Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - P.S.Seethalakshmi

Once K. R. Ramasamy toured Malaysia with the troupe for three months. We staged over 650 times in the country. I used the money I received for acting in the dramas to buy useful articles for my family at India. I still remember the trip to Malaysia and acting with K.R.Ramasamy in his Velaikari, Thuli Visham, and Oor Iravu dramas.

I acted in mother roles in Advocate Amaran and Inbak Kanavu dramas staged by MGR nadaka mandram. He was a fan of my carefree attitude and solid voice. The drama rehearsals used to take place at his Lloyds road house. He was always conscious about keeping up the right time and will not allow anyone even if he/she comes 10 minutes late. He will keep the door locked, make the person stand outside for some, then recommend him/her about the need to keep up the time.

I used to reach all his drama rehearsals on time. He has appreciated my interest in work several times when he observed me taking the drama dialogues well in advance for the purpose of memorising them. The food arrangements for the artists in MGRtroupe always used to be the best. I still remember in the climax scene of the drama Advocate Amaran when I come to know who is my son I will weep inconsolably and MGR will match me in crying. The scene has made the audience to forget that it is only a drama acting.

I received opportunities to act in Sivaji Nadaka Mandram through the actor S. A. Kannan who had seen me acting in other dramas. It is a unique quality of Sivaji to appreciate any good acting and offer them a role in his dramas. I acted in important roles in dramas such as Vengaiyin Mainthan, Thenkoodu, Neethiyin Nizhal, Kalam Kanda Kavaignan,Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Jehangir staged by Sivaji Nadaka Mandram. He will conduct the drama rehearsal for two months and will have the last rehearsal at Raja Annamalai Mandram with full makeup. I was known to memorise pages of dialogue easily and deliver fluently without mistakes in the drama. I acted in the role of Vellaiyamma in the drama. But in the film version of the drama I had acted in the role of a 90-year-old lady. I still remember the words of OAK Thevar who said 'you make us cry by your acting'.