Potpourri of titbits about cinema - K. Balachander

Some excerpts from his interviews:

Q: Tell us about your writing the script for MGR’s ‘Deivathaai’ …

A: MGR presided over my stage play ‘Mezhukuvarthi’ and was very much impressed with the play. While speaking, he said that young talents like me should come forward to work in cinema and that he would get an opportunity for me soon. He implemented his words immediately by offering me the work of scriptwriting for the film ‘Deivathaai’, produced by R. M. Veerappan’s Sathya Movies. Till that minute, I didn’t even dream of working in cinema, my full concentration was on theatre only. Both MGR and Veerappan trained me in cinematic dialogue. I used to write lengthy dialogues with long paragraphs, a style with stage plays. RMV would edit and compress them into one single sentence! In the beginning, I used to get annoyed at his corrections, but, subsequently, I understood the difference between the styles of cinema and stage play. The film, directed by P. Madhavan, released on 18-7-1964 was a blockbuster. ‘Makkal thilagam’ MGR deserved all credit for my entry into the celluloid field. Then, I got the opportunity to write the script for films including ‘Sarvar Sundaram’, ‘Poojaikku vantha malar’ and ‘Neela vaanam’. All these films became hits. Subsequently, producer A. K. Velan approached me with the offer to direct my play ‘Neerkumizhi’. The rest is history.

Q: You had directed only one film with Sivaji Ganesan as hero …what was the reason?

A: Before ‘Ethiroli’ was started, it was decided to make a film with Sivaji. The film was to be directed by P. Madhavan and I was given the responsibility of scriptwriting. The producer was Ramakrishnan, Sivaji’s make-up man. Sivaji told me that he would discuss the story at his bungalow at Surakottai. I stayed there with Madhavan and Ramakrishnan for about five days for this purpose. Sivaji liked the story very much and gave his consent to do the film. But as he was very busy, the project was getting delayed. In the meantime, Ramakrishnan died suddenly and the project was shelved once for all. After many years, producer G. N. Velumani came forward to make the film ‘Ethiroli’ with Sivaji in the lead. Velumani gave me the opportunity to direct the film. I was very nervous to direct Sivaji, a colossus. But the great actor encouraged me a lot and made me feel confident. During the schedule, he suddenly asked me to conceive a scene with scope for displaying his versatile acting. I was bewildered because it was a realistic story about a lawyer and his life. Over-acting wouldn’t suit the story, I told Sivaji. He didn’t argue and immediately understood. The film released on 27-6-1970. But Sivaji’s fans didn’t accept him in that role and the film flopped. One of my close friends told me that the movie flopped because it was neither a Sivaji film nor a Balachander film!