Thursday, June 4, 2015

The new Tamil cinema - Black comedy art for heart sake

Internet link: http://www.gomolo.com/564/new-feature-black-humour-in-kollywood
 

Avid film enthusiast Venkataraghavan Srinivasan tells us how black comedy has evolved in Indian films, especially Kollywood.
The new Tamil cinema - Black comedy art for heart sakeFilms that showcased black humour

The term black humour (from the French humour noir) was coined by the surrealist theoretician André Breton in 1935 to designate a sub-genre of comedy and satire in which laughter arises from cynicism and scepticism often relying on topics such as death, violence, racism and insanity.

Breton coined the term for his book Anthology of Black Humour (Anthologie de l'humour noir), in which he credited Jonathan Swift (Author of Gulliver's Travel) as the originator of black humour and gallows humour, and included excerpts from 45 other writers. Breton included both examples in which the wit arises from a victim, with which the audience empathizes, as is more typical in the tradition of gallows humour, and examples in which the comedy is used to mock the victim, whose suffering is trivialized, and leads to sympathizing with the victimizer, as is the case with Sade (The term Sadism).

The terms black comedy or dark comedy have been later derived as alternatives to Breton's term. In black humour, topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo, specifically those related to death, violence, insanity and brush with law are treated in an unusually humorous or satirical manner while retaining their seriousness; the intent of black comedy, therefore, is often for the audience to experience both laughter and discomfort, sometimes simultaneously.

In 1940, when Charlie Chaplin made The Great Dictator, a landmark black comedy that satirises Hitler and Nazism, little did he know that he would be applauded by the man himself for the near accurate take. Then what explains the general aversion to this genre by a section of 'Auteurs' especially in the Tamil film industry?

Comedy in every form can work in Kollywood, but movie makers like to underestimate the intelligence of our audience. Black comedy is a little tricky because you are taking on an establishment. While black comedy may not be for everybody, dark humour, in the 100th year of Indian Cinema, is making inroads into Tamil Cinema. The sensibilities are changing, the established are getting disrupted essentially the ghetto has been broken and this is a positive trend.

{Box office note: The first Tamil film to be successful in both Tamil and Hindi versions was Chandralekha. Made on a budget of Rs. 3,000,000, it was released in 1948. The director, S. S. Vasan, and producer, A. K. Sekar, designed a huge production campaign so successful that Chandralekha grossed Rs. 10,000,000. As per present day money adjusted to inflation, the above numbers are Rupees 250 and 850 crores – an amount that belittles Bollywood's 200 crores club.}

One of the most unique features of Tamil cinema is the way the medium has been used and intelligently exploited to make political commentary and win political elections. Screenwriter C. N. Annadurai and actors M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan utilized their films to move into political office in the 1940s and 1950s. Films with political themes continue to be made into the present day with some recent examples such as S. Shankar's Kadhalan and Muthalvan and Mani Ratnam's trilogy Roja, Bombay and Dil Se.

We now see that the dark comedies competing with each other and with the masala movies in the screens of Tamil Nadu are essentially a result of political dysfunctionality present in our society; the new age iPhone Tamil filmmakers and their tweeting audiences are not alone waging these countercultural battles on the silver screen in Tamil Nadu. In India, you can see this as a clear trend in Bollywood as well, be it Anurag Kashyap or the Vicky Donor, essentially these are the "Cinema of the Outsiders". These films extol anarchy, and the new anarchic Tamil cinema has gone far too global for the rest to even fathom.

Anarchy is often a symbol of healthy organic progress!

Due to several factors of moral, economic and political engagement, modern Indian filmmakers can only hate today's system deeply but can't do much about it since after all they are a part of the "system" or even if they were not are sucked into it, much like the climax scene of Shankar's movie Mudhalvan in which he laments "Kadisila yennayum ivangala madhiri aakitangaley"(In the end they have made me a politician like them) but in these new Tamil films we discover redemption coming through not in the acceptance of the five songs, one overseas, three fights, two dance and one final chase - 'formulaic' authority but in the comic enactment of an emotion repugnance.

The Tamil audience, primed through their movies by their mainstream directors into seeing the village headman (Nattamai theerpa mathu!) marrying the baddie, minor Kunjumani to the girl who he raped (invariably the sister of the movie's protagonist) are going to be confused when they see posters reading 'Death to rapists'!

Strangely, this variety of emotion can only happen in the weird and almost unclassifiable realm of Tamil Black Comedy. In "Kollywood", these films are a commemoration of the shame that the liberalism ushered into the Gen X, Y, Z whatever... of the 21st century, expressing what they feel about their apathetic grandparents generation who had romanticized themselves in the fantasy of Tamil nationalism.

