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A two-time National Award winner for film acting, Surendranath Thilakan, was in town recently to receive an award for his lifetime achievement and contribution to Malayalam cinema at a star-studded AMMA Award function held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This rare honour came at a time when the thespian is facing a boycott from those of his ilk following a war of words. An acclaimed actor, known for speaking his mind, Thilakan has just chosen to ignore the industry reaction but alleges that the actors??? guilds were being used to safeguard the interests of a few people. He has said this before and in September, except director Thulasidas and some small-screen artistes, none of the Malayalam film industry personalities attended his daughter???s wedding. But even his detractors cannot deny the fact that he is a brilliant actor.

In his own estimation, the creative freedom that film-makers give him has helped him breathe life into the characters he portrays. Osteoarthritis has imposed physical limitations and he has fewer assignments now but he still managed a national level special mention performance in 2007 for Ekantham. Even the film technicians??? guild, MACTA, made an exception recently and honoured him though he is not a technician. His boundless talent is likely to bring him into reckoning once again. In an acting career spanning over five decades, he has gifted the audience many memorable characters. The first screen character he portrayed in 1973 mouthed famous lines from Shakespeare???s works like Hamlet???s words ???to be or not to be.??? He fondly recalls the dialogues as well as each frame of that film. In the climax, after both the character???s father and sister die, he wonders aloud ???Two deaths for one love, so how many deaths for love since the beginning of the world.”

Thilakan has always held the audience spell-bound, irrespective of the type of role. Whether it is the lead role, villainy, comical role or character role, the fate of the film has never affected his career because he always excels. He is admired, in particular, for his roles in Kolangal, Kireedam, Rithubedham, Perumthachan, Sphadikam, Moonnaam Pakkam, Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Randaam Bhavam, Kaattu Kuthira, Maya Mayooram, Yavanika, Ekantham, Santhana Gopalam, Mugha Mudra (double role), Gamanam, etc. to name a few. His terrific dialogue delivery in villainous roles in Tamil films inspired the audience to refer to him as ???super villain.??? While other artistes beg directors for a role, the pricey Thilakan has had roles falling into his lap. Directors and producers count on him for important roles, which they believe only he can portray. The actor was paid his full fee for his role in Oru Yathramozhi, directed by Priyadarsan, although he has only one or two scenes in it. He dubbed for SP Balasubramanim for the children???s film Magic Magic on the singer???s insistence and again received the full fee that he charges for a film. The seventy-three year old actor suffers from many ailments and says that he has to have at least 30 tablets a day. Last month he had to be hospitalised and was in ICU for a couple of days, but ill-health has not robbed him of his appetite for challenging work. Recently he completed a telefilm and three other movies ??? Orkkuka Vallappozhum, Red Chilies and Makante Achan. He played the lead as the seventy-five year-old Sethumadhavan in Orkkuka Vallappozhum, directed by debutante Sohan Lal. Next he was to reach the location of his forthcoming film directed by Thaha. During this interview for Time Out, he was in his hotel room in Dubai, relaxing before taking an early morning flight home. Here are the excerpts:

Tell us about your entry into filmdom?

I made my film debut in the lead role in Periyar, released in 1973. The film was written and directed by PJ Antony and produced by Hassan-Rasheed. Their earlier choice for the lead was the late Prem Nazir.

How did you get selected for Prem Nazir???s role?

I was working in PJ Antony???s theatre troupe and he recommended my name for the role and they agreed with some reluctance. Although PJ Antony was confident about my talent, the producers had their doubts about casting an unknown actor like me in the lead role and they also feared the audience reaction.

Tell us about your character in Periyar?

My character???s name was David and my father???s role in the film was played by PJ Antony. David was an intelligent youth, who dreamt of becoming a collector. He attends the civil services personal interview fully prepared to answer every possible question. However, his interviewer asks him questions outside his syllabus like ???How many buckets of soil does the Himalaya have.??? This shocks the bright young man and after the incident, he starts asking strangers odd questions like ???How many litres of water does the Periyar river have??? and he also advises them ???If you don???t know, measure it and find out, then you can become a collector in future.”

Did you get many offers after Periyar?

The same year I appeared in four scenes in Madhu-Sharada starrer Gandharvakshethram as the hero???s friend. I also got another offer from a leading banner, Udaya, but the project was shelved and in the next six years I didn???t get a single film offer.

How did you return to the silver screen after six years?

