Saravanan Natarajan writes:
நாளை நாமொரு ராஜாங்கம் அமைப்போம்
It was the birth anniversary of Gemini Ganesh yesterday. Remembering the actor with a song from a movie to which I believe he bequeathed one of his finest performances ever…
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An honest man's the noblest work of God.
- Alexander Pope (Essay on Man)
- Alexander Pope (Essay on Man)
Narain Sanyal is a name well known in Bengali literary circles. His wide-ranging works include insightful studies on science (Vaastu Vignaan), politics (Cheen-Bharat Long March), literature (Parikalpita Paribar) and Art (Biography of Rodin). His repertoire of fiction is no less enviable- Timi Timmingil, Abak Prithbi, Laadlibegum, Bakulthala P.L. Camp, Sutanuka Kono Devadasir Naam Nay, Mahaakaler Mandir, Ashlilater Daye- novels ranging from science fiction, history, and various social issues. He has been honoured with the coveted 'Rabindra Puraskar' in recognition of his worthy literary efforts.
And lying hidden among Sanyal's numerous works was a simple story that looked at the relevance of being principled in a largely unprincipled world. Titled 'Satyakaam', it traced the travails that an idealist young engineer Satyapriya has to undergo just because he has chosen the path of truth. For him, there is only black and white in moral issues; there is no grey. He has to bear the backlash of the jeering world when he places his sublime scruples atop a lofty pedestal high over all compulsions and commitments. He suffers, yes, but with a serene smile. For the trials and tortures that the world taunts him with can only trouble his physical well-being; his mental bliss is invincible. Indeed, the smile on his lips is but the reflection of the smile of his joyous, pristine soul. And he so dies, with the smile firmly in place.
It was this story then, that Hrishikesh Mukherjee chose to craft on celluloid. Satyakaam (1969/ Panchi Arts) had Dharmendra playing the chief protagonist Satyapriya Acharya, with Sharmila Tagore, Sanjeev Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Baby Sarika playing other pivotal roles. Hrishikesh Mukherjee turned the story into an inspirational saga of epic proportions, extracting unbelievably riveting performances from his actors. The film is held as a hallowed classic in the history of Hindi Cinema, yet I believe it didn't send the cash boxes jingling when it was released.
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Our KB was so moved by Satyakaam, that he felt compelled to tell it in Tamil. புன்னகை was the name he gave his version, and the title said it all. For the only armour that shielded Satya from the weapons that the treacherous world let loose on him was his disarming smile. புன்னகை (1971/Amudham Pictures) had Gemini Ganesh essaying the lead role and coming out with a magnificent performance, punctuated with understated histrionics and subtle nuances. Jayanthi, Muthuraman, Nagesh, MRR Vasu, S.V. Sahasranamam, V.S. Raghavan and Ramdas were others in the cast.
To me, புன்னகை is a work of art that transcends the very notion of watching a film, for its frames are chiselled with wonderful high points, emotionally surcharged moments that fasten their tentacles and tug at ones' heart. The heart-warming exchanges between Gemini Ganesh and Jayanthi in the aftermath of CID Shakunthala's scandalous accusation, the divine smile that lights up the dying Gemini Ganesh's face and the cascading love and understanding that parade in Jayanthi's smile as she tears up the fraudulent papers that he had just affixed his signature on, a repentant Sahasrananam's wonderstruck look when Jayanthi's son (Baby Mythili), tells him with a beatific smile that he knows that Gemini was not his father…Oh.. these surely are moments that touch the innermost core of our hearts!
I have seen the movie thrice. I first saw it on TV when I was in my early teens, and I remember letting the tears roll down my cheek, unhindered. But they were not tears wholly of sorrow, they were mixed with awe and yes, faith. I saw it again when in my 20s; and saw it again few years back. The halo around Satya remained intact. Punnagai's Satya, much like The Fountainhead's Howard Roark, seems an old school teacher whom we revered as children, and keep turning to even now to seek inspiration and guidance. புன்னகை , for me is not merely a movie, but a cathartic magic potion, to be treasured, savoured and imbibed every now and then.
Last year, on the way to Tiruvannamalai, I was thrilled to observe that புன்னகை was being screened at an old roadside theater…I managed to click a picture of the half-torn poster on the walls even as our car turned around the corner….
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KB's screenplay didn't leave any avenues for song sequences, and so quite unlike most of his movies, the songs here seemed forced inclusions. And sorry to say, KB inadvertently filmed a song that can perhaps effortlessly walk away with the award for most absurd song sequence ever- Jayanthi singing when she is being molested! That Kannadasan, MSV and Janaki came up with a good song ஆணையிட்டேன் நெருங்காதே even within the shackles of this preposterous scheme speaks volumes of their talents. The other song is the satirical நானும் கூட ராஜா தானே (TMS) filmed on Nagesh in a running train.
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And so we come to this song.
As Rajbabu (Nagesh) narrates to Major, this was the day the five friends (Gemini Ganesh, Muthuraman, Nagesh, MRR Vasu & Gopalakrishnan) graduated. They take a solemn oath of honesty in front of the statue of the Mahatma. And then they go painting the town red in celebration, little knowing that only four of them would remain at the end of the day! Their speeding car goes out of control, and Gopalakrishnan is the casualty. In the coming years, Mandiramoorthi (MRR Vasu) would turn out to be a corrupt scoundrel, Rajbabu (Nagesh) would drift aimlessly from place to place, and even Ranjan (Muthuraman) who starts off with noble intentions would allow himself to be drawn gradually into the vortex of the wily world. Satya alone would be steadfast in holding to the pledge of truth.
All this, however, comes much later. Today they are all delirious with joy and sing excitedly with hope and confidence of a bright future that beckons with a radiant smile.
நாளை நாமொரு ராஜாங்கம் அமைப்போம்
ஆண்டு பாருங்கள் தோழர்களே
நாளை எண்ணி எண்ணி நடத்துங்கள் வாழ்க்கை
காலம் உங்களின் கைகளின் மேலே
ஆண்டு பாருங்கள் தோழர்களே
நாளை எண்ணி எண்ணி நடத்துங்கள் வாழ்க்கை
காலம் உங்களின் கைகளின் மேலே
MSV matches the ebullience of the lyrics in his attractive arrangements. TMS, SPB, Saibaba and Veeramani give a spirited performance- each repetition of நாளை எண்ணி எண்ணி நடத்துங்கள் வாழ்க்கை is nothing short of encapsulated euphoria! A class song from a classic movie.
