A few years ago, I was journeying from Coimbatore to Salem. Stopping at the Erode bus stand, I found Balakumaran’s novels neatly stacked in rows of shelves. “Ah, they sell very well. Readers ask specifically Balakumaran writings!” replied the stall owner with a tinge of pride to my query about their sale.
Eight of Balakumaran’s novels have seen 10 to 12 editions. Nearly a dozen novels have been reprinted eight or nine times. His 250 other novels have seen the highest number of five editions and more. Last year, he celebrated his 70th birthday in a grand scale with a colourful souvenir.
Six volumes of ‘Udayar’ on Raja Raja Chozhan has seen 15 editions in the last count. Four volumes of ‘Gangai Konda Chozhan’ has seen seven reprints. This is apart from his numerous collections of novellas and short stories, which do booming business. In short, Balakumaran is a best-selling author in Tamil. His serial on Ramana Maharishi in a fortnightly was later published as a book and showed his prowess in handling spiritual subjects.
His first story
In a casual chat with this writer, Balakumaran shared his beginnings in writing and how he evolved into a serious novelist. Balakumaran’s debut was through pudhu kavidhai — ‘The Telephone Cleaner’ appeared in Kanaiyazhi , while his first short story ‘Vazhi Mayakkam’ was published in Ka-cha-ta-tha-pa-ra .
Balakumaran’s association with Saavi began when the latter was editing Kungumam . ‘I went along with Subramanya Raju. He asked us to edit one issue, as we had then become popular. When he started his own weekly Saavi , he offered us a lot of opportunities. He asked me to write a serial for just five weeks, which ultimately went on for 32 weeks due to readers’ positive response.’
CHENNAI : 01/10/2015 : FOR FRIDAY PAGE : Writer Balakumaran to an interview to The Hindu. Photo : K. Pichumani
According to Balakumaran, Saavi gave him a lot of freedom and Balakumaran utilised it well, making corrections till the matter went to the press. He chartered his own plans for his development and this made editors sit and take notice of him. Kalki asked a serial and ‘Irumbu Kudirai’ was born. Kalki Rajendran brought out attractive posters, when Balakumaran requested him. When ‘Thayumanavar’ was serialised in Ananda Vikatan , flex boards had sprung up all over! “There were giants writing then. Editors did not understand women. I was toying with the idea of drawing the readers’ attention to the status of women. I created strong women characters, who did not compromise. I showed them in the right perspective.”
On his association with SAP of Kumudam , Balakumaran said he and Subramanya Raju first gate-crashed into his house, when SAP was busy writing an editorial. However, after a couple of hours of discussion, SAP asked them to write short stories. Balakumaran gave ‘Kettaalum Aanmakkal.’ SAP advised the duo not to glorify or defend wrong doings, as people would presume committing sin was normal or acceptable. ‘He was a Maha Gnani’ said Balakumaran about SAP.
On his quitting the job in TAFE, Balakumaran said he consulted his wives Kamala and Shantha. “Quit, if you want to. There is enough for ‘mor saadham’ (curd rice). We can manage!” This was in 1985. “I needed money. I wanted to own a car. I can indeed earn in literature. I can earn through cinema. I gave up my job without hesitation.” As a devout family member, Balakumaran in his early days had learnt Thevaram, Thiruvachakam, Divya Prabhandam and other Tamil classics, due to his mother’s influence. In his early meetings with Yogi Ramsuratkumar, he declined to accept him and bluntly told him, ‘Not now, later!’ The yogi did accept him and gave enough opportunities to be close with him. Balakumaran went on to document his experiences with his guru.
About his devotion to Bhagawan Ramana, Balakumaran said this: “I read him over and over again. His spirituality was straight and simple. To be truthful is Aanmikam (spirituality). I have done all rituals, mantra japams and agnihotram. regularly. All these raised my level. But then, I realised that spirituality was beyond all these!” he confessed.
According to Balakumaran, many of us live in absolute darkness, as well as, intermittent darkness. Therefore, to live in the glow of light, one should have good luck, ‘written in head’. This does not come through mere effort alone, he emphasized.
