Koothabiran on the enduring romance of the radio, discovering the great outdoors and sharing the stage with stalwarts
For many in Madras, mobility centred around trams. If they had to reach areas not connected by tramlines, they walked. During the 1940s, this combination worked very well for me.
Every Saturday and Sunday, I went by foot from our house in Arunachalapuram (Adyar) to Luz Church Road, where I took a tram to Mount Road and walked the rest of the distance to Marshall's Road, where the All India Radio station stood in those days. I religiously took part in AIR's weekend programmes for children because of a sure reward — participants were unfailingly given sweets, savouries and tea.
It appears to me that Madras, 70 years ago, was an uncomplicated and endlessly fascinating world for a child. Denied the present-day luxury of information being beamed into living rooms, we had to be outdoors to make discoveries about our world. When a Test match was played at Chepauk, we took a tram to Mount Road and proceeded to The Hindu office where a huge scoreboard was installed for the benefit of the public.
During the tram rides, I discovered a few strange facts. One, almost all the conductors were very old men. Two, around noon, trams were filled with people who carried paid lunches to offices. In those days, a pain balm called ‘Madiwalla' — which was primarily targeted at lunch carriers in Bombay who climbed steep stairs and, as a result, developed knee problems — was popular in Madras.
Comparing the past with the present, it is clear we had lived in a world dreadfully devoid of facilities and services that are now taken for granted. For example, there was a dearth of news marts and we had to go to one at Luz Corner to pick up a copy of Sport & Pastime. To listen to the radio, we went to a tea shop in Chekumedu, close to Arunachalapuram. But it was a humane world. Profit was not as important as it is today. When a play was staged at R.R. Sabha, youngsters hanging around the place without money to buy tickets were invited to watch it for free.
Youngsters were drawn to stage arts. Many of the plays in those days were made for children. The mythological plays of Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai — built on the idea of theatre by children, for children — ensured huge turnouts at the Congress Grounds in Teynampet. After passing out of Besant Theosophical School, I jumped into theatre and immediately got to rub shoulders with men who later become doyens of the arts. Rehearsals would be conducted at the famous Mani's Tutorial in Luz. A young ‘Cho' Ramaswamy would give spotless performances even during the rehearsals, his pronunciation was immaculate. K. Balachander directed some of our plays. Theatre was a stepping stone to films. Guhanathan, who later became a film director, was a fellow student of a one-year drama course instituted by the Kalakshetra and taught by acclaimed European theatre actor Palstorm. Formal teaching in theatre was scarce in those days and most of the learning came from doing. People interested in drama invariably dabbled in it; a few amateur groups even rivalled the popularity of top-of-the-line professional ones. It was clearly Madras theatre's heyday, and for that reason, I am glad I was born into that world.
I REMEMBER
Kripa Amateurs — a drama troupe founded by Dr. V. Ramamurthy and comprising professionals in other fields – was without equal when it came to male artistes essaying female roles.
BIO
KOOTHABIRAN Born in 1932, he achieved fame for a variety of children's programmes he organised on All India Radio for over 25 years and earned the sobriquet ‘Vannoli Anna'. An accomplished theatre person, he has been running Navabharat for 26 years. The troupe gives importance to social themes and also concentrates on national integration. He received the Kalaimamani award in 2002 and two lifetime awards, one from the magazine Wisdom and the other from The Mylapore Academy.
Keywords: Koothabiran, Paapa Malar, All India Radio, Vannoli Anna
Stirs memories! AIR had some interesting rules- When you gave the coorect answer to a question in the Quiz programme, on being asked you had to give the name of the college or school but never your personal name. And in 1955,we were given ONE RUPEE each to defray the expenses for attending. There were no prizes. among my contemporaries were Sanjeevi Sundar(later in the IAS) and R.K.Raghavan who rose to become Director CBI via the IPS. By that time AIR had moved to Santhome. And those cute half trams which used to ply between Luz and santhome and what a pleasure? to get off the running tram in front of your house.