The 24x7 cable viewing disconnected new Tamilian, who accidentally stumbles onto the History Channel while surfing channels during his serial ad breaks wonders what must have gone wrong with their elders who gave them 'authentic' Tamizh names (Tamizh Kudi Magan!) and even tyrannical Russian names like Stalin and Trotsky. They wonder when they bump into the plethora of 24x7 news channels what must have motivated their grandparents' towards Language Chauvinism and be prepared to give their life screaming 'Down with Hindi' while their elected politicians continued to go about spreading caste hatred, amassing wealth, disapprovingly castigate yet share their bed with their 'Hindi' speaking Delhi allies.

For all practical purposes, Tamil politics and its socio-political negotiations are completely driven by Electoral politics and for the moment the new Tamil movie wave has swept into an amicable zone of black comedy. These films are, to use the term, 'Super-Duper Hits', raking in several times more money than regular run-of-the-mill entertainers, scarring established players and making the audience happy.

Difficult as it may be for some to experience laughter and discomfort simultaneously, filmmakers need not look too far for inspiration, for it is right here, among us!

Káthirunda Kangal (1962)

Kaathiruntha Kangal (Tamil: காத்திருந்த கண்கள்; English: The Eyes that Waited) is a 1962 Indian Tamil film directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film starred Gemini Ganesan and Savitri in the lead roles. It was adapted from a Bengali novel written by Malabika Roy, with the dialogues written by M.S. Solamalai and ‘Ma.Ra’.[1]

Kaathiruntha Kangal
காத்திருந்த கண்கள்
Directed by T. Prakash Rao
Produced by T. K. Ramasamy
Written by M. S. Solamalai
Ma. Ra.
Story by Mrs. Malabika Roy
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Savitri
M. R. Radha
S. V. Ranga Rao
Pandari Bai
Music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Cinematography Kamal Ghosh
Edited by N. M. Shankar
Production
company
Vasumathi Pictures
Distributed by Vasumathi Pictures
Release dates
31 August 1962
Running time
148 mins
Country India
Language Tamil

Plot

The film tells the story of twin sisters who get separated at birth due to poverty. One is brought up by a wealthy person, and the other by the mother (Lakshmi). A doctor (Gemini Ganesan) comes to treat the ailing mother, and the mother's daughter falls in love with him, of which the doctor is unaware. On her deathbed, the mother reveals to her daughter the existence of the twin. The young woman goes in search of her sister and by sheer chance, both travel in the same train. The train has an accident and the wealthy sister loses her memory and is presumed dead.
Complications arise with the doctor marrying the other twin assuming she’s the wealthy one. A child is born and the wealthy twin turns up. The film then addresses the problems that arise.

Cast

Crew

  • Producer: T. K. Ramasamy
  • Production Company: Vasumathi Pictures
  • Director: T. Prakash Rao
  • Music: Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
  • Lyrics: Kannadasan
  • Story: Mrs. Malabika Roy
  • Dialogues: M. S. Solamalai & Ma. Ra.
  • Art Direction: A. K. Sekar
  • Editing: N. M. Shankar
  • Choreography: B. Hiralal & P. S. Gopalakrishnan
  • Cinematography: Kamal Ghose
  • Stunt: None
  • Audiography: T. S. Rangasamy
  • Dance: None

Soundtrack

Kaathirundha Kangal
Soundtrack album to Kaathirundha Kangal by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Genre Film soundtrack
Language Tamil
Producer Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
The soundtrack was composed by the duo 'Mellisai Mannargal' Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The lyrics were written by Kannadasan.
Tracklist[2][3]
No. Song Singers Lyrics
1 Kaatru Vandhal P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela Kannadasan
2 Kanpadume P. B. Sreenivas
3 Odam Nathiyinile Sirkazhi Govindarajan
4 Thulli Thirintha P. B. Sreenivas
5 Vaa Endrathu P. Susheela
6 Valarntha Kalai P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela

Reception

Film historian Randor Guy of The Hindu praised the film for the "Lilting music, fine direction and memorable performances by Savithri, ‘Gemini’ Ganesan, Ranga Rao and M.R. Radha."[1]

References

Filmography of A.K. Sekhar from IMDb

Filmography

Hide Hide Art director (21 credits)
 1989 Chalaki Mogudu Chadastapu Pellam (as Sekhar A.K.)
 1968 Do Kaliyaan (as A.K. Sekar)
 1967/II Bhakta Prahlada
 1967 Athey Kangal
 1955 Anarkali
 1954 Bangaru Papa
 1953 Avvaiyyar
 1951 Malliswari
 1948/I Chandra (as A.K. Sekar)
 1945 Swargaseema
 1942 Bhakta Potana
 1941 Devatha
 1939 Vande Mataram
Hide Hide Production designer (3 credits)
 1948/II Chandralekha
 1948 Kalpana
 1940 Sumangali
Hide Hide Set decorator (2 credits)
 1967/II Bhakta Prahlada
 1967 Athey Kangal
Hide Hide Director (1 credit)
Hide Hide Sound department (1 credit)
 1939 Vande Mataram (sound)

Bangaru Papa (1955)

