I was reading thread dedicated to Nadigar Thilagam (Sivaji Ganesan) the MGR's arch rival in Film (only) and one person named Rakeshkumar with his website (http://rakeshkumar7.tripod.com) gave an entire page about all important actors of World Cinema including Sivaji Ganesan, I was disappointed at first why not MGR, he is not worth to be included. I wrote to him, he gave the reply – the reply which showed his Love to MGR. the mail follows:
(Email)
As you may have noticed, my website is mostly about Hollywood and I try to write as much as I can on Tamizh film industry.
I am crazy about Sivaji. Period. I used to be an MGR fan (from before his death), but I ceased to be interested in him as an artiste. Nowadays, I am more interested in him as a person. He is a mysterious figure. I don't think anyone really knows who he is. Only he does. And I try to read about him. But unfortunately, all I read is what we all know....how a good samaritan he is, how he helped others, etc.
I want more information. And I don't know. I think of myself as a student of a subject called MGR. A great, mysterious subject that takes volumes of encyclopedia to describe.
Of course, when time comes I'd like to write about MGR in my site. As far as actors are concerned, there are four major stars who have impacted the industry - MGR, Sivaji, Kamal and Rajini. I will certainly be writing about them one of these days. But as you may have noticed, my site has not been updated for a long time. When I am active again, I shall write about him.
http://rakeshkumar7.tripod.com/
(The thread about MGR)
My Letter to Puratchi Thalaivar, Makkal Tilagam M.G. Ramachandran.
"Irunthaalum Marainthaalum, peer solla vendum,
Ivar poola yaarendru, uur solla vendum
Ivar poola yaarendru, uur solla vendum."
17th January 2007
My dear Puratchi Thalaivar,
Wherever you are, today is the day, ninety years ago (or is it?) you were born. You were sent here on a mission. A mission that you, only you, know what. We know some, we have seen some, we have read some, we have listened to some.
But there is more...only you know that. You were loved, you were respected, and you were despised. More loved than despised. Those despised you had issues, that's all. But they will agree the power you vield over millions of hearts. The power of love.
How many just wasted their life away when they learned that you are no more. Why? What have you done to them? Those flickering images on screen. The seat of power that you sat on. That smile. That graceful wave of hand. The assurance of goodwill. The assurance that all will be alright, for you are here.
And then, you were gone. Blank. Tamil Nadu, Tamil film industry has not been the same again, good or bad. My father is a poor man. He had nothing to hand to us brothers, but the love for cinema. We inherited that plus a little bit of the greatest treasure of his called, "MGR Fanatiscm".
In my teens, I was so absorbed by your films and songs. I am now a bigger fan of your 'brother' Nadigar Tilagam. But the funny thing is, now, after fifteen years, I have difficulty recalling lyrics of NT's songs, but at the snap of the finger, I can recall the lyrics of all my favourite songs of yours.
Why? Then, I was crazy of you. Now, I am intrigued by you. I grab my hand on any literature about you. I learned so much about you. But the more I learn, the more I realise that I don't know who you are.
You are, to us, what you want us to know. You kept the rest of you to yourself. And what we know is the image of one of the greatest person ever to live in this planet. That is all we know. And that is all we need to know.
Sometimes back, I swore never to write in this thread of yours...thanks to some unnecessary arguments. But I take that back. I take it back, because you wouldn't like it. You would want me to learn from others in this thread, and share my own love for the world you created for us with the rest. I shall. I abide by your often spoken rule on 'sharing'.
So, my dear Puratchi Thalaivar. Many happy returns of the day. You are not here, but you are there, somewhere, watching us kids with that enigmatic smile of yours.
Happy Birthday.
Your once fan, and now, student,
Rakesh Kumar
Malaysia.
(Email)
As you may have noticed, my website is mostly about Hollywood and I try to write as much as I can on Tamizh film industry.
I am crazy about Sivaji. Period. I used to be an MGR fan (from before his death), but I ceased to be interested in him as an artiste. Nowadays, I am more interested in him as a person. He is a mysterious figure. I don't think anyone really knows who he is. Only he does. And I try to read about him. But unfortunately, all I read is what we all know....how a good samaritan he is, how he helped others, etc.
I want more information. And I don't know. I think of myself as a student of a subject called MGR. A great, mysterious subject that takes volumes of encyclopedia to describe.
Of course, when time comes I'd like to write about MGR in my site. As far as actors are concerned, there are four major stars who have impacted the industry - MGR, Sivaji, Kamal and Rajini. I will certainly be writing about them one of these days. But as you may have noticed, my site has not been updated for a long time. When I am active again, I shall write about him.
http://rakeshkumar7.tripod.com/
(The thread about MGR)
My Letter to Puratchi Thalaivar, Makkal Tilagam M.G. Ramachandran.
"Irunthaalum Marainthaalum, peer solla vendum,
Ivar poola yaarendru, uur solla vendum
Ivar poola yaarendru, uur solla vendum."
17th January 2007
My dear Puratchi Thalaivar,
Wherever you are, today is the day, ninety years ago (or is it?) you were born. You were sent here on a mission. A mission that you, only you, know what. We know some, we have seen some, we have read some, we have listened to some.
But there is more...only you know that. You were loved, you were respected, and you were despised. More loved than despised. Those despised you had issues, that's all. But they will agree the power you vield over millions of hearts. The power of love.
How many just wasted their life away when they learned that you are no more. Why? What have you done to them? Those flickering images on screen. The seat of power that you sat on. That smile. That graceful wave of hand. The assurance of goodwill. The assurance that all will be alright, for you are here.
And then, you were gone. Blank. Tamil Nadu, Tamil film industry has not been the same again, good or bad. My father is a poor man. He had nothing to hand to us brothers, but the love for cinema. We inherited that plus a little bit of the greatest treasure of his called, "MGR Fanatiscm".
In my teens, I was so absorbed by your films and songs. I am now a bigger fan of your 'brother' Nadigar Tilagam. But the funny thing is, now, after fifteen years, I have difficulty recalling lyrics of NT's songs, but at the snap of the finger, I can recall the lyrics of all my favourite songs of yours.
Why? Then, I was crazy of you. Now, I am intrigued by you. I grab my hand on any literature about you. I learned so much about you. But the more I learn, the more I realise that I don't know who you are.
You are, to us, what you want us to know. You kept the rest of you to yourself. And what we know is the image of one of the greatest person ever to live in this planet. That is all we know. And that is all we need to know.
Sometimes back, I swore never to write in this thread of yours...thanks to some unnecessary arguments. But I take that back. I take it back, because you wouldn't like it. You would want me to learn from others in this thread, and share my own love for the world you created for us with the rest. I shall. I abide by your often spoken rule on 'sharing'.
So, my dear Puratchi Thalaivar. Many happy returns of the day. You are not here, but you are there, somewhere, watching us kids with that enigmatic smile of yours.
Happy Birthday.
Your once fan, and now, student,
Rakesh Kumar
Malaysia.