I returned to the film industry by playing a minor role in Ulkadal, directed by KG George and released in 1979. After two years I played the lead in a challenging role as a drunkard, Kallu Varkey, in Kolangal directed by KG George.

Did you receive any kind of training in acting?

No. Talent is inborn and nobody can train a person in acting. However, one can be trained in the technical aspects of film-making. I started acting in my school days and was the best actor in college after which I began my career as a theatre artiste. I was expelled from my college for misconduct and left my home and struggled in life without proper food or shelter. That struggle made me determined to succeed in my chosen vocation.

After becoming a full-time theatre artiste I honed my acting skills by reading books on cinema authored by Russian and American masters. This included the works of Academy Award nominee, Michael Chekhov, and literary scholar AC Bradley, who is best known for his criticisms on Shakespeare. I also watched many foreign films, which had famous actors like Sir Sidney Poitier which helped me to experiment and improve my acting skills.

Why did you leave home?

I was born into a rich family but had very little freedom to pursue my interests, especially acting. My father was the employee of a plantation company. I didn???t have the freedom to talk to people from my surroundings and left home at the age of 19 to pursue total freedom. My obstinacy that I would not return helped me reach this position today.

You have worked in several drama troupes like KPAC, Kalidasa Kala Kendra, Changanassery Geetha, PG Theatres etc. Did that help in shaping your film career?

My theatre experience helped me in films and that gave me an entry into films. But acting in dramas and films is very different. If an actor continues the same drama style of acting in films it would have a negative impact. As a film actor I have done my best to avoid the drama style of acting in films. PJ Antony, the first National Award winner for Best Actor from South India, later told me that as an actor he was not fully successful in outgrowing his drama style of acting even after entering films.

Who is your mentor?

Zoology Prof. Shivaprasad in my college offered me constructive criticism for my performance as Mark Anthony in the college drama. After closely watching my performance, an imitation of Marlon Brando???s portrayal of Mark Anthony in the Hollywood film, he told me that the applause from my colleagues belonged to Marlon Brando as I was not visible in the role. Prof. Shivaprasad headed the Arts Club and he was in charge of selecting the final plays. Himself, a good actor, he told me that acting was not imitation. He encouraged me by saying ???I want to see your performance as Mark Anthony and you can do better.??? I took pains to switch from Marlon Brando???s Mark Anthony to my Mark Anthony and finally won the best actor award from the college. This gave me an opportunity to rethink and closely watch the audience response to my performance.

Is a good physique and handsome appearance a must for an actor?

No. If beauty and physique were crucial for an actor, I would not have been in the industry because I am not a handsome man, but I have been active in the industry for so many years. Others who are alive and started their acting careers along with me are still in the industry. Acting is more important since beauty is visible only on the face of the character. If beauty is indispensable, the Academy Award winning black actor, film director, author and diplomat Sir Sidney Poitier would not have been a box-office star. He is not at all good looking and when he smiles his gums are visible. However, I was really impressed by the actor???s performance especially in To Sir With Love. Many actors, who are not good looking, have proven their mettle as actors in Indian and world cinema.

How important is voice for an actor?

Voice is extremely important and that is the identity of an actor.

What about today???s music and film songs?

Music is the basis of all other arts and a good actor has to have a good sense of rhythm. Mohanlal is an example of this. However, most of the current film songs are a challenge to society.

Are you satisfied with the present state of Malayalam cinema?

Malayalam cinema reached world standards 15 years ago, but the standard of Malayalam cinema is declining with each passing day. A good movie should have a good story with a message for society and there cannot be any exceptions to this.

Who is responsible for the low standard of Malayalam cinema?

Producers and directors.

Film-makers say the audience is more interested in commercial entertainers and meaningful films have no audience?

Who says so. Kazhcha and the recently released Kadha Parayumbol etc. are good films and have done good business at the box office.

Do directors respect you as a senior artiste and give you the creative freedom or do they interfere in your work and come up with suggestions?

Most of the directors know each artistes??? capabilities and how much they can trust them to come up with a worthy performance. Even very efficient and experienced directors trust me because of my vast experience. Director Fazil gave me full freedom during a scene in Ente Mamaattikuttiyamma, where a priest is told by the girl???s adoptive mother that he should not visit their home. My character???s smile in the scene has sarcasm and conveys the message that the lady has finished him for good. The scene was appreciated by Fazil and also well-accepted by the audience.

The director duo Anil-Babu were doubtful about the audience reaction to the sentimental expressions of my character Madhavan Nair in the climax scene of Santhana Gopalam. But the audience reacted positively. I believe that a sad scene does not necessarily require lengthy dialogues. The expressions and situations are sufficient to convey the feelings to the audience.