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/bangaru-papa-1955/article6131074.ece

Starring S.V. Rangarao, Jaggaiah, Ramasarma, Sivaramakrishnaiah, Vinnakota Ramannapanthulu, Vangara Venkatasubbaiah, Ramana Reddy. M.L. Narasimham

Thespian rules: SV Rangarao; Jamuna and Jaggaiah in ‘Bangaru Papa’
Thespian rules: SV Rangarao; Jamuna and Jaggaiah in ‘Bangaru Papa’
Great actors are not born. They are carved out of great characters sketched by great writers and sculpted by great directors. S.V. Rangarao’s (SVR) realistic portrayal of Kotaiah in Vauhini Productions Ltd. Bangaru Papa is a testimony to such performance. SVR said in an interview that it was the most difficult character in his career. “The role is so sensitive that at times unable to bring out the inner trauma of Kotaiah, I literally wept,” he said. Thespian B.N. Reddi (B.N) who guided him to perform the character too moved to tears watching him enact the scenes. The script is so powerful. Thanks to George Eliot. Thanks to Palagummi Padmaraju.
B.N. an avid reader of English literature was moved by Gerge Eliot’s (the male pen name of Mary Ann Evans) novel Silas Marner and planned a movie version of it in Telugu. During that time, Palagummi Padmaraju, a Chemistry lecturer in Bhimavaram created history in Telugu literature by bagging the second prize for his short story, Galivana (Cyclone) in an International short story competetion held by Newyork Herald Tribune. Impressed by his works, B.N. invited Padmaraju to write the script for Bangaru Papa . After prolonged story sessions, the debut writer wrote an original story retaining the major characters from George Eliot’s novel – Silas (B.N. & Padmaraju’s Kotaiah), Eppie (Papa), Godfrey (Manohar) and Nancy (Parvathi) etc. He also wrote crisp and apt dialouge. The screenplay is credited to him and B.N. Devulapalli Krishna Sastry wrote the lyrics.
The Story: Manohar (Jaggaiah) secretly marries Santha (Jamuna) and lives with their toddler child in Bangalore. When he returns home, he finds his father Sundararamaiah (Sivaramakrishnaiah) fixing his marriage with Parvathi (Vidyavathi). Santha learns about this and boards a train with her child. Kotaiah (SVR) a blacksmith is waiting on that cyclone night, at the station to kill Gopalaswamy (Vangara) who had eloped with his fiance Rami (Jayalakshmi). A huge tree falls on Santha. Kotaiah tries to save her but she dies. Kotaiah brings up the child. Manohar is aware that the girl Papa (Krishnakumari) is his daughter. After Santha’s death he marries Parvathi and the childless couple bring up their nephew Sekhar (Ramasarma) who is in love with Papa. Parvathi objects to this and blames Kotaiah. He decides to leave the village with Papa. Manohar stops them and reveals that Papa is his daughter. Papa and Sekhar’s marriage is performed.
Cast & Crew: Never compromised on his values, B.N. who had pioneered a space for artistic cinema in Telugu film industry proved the point one more time with Bangaru Papa . It is B.N.’s younger brother, cinematographer Konda Reddi’s first full length independent venture. He came up with stunning visuals in the cyclone scenes shot both at an outdoor location as well as in a matching indoor set at Vauhini Studios (art director A.K. Sekar).
‘Brilliance’ is too short a word to describe SVR’s superb acting. The character undergoes three different stages– the forlorn lover, the riff raff ruffian and the subdued paternal. SVR made a smooth transition getting into the skin of each phase of life (with excellent makeup by Haripadachandra and Murthy) with brilliant ease. Jaggaiah’s natural acting and Krishnakumari’s neat portrayal won them kudos.
Addepalli Ramarao is credited with the music and ‘ Thaa dhimi thaka dhimi tolbomma …’ (Madhavapeddi Satyam), ‘ ekora nomulu yemi nocheno .. ( Udutha Sarojini) and Yavvana Madhuvanilo …’ (A.M. Raja & P. Susheela) were among the popular numbers. A. Krishnan and K. Viswanath were the sound recordists.
Trivia: Though Jamuna was wary of taking up the cameo, it helped her bag the heroine’s role in B.N.’s Bhagyarekha. Music director T.V. Raju made a brief appearance as the doctor.
Everybody spoke highly about the movie. At a function organised by a Lawyers Association in Andhra Pradesh, when responding to the felicitation, B.N. asked how many of the audience saw the movie, only three raised their hands. B.N. expressed anguish at the lack of patronage for artistic cinema.
B.N. invited renowned Bengali filmmaker Debaki Bose whom he considered his guru, for a special screening of Bangaru Papa in Madras. Debaki Bose liked it so much that despite warning that the movie was a flop, remade it in Bengali as Sonar Kaathi (1958). B.N. gave him the rights without taking a single paise.
Besides critical acclaim, Bangaru Papa won the President’s silver medal at the National film awards in 1955.