‘SRIMAN SAYS…’!

Out of the blue, one bright Sunday, Sriman and I were discussing our Thamizh films and where we are heading when he came up with this lovely positive thought I’d like to share with you.

“To all the viewers, cast and crew of any film, when a film flops, my ‘take’ is,
try and see the good side, ‘cos no director/ producer will make a film wanting it to flop! Don’t immediately send / fwd text messages jeopardizing the life of a film that may/can be saved”
He linked it with the legend KB sir, who after a ‘take’ when he directs, says “okay for me”. So maybe the text message could be “Not my kind of film but this person acted well…or music was good…thoughtful message…worth watching once, instead of crucifying it”

We started talking of his career graph and the people who have defined and designed it …his interaction with our ‘bold and the beautiful’ of the celluloid world is worth listening to, I mean reading! My amma brought me up to take the good in people, ignore the bad and make sure not to imbibe the bad which is easier to absorb at any given time! That’s the key to a positive halo. Hence this ‘down memory lane’ quotes of people in Sriman’s life who came, created and conquered their celluloid dreams!

Sriman calls his dad ‘Captain of the team’ and his mom as ‘boss of the house’.
It feels good to hear that ‘the closely knit joint family’ status is still honored.  After a 40 minutes-dialog with Namitha, a dentist by profession, suggested by his parents as his partner for life, he said ‘yes’ and he is a blissfully married actor now.

Very few people are aware that he came into tinsel town as a child artiste when he was a 3 year young toddler. ‘Sollywood’ (South Indian cinema) has nurtured, nourished and cherished him as a hero, supporting actor and character artiste.

His experience with Prakash Raj, (the actor who bridged the gap between the mass and the class) during his ‘Pudhiya mannargaL’ days of 1994 till date is a lesson for life.
“Prakash raj sir as a performer and as a producer is as far apart as east and west. As an actor he accepts any role offered to him and gives his best. But as a producer he is extremely picky and do you know why? He wants his films to be a ‘classic collection’ for posterity. So exclusive is he!”

His ‘Love today’ (1997) with Vijay was the beginning of a special bond he shares even today. He owes Vijay big time for maximum screen space and recognition from the viewers. Vijay the good hearted soul that he is recommended Sriman for films that followed, Nilavae vaa, Nenjinilae. ‘Vijay was extremely appreciative of my interest in dance and showered extra concern in my career’.

“Sethu…took me to another level”. His character as Vikram’s friend in Bala’s debut miracle, even now has an impact on young film makers. Sriman the full fledged actor was born.

With Ajith’s ‘Rasi’ in 1997 a comradeship was instantaneously formed. Ajith, Sriman says is a thorough gentleman and I second him :-}  In Dheena, Ajith ensured Sriman got extra scenes and dialogs that garnered applause from the audience which sent a special thrill into every nerve and sinew in Sriman.
“That Rasi Ajith is still the thorough gentle-Billa-man” Sriman finds he has not changed even a decimeter in his disposition and demeanor…during his acting interlude with him on the sets of Billa2. Ajith no wonder has this huuuuuuuuuuge fan following.

To Sriman goes the special record of the only actor with 5 releases on the SAME day! Dheena (125 days), Friends (175 days), Vanchinathan (100 days), Krishna Krishna (50 days) and Ramachandra (75 days)…wowwwwwww!
“That was an unforgettable Pongal for me”, saying so, he breaks into his dimpled smile.

Suriya to Sriman is still the Saravana he knew from ‘Friends’ days to ‘Ayudha ezhuthu’ he has not changed a wee bit, just the same sincere hardworking actor, who has proved there’s no gain without pain.

During Ramachandra, his rapport with Sathyaraj and the praises he showered on him still remain fresh in his mind. Sathyaraj’s advice being “take whatever role offered and make a deep impact in the heart and mind of every viewer”
Sriman reiterates that he tries to follow this advice even today.

Vijaykanth’s Vallarasu took Sriman’s name to the remotest villages, all over South India.  Vijayakanth took ‘friend-philospoher-guide’ interest in ‘tagging’ (like how we tag photos in fb now) his career and he became the busiest actor of Y2K! He bridged the gap between the ‘2 V’s: Vijayakanth and Vijay victoriously.

This was when God gave him the opportunity to act with the veteran actor Kamal Hassan, an icon Sriman had always admired from far.
His Pammal K. Sammandham and Panchathandhiram took him to another league altogether.
‘Kamal’s eye for details is unimaginable’ says Sriman. In Pammal K. Sammandham is a scene where Sriman walks into a wedding hall with a gift to the bride who goes missing. Deciding the gift can be used later, Sriman quietly removes the gift tag! “Kamal sir noticed this and later commented which spread such a glow to my heart” said Sriman in his ‘malarum ninaivugaL’ spree.

Sriman played the surprise element in ‘Thoovaanam’ directed by Haricharan and Newton. His admiration for Madhu Ambat, the DoP of this film is immeasurable. He said, ‘Madhu Ambat is one DoP who never wants his camera to dominate the script and his lighting sense makes me speechless’ 

Though Santosh Sivan is a DoP with whom he has not worked with, his admiration for him is totally beyond expression.
From the younger lot, “Nirav Shah is one person who makes me look better than what I really am”, he sheepishly added.

To this resourceful actor Lady Luck has been extra generous in waving her magic wand. He has a special tag attached to his name. All those who cast him in their debut venture as director have enjoyed a capital V for victory! Love today, Sethu, Vallarasu, Dheena, Vanchinathan, Pokkiri, Friends, Imsai arasan 23aam Pulikesi, Pandi directed by Balasekaran, Bala, Maharajan, Murugadoss, Shaji Kailas, Prabhudeva, Siddiq, Chimbudevan, Rasu Madhuravan respectively bear testimony to this unique record.

When he acted in Imsai Arasan he was immensely blessed to share screen space with legends of our cinema, Manorama and Nagesh. Manorama ‘aachi’ as she is fondly called, complimented him, saying, “You are lucky to have this chance to speak pure Tamil dialogs, as what are the chances of anyone making a mythological film like this again? And you are doing great when it is not even your mother tongue!”

Similarly Sriman feels God has been very kind to him, for he acted in a telefilm produced by Sivaji productions, Meendum gauravam where he shared screen space with our one and only ‘THE legend’  Le Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and his son Prabhu.  “How much more lucky can one get?!” Sriman reminisced.

His heart is heavy for one reason only, he never got a chance to act with our dear superstar…as yet! Connected to this regret, Sriman shared this incident with me. When the climax of ‘Sethu’ was shot, the entire street full of people who watched gave him a nonstop ovation. Sriman was pleasantly shocked when our brilliant maestro muted all his dialogs and substituted it with his own genius brand of sensational soul stirring notes. His admiration for Ilayaraja runs so deep that the RR replacement did not cause even a twinge of regret! 

It is now Sriman’s turn to advice the young ones who want to etch their history in the celluloid world. “I acted in a short film Oru nodi podhumay for director Jithu. Message of that short film to be released mid-May is to live life to the fullest, no envy, no jealousy, because to think takes one second only: to be a better person.“

Dear readers, pardon me, I know I’ve really exceeded my usual word count, but I thought Sriman’s passion and perseverance in sustaining his career can be a motivating factor to all those who want to make (y)our dreams come true. Even if his solo acts did not get rewarded he marched on…Vetri vendumaa pOttu paarada edhir neechal…swim against the tide if you want a successful ride!
Give in sometimes but don’t ever give up!

I promise to make my next ‘talkie with rekhs’ a short and sweet one J
May May bring you renewed strength in your great strides with the planets getting re-aligned!

rekhs