To exhaust this section, 'NSK and the world of cinema' is impossible.
What is know to us is voluminous – much is unknown, as in his time and life, were entwined innumerable lives of his friends and artistes. The incidents shared by a host of his friends and associates, either written or verbal, serve as our source. But there maybe a lot that may be lost to us. But what we know speaks volumes of the man and the artiste.
NSK is renowned as great comedian. But it is interesting to note that he was not directed like other artistes. He created, acted and directed his own comedy track. Usually his comedy track was a satire of the main story. In fact, MGR observed that it is the talent of N S Krishnan to make people laugh and enjoy the satire as much as the main story. He adds that any other actor would not have done justice and it may have affected the collection for the movie.
TR Sundaram of Modern theatre was domineering while shooting films. He did not give the freedom which NSK usually enjoyed. None of them complained as they were in great awe of TR Sundaram. But NSK was not one to be cowed down. One day he firmly but politely told him that he be allowed to act as he thought was right. If the result was unsatisfactory he said he would pay the cost of production. Although TR Sundaram walked out in anger, he realized the truth of NSK’s words after watching that part of the movie. He gave him full independence thereafter. The comedy track of NSK and TA Mathuram was so popular that they were included to ensure the success of the movie or sometimes even save the movie from failure.
NSK believed that although movies need not be didactic, veiled mesasages are essential to bring about awareness among people. His humour has been called the sugar coated pill. In fact Arignar Anna after seeing the movie 'Manika Vasagar' observed that the ideas he wanted to convey for years and years have been delivered in a minute. Periyar who heard about NSK from Anna wanted to meet him, thus ensued their first meeting - a relationship that lasted until NSK breathed his last.
NSK’s thoughts and humour spanned a wide rage of variety. To quote just a few, he exposed fraudulent religious gurus in ‘Poli Samiyar’. In ‘Maya Machindra’ he takes up the case of equality of women. In ‘Salli Vaganan’ he castigates the practice of caste system, the curse of society. The decorative post of minister or young women employed to fan the king are ridiculed in the movie ‘Jagathala Prathaban’. He also advocated new ideas like widow re-marriage in ‘Bakhta Kalathi’.
Rationalism was his fort which finds its way in many movies. ‘Haridas’ is a fine example where he proves that man ought not to believe in luck but only himself. Burlesque like ‘Chandra Hari’ and comedies like ‘Manonmani’ were a roaring success. He raised the platform of comedy to a higher level – from titillating comedy to thought provoking humour. |
