I'm a devan fan here malathy hvnt read gomathiyin kadhalan tho.. but the way he intersperses serious situations with subtle humour is simply fantastic.. But i wud say that he became more popular because of gopulu's illustrations.. Both had been the editor of the largest circulating magazine during those days.. According to me,comparing two writers of different genre would not do justice to them..each has his own style.. I am now trying to catch hold of the ones taken from ananda vikatan, but it seems to be a daunting task Somebody even took without my knowledge, the sriman sudarsanam i had brought out from the paran.
Thanks Mouli!! If you have more titles let me know I will search in my paran also, this Sudarsanam rings a bell, although not sure at all if I have read it.
Thuppariyum Sambu..yes I'd like to read that, it was an ongoing bone of contention between my parents. My dad thought it was great and my mom that it was 'ore vazhiyal' and just for kids. She firmly opinioned that Devan owed all credit to Gopulu for its success.
During the late 80's when DD started expanding its timing from just the even shows to early morning shows as well...there used to be programs from around 7 to 9 in the morning. 10 mins slots for various programs - fitness, spiritual, news etc and one slot for some short seriel. Sambhu was aired for quite a long time in Hindi. Thinking of it now, a tamil story has been aired throughout India and it was watched by people other than tamil. A decent portrayal of the story in Hindi and one of the fresh memories I have from my school days.
Paintal does ring a bell, thanks. I am clueless on tamil tv serials as I grew up in Bangalore in 80s and did not watch much tv later. I will scratch my head more who knows one day might even get the tune of somewhere!!
Dhevan's writing in later years say 1936 to 42's, had given a great confidence to SSV that he could run the weekly without Kalki. So, indirectly Dhevan was made scapegoat in the so-called exit incident of Kalki from Vikatan.
But even after exit of Kalki, Vikatan did quiet well, as if Kalki's absence was not a matter in those immediate pre-independence years. But Kalki exit from Vikatan made KK as Icon. So, no regrets for both.
Dhevan did not touch Historical novels. Yet he did write one small story on historic event that ends in tragedy. (very very rare for Dhevan's stories). Probably Dheven did not like tragedy ends, though he lived only for 44 years.
'Miss Janaki' of Dhevan is my favourite Novel. The comparisons were great in that novel. The narration style was different. Those days, Dhevan was the one who drifted away the english novel Tamil readers towards his writings in Tamil. we can very well say the two eyes of Tamizhth thaai, (those days 1935-55/57) - Kalki and Dhevan.
Another one 'Vitchuvukku (Visuvukku) Kadithangkal' - I think Alliance Publishers brought out this book recently. Excellent articles. 'Kaditha Ilakkiyam' in Tamil started by Dhevan. These were the letters written to his nephew about the various option of studies after completion of intermediate class.(options included Marriage too). An eye opener about those day's job options also. (I think around 1940's.). 'Rajaththin Manoratham' - Building of own house for a middle class family, narrated in his own style. 'Justice Jagannatham' - everything in Court (Later PVR wrote another court incident novel 'Milaad' (My Lord)).
'Mr. Vedhaantam', probably his own bio-graphy (looks like).
Dhevan, Great gift of God to Tamil writings.
For those to read Dhevan writing's as sample they can visit my blog, which was written on the occasion of 50th memorial anniversary of the author. These were published in two monthlies. All are small articles only. so 'dhairiyamaaga' padikkalaam. http://vamsadhara.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
Hi Diwaker, i will not touch on devan for you have left little untouched. but I need to write on kalki's exit from anandavikadan.
I think devan joined anandavikadan even before kalki. kalki was freelancing at that time juggling his thiruchengode arshramams' newpaper vimochanam.
> Dhevan's writing in later years say 1936 to 42's, had given a great confidence to SSV that he could run the weekly without Kalki.
the self confidence of vasan was not due to devan. vasan was an incredible man whose greatest strength was to spot talent and reward it. at one point kalki as editor of anandavikadan had a better salary and perks( including a car) than any other regional magazine editor in india.
vasan was a businessman and vikadan was not a political magazine. when kalki got permission from the mahathma to court arrest vasan was shocked he was not informed earlier. it was then that he decided that the magazine ( and its owner) were bigger than the editor's ideals.
kalki walked out that day. BUT new evidence points that kalki may have been ready to leave and start a magazine on his own( buoyed by sadasivams influence). kalki was released in april and in august had a full fledged magazine running. it was no mean achievement in days of war and paper rationing. so rather than devan 's talent inducing vasan to fire kalki, it may have been kalki who saw an opportunity in this.
Thank you both for the wealth of information!!Venkat D, you say Nagesh played thuppariyum saambu in Motor Sundaram Pillai, now a light goes off for me, i have seen that movie!! Quite hilarious!! I sitll remember that joke of Nagesh's remarking on someone 'Nethu raathri paduthavar thaanam', and an anxious Sivaji goes 'ennada...?', and he cooly remarks 'ippo ezhundu ungala pakka vandurukkaar'. :))
> I remember to have read that VASAN came from Thituthurappoondi by bi- > cycle to Madras, explored and returned. > > When he migrated to Madras again, he brought his Mother with him - > in the same bi-cycle..
I have also heard that story but could not use it for my biography on kalki for lack of authentication. but knowing even a little about ssvasan you would beleive it. a man of iron. it is very unfortunate that kalki and he fought tooth and nail over kalki's last decade. but then we should thank him for giving kalki his first chance.
> And more details on SS Vassan please ...
vasan was first into mail order business. used to import small novelty items like comb and mirror and sell it thro advertisements. when he wet to ananda vikadan office to check up why his advertisement and the issue had not come out he learnt of its financial difficulties. then made an offer for taking over the magazine itself. he paid 500rs for each letter in the name of the magazine. he also wrote himself and translated some english novels. it was kalki who brought originality to anandavikadan.
kalki thought of him as janma virothi till the end. but in the last year kalki and vasan shared a stage and spoke very highly of each other vasan also had a printed cover of ananda vikadan destroyed and kalkis photo printed when the latter died
- kalki thought of him as janma virothi till the end. but in the last > year kalki and vasan shared a stage and spoke very highly of each > other vasan also had a printed cover of ananda vikadan destroyed and > kalkis photo printed when the latter died ===============================================>
Dear Venkat,
thank you so much.. for the details.
" Janma Virodhi " at least followers and media identify such negative pairs ...
Let us modify the word as ARCH-RIVALS..yet RESPECTED EACH OTHER ..
shall we start with Film Industry of yesteryears.. !
Can we take a quick look at such rivals.?
Condition : They should have mutually respected each other in Public at an appropriate occasion.... (Like Vassan did for Kalki)
Dear SPS, interesting subject - I know a few in music - LalgudixTN Krishnan, MSSxMLV, SemmangudixAriyakudi, and so on. These were healthy rivalries where there was respect, and both parties grew in talent and ability. The clashes usually were between 'rasikaas' or fans on whose style was better.
Film rivalries unfortunately are money and ego battles. No movie star in general has become a superstar without suppressing and dominating others behind him or her, healthy competition is somewhat unheard of in movieland.
Dear Venkat, thank you, I had no idea of all this. Has lowered by respect for Kalki certainly a notch or two but all great people have shadow sides to them.