I prepare for a role by studying the script well. Some directors accept my performance while others express their doubts about the audience reaction. I never make changes and it has proven to be successful.

Can you think of any National Award-worthy performances in your past films?

Many of the roles that I played had the potential of fetching me the National Best Actor Award especially the ones in Moonnaam Pakkam, Irakal, Kireedam, Kolangal, Ekantham, Rithubedham etc.

Most of the Malayalam artistes have appeared in the recently released multi-starrer Twenty 20, but you are not there?

They did not approach me for a role.

[END]

(Image courtesy: The Gulf Today)

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[This article first appeared as the cover story (on regionalism) in the December edition of Mutiny print. Mutiny is the first blog to go print. Click here to subscribe to Mutiny.]

My home is in a small town in the middle part of Kerala and I work in Kerala’s capital city. There is a common perception that people in this southern capital city are arrogant and cannot be trusted. When I was about to move to this city, I was told by many people that “do not trust them, they always cheat” or “the women out there are so clever and cunning” etc. Even people who live in the other southern districts were of the same opinion when it came to the capital city. After I moved to the new place and started interacting with my colleagues, some of them had curious questions about the northern part too. Questions like, “I heard that in the northern part, women head families and men are like mere servants?” or “I have had bad experiences while I was in your town. Don’t take me wrong, but most of the people from the northern part are not trust worthy”. I couldn’t help myself but laugh at these questions and I told them that it is the same perception that exists in the northern part about people from south.

And I am not talking about North India, when I say North. It is just the northern part of a state in India - Kerala. This is among the people who share the same language, culture and customs. And I think that the regional conflicts are going to be the next biggest threat that India will have to face after the current phase of communal issues. Or I should say India is seeing it already?

Ever since India has got freedom from the British, the nation has seen separatist movements from several parts of the country. The fact that India was a land divided of small countries in itself was a huge task for the people who took over the administration from the British to establish national integrity. It is a mysterious thing that we still stand united even though we have huge differences in many levels.

The differences were many - racial, linguistic and cultural. Telangana movement which dates back to the independence era was among the first of this kind which was based on the linguistic difference where Telugu speaking people did not want to be a part of Tamil dominated Madras state. There was Jharkhand movement which later became separate state. Take the anti-Hindi movement, led by the eminent Tamil leader Periyar Ramasamy, which was a result of fighting against making Hindi as official language of India. Or the Gorkhaland movement. Or the Khalistan.

But it is not just in the history that we have to search for examples of regionalism. Kashmir still stands in the front row when we look into the current issues. The north-eastern states in India feels alientated by the rest of India and separatism has taken form of militancy in some of parts of this area. ULFA in Assam for example. People fight in the name of linguistic pride whenever two states have a conflict between them. Remember the riots between Kannadigas and Tamilians in the south India? Or the discrimination and violence against north-east people and their women in the northern part of India. Or Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s violent anti-North movement. Or the Biharis being targeted by the militants in Assam.

The other day I was discussing with my friends about the possible solutions to end religious conflicts in India. So many suggestions came up - like promoting agnostism and atheism, a stricter implementation of a secular state etc. Then one friend suggested that the only possible solution is more and more of a globalized world. “Globalization would displace people. It will force them to migrate to other parts of the country or world, in search of a better living and earning. Then they will be forced to mingle with other linguistic, religious groups and they will be stayed away from their regional/religious/community cocoons of comfort. This would give them no space to organize and fight for causes like regionalism or religion. Yes, they will be alienated from their roots. But peace will return.” But then, if globalization had helped people to alleviate conflicting issues, there would not be so much troubles still existing in the world.

India is witnessing more and more internal conflicts these days which are based on the regional and linguistic differences. The fact remains that we do not see this under current in the present situation of religious tensions. But once that is gone, is it going to be regionalism and related differences which will emerge as a stronger enemy to the very concept of India?

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So one more year is passing by. 2008 will be gone in a flash and 2009 is going to be here soon. So much has happened in the world around us in the past one year - terrorist attacks, natural disasters, global economic slowdown etc - and am not going to talk about all that right now. As for me, the past year was not bad personally. I’ve moved onto the new house in the last week of December 2007 and now it’s past one year. I had my first Onam and Christmas in our new house. Bought a new mic, my new Shure SM 58, in June and I must say it’s a very good mic. Got a new cell phone too. I also had a legal battle with Pranatha Books over copyright infringement, or should I say with Shanavas M A, and I won. Then came Malayala Manorama with their false claim which they have not corrected yet. I also moved my blog to my own domain and to a Wordpress platform.

