WOW! Kalaigniar Karunanidhi’s reaction to ‘Thamizh Padam’

Kalaigniar Karunanidhi was not only a much loved leader but an ardent fan of the creative arts and his heart always ticked for Tamil cinema for which he served as a celebrated screenwriter.  It was very common for special shows of films screened for Karunanidhi and he always made time to watch as many as he could amidst his busy schedules as Chief Minister or as Opposition Leader.

Director C.S. Amudhan has shared the amazing experience of Kalaigniar Karunanidhi’s reaction to his ‘Thamizh Padam’ starring Shiva and Disha Pandey that released in 2010 and is the prequel to the recent blockbuster ‘Thamizh Padam 2’. 

“The year was 2010, Tamizh Padam had released a week back. I received a call asking me to rush to what was then Four Frames theatre. The person calling only knew that “somebody important” was going to watch the film & the producers had requested that I be present. When my car turned into the road behind Valluvar Kottam I knew who it was.

The road was swarming with police, commandos & siren mounted cars. I joined the welcoming committee outside the theatre. In a few minutes a convoy arrived with the then Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was accompanied by a few of his ministers, I remember Mr. Durai Murugan was there.

I was introduced to all of them, Kalaignar asked me my name & where I was from.

Shortly we were seated, me just behind the CM & his ministers. I had a clear sense of impending disaster. To enjoy Tamizh Padam or any spoof for that matter requires that the person watching it is acquainted with the original material & I was sure this audience did not qualify. It was going to be an excruciating 2 hours.

And it went almost exactly like that. I was very thankful to Mr. Durai Murugan who loudly laughed at many places but I was watching the CM the whole time & there was no reaction. When we reached the climax in the courtroom & the judge says “en akka veetla function irukarthaala theerpa innaikey sollidren” I cringed inwardly thinking that this was being played to the man who wrote the Parasakthi courtroom climax.

The movie was over & the entourage was getting ready to leave. A host of media channels were waiting outside…Vivek who was one of the producers of the film was there with Anju his wife who was also Kalaignar’s granddaughter. Anju plucked up the courage & went up to him & asked if he liked the film. I held my breath. He paused momentarily…then laughed and said “Ella pugazhum iraivanukkey” then he laughed some more & wiped his eyes. Boom! Kalaignar had quoted from my movie, he had got the joke! Maybe the only joke I don’t know, but it was enough for me.”.