நடராஜ முதலியார் – திரையுலக வரலாறு 2
நவம்பர் 19, 2008 14 பின்னூட்டங்கள்
நடராஜ முதலியார் பிறந்தது 1885ல். தந்தை சென்னயில் புகழ் பெற்ற மருத்துவர் எம். ஆர். குருசாமி முதலியார்.
கீச்சக வதம் வெளி வந்தாலும் நடராஜ முதலியார் அதை ஊமை படமாகவே (Silent movie) வெளியிட்டார். இவர் இந்த திரைப்படத்திற்கு ரூபாய் 35000 செல்வு செய்தார். 1917ல் 35000 என்பது பெரும் பட்ஜட். முதல் முயற்சி என்பதால் கொஞ்சம் செலவு கையை மீறியிருக்கலாம். 35 நாட்களில் எடுத்துவிட்டதாக ஒரு செய்தி இருக்கிறது. ஜெட் ஸ்பீடு தான்.
நடராஜ முதலியார் இந்த மாதிரி அட்வென்ச்சரில் குதித்தாலும் நிதானமாகவே யோசித்து எடுத்த முடிவாகத்தான் தோன்றுகிறது. அவரது நண்பராகிய நாடகத்தை வளர்க்கப் பாடுபட்ட பம்மல் சம்பந்தம் முதலியாரிடம் ஆலோசனை செய்தார். அந்த காலத்தில் தெரிந்த கதையை வைத்து படம் எடுத்தால் தான் படம் ஓடும் என்று ஒரு எண்ணம் இருந்திருக்கலாம். தெரிந்த கதையை வைத்து படம் எடுக்கச் சொன்ன அவருடைய ஐடியாதான் இந்த திரௌபதி vs கீச்சகன்.
நடராஜ முதலியார் ஒரு பிஸினஸ்மேன். அவருக்கு இந்த கதை, கத்திரிக்காய் எல்லாம் எழுத வராது அல்லது தெரியாது. (ஏதோ நான் இதை எல்லாம் எழுதவதால் எனக்கு இதெல்லாம் நன்றாகத் தெரியும் என நீங்கள் நினைப்பதாக நான் நினைப்பதால் நான் இன்னும் எழுதிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன். வேண்டாம், உண்மையை சொல்லிவிடாதீர்கள்!). எனவே அவர் சி. ரங்கவடிவேலு என்ற நண்பரை அனுகினார். ரங்கவடிவேலு அப்பொழுது சுகுன விலாஸ் சபா என்ற ஒரு நாடக குழுவை நடத்தி வந்தார். திரைக்கதையை எழுதும் பொறுப்பை அவரிடம் தள்ளிவிட்டார். அவரே நடிகர், நடிகைகளுக்கு கோச்சிங் கொடுத்தார். ரங்கவடிவேலுவை உபயோகப்படுத்திக்கொண்டது ஒரு பிரமாதமான் strategy என்று நான் கருதுகிறேன். ஏனென்றால் சுகுன விலாஸ் சபாவை முன்னதாக சம்பந்தம் முதலியார் முன்னதாக வளர்த்து வந்தார். அது ஒரு பெருமை. மேலும் ரங்கவடிவேலுவும் மிகவும் வெற்றிகரமாக நடத்திக் கொண்டிருந்தார். பெரிய சபை கதையாசிரியரே திரைகதை எழுதினால் மக்கள் கூட்டம் அலை மோதி விடாதா? அது ஒரு வியாபாரத் தந்திரம் தானே? இன்று ஏ.வி.எம் ப்ரொடெக்ஷன்ஸ் கூட பாப்புலர் ஆன கலைஞர்களை வைத்து அதை யுக்தியை தானே கடைப்பிடிக்கிறது.
நடராஜ முதலியார் பெங்களூரில் ஒரு labஐ நிறுவினார். வாரம் ஒரு முறை பெங்களூர் சென்று தனது ஃபிலிம் சுருள்களை தயார் செய்வார். இப்படி அவர் அயராது உழைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கையில் இரண்டு துயர சம்பவங்கள் அவருடைய திரைப்பட உலக வாழ்க்கைக்கு ஒரு முற்றுப் புள்ளி வைத்துவிட்டது. அவர் India film companyஐ விட்டு வேலூரில் சொந்த ஸ்டுடியோ வைத்திருந்தார். அது தீயில் கருகியது. மேலும் அவருடைய மகன் காலமானார். 1923ஆம் வருடத்துடன் அவருடைய திரை சகாப்தம் முடிவடைந்தது.
அவருடைய மற்றத் திரைப்படங்கள்:
திரௌபதி வஸ்திரபரனம் (1917)
மைத்திரேயி விஜயம் (1918)
லவ குசா (1919)
மஹிரவனன் (1919)
மார்க்கண்டேயன் (1919)
கலிங்க மர்தனம் (1920)
ருக்மணி கல்யாணம் (1921)
பற்றி Bags
அவார்டா கொடுக்கறாங்க? 
