- M.G.Ramachandran was generous and kind hearted-man. He knew what the people expected from him as an actor and similarly when he became chief minister. His energy was always at the higher side. He was already 50, when I acted with him in Oli Vilakku,which released in 1968.I had gained popularity through dramas in niche circles before 1965 and made a name among masses by 1966 and masses were fond of me ever since then. My popularity infact only increased even more by starring in his films like Matukaran Velan, En Annan, Adimai Penn, Kanavan, Engal Thangam, Thedi Vandha Mapillai, Rickshawkaran, Sanghe Muzhangu, Kumari Kotam, Kumarikottam , Thalaivan and Neerum Neruppum.
- Manorama was always a great artiste. Our films together were always best. Audience loved the pair Nagesh-Manorama more. I have some memorable comedy scenes with Manorama as my heroine in Ayiram Poi, Kanavan with Mgr & Jayalalitha, Dharisinam, Bommalattam, Annaiyum Pidhavum, Nirai Kudam, Maligai Poo, Anbai Thedi, Velum Mayilum Thunai, Therottam, Kashi Yatirai, films I directed like Mohammad Bin Tuglaq and Ninaivil Nindraval. People liked it when I was cast alongside Nagesh in films like Galatta Kalyanam, Thenmazhai, Bomalattam and Ulagam Ivlavudhaana. Nagesh I considered him always to be greater actor than myself.Though we were best friends always, I mentioned to him I admire him for his acting abilities for which he used to say he admired me for my awareness and education.
- My closest friends from film industry were Manorama, Nagesh,M.G,Ramachandran, Jayalalitha, R.S.Manohar, S.A.Asokan and M.N.Nambiar.
- I always admired Jayalalitha. We know each other since 1964.I worked with her in drama of YG Parthasarthy named Undersecretary opposite her. She had was acted in Tea House of August Moon and Epistle before. I was against her only for a brief period when I believed she was misusing her power and was not acting in interests of people in the period 1998-2002.She was a voracious reader and a great speaker way back when she did shootings.As an actor I have worked with her in Bommalattam, Galatta Kalyanam, Kanavan, Matukaran Velan, Thedi Vantha Mapilai, En Annan, Engal Thangam, Adimai Penn, Suryagandhi, Vandhale Maharasi, Neerum Neruppum , Anbai Thedi. She was great dancer and deserved the tag of number on heroine in the time 1965 to 1977. She could effortlessly shift into roles and deliver hits.Her name guaranteed success financially and she used to get into skin of the character while performing. I directed her in Yarrukkum Vetkam Illai. My admiration for her has only increased with time. She proved her worth by doing good for the state during her tenure as the chief minister and came clear like Sita when false charges were foisted against her.
- I turned 17 in 1951. My only interest was cricket. I was consumed by it. I was not a great player; I liked batting better than bowling. My eyesight was bad, and it came in the way. But my knowledge of the game was so good that even top players would say "get tips from him". Even back then, I was a better commentator than a player. I was a great admirer of Mushtaq Ali. I adored Vijay Merchant and Lala Amarnath and would write to them and they would write back. Once Lala did not reply, and I wrote him a nasty letter. I also began 'Sports Review', a weekly column in the now defunct periodical Bharata Devi. I also wrote for another periodical, Kalkandu, mainly on cricket but also tennis. I never played tennis. I was always good at preaching, not practicing!
- We did not disrespect anything; rather, we were afraid of our elders. We did not disobey then, although when I was in my teens I was mischievous and many complaints would come home. My mother would say in exasperation, "Enna da, enna muttalarikkay? (Why, why are you so stupid?)" I haven't changed yet.
- Those were easy times: no traffic, no pressure. We owned a car and a refrigerator that ran on kerosene. We were not rich, but were comfortable and lived in a big joint family. My sister stood first in every subject. But no one in my family took me to task saying, "Look at her. Why are you not like her?" I was not the brightest, and would not touch my books. But just before exams I would, just enough to pass. Incidentally, at 17, I had complete contempt for plays. It was when I was 20 that I saw a play and was bitten by the acting bug.
- Mine was the only journal in the country in the period 1972-74, that wrote that there could be an Emergency regime. We even published a mock cartoon, which showed JP, Kripalani, Morarji and many others in jail. In this imaginary piece, we said that all fundamental rights had been taken away. Of course, we exaggerated the prevailing situation before the Emergency. I had been interacting with many people like Chandrasekhar. The way things were going, I thought Mrs. (Indira) Gandhi might feel she was fighting a losing game mainly because of what was happening due to the JP movement. Of course, for her, the last straw was the Allahabad high court judgment.
- Dialogue is our forte. It must reach the audience. Even if it is antiquated, I'd like to retain it. I've never thought of ways to ruin success."
- What I did on the screen was very different from what I did on stage. I have written many serious plays, and only five or six political satires, but they became so famous that I got labelled as a satirist.
- In Tamil Nadu, the Emergency was not unpopular. People actually welcomed it. There was no great abuse of power here. Maybe, because MGR did not oppose it. I have a feeling that the middle class throughout the country welcomed it. To be honest with you, I attended a BJP meeting a few days ago. I said, the Emergency was then brought about by a wrong person for wrong reason at a wrong time and administered wrongly. There was no threat of war, no internal disturbance. All that happened was that there was JP's movement against corruption and the Allahabad high court unseated Mrs. Gandhi. Now, you take the condition of the country. Naxalite groups are operating in several parts, and they are growing. The LTTE has not stopped its anti-India machinations. Khalistan movement has not been stopped totally. Infiltration of Bangladeshi refugees is going to be a big problem for the country. Look at the condition in the North-East and Kashmir.And, workers go on strike for anything. During the Emergency, nobody even spoke of a strike. Every reform is being blocked now. So, this is the right time for an Emergency.
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