Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - Muthuraman

‘Navarasathilakam’ Muthuraman was the favorite actor of both MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. Muthuraman was great in the sense that he was accepted and appreciated by all the groups of film-goers. He was a hard working and dedicated actor. At the same time, he apportioned his time amidst his tight schedule to his family also. He used to tell me that there’s no meaning in earning fame and money if one was not able to spend time with his family. I still remember his words as a great truth.

Muthuraman started his career as a stage artiste. He was acting in the stage dramas of Seva Stage Company, run by actor S. V. Sahasranamam. He entered the tinsel world in the year 1959. His earlier films included Naalu veli nilam, Onru pattaal undu vaazhvu, Sahodari etc. He acted with MGR in Arasilankumari, released in the year 1961. And he co-starred with Sivaji in Padikkaatha medhai, Paar magale paar, Karnan etc. These films along with Moondu deivangal, Nenjirukkum varai proved milestones in his career. And, he displayed his extraordinary histrionic talents in films like director Sridhar’s Nenjil orr aalayam, Kaadhalikka neramillai etc.

In the film Raja Rajeswari, released in the year 1979, his name was shown in the title after the name of Sujatha, who was not popular at that time and who was a junior to Muthuraman. I was angered by this and I expressed my anger to ‘Madioli’ Shanmugam, a popular media person of the time. He asked me to write a report on this issue. My writing was published in Madioli. Shanmugam sent a copy of the issue to Muthuraman also. My words triggered a controversy. Under these circumstances, I got an opportunity to mingle with Muthuraman closely when I took him to preside over the prize distribution function for the winners in drama competition. Muthuraman told me that a representative of the producer of the movie Raja Rajeswari apologized to him in person and informed him that the mistake was due to oversight and was not purposely done. Muthuraman praised theatre acting as an essential training before entering cinema during his speech at the function. He also gave some useful tips like maintaining one’s health and figure, avoiding bad habits etc. to remain fit for acting. After this function, though I didn’t get much opportunity to meet him, I had the pleasure of meeting him now and then.