Y Gee Mahendran as Sudesi Iyer
- IndiaGlitz, [Monday,April 27 2009]
A packed auditorium saw actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan sit side by side and praise their friend, film actor and thespian Y Gee Mahendran. The even was the 100th performance of his play, Sudesi Iyer.
ÂThere was a time when comedians likes Surulirajan and Thengai Srinivasan were getting old, and there was no market for newer ones like Senthil and Goundamani weren't successful. It was then only Y Gee Mahendran who was the sole leading comedian of that time, in the late 70s and early 80s. And he worked in almost all films in that period for me and Kamal. Yet, he was stringent in stating that he would have theatre practice in the evenings, and never missed it. That is his commitment to theatre, praised Superstar Rajinikanth, adding that he felt sad whenever Y Gee Mahendran acted in a film. ÂIÂve seen the important lead roles he performs so well on stage. And I felt miserable whenever I saw do measly supporting roles in movies, he then said, adding that he felt the same way when he saw RS Manohar in smaller roles in films.
Kamal Haasan, who was the guest of honour, spoke about the indomitable spirit of Gandhi that the play resurfaced. ÂWe try and forget him, we ignore him, and we try to remember him only once in five years, and yet, he bounces back in our memory. I donÂt believe in the concept of soul, but I do believe that GandhiÂs will haunt us even today. I am his big fan, which was one of the main reasons I did ÂHeyramÂ. IÂm glad that Y Gee MahendranÂs play has also been on the same lines.Â
Others present at the event include Cho Ramaswamy, Murali, MD, The Hindu, director Balu Mahendra, Dhanush, Aishwarya Dhanush, Latha Rajinikanth, Soundarya Rajinikanth, and Gouthami.
Click here to see - Rajini And Kamal Awarded Y.Gee. Mahendran Stills