Ask The Experts

[groucho070]

Attention Old fans of classic films and New fans of Classic films.

This is where we meet and share our info and knowledge. This thread is for those nagging questions you have haunting you day and night about certain film, or certain actor, or certain something about that some old film you watched and you cannot remember and its ruining your day (It happened to me many times that I bug Murali-sar and Joe a lot, owe them many cups of chaaya).

So, go ahead and ask. We have experts here who can help you.

I'll kick start with this:

S. Balachander as a director. Apart from Andha Naal, did he experiment again? I recall a film called Bommai, what is great about the movie and did it do well?

[NOV]

To my knowledge S. Balachander was a Veenai Vidhwan who dabbled in directing once a while. My introduction to his film was via Nadu Iravil - I couldnt sleep after watching the film as a kid. Later on I came to know that it was based on Agatha Christie's Ten Little Niggers, but was much chillier almost Hitchcockian.

[RAGHAVENDRA]

ASK THE EXPERTS - Very good topic. Murali Srinivas and many others would help solve many confusions. Thank you for giving the opportunity to seek clarifications or answers to rare and old tamil film related doubts.

S.Balachander was one of the genii in Tamil films. He came to limelight as an actor in Penn, Koteeswaran, Maragatham, etc. Besides, his films as a director made Tamil film rise its head in pride. His films mostly belonged to the genre of thrillers and detective stories. Avanaa Ivan, Idhu Nijama, to name a few. Nadu Iravil was a super hit film and theatre owners in Tamil Nadu refused to allow children below the age of 18 (the film was not awarded A Certificate!). I was one of them. I got a ticket and at the entrance I was not allowed to enter the auditorium. However my prolonged stance was fruitful and at last could gain entry to the film and what a film it was.

A great actor and director, technician, what not~

Raghavendran

[NOV]

Heard somewhere that Culcutta Viswanathan (Rajini's father in Moondru Mudichu) was the original choice for lead role in Andha Naal.

How far is this true? And how old was CV when AN was filmed?

[Aalavanthan]

I have a question for the classic experts here

I watched a couple of movies by director Sridhar 1. Ilamai oonjalaadigiradhu, 2. Avalukenru oru Manam.

I thought director Sridhar was wonderful in both these films with his direction. I am not sure about who the screenplay writer was, but they both had the essence of anticipation of whats going to happen next. Ofcourse there were lot of twists in the end that made the movie work.

Do you know more about Sridhar.. is there any thread started for him ? is it really true that he has directed about 100 movies ?

[gaddeswarup]

I keep remebering a Tamil song from my college days with the lines 'Vinnodum Mugilodum Vilayadum Vennilavae'. Can somebody provide a link to this song. Thanks

[NOV]

download: http://ca.music.yahoo.com/track/9044768

lyrics: http://www.tfmpage.com/forum/archive....09.29.07.html

rendition by others:

[gaddeswarup]

Thanks. It must be at leat 45 years since I heard the song; it used be very popular in functions. It is nice to see that younger people are still singing it. I wonder whether somebody can explain the meaning of the lyrics. Many thanks again.
Swarup

[P_R]

I wonder whether somebody can explain the meaning of the lyrics.

You aren't missing much IMO.

Here is an attempt:


viNNOdum mugilOdum
viLayAdum veNNilavE
kaNNOdu konjum
kalai azhagE isaiyamudhE
isaiyamudhE

O moon that plays with the sky and cloud
O beauty of art that dotes on the eye
O nectarine music

alaipAyum kadalOram
iLamaangaL pOla
viLayAdi isaipAdi
vizhiyAle uRavAdi
inbam kaNalaam

Beside the waves of the sea
Like young deer
We shall prance and sing
And let our glances mingle
And thus find joy
(viNNOdum)


thEdAdha selva sugam
thAnaga vandhadhu pOl
OdOdi vandha
sorga bhOgamE
OdOdi vandha
sorga bhOgamE

Like the bliss of unexpected wealth
(You) came to me running
O joy of heaven


kANAdha inba nilai
kaNdaadum nenjinilE
Anandha bOdhai oottum
yOgamE vaazhvilE
viLayAdu..isaipAdi
vizhiyAle uravAdi
inbam kANalAm

Like the heart that saw (hitherto)
Unknown state of bliss
(My) life is on joyful high
We shall prance and sing
And let our glances mingle
And thus find joy
(viNNOdum)

sangeetha thenRalilE
sathirAdum poongkodiyE
sandhOsham kANa
uLLam naadudhE
sandhOsham kANa
uLLam naadudhE

O gentle one who dances to
The musical breeze
My heart pines for joy
My heart pines for joy

mangAdha thangam idhu
mARadha vairam idhu
onRaaki inba geetham
paaduvadhE vaazhvilE
viLayAdu..isaipAdi
vizhiyAle uravAdi
inbam kANalAm

This is gold that doesn't lose lustre
This is diamond that doesn't change
(We) shall mingle and sing the song of joy
We shall prance and sing
And let our glances mingle
And thus find joy

(viNNOdum)

[gaddeswarup]

Thanks P_R. Of course, many songs loose much like the idiom and sound in translation but still it is nice to know the gist of the song.
Thanks again.