1000 படங்களுக்கு மேல் நடித்த பழம் பெரும் நடிகர் நம்பியார் இன்று காலமானார். அவரின் வயது 89. அவருக்கு எனது அஞ்சலிகள்
//
(ஏதோ நான் இதை எல்லாம் எழுதவதால் எனக்கு இதெல்லாம் நன்றாகத் தெரியும் என நீங்கள் நினைப்பதாக நான் நினைப்பதால் நான் இன்னும் எழுதிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன். வேண்டாம், உண்மையை சொல்லிவிடாதீர்கள்!).
//
Don’t you think there is irony here.
We say, tamil(infact Indian) industry
is primarily copy cat.
We also say the same thing about tamil film music industry (copying,remixing etc)
We went on to even say that “Only We have to
make movie to have lasting impact on us” in
Cinema,Cinema reply.
Why are we then trying to rewrite Tamil film
history ?
what is the big difference between this “Rewriting” and their Remixing ?
If we cannot be original about some thing
as simple as blog , how are we going to take
whole length movie with very fresh idea which is going to have lasting impact on us ?
I simply do not understand.
I am not saying that you should stop this.
While we always comment/criticize others
work as copy-which is true, why then we are
doing the same?
Just a thought, that’s all.
Nakeeran
A good question.
Most of the human brains have limited capacity to create. When we have enough time and willing to sit & think, each of us can come up with unique ideas. But the reality is not that. We have work to bring food to the dinner table. We can’t afford to spend that much time. Some creators like J.K. Rowling, etc. are lucky enough to create without worrying about food. But others have to create before the deadlines compromising the quality. As part of that the process, they tend to “reuse” ideas or creations. As long as it is entertaining I would say we can let go the “copy crime”. But copying ad nauseum, is indeed repulsive to the viewers and fans. That’s where we have to draw the line. I expressed my opinion about Director Shankar’s reuse of matrix ideas elsewhere. He used it in once for song sequence very early in time and once for stunt choreography in another much later. When I was able to welcome the first one, it was quite repulsive to me in the second one.
It’s easier said than done for me too. In this case I am just retelling the story in my own style for two reasons. One, the readers of this blog can get an opportunity to read the history, if they haven’t read anywhere. Two, it’s just one more theme for me to keep readers entertaining. Even if readers knew the history, they can entertain others along with us by actively replying/correcting the errors like you did.
கேட்டுக் கொண்டதற்க்கு பிறகும் உண்மையை சொல்லிவி்ட்டீர்களே! 🙂
Great that you have taken in right spirit.
I still could not buy your theory that because of lack of time, money , pressing family responsibilities etc etc “copying”
is inevitable for writing blogs.
Same ,infact more reasons can be said by
film producers too, where they risk huge money.
Even delaying for a day costs them heaps.
There are many producers turned beggers.
We are only writing blog.
There is no restriction on what we write(practically any topic),
how much we write(it could be even few lines)
There is no financial or any other risk.
We can write as many as we want.
//
As long as it is entertaining I would say we can let go the “copy crime”. But copying ad nauseum, is indeed repulsive to the viewers and fans.//
Your above statements are contradictory.
If it is entertaining then why copying ad nauseum is a problem ?
For example, If I have not seen the movie
from which Shankar has copied, Shankar movie will obviously be great entertainment for me.
That is precisely the calculation of Shankar & co.
Remember he still has to re construct the whole scene with financial risk,physical risk(to stuntmen), quality risk(not every body can copy that well).
To sum it up,
We can always find zillions of reasons why
we are not original.
But they are not going to make us happy anyway.
In my view we should draw the line here.
கேட்டுக் கொண்டதற்க்கு பிறகும் உண்மையை சொல்லிவி்ட்டீர்களே! 🙂
I only raised the originality of the topic
you chose 🙂
Nakeeran,
I respect your stand that you couldn’t buy my argument. But family constraints, lack of time, etc. are my clear and present difficulties for me.
I am not sure about the grammar for writing blogs. “Writing blogs” is an accident to me. All I know is that I have the liberty to make spelling & grammatical mistakes, mix languages, don’t have to follow language rules very strictly, etc. The way I understand is this: Blog is to professional journalism as “C U l8ter” is to “See you, later”.
Well. Having said that, I know that I need lot of improvement in my writing skills to hold readers like Nakeeran back to my writings 🙂 The more I see these kinds of feedback, the more I have to stop and think before writing (or “reusing”)
Plagiarism is different from “reusing” ideas. But with history, no matter how different you say it still looks the same. After all how many ways could we manage to say “Asoka won Kalinga war” or “Hitler’s created concentration camps for decimating Jews”? Whichever way we say it could result as the same material. My point is if we expect change in contents in these themes, we will end up disappointed. I guess you are asking me to change the theme itself. Again my first point (my clear and present difficulties) comes into effect.
But hope that situation will improve and I get better stuff to tell you. 🙂
மணிவண்ணன்,
நன்றி. உங்கள் விரைவான தகவலுக்கு.
