I have two movies that are very close to my heart, and have affected me personally.
The first is Padithal Mattum Podhuma (1962). The underlying theme of the film is how a deep friendship between cousins is affected due to both of them being besotted with a woman. For some reason, it struck a chord with me from the day I watched it and I’ve always kept that in mind — a friendship is not worth losing a girl over.
It’s an excellent film with good performances by Sivaji Ganesan and K Balaji who depict their friendship perfectly. But my favourite part is definitely the song ‘Pon Ondru Kanden’ sung brilliantly by TM Soundararajan and PB Sreenivas. ( proceeds to sing ) ‘Pon Ondru Kanden, Penn Angu Illai... Ennendru Naan Sollalaagumaa’... The lyrics have so much meaning and depth to them. I recall the entire song even today! I was a young pre-university student when I watched the film at Shanthi Theatre on Mount Road in Chennai.
A still from Padithal Mattum Pothuma
The other movie that I love, because it pretty much mirrors my life, is Abhiyum Naanum (2008). The father-daughter relationship between Prakash Raj and Trisha’s characters in the movie is exactly the bond I share with my daughter Akshaya. I have gone through pretty much every emotion Prakash Raj goes through in the movie — from joy and pride to worry and fear for the daughter’s future.
Be it her first day of school or getting her married, I can relate to his character at all levels.
My daughter is now in the UK, and even now, whenever the movie comes on television, she calls to ask me not to watch it! Why? I end up crying my eyes out the entire day if I even watch a single scene! In fact, I can still remember vividly watching the movie with Akshaya when it released at Udhayam theatre and weeping constantly throughout the film.
(As told to Gautam Sunder)
