Potpourri of titbits about cinema - Sachu

“I am still in cinema because I switched over to comedy …” – Sachu

Sachu, the veteran comedienne was introduced to cinema as a child artiste in the film ‘Raani’. Sachu has been in the celluloid world for sixty years now! Pudupadi, near Arcot in Vellore district is her native place. She was born to the couple Sundaresan – Jeya at Mannadi. Her father was a practicing lawyer in the Madras High Court. Her given name is Saraswathi. She was addressed to as ‘Sachu’ endearingly by people around her and it became her permanent name.

Residing at Abhiramapuram, Chennai, Sachu continues to be busy with her shooting schedules even today. She leads a tightly-scheduled life that includes attending functions and special programs, apart from attending shooting. From day one, she is the same in treating media persons with respect and friendliness.

Q: How did you enter cinema? Please tell us about the circumstances …

A: My grandmother reared both my sister Lakshmi and me at her Mylapore house during our schooldays. Dance master Dandapani Pillai was a tenant in that house. Film industry people used to come to his portion for learning dance and for other purposes. My sister learned ‘Bharatanatyam’ from him. I was just four years at that time. Jupiter Pictures was producing the film ‘Vijayakumari’ at Coimbatore Central Studios with K. R. Ramasamy and T. R. Rajakumari in the lead roles. The film was directed by S. A. Samy. My sister Lakshmi gave a dance number in this film. I and my grandmother used to accompany her for shooting. The year was 1952. At that time, the production of the film ‘Raani’ by Jupiter Pictures was under way. The child artiste booked for the film couldn’t attend the shooting due to sickness. They wanted me to do the role and with my grandmother’s consent, I acted. And, it was my first brush with acting. As I had to keep attending the shooting, I couldn’t continue my schooling. I went to school only for six months. So, my grandmother arranged for tuition in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages. I learned Carnatic music also. There was a plethora of offers after ‘Raani’ released.

Devadas, released in the year 1953, catapulted me to fame and recognition. The film was a critically acclaimed blockbuster. I did the role of the young Savithri in that film. The song sequence “Oh … Devadas ..”, done by me and Master Sasikumar became a hit. I was the young Avaiyaar in the film ‘Avaiyaar’, produced by Gemini Studios. Even today, I am awed on recalling these opportunities. ‘Sorgavaasal’, for which the story and dialogue were written by ‘Arignar’ Anna, ‘Marumagal’, ‘Ethirpaaraathathu’, ‘Shyamala’, ‘Mayabazaar’, ‘Bala Nagamma’ (Hindi) followed in a row, earning for me the status of a good child artiste.