of-context’ celebration may have been surprising, one cannot lose sight of the fact that song itself realised a specific purpose within and for the film first: within the film’s narrative and for, one reasonably assumes, the film's commercial prospects then. To imbue the makers in the business of mainstream films with virtues of thorough naivete is unnecessary. That said, over the years, the criticism has gradually escalated to the absurd heights of accusing him of gross social irresponsibility for not anticipating everything that the song has come to stand for. This type of reductive engagemen
flesh and blood ram is more interesting than the divine. brilliant.
ReplyDeleteApropos to this apocryphal anecdote about Kamban that Suresh S shares via his "random thoughts": When the poetry is read out, the Narasimha sculpted in stone on one of the pillars comes to life and shakes his head, exclaiming, "Sabash Sabash", Sivaji's Kamban quote from Sabash Meena comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the movie and there's this scene in which Sivaji gives the pawn broker a good talking down for refusing to loan any more money to his lady love who has yet to repay the original debt: (Paraphrasing) Kadanaaliyai kann kalanga veitha, andha paavam 5 jenmathukku thaakkum, in other words, the job of a giver is to just keep giving, regardless of repayment, lest he risk cosmic retribution (or something like that), LOL! (Idhellaam nadamurai ku othu varumaa, but a man irrationally vakkalathu vangifying for his lover is such a delight to watch. On a related note, the evergreen "Chithiram Pesudhadi" made my day!)
And oh, you have here yet another enjoyable podcast that clues in even this newcomer to Kamban. Apparom, Ram is all too human ngara vishayam veetla therinja udaney yaaro tumbler-a tharaila potutaanga pola? Such effect only good narration has, illa? Summa sollakoodadhu... :)
// the job of a giver is to just keep giving, regardless of repayment//
ReplyDeleteyeah..I intend to keep this blog running
Very nice narration! I liked how you pointed the small delights along the way. More please!
ReplyDeleteThank you Vijay
ReplyDeleteInteresting narration. Liked it very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks to @complicateur for introducing me to your blog. I like your simple narrative style which makes it easy to listen to, and this particular topic is really interesting. How much wealth we have in Kambaramayanam! You have got yourself a big fan now.
ReplyDeleteamas32
Thank You @amas32, Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteHow nicely narrated. I went back to my Tamil classes of recollecting Vaali VaDhai Padalam. Beautiful. I just got drenched in Tamil rain of yours. Good luck for the upcoming podcasts.
ReplyDeleteThank You PV. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteVery thought provoking examination. Very nature of Lord ram, born with atleast basic weakness of human birth is subtly visible.
ReplyDeleteகம்பன், இராமன் எனும் அவதார புருஷன் பேரில் கொண்ட வருத்ததையெல்லாம் வாலியின் படலம் வழியே புலம்புகிறார் என்றும் தோன்றுகிறது. இராமன் உயர்ந்த மனிதன் மட்டுமே என்ற நோக்கில் எழுதிய வால்மீகியை படித்து உங்கள் கருத்தையும் பதியுங்கள்.
Contradictory talks are so very easly grasped and our ideas about lord ram, turns around to analyse impurities of selfish needs. கடைசியில் ஆருயிர் ஆவியை பிரிந்ததனால் அவனும் சிறியன சிந்திக்க்கின்றானோ என்று முடித்திருப்பது சிறப்பு. இலக்குவன் இராமனை விட மேன்மையானவன் எனும் பார்வையும் எனக்கு பிடித்திருந்தது.
வித்தியாசமான பதிப்பு. ஒலிவடிவில் இன்னும் சிறப்பெற்றியது.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to listen to your podcast recently thanks to http://nchokkan.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/dgltspch/
Your interpretation and narration is just too good.
Please keep up the good work!
Aruna
Thank You Aruna. I am glad both of you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to listen to your thoughts of Vali...thanks to nhokkan
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed a lot...Keep posting this kind of things