The most notable event was when Indian Express featured me in their article about podcasting, in both Kochi and Trivandrum editions. Earlier this year, they had also featured my blog in their front page. It is a commendable work from a newspaper like Indian Express to recognize the new media and the new media enthusiasts. Also RadioandMusic.com interviewed me about Blogswara.

I am glad that in the last year, this blog could be intstrumetal in bringing help to some people in need with the help of the readers. There was Gayathri, Ajith, Sudheesh and Anju Mohan. For the case of Sudheesh onwards, we could set up a ChipIn widget to make it easy for people to contribute (with the help of Liji from Mutiny.in). And with the help of the readers of this blog (and Mutiny blog), we could collect $465 for Sudheesh and $100 for Anju. This made me believe that we can be the change that we want to see.

Music wise, my song (composed and sung by myself) for the upcoming Malayalam telefilm “Manju Pole Oru Swapnam” was released through the Internet. And I got my first solo song released in the market through a devotional album. Blogswara released it’s 5th album too. I could introduce two talented singers - Radhika Sethumadhavan and Jessica Varma.

As usual, I am not going to take any new year resolution. I take life as it happens to me. No regrets or new promises whatsoever. However, there are a few things that I’m planning to do:

1) Release my personal music album (offline or online)
2) Buy a keyboard and learn to play
3) Compose more original music, possibly come up with a song with my own orchestration
4) Write, shoot and direct a short film
) Do more reading, at least 30 minutes of book reading everyday

Let’s see how many of these are actually going to happen! Meanwhile, check out the year 2008 in pictures by Boston.com (one, two, three). You guys have a great time in this new year! See you in the next year!

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If you had thought Google’s is the best work place ever, check out the office space of Fog Creek (yes, the photo given above shows their coffee bar). It will make you drool. Joel Spolsky, the founder of Fog Creek says this in his blog: “Fog Creek Software, a New York company that proves that you can treat programmers well and still be highly profitable. Programmers get private offices, free lunch, and work 40 hours a week. Customers only pay for software if they???re delighted.”

Sounds cool? Now check out Joel’s blog to read about the features of his new office space and to see some pictures. You can also check out their Picasa photo stream here.

(Thanks to Nikhil for the link)

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Let’s see 67A for example:

67A. Whoever publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the electronic form any material which contains sexually explicit act or conduct shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees and in the event of second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees.

And the punishment:

80. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, any police officer, not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, or any other officer of the Central Government or a State Government authorised by the Central Government in this behalf may enter any public place and search and arrest without warrant any person found therein who is reasonably suspected or having committed or of committing or of being about to commit any offence under this Act.

Mathrubhumi news article says that if you watch, search or download porn in the Internet, you can get imprisoned for 7 years with a fine of Rs. 10 Lakh as per this amendment. Or suppose if somebody else uses your computer to view, search or download porn, you - the owner of the computer - can be arrested. Not only that, some websites display porn site ads when you go there, and you will be punished even for that!

Perhaps the Mathrubhumi reporter is worried about misuse of the word “transmission”. Because when you watch a porn video or image in a website, it actually transmits the file to your computer (in the temporary storage area). But that process doesn’t hold you guilty as it is only the “person who transmits” the material who can be charged guilty. So watching or searching porn sites/images/videos wouldn’t hold you responsible as per this amendment. However, if you send a file, video, email or photo that has sexually explicit content to someone else, it can take you to jail.

(Info via Aashik)

(Image courtesy: iStockPhoto)

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So the Christmas is over. And like any other after-festival days, I feel gloomy and sad for some reason. It was so enthusiastic and pleasant yesterday. One of my sisters came over with her children. I arranged the Christmas tree with the kids and put all decorations. Made the crib, hung a star and lit up everything. By the time I finished, it was already the evening. I called up my second sister, wished her Christmas greetings and in between came my third sister with her husband. Just as we spoke, I had the best Christmas gift which was a phone call from an old teacher of mine.

I had mentioned the name of Renuka teacher here in my blog before. She used to teach Physics in my highschool. She took special care of my singing and had even spent money for my music coaching while I was preparing for the sub-district youth festival competitions. Without a proper training in music, without a Godfather or a person to support my music, I stood no chance of winning in the light music competition, because even the “light” music had to sound “karnatik” in order to secure a prize (I don’t know how much that situation has changed these days in the school youth festivals). So Renuka teacher sent me to a music teacher to teach me a light song and I won the second prize with an A grade and 5 marks (meaning I and the person who got the first prize had the same marks).

