Comments on: What Nayakan means to me http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/ The Kamal Haasan Blog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:17:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: randramble http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1260 randramble Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:28:48 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1260 I asked Qalandar why he didn't mention the inspiration from <i>The Godfather</i>. He felt that it was a common influence on many such movies. Anyway, I have an interesting anecdote to share related to that movie. Kamal, Mani Ratnam and some other friends, in their younger days, vowed to make their version of <i>Godfather</i>. They had a friendly bet on who would make it first and Mani won. You can see the influence of the movie even in <i>Thevar Magan</i>... I asked Qalandar why he didn’t mention the inspiration from The Godfather. He felt that it was a common influence on many such movies.

Anyway, I have an interesting anecdote to share related to that movie. Kamal, Mani Ratnam and some other friends, in their younger days, vowed to make their version of Godfather. They had a friendly bet on who would make it first and Mani won. You can see the influence of the movie even in Thevar Magan…

]]> By: Qalandar http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1261 Qalandar Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:16:52 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1261 On The Godfather, I guess the purpose and thrust of this post on what Nayakan has come to mean for someone like me, i.e. what the legacy of Nayakan has been. To the extent Nayakan is itself part of the legacy of films like The Godfather and Scarface, I guess I see that as a somewhat different discussion. randramble's point is a fair one, since I did mention how one scene in particular parallels Deewar. However I felt I ought to highlight that as Deewar and Nayakan are not really thought of as "together" in any sense, and I felt there was something to be said there. Thanks once again for giving me an opportunity to be on this blog frequented by so many passionate cinephiles. Kamal is someone who sometimes irritates me, sometimes rivets my attention, but he and his films (especially ones he directs) never leave me indifferent -- and that's a compliment in my book. On The Godfather, I guess the purpose and thrust of this post on what Nayakan has come to mean for someone like me, i.e. what the legacy of Nayakan has been. To the extent Nayakan is itself part of the legacy of films like The Godfather and Scarface, I guess I see that as a somewhat different discussion.

randramble’s point is a fair one, since I did mention how one scene in particular parallels Deewar. However I felt I ought to highlight that as Deewar and Nayakan are not really thought of as “together” in any sense, and I felt there was something to be said there.

Thanks once again for giving me an opportunity to be on this blog frequented by so many passionate cinephiles. Kamal is someone who sometimes irritates me, sometimes rivets my attention, but he and his films (especially ones he directs) never leave me indifferent — and that’s a compliment in my book.

]]> By: Qalandar http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1258 Qalandar Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:49:03 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1258 randramble: what sort of personal relationship do Kamal and Mani share? Are they friends even "off set" do you know? randramble: what sort of personal relationship do Kamal and Mani share? Are they friends even “off set” do you know?

]]> By: randramble http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1257 randramble Tue, 02 Jan 2007 01:25:54 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1257 I don't really 'know', but I can guess based on things I've heard. Both of them were part of a big gang as kids. All those people wanted to get into movies. I guess the others were Santhana Bharathi, P Vasu, PC Sriram and even Suhasini to some extent. It was at that time that they discussed <i>Godfather</i>. They didn't really need each other to get into movies because of their backgrounds. Probably, when Mani had the big script, he chose Kamal naturally. <i>Nayakan</i> released in 1987. By that time, Kamal had divorced Vani and was living with Sarika. His family had split because of that, as all except his father hated him for it. Later Chandrahasan and family too reconciled, I guess. Charuhasan and family, which includes Suhasini (still close to Vani), have still not got over it. They do talk to each other and especially inquire about health, but the old relationship is possibly gone. Mani joined them when he married Suhasini (in 1990?). So, that's the reason for an ice-wall in the relationship between Kamal and Mani. But I'm sure they still are in touch, because you can see both of them pick up same actors and technicians many a time. I don’t really ‘know’, but I can guess based on things I’ve heard.

Both of them were part of a big gang as kids. All those people wanted to get into movies. I guess the others were Santhana Bharathi, P Vasu, PC Sriram and even Suhasini to some extent. It was at that time that they discussed Godfather. They didn’t really need each other to get into movies because of their backgrounds. Probably, when Mani had the big script, he chose Kamal naturally.

Nayakan released in 1987. By that time, Kamal had divorced Vani and was living with Sarika. His family had split because of that, as all except his father hated him for it. Later Chandrahasan and family too reconciled, I guess. Charuhasan and family, which includes Suhasini (still close to Vani), have still not got over it. They do talk to each other and especially inquire about health, but the old relationship is possibly gone. Mani joined them when he married Suhasini (in 1990?). So, that’s the reason for an ice-wall in the relationship between Kamal and Mani. But I’m sure they still are in touch, because you can see both of them pick up same actors and technicians many a time.

]]> By: Qalandar http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1259 Qalandar Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:04:02 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1259 I never knew Suhashini was related! I am a big fan based on my limited exposure to her talents (Indra, and of course her role in Vanaprastham)...I wish she would direct more films... I never knew Suhashini was related! I am a big fan based on my limited exposure to her talents (Indra, and of course her role in Vanaprastham)…I wish she would direct more films…

]]> By: Qalandar http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1256 Qalandar Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:05:40 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1256 ...not to mention, of course, her talents as reflected in her input into Mani Ratnam's films (and from reports she seems to have had quite a bit to do with Guru)... …not to mention, of course, her talents as reflected in her input into Mani Ratnam’s films (and from reports she seems to have had quite a bit to do with Guru)…

]]> By: Ajoy http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1262 Ajoy Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:19:06 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-1262 Hi Qalandar, I have read your review on Nayakan and Guru and what comes across in both is that "Iruvar" has been the best you have seen in the recent past. You also talked about Mohanlal's performance in it. I am very eager to read your review on Iruvar. Wondering if you have done it for Vaanaprastham... Hi Qalandar,
I have read your review on Nayakan and Guru and what comes across in both is that “Iruvar” has been the best you have seen in the recent past. You also talked about Mohanlal’s performance in it.
I am very eager to read your review on Iruvar. Wondering if you have done it for Vaanaprastham…

]]> By: Shaunak http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-2788 Shaunak Thu, 22 May 2008 03:14:02 +0000 http://www.allthingskamal.info/blog/2006/12/13/what-nayakan-means-to-me/#comment-2788 If a list of top thrillers in India is ever made. Nayakan rests right on top. It deserved a Foreign Language Oscar. Was a thrill when I first watched in my teens and a thrill still. Brilliant. I remember it was released at a time DD was showing a brilliant series like Tamas. Pity how low our quality has dipped since the 80s. If a list of top thrillers in India is ever made. Nayakan rests right on top. It deserved a Foreign Language Oscar. Was a thrill when I first watched in my teens and a thrill still. Brilliant. I remember it was released at a time DD was showing a brilliant series like Tamas. Pity how low our quality has dipped since the 80s.

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