This is just fantastic. Please keep this going. It brings such nostalgia about a time when things were not as complicated as they are now. Great schools, colleges and simple pleasures that were enjoyed to the fullest extent. Kirtida
After gone thru this article, remembering chennai in a beautiful way how it was described MADARASA PATINAM MOVIE( Atleast Little bit ) to recollect our OLD Chennai
I still remember fondly Pappa Malar programme, especially Subbu Arumugam's contribution to its popularity,Killai Mozhi and songs by Ka.Jayashree
Wonderful article. Thanks to Hindu for devoting a section like this and constantly delivering some of the most well written and 'true to your heart' articles. I take recluse in these articles and travel time, in the hope of sniffing the breeze of nostalgia; and I have not been failed. Thanks.
This article made me to remember the past chennai. My very thanks for the editor to post this article. that time radio was our tv. even now we canit bring the olden days taste and play time. this made me to remember the exhibition in chennai city centre .
Memories Of Madras in this edition brings lot of memories as i used to take part in the radio dramas organised by Mr.Natrajan the earlier name of mr.Koothapiran.Adyar was a wonderful place those days and have very pleasant memories of those days though its more than 50 years now.Only person i can remember is one girl by name Revathi and dont remember any other persons in our group.
Things have changed so much in madras but things remain the same! Madras was and will always be the most contemporary but most modest city in india.It has got so many landmarks and each landmark has it's own story to tell. reading "Memories of madras"is a really enjoyable experience.
I still remember the sunday 'siruvar solai' at 2.15 pm and would wait to hear 'vanoli Anna's voice. This was the only treat we as children would get on sunday, because we had no TV to see the evening film.
I wish to submit that Kripa Amateurs was not started by Dr V Ramamurthy, but was founded by Late Mr C Ramanujachari who was one of the founders of The Ramakrishna Mission Students Home in Mylapore, collecting funds to start the Home. It's earlier version was known as The Madras Secretariat Party, which also collected funds for the same cause. Dr V Ramamurthy was a senior member of the troupe who was very actively involved. I wish to inform you that I am one of the great grandsons of Late Mr C Ramanujachari. I would request you to very kindly issue a correction.
In the early sixties,i distinctly remember getting up at 6 am on a saturday and cycling from Adyar to Luz to buy Sport and Pastime at the corner shop next to PMP shop. Reason:S andP was available in Adyar only the next day i.e Sunday.Plus the temptation to have a coffee in the hotel below Murdi's lodge..Now it is 35 years since I left Madras.
What a wonderful series 'Memories of Madras' you have managed to put together. We can only admire the richness of Madras with all the culture, artists and their rendering of the humble way they led their lives!! Many of the songs, plays, etc. are etched for ever now and still stands the test of times in terms of their melody, music direction, composition and the simple way they managed to convey simple and complex facts of life!!!
Thank you so much for this beautiful article. As Sri Kooththapiraan mentions, Madras was a clean city ,roads were broader and going anywhere was not a problem. And I am talking about 60s time. where my trip to college cost me 30 paise everyday. It was a dream.And paappa malar will come on air every sunday afternoon at 2 o''clock. That magic hour passed too quickly for us. I remember one particular voice akong with Radio Anna, one Miss.Jayashree. she must have become a musician.
I still remember listening to the radio so religiously for 'Vaanoli Anna' program that telecasts in the evening time of every sunday around 3.30PM (Still, i am remembering the time too). He use to teach kids about good things ' ithai keelungal' for bad deeds and ' Ithaiyum kelungal' for good deed for specific scenario and ends it by asking " which one of you on this deed". Missing those golden days !!! Time cannot take his voice from many livid listerners. Now iam in US and dont see that kind of programs anymore !! Thanks for bringing up this nice article ! Keep it up Hindu.
Do i remember this right. Thiru Koothabiran used to present live commentary of the cricket matches held in chennai. Though i dont remember the name of the commentator i clearly remember the fine tamil commentaries on all india radio. 'chuzal pandhu'.., 'mattaiyaazar'.., 'madakki adikkirar'..., 'naangu ottangal'.., were the tamil words used for spin bowling, batsman, cut shot, four runs etc. Tell me this is him.
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