Posted:
Hi friends
I have been meaning to write about this heartbreaking news for some time but somehow could not get my spirits up and gather my thoughts to write a coherent and cohesive tribute to this great man. I felt a piece of me wither away when I saw the news on TV. Nagesh, M.N. Nambiar. MGR, Sivaji, Padmini, Savithri, Gemini - they all were part of my household when my siblings and I were growing up. My parents and grandparents and uncles just loved the celluloid and our home was always full of movies and songs. The departure of these stars one by one is a painful reminder of family who is no more.
When you are a child though, you really do not appreciate these stalwarts of the silver screen. Only when you are older, you are able to appreciate the nuances of acting, from emoting through mere facial expressions or through the utterance of just one word. Who could forget the silent communication between Padmini and Sivaji just through the mere lifting of their eyebrows in Thillana Mohanambal?
Similarly, it is the performance of Nagesh as Dharmi in Thiruvilayadal that stands out in my mind as acting par excellence - his frustrated solliloquys and ramblings, his attempt to cower the Imayam Sivaji and getting cowered instead are classic even today. Even Jerry Lewis could not have that - in fact, I disliked Jerry Lewis because he was a dorky comedian who got his laughs from slapstick comedy. Nagesh did not have to resort to cheap gimmicks to get the laughs. It was rumoured that when he was doing his soliloquy - Ennakuku theriyum, ennaku theriyum, avan maramathan - he did it in one single take and Sivaji told the director not to edit the scene. The scene between Nagesh and Sivaji - Kelviye nee ketkeraiya alla naan ketkutuma? - was so outstanding that the director was laughing so hard instead of directing.
Nagesh showed that you do not need to be loud to be funny. Or brash. Or rude. Or utter dialogues with double entendres. His agility and nimbleness - the dance he did with Sachu in Kathalikka Neramillai showed the versatility of this actor. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAWzhdERwI - it is as if his limbs were made of rubber. Of course, from the same film, a classic - when he narrates his proposed film - a ghost story - to his sceptic father, ably acted by the late great T.S. Baliah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYHAhbwvxU
The talents of Nagesh were not limited to being a comedian. Can you see a Goundamani or a Vadivelu or a Vivek or a Santhanam doing the lead role in Ethir Neechal? Kamal Hassan said that whenever he mucked up a scene, K. Balachander used to sl*g him off by saying that if Nagesh had done that scene, he would have finished it in one take!! Ethir Neechal, Server Sundaram, Major Chandrakanth. Then there were sterling performances few years before his death - the conniving but funny manager in Michael Madana Kamarajan, the corpse in Magalir Mattum, and the heartwrenchingly sad father waltzing with an invisible daughter in Nammavar!!
I really do not think that we will find another Nagesh. He was a priceless gem!!! It is a huge loss to the Tamil film industry but it was also a blessing that we had the opportunity to enjoy the talents of an extraordinary actor!!
God bless his soul.
I have been meaning to write about this heartbreaking news for some time but somehow could not get my spirits up and gather my thoughts to write a coherent and cohesive tribute to this great man. I felt a piece of me wither away when I saw the news on TV. Nagesh, M.N. Nambiar. MGR, Sivaji, Padmini, Savithri, Gemini - they all were part of my household when my siblings and I were growing up. My parents and grandparents and uncles just loved the celluloid and our home was always full of movies and songs. The departure of these stars one by one is a painful reminder of family who is no more.
When you are a child though, you really do not appreciate these stalwarts of the silver screen. Only when you are older, you are able to appreciate the nuances of acting, from emoting through mere facial expressions or through the utterance of just one word. Who could forget the silent communication between Padmini and Sivaji just through the mere lifting of their eyebrows in Thillana Mohanambal?
Similarly, it is the performance of Nagesh as Dharmi in Thiruvilayadal that stands out in my mind as acting par excellence - his frustrated solliloquys and ramblings, his attempt to cower the Imayam Sivaji and getting cowered instead are classic even today. Even Jerry Lewis could not have that - in fact, I disliked Jerry Lewis because he was a dorky comedian who got his laughs from slapstick comedy. Nagesh did not have to resort to cheap gimmicks to get the laughs. It was rumoured that when he was doing his soliloquy - Ennakuku theriyum, ennaku theriyum, avan maramathan - he did it in one single take and Sivaji told the director not to edit the scene. The scene between Nagesh and Sivaji - Kelviye nee ketkeraiya alla naan ketkutuma? - was so outstanding that the director was laughing so hard instead of directing.
Nagesh showed that you do not need to be loud to be funny. Or brash. Or rude. Or utter dialogues with double entendres. His agility and nimbleness - the dance he did with Sachu in Kathalikka Neramillai showed the versatility of this actor. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAWzhdERwI - it is as if his limbs were made of rubber. Of course, from the same film, a classic - when he narrates his proposed film - a ghost story - to his sceptic father, ably acted by the late great T.S. Baliah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYHAhbwvxU
The talents of Nagesh were not limited to being a comedian. Can you see a Goundamani or a Vadivelu or a Vivek or a Santhanam doing the lead role in Ethir Neechal? Kamal Hassan said that whenever he mucked up a scene, K. Balachander used to sl*g him off by saying that if Nagesh had done that scene, he would have finished it in one take!! Ethir Neechal, Server Sundaram, Major Chandrakanth. Then there were sterling performances few years before his death - the conniving but funny manager in Michael Madana Kamarajan, the corpse in Magalir Mattum, and the heartwrenchingly sad father waltzing with an invisible daughter in Nammavar!!
I really do not think that we will find another Nagesh. He was a priceless gem!!! It is a huge loss to the Tamil film industry but it was also a blessing that we had the opportunity to enjoy the talents of an extraordinary actor!!
God bless his soul.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
