High point in a `Crazy' career
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
|
EVENT Playwright and actor `Crazy' Mohan was recently honoured by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha.
|
— Photo: V. Ganesan.
CENTRE OF ATTRACTION: `Crazy' Mohan receives the `Nataka Choodamani' award from K. Balachandar . Others with him are (left) Raadhu and Nalli Kuppuswamy and (right) Yagnaraman and Moulee.
It is always gratifying to watch talent being recognised and experience rewarded. The past week saw two such occasions and both had director K. Balachandar adorning the dais. The one in focus here is the inauguration of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha's 13th Chithirai Nataka Vizha, in Chennai, in which `Crazy' Mohan was awarded the title, `Nataka Choodamani' and Raadhu's Mayan Theatres was presented the Poornam New Theatres Rolling Trophy. Honoured by K. Balachandar, the chief guest of the evening, and felicitated by filmmaker-dramatist-actor, TSBK. Moulee, it was accolades all the way for `Crazy'Mohan.
KB's presence at the function that evening had relevance — not just because the formidable filmmaker had made giant strides in theatre before taking the movie world by storm a few decades ago, but also because he was the first to give Mohan a break in cinema when he made the dramatist's `Marriage Made in a Salon,' into a film (`Poikkaal Kudhirai') Master that he is, Balachandar had a word of advice for Mohan, something the successful playwright must have heard from others too — that he must not confine himself to comedy. Moulee concurred with the view. "Though he writes a lot of humour, Mohan is a very serious person, well versed in religious texts ... and he's a fabulous painter too. His drawings on the computer are fantastic." Moulee waxed eloquent on Mohan's multifarious capabilities and his words were a revelation.
"He has always been a wonderful artist. You must see some of his recent works ... we plan to hold an exhibition of his works some time soon," Mohan's brother Balaji, permanent hero of their drama troupe, Crazy Creations, tells you later. "I would love to pen sedate stuff, but no one takes me seriously. When I start on a solemn note, they brush it aside as a joke," laughed Mohan and very astutely added: "Just like he created an entry for me in films, Mr. Balachandar could also give me a chance to write sober stories for cinema ... "
Guiding force
Both Moulee and Mohan sang paeans to KB, because the man has been a mentor and inspiration for both of them. "He is the Pithamagan of cinema. In the history of Tamil movies, the early and later period can only be segregated as `Before KB' and `After KB.' It's after watching the stage classics of Balachandar and Cho at this very auditorium that I was motivated to write plays. So Krishna Gana Sabha also had a major part in moulding me," said Moulee. On `Crazy' Mohan's achievements, Moulee had this to say: "Today people have understood the importance of laughter and you have groups gathering together on the beach side laughing away their blues aloud ... so the therapy that Mohan has been offering us all these years is immense." Moulee also touched upon Raadhu's diehard affinity for theatre. Raadhu, who spoke after receiving the rolling shield for his Mayan Theatres, was glad about Mohan's growth since the first time he saw him in "Ellorum Innaattu Mannar." It was Mohan's first play. "If you got a chance to stage a play at Krishna Gana Sabha you had to be good. Such has been its reputation," Raadhu added.
Yagnaraman, secretary, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, had the last word literally, when he said, " Crazy Mohan is easily approachable ... he doesn't have an assistant answering his calls, he comes on the line himself." The pithy statement conveyed a lot about the popular playwright who well deserved the honour bestowed on him that evening.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
