Laudable effort

THE STORY of "Ethanai Manithargal" (episodes 251-512) goes thus...

Dipti (Yuvashree) marries Dinakar (Rajasekhar) against her mother's wishes. Shortly after, she walks out on him, when she learns of his connections with Suganthy (Latha) who has financed his new company. The latter has walked out on her alcoholic husband and moved in with her four-old daughter, Anita, to live with Dinakar. Ramseshan, Dinakar's friend, dies in a car accident after having entrusted the upbringing and education of his two children to Dipti. Trouble starts when the children grow up and Anita puts pressure to know about her real father. This is because she is let into the secret of her past by the villain, Malaysia Vasudevan.

Dipti's younger sister, Kavitha has no issue. Consequently, her parents-in-law want their son to marry his rich and vivacious classmate, Priyanka. She is the daughter of a business magnate, played by old-timer, K. Kannan.

Dinakar's love for Dipti does not diminish and Suganthy re-unites the two. The latter's husband too reforms and their daughter is instrumental in bringing them together.

Another widower, Deepan Chakravarthy enters with his young daughter who develops an inordinate love for Dipti. She desires her to become her mother.

At that point, Ramseshan's twin who demands a share in the family property is murdered and the crime is foisted on Dipti by Malaysia Vasudevan. Enter Manorama as the defence lawyer.

She brings to book the real criminal with a sparkle in her eye and a twist on her lip. Manorama emotes exceedingly well. Since Kavitha conceives, it is left for Priyanka to bring joy into Deepan's life.

Thus "Ethanai Manithargal" draws to a close after driving home good morals. It is often force of circumstances and communication gap that causes villainy to surface, otherwise people are basically good.

The script is far ahead of its time. Though divorce and separation are on, still a healthy live-in friendship between a man and a woman is not so much accepted or easily digested. There is no separate track for comedy. The excellent dialogue is periodically light when need be and thought-provoking most of the other times. The characterisation is excellent especially that of the powerful female characters.

Acting-wise, Yuvashree is good and Manorama is in her element. Malaysia Vasudevan appears ill, fatigued and old. He presents a sorry spectacle as a retired performer.

Deepan Chakarvarthy (son of former playback singer Tiruchi Loganathan) does a clean job and renders a few lines of his father's numbers melodiously. The old numbers tug at the heart strings. Dipti's father (Durairaj) appears really pained with life and mother (Revathy Sankaran) is fiery in the beginning when she quarrels with her daughter's mother-in-law.

Rajasekhar seems listless so much so that we wonder as to why his wife did not walk out of him earlier. Perhaps that is all the character demands of him. The most important lesson driven home is that there should be perfect understanding between couples for a harmonious family life.

It is asked by many as to why the 7th Channel had to telecast this - their stupendous effort -- on DD. Is it old time loyalty?

Their viewership and appreciation would have soared a hundred times over if they had patronised any of the other satellite channels.

It is common knowledge that the viewers stay far away ("door" darshan) from DD.

It is heartening that in this age of commercial-mindedness, 7th Channel turns out quality programmes.

Poignant moments

This was a lovely short story telecast on SUN TV recently. The effort by 7th Channel Communications is a very laudable one. The entire story narrated over half an hour, was crisp, touching and true to life. The story explored the relationship between a grandmother and her modern granddaughter.

The entire narration was almost shown as a flashback. The granddaughter in her schooldays detested the idea of sharing her room with her grandmother. She felt it was an outright intrusion into her privacy. There was friction between the two over everything, beginning from the volume of the blarring Western music to the regulation of the fan speed. This persistent rub gets the frustrated grandmother to leave.

Years later she returns to find that her granddaughter has grown up and is more understanding and tolerant.

Just at a time when the two realise their affection for each other and are getting to understand each other perfectly, the grandma goes in for an asthmatic attack and is rushed to the hospital.

She promises to return to spend happy moments with her new-found friend, her dear granddaughter.

Devadarshini as the granddaughter and Vatsala Rajagopalan as the granny stole the show. The others in the cast lent natural support in this wholesome entertainment.

THARA MOHAN RAO

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