From `Silk' to sensitive tales Vinu left his imprints behind
Versatile Actor &
Prolific Screenwriter Vinu Chakravarthy Was Known For Long Stint
Vinu Chakravarthy who died
on April 27 at the age of 71, was a true representative of Ta mil
versatility that
transcended linguistic barriers.
It was the pathbreaking Kannada
filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal who uncannily identified the creativity in
Vinu. If Kanagal hadn't employed him as a script and story assistant,
Vinu might not have changed track from a station master's job to donning
greasepaint in a self-reckoned tally of more than a thousand films in
over 35 years.Again, it was in a remake of the Kannada film `Parasangada
Gendethimma', based on a novella by the same name by renowned Kannada
writer Srikrishna Alanahalli that Vinu debuted as a Tamil actor (Rosappu
Ravikkaikaari). He also endeared himself to malayalis by portraying
`gounder' roles in Malayalam films like `Melaparappil Aanveedu', `Lelam'
and Naadan Pennum Naattupramaaniyum'.
Hailing from Madurai
district's Usilampatti, known for its easy proneness to violence and
utter lack of development, Vinu meant to make something of his life
quite early . He shifted to Madras and not only acquired a degree in
commerce, but also excelled in writing and staging plays. His yen for
sports, boxing and hockey in particular, gave him a sturdy physique.
Vinu's machismo and tough looks landed him a job as an armed reserve sub
inspector thanks to the then IG, F V Arul. But he soon switched to
minding railway stations as the pay was considerably higher. Then came
the Puttanna Kanagal phase that began a new chapter in Vinu's life. In
Tamil cinema, Vinu attributed his initial success to the support of
producer Tiruppur Mani and writer-producer Kalaimani.
Vinu's
height of success as a writer with directorial finesse came with
`Vandichakkaran' which told the story of a tough Mysore goon transformed
by his love for a poor girl of great integrity. Vinu made history in
the film with his discovery of `Silk' Smitha, literally picking up
housemaid
Vijayalakshmi from a cycle rickshaw in Kodambakkam and mutating her into
an unforgettable seductress of south Indian cinema. Vinu would later
criticise Bollywood movie `The Dirty Picture'
-loosely based on Silk Smitha's life -pointing out that the name was
`Silukku', with its rounded vowel endings oozing voluptuousness and not
`Silk' that rhymes with sulk and hulk. His heartfelt
response to a girl he had given a starry trajectory was that if there
was another birth, he would like to be her father. Following up with
`Kovil Pura', Vinu told the offbeat story of the ill-starred love be
tween a temple nagaswaram player and his female admirer, himself cutting
a cameo as a nagaswaram genius destroyed by his profligate ways. To
this day , the film is remembered for its memorable music by Ilayaraja, a
composer with whom Vinu shared excellent vibes.
Success as an
actor in films like `Gopurangal Saayvadhillai', `Mann Vaasanai' and
`Thambikku Endha Ooru' put paid to Vinu's desire to be a sensitive
writer and film director, though his imagination as a writer and
knowledge as a filmmaker helped him perform better in a range of roles
-from a corrupt yet comic cop (`Guru Sishyan'), to a family elder who
would dramatically rock the boat (`Arunachalam') to a menacing Pannaiyur
(Veera) who gets his just deserts. Acting in many films with
Rajinikanth, Vinu became a minor mascot for the super star.Films like
`Paaru Paaru Pattanam Paaru' proved that Vinu could carry a humorous
film on his shoulders.
He would strike it out in his first film
with the veteran actor, Sivaji Ganesan, in `Saadhanai'.Sivaji played a
socially responsible film director, while Vinu essayed the role of a
loutish film producer who equated rape with love. Given his image as the
last word in acting, Sivaji had thought he would have to prod Vinu into
hurling insults at him in the film. But Vinu got into the boots of the
mannerless producer as if to the manner born. Bored with the loneliness
of his high pedestal, Sivaji struck a friendship with Vinu who regaled
the tired star with his engaging conversation.
In the
fly-by-night world of many film producers, Vinu Chakravarthy's
forbidding reserve and fighting spirit made him deception-proof. He also
made a pile performing in star nites all over the world. He attributed
his longevity as an actor (`Muni', 2007, `Desinga Raja', 2014) to the
fact that his acting hadn't gone stale.
(The writer is a historian of Tamil film music and author of many books on the subject) Email your feedback to