Don’t worry about blog protocols.
You have all the freedom to do whatever you want.
But then if I copy somedody’s blog and pasted in my blog my effort is zero
(apart from finding that stuff)
If I identify and analyse an issue or experience something and express it in own words or imagine and express the imagination,do research about some thing and express it in various forms and ways
then my effort is 100%.
Various degrees of copying reduces this 100%
effort to various levels.
Generally the amount of thinking one does is largely reduced to varying levels depending on nature of copying.
Rewriting history is we get all the stuff
for free and just express it in different
tones.
Even if you get history for free without doing research, if you add ,your analysis,
conjectures, surprises,shocks etc then may be you raise the reduce the degree of copy.
For example Madan wrote wonderful history piece in “Vandhaargal Venraargal”.
Forget about everything.
We criticize Shankar…, music directors for
copying.
IF they ask us, “when you cannot even do blogs with original thoughts then why are you criticizing us when we operate under so many contraints?”
what answer can we give them ?
The issue I raised is purely based on this.
Don’t worry. You are free to write anything
without any hesitation.
There is no protocol for this.
Nakeeran,
Thanks for the nice feedback. Bags & I appreciate it!
I agree with Bags, though. While a blog can be seen as forum to express the author’s opinion, I personally view this blog as a place where Tamil movies can be discussed. For me the feedback is a very important piece. When we cut and paste or “rewrite” history, we are hoping to hear from you guys. Cut/paste is usually from protected sites which make is harder for netizens to access them…
Also, Shankar expects us to pay him money. We definitely don’t have a money motive, but we wouldn’t say no to a coffee sometime!
//
Also, Shankar expects us to pay him money. We definitely don’t have a money motive, but we wouldn’t say no to a coffee sometime!
//
So it is OK to copy,as long as one does
not charge for it ?!!! 🙂
Indian songs or pretty much free (mp3 downloads).
The pirated DVD movies we see does not
help producers,directors anyway.
I mean Shankar does not get anything.
But still we are criticizing remix, remake
copying etc. (see the relevant blog)
Why ?
I just had fun.
Don’t take it seriously.
Nakkeeran, we all understand the spirit in which you are arguing, so don’t worry about being offensive.
Shankar may not have a perfect system to get the money out of MP3 downloads, but I don’t think there is any doubt about his motivation – and ours. It is very rare that remake copying in Tamil film industry to acknowledge its sources. If they do, it would make it much more palatable.
//
Nakkeeran, we all understand the spirit in which you are arguing, so don’t worry about being offensive.
//
Nanri. Am I offensive ? If so very sorry for that.
//
Shankar may not have a perfect system to get the money out of MP3 downloads
//
Ahaa!!
It is not Shankar’s problem.
He provided us facility to buy authentic mp3
songs and buy authentic DVDs.
We are happy to bypass it.
//
I don’t think there is any doubt about his motivation
//
His motivation his to make money by entertaining us.
In that process he takes huge risk ,ivest lots of money(S films), works hard,spends heaps of time blah blah.
He also picks up some impressive idea from wester movies ,recreates them with lots of
effort and mixes them with his original
idea.
Why should he not charge moneey for his work?
//
It is very rare that remake copying in Tamil film industry to acknowledge its sources. If they do, it would make it much more palatable
//
Agreed. Most often they are found out.
In this internet age they cannot keep it
secret.Can they ?
I didn’t phrase that well – I meant to say that you are not being offensive at all, so don’t worry about it…
Shankar has the perfect work to charge for anything he wants. It is upto the public to pay for it or not. My point is not about his rights to charge for it, but the fact that our motivation is different from that of Shankar.
The fact that they can be found out doesn’t justify the non-acknowledgement of the sources.
//
My point is not about his rights to charge for it, but the fact that our motivation is different from that of Shankar.
//
His motivation is to Take all kinds of risk,work,partly copy, entertain and make money.
But we criticize him for copying and we are saying we have the right to criticize him for copying.
Your motivation is to Rewrite history and entertain.
But then according to you, there is no problem of copying because you don’t charge.
But he charges because he takes huge risk with huge investment, takes massive effort.
You don’t do any of them and that is why you
don’t charge.
This “Not charging” does not give you “right to copy” that too when we openly criticize them for copying.
//
The fact that they can be found out doesn’t justify the non-acknowledgement of the sources.
//
Again I agree with you on this.
This is probably our Cinema culture.
Bottom line his no body should copy whether
or not they charge for it.
We can take certain work as inspiration, but
there should be sincere effort on our part as well.
Kammba Ramayanam is a product inspired by Valmiki Ramayanam.
Kambar’s own stamp of creativity apart from
the herculean effort of translating the sanskrit work is just one example of that
kind.
If we cannot do this for some reason, it is
good to atleast not criticize others.
But as I always said, I just had fun.
Whatever you want to do , please do it.
Please,Don’t get discouraged by what I say.