Thursday, July 25, 2013

A Few Words About Me

I served the Indian Postal Service and retired in
1997 at the highest level as Chief Postmaster General.
My mother tongue is Tamil, and I am proficient in Hindi, Malayalam and French.
In addition, I can understand Marathi & Gujarathi.

My association with the Stage dates back to my college days, winning the Best Actor Prize in the Inter collegiate Drama competition in Bombay. For more than four decades I have participated in many dramas. As my job postings were mostly outside Tamilnadu, I had to necessarily associate myself with the Drama troupes situated in those places like the famous Matunga Dramatic
Society of Bombay, South India Theatres, New Delhi. During my short tenure in Chennai, I was with Uthras. After witnessing my performance in the drama “Manithargal Maralam” the noted Film Director Shri S.P. Muthuraman offered me an important role in his film which I could not accept as I was immediately transferred out of Madras. Thus, my entry into the films was delayed till after my retirement! Played leading roles in all the dramas. One of the memorable roles played by me was that of a kingmaker politician in “Vazhiya Bharatha Mani Thirunadu” staged by South India Theatres in New Delhi. My acting was acclaimed by no less a person than the famous critic Subbudu.
My love for Carnatic music invariably brought me to Madras every December during the Music season. Besides attending the concerts, I used to participate in the dramas of All India Radio. I am an “A” Grade Artiste of All India Radio.

In the early days of Madras Doordarshan - way back in 1978 – I was News Reader in Tamil - for which I had to take Government’s permission. (One of my contemporaries was Shri Varadarajan).


It is only after I retired as Chief Postmaster General in 1997, I could actively pursue my interest i.e. acting. I consider myself lucky to have been introduced by the famous Director Shri K. Balachander to Chinnathirai in his serial Jannal. I have played some important roles in his projects. Similarly it must be said to the credit of Shri SP Muthuraman to have remembered me and offered me roles in his TV serials. Till now I have figured in nearly 70 TV serials, Telefilm and 30 films. 

A cursory glance at the list would indicate that I am fortunate to have worked with noted Directors like S/Shri K. Balachander, SP.Muthuraman, Balu Mahendra, Shankar (Sivaji),

Karu Palaniappan (Sivappadikaram), Bala (Pitha magan), P.C. Sriram (Vaanam Vasappadum), K.V. Anand (Kana Kanden), Shaji Kailash (Jana), Nandakumar (Thennavan), Venkatesh (Chanakya), Sundar C (London), Venkat, P.S. Dharan, Ameer Jan, Gopi Bhimsingh, CJ Baskar etc.

I am lucky to have worked along with many noted artistes like Kushbu, Shobhana, Anu Hasan, Sukanya, , Revathy Sankaran, Renuka, Bombay Gnanm, C.I.D. Sakuntala, S.N. Parvathy, Sowmya, Deva Darshini, Devi Priya, Nagesh, Vijay Adiraj, Suresh, Poovilangu Mohan, Nizhalgal Ravi, Shyam Ganesh, Pratap Chandran, Delhi Kumar, Vincent Roy etc.

I have figured as a Model in about 50 advertisements. (Examples: Chennai Silks, RM Kv , Ram Silks, KTv , Home Medicare, Jeppiar Milk, Annamalai University, Lovely Cards, Kayakalpam Soap, Cinthol Soap, Salt, Bio-diesel, Archana silks , Deccan Chronicle, Vaibhav Jewellers etc.)


Thus, it can be seen that Acting on the stage has been a passion with me for more than four decades. It is not that I strayed into TV serials after retirement just to pass time. There is a commitment and total involvement. I have not taken to acting as a mere hobby. Even while in the service, after office hours, I used to devote considerable time for Theatre. My serving the Government of India in different fields has only helped me in widening my horizon and enrich my experience.


In short – a multi-faceted personality with varied interests, chief among them being "Acting"- be it on the stage, TV serial, Film or Commercial advertisements. A character artiste who can fit in any role. A Senior Bureaucrat who has also excelled himself in the field of drama – a good combination indeed!

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