Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema

T.R.Rajakumari a well-known actress is the sister of my husband T.R.Ramanna. She always used to appreciate my horticulture hobby, production company management, selecting the stories for the cinema production and my acting capabilities. In the film Arunagirinathar I acted as sister for T.M.Sundara Rajan., During the shooting of the film`my dialogue delivery and action in a scene to correct TMS made everyone weep at the studio. I will never forget how it made my sister-in-law T.R.Rajakumari to weep uncontrollably.

In Puthumai Piththan a film directed by my husband, I was to sword fight with MGR in a scene. MGR was reluctant to act with a woman in a sword fighting scene. My husband persisted with that and suggested to MGR to sword fight stylishly using his left hand. I also took training in sword fight with the master. The fighting scene was well appreciated by everyone and earned MGR and me a very good name.

In our film Koondukkili both MGR and Shivaji Ganesan for the first time acted together. Shivaji acted as villain in the film. During the shooting both MGR and Shivaji behaved like brothers and did everything suggested by my husband as director of the film. Koondukkili earned the unique name as the only film in which MGR and Shivaji acted together and fared very well in the box office.

Before completing the interview B.S.Saroja said ‘I have stopped acting in films even before my husband’s death in 1997. We have one son named Ganesh and two daughters Kalarani and Shanthi and six grand children. Currently I spend most of my time visiting various temples in Tamil Nadu and other states. I also attend important cinema functions and others only when invited.