After a long time, I met her again in the school and she had become the school’s principal by that time. We talked and she told me that she remembered a few lines of a poem that I wrote for a school competition, which was years back. She even recited a couple of lines and asked me, “so did you find out that girl yet?”. I laughed and was surprised, because I was beginning to forget that I used to write poetry. And that particular poem, I never remembered that at all. And it taught me one thing - the moment you get past your seemingly stupid romantic notions of life and try to measure it with logic, intellect and all that, you turn out to be a robotic material and life in that way sucks, really. So never ever kill that child in you who dreams about talking to a fairy who stands at the tip of a flower bud.

So this teacher called yesterday and it made me so happy to talk to her after so many years. She said she wanted to call ever since an article about me appeared in Mathrubhumi newspaper back in 2005, but couldn’t get the phone number. Then she got my mobile number from another friend of mine, but I had changed it before she called in that number. Finally yesterday, she got the number from the same friend and she made my Christmas eve full of joy…

I went to the midnight mass, perhaps after a long interval of 6 - 7 years. There was nothing to gain spiritually from a crowded church. The church was all packed and people were partly sleeping or staring at others or at their own finger tips, scratching their backs etc to keep themselves awake, except for the other part of people holding their hands together and chanting the prayers. But the church was good, socially. I could meet some of my old acquaintances here and there and pass on a couple of words with them.

On the way back home, I had to piss off my friend, whom I accompanied to the church, over some silly arguments. And that got me thinking, what is the use of building up all that politically-correct, logically-perfect arguments when you cannot really manage the connection between a friend and yourself? Sometimes, it would be good just to give up your thoughts and listen to what your friends have to say, even if that is plain baseless accusation on your character, if that would make them happy.

This thing called emotion is really very strange. What hurts me more is not when somebody hurt me by hurting me, but when I hurt mysef by hurting someone else.

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December is the month that I love the most. The climate is nice. It is cold in the mornings and nights. It is breezy throughout the day. The sky is always blue and the days are shiny and sunny. There is no other time of the year that would refresh your mind like December.

Then there is another reason to be cheerful during this time of the year - the Christmas. The houses are lit with the stars, the crib and it’s decorations. There is music in the air. However, I miss those old Christmas days. The days when my brothers used to make Christmas crib and tree. It was my late second brother who begun with making crib in our house. He was an artist and his skills showed up. We would put the crib in our veranda. At nights, we used the candle lights to lit up the crib as we did not have electricity in our house. We used to wait for the Christmas carol teams to come home to see Santa. The interesting part was to find out who played Santa as it would be mostly someone from the neighborhood.

The best were those days when you used to decorate your crib with your brothers and sisters when you were all together. The best were those days when you went to those midnight masses in the cold nights and used to sing the hymns in the Church without thinking too much about the concept of religion and God. The best were those days when you wished “Happy Christmas” after the Choir to the girl on whom you had a huge crush…

I miss those days badly. And I need that happiness and innocence of Christmas back. I need that good ol’ Christmas back…

Wishing you all the joy and peace of Christmas…

(Image courtesy: timesofmalta.com)

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For the world outside Kerala, Hymenoplasty is nothing new. In France, many young Muslim women reportedly have done Hymenoplasty to prove their virginity and avoid troubles in their family and marital relationships. The news of a woman being divorced in the very night of her marriage and the case went to court had sparked off a national debate in France. Although the news article which came in The Newyork Times was trying to paint the whole issue as a problem of Muslim world alone, the truth remains that all conservative societies, regardless of a particular religion, see virginity as an important factor in marriage.

There was a big fuss in India when actress Khushboo had said that no educated man should expect his wife or girlfriend to be a virgin. This has lead to nation wide debates over virginity and pre-marital relationships in India. Two political parties in Tamil Nadu state took the protest to burning Khushboo’s effigies and demanding an apology from here. Also many people, men and women, regardless of their political affiliations, had said in their private discussions that Khushboo was wrong. All of this finally lead Khushboo to make a public apology.

Individually most of the men and women I know prefer a virgin partner. Virgin men or women in particular are very demanding about it as well, even though they wouldn’t publicly admit it. However, there are no pre-marital virginity tests reportedly conducted here.

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