Mathi Alagan
October 18
My conversation with a concerned Thayumanavan fan:
Kalpana Sundaralingam:
Hi Mathi sir, I just wanted to let you know that I was very disappointed with the last Thaiyumanavan episode with Bharathi marrying Maha! I never followed any Indian TV serial, having been brought up in Australia, most of the serials are unrealistic! Thaiyumanavan was the exception, I have been watching it religiously, I stay up 11pm at night to watch! But after this episode I will not be watching it anymore, it has become like every other TV serial!! I am sure that I am not the only fan who will be switching off! Please pass this feedback onto Vijay TV!! The character you play, must be the worst father figure - out of his 5 daughters, 3 are now unhappy and miserable! So much for a drama about the relationship of father and his daughters! All the best for the future!
Me:
Hi Kalpana, thank for your support.
Firstly, this is a story, a serial...it is totally your choice of following this program or not, whatever the reason may be...some viewers might like a twist in the story, and some might not.
In life we are faced with certain situations...some we like some we don't...we just handle it the way we think its right at the moment of time...on hindsight we might want to take a totally opposite choice.
As a parent, I can say that I want to do the best for my children...but my love, protection, care and concern for them might turn out to be an obstacle in their path...I have to balance this with detachment, giving them independence and sometime letting them handle their own screwups.
I guess this is the realism the writers of this serial are trying to employ...I might not agree with the track the story is travelling in, I might not agree with the decisions of my character...but this is a story n it is trying to reflect life as real as possible which is unpredictability...some will like what you do, and some might not, thinking u doing good for a loved one u might do something exactly opposite...isn't that just what life is like.
The most unrealistic of story lines would be one which only shows happiness and all viewers agrees with decisions made by the characters...
I do not go to this length in all my mails...but I sense a feeling of disappointment in your mail...it could be due to many personal reasons...that is why this mail.
Thanks for your comments.
Kalpana Sundaralingam:
Thank you Mathi sir for writing back! Honestly I am so impressed with your acting and that your co-stars, it has brought a new dimension in my opinion to Indian TV serials and hats off to you all for that! I actually fell in love with the show and it's characters, so much so that I feel for them as if they were real! I guess over the last few weeks the blossoming love of Janani and Bharathi, and the hope that Maha would marry Viknesh kept me hopelessly addicted! I agree with a lot of what you say in your comments, but I am one of five children and really only one of us has gone through experiences like that Subha, Janani, Bharathi or Maha! Namely the extreme cruelness, unfairness or injustice of life! For most of us it is the simple issues in life that consume us in both happiness and sadness! What I liked about Thaiyumanavan was that it had a great mix of happiness and sadness! Now for a while it is going to be dominated by sadness, guilt and a sense of hopelessness! The sense of hopelessness is the worst feeling to see in life or in a TV serial! When Bharathi tied the knot that's what I felt! I guess life nowadays has more sadness than happiness so it was nice to have a TV serial with a good balance! But now four of the characters are unhappy! Thank you so much for writing! Sir, you are a brilliant actor, and have a wonderful screen presence! My mother likens you to Denzel Washington! The show has a great ensemble cast! Wishing you all nothing but success! Kalpana
Me:
Thanks again Kalpana for your support and most importantly for your level of involvement...we understand to type of people this serial touches and accept the responsibility that comes with it...at the same time we are bound by the need to create a twist or a wow factor to sustain the interest of the audience...whatever might happen to the characters you love, you can be assured that there will be an underlying message that comes with the storyline...It's and honour for all the people involved that the audience feels for each and every character...
its true that by just this one act the future seems gloomy for the whole family...lets see how the characters mature and how the support one another during this period...Bharathi and Janani have put the family's happiness before their own...it might look stupid but nevertheless it is a selfless act...I am sure it will bring the family closer together...and reveal the goodness in others as well..
Thank you for your conversation...and special thanks to your mum...and I can only dream of performing like Denzel...cheers.