[NeroASERCH]

Also, now I seem to understand why many consider SKV as the biggest blow to TF quality

Actually, I think this is ascribing way too much importance to Kamal and his films. சகலகலா வல்லவன் வணிக வெற்றி பெற்றதோ, ராஜ பார்வை பெறாமல் போனதோ, கமலுக்கு பெரிய பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியிருக்கலாம். (அதுவே அவர் பல இடங்களில் இவ்வாறு கூற காரணம் என நினைக்கிறேன்.) ஆனால், தமிழ் சினிமாவையே பாதிக்கும் அளவிற்கு இருந்திருக்க முடியுமா என்ன?

[TorryJens]

irundhudhE! If Rajapaarvai had won and SKV lost, distributors would have been more lenient to his indulgences, illaiyA? Opportunity cost-pA!

[9mm_fan]

when Astro Vellithirai started, the first movie shown was Haridas. I could take in the movie but had some urgent appt to catch an hour later.
one day I will see the whole movie I say..

[brraverishhh]

equa,
Warning - long post

I think that has more to do with the general psychology of the film industry.

In the prior era, MGR meant masAlAs (dance songs / comedy / fight sequences / "no more tears") while Shivaji was kind of symbolism for "alternative cinema" Though this was not strictly true, at least in the psyche of general public and industry.

Though KB was successful with his "conversion of stage dramas into screen versions", it was more like facilitating drama watching in many places, without the full impact of cinema (not just my opinion, the overall perception away from Chennai).

Then came these bunch of talents - KH / RK / IR / Mahendran / BR / BM who made a bunch of movies that I'm trying to complete watching and can any day give a run for the golden movies made in MF during 80's.

When KH-RK chose to take different route and emerge as the next MGR-Shivaji, the obvious expectation was KH to continue to spearhead the "alternate cinema". SKV was the first and big blow to that and it affected the psyche of most film makers is probably the perception.

Well, this is the picture I see as of now

[S.T.D.]

equa,Warning - long post

இதெல்லாம் ஒரு long-nu warning குடுத்து public perception-ஐ mislead பண்ணாதீங்க. ஒரு பத்திக்கு மேல இருந்தாலே படிக்கிறதுக்கு மூச்சுமுட்டுற மாதிரி ஒரு சொல்லி சொல்லியே இப்பொல்லாம் ஈக்வர் twitter ரேஞ்சுக்கே maindain பண்றார்.

[S.T.D.]

And as for why this is ascribing too much importance to Kamal, why is the same not being said of any other relatively offbeat venture in the late 70s or early 80s. For instance, what if 'avaL appadiththAn' had been a blockbuster?

What, I think (and I'm of course venturing into conjecture here), signifies SKV for Kamal is that he consciously chose to do the kind of films that did big business. That is, with that film, he was asserting his own star power in the wake of the big hits that Rajini and others had started delivering.

[softy54534]

a_e,
I think I more or less agree with everything you've said. The crucial point here is that that film wasn't "ahead of the curve" in any sense to influence the overall course of Tamil films. It's the other way round. Kamal was "behind the curve" and did that film in the wake of the big success of films of that kind, isn't it?

[Drugmachine]

Actually A-A was a commercial success and such movies continued till 81-82 (moondRam piRai was 81).

Kamal didn't continue doing such after SKV affecting the psyche of such filmmakers (TTT, kAkki sattai, kaidhiyin diary etc continued till MR kind of broke it with nAyakan - surprisingly, Mahendran waned and BR was also confused).

Well, these are all generalizations. If one keeps analyzing, AVM / SPM appear to be the biggest offenders...

Well, salangai oli kind of happened in-between (but it was in Telugu).

[doctorzlo]

a_e,
I think I more or less agree with everything you've said. The crucial point here is that that film wasn't "ahead of the curve" in any sense to influence the overall course of Tamil films. It's the other way round. Kamal was "behind the curve" and did that film in the wake of the big success of films of that kind, isn't it?

equa,

Yes, may be it was not SKV but murattukkALai.

[radikal]

But what I cant see is the 60's being the pinnacle for movies. A colossal waste of Sivaji's talent is the theme of 60's tamil filmdom. If we didnt have NT, then we can justify the kind of standards we had in 60's, but the fact that with such a talent on board, TF only managed to churn out what it did is a shame.
Dont get me wrong NOV, I will watch many of those movies with relish now but to call them the golden age is quite taking it too far. Mahendran is really the peak of Tamil Cinema. And he has never got enough credit for that.

+1
Often, credit that must go to NT is being apportioned elsewhere

[MannoFr]

Originally Posted by app_engine equa,Warning - long post

இதெல்லாம் ஒரு long-nu warning குடுத்து public perception-ஐ mislead பண்ணாதீங்க. ஒரு பத்திக்கு மேல இருந்தாலே படிக்கிறதுக்கு மூச்சுமுட்டுற மாதிரி ஒரு சொல்லி சொல்லியே இப்பொல்லாம் ஈக்வர் twitter ரேஞ்சுக்கே maindain பண்றார்.

[tgs]

NOV,

ayyo, wiki linkslam enakku theriyaadha? I have spent almost 2 hrs in the morning going thru wiki/discography of KB, Sridhar, MSV, Kannadaasan, Sivaji, MGR, IR, Mahendran, BM,BR + the link of 60's & +.

IMO

KB - ? (This may wreck some but look at his discography seriously a director who has more than 100 films haven't left anything to his credit while the directors of the following eras has hardly 10 films to their credit. I really cant take Mahendran+BM+BR as the peak of tamil cinema with just 2-3 good films infact both MM & particularly UP came as a breakthrough between commercial cinema. Johny oru mokkai except songs.)
Sridhar - Mahendran
KVM/MSV- IR (Agreed 100%)
Kannadaasan - ?
Sivaji - KH (somehow)

Infact, only Raaja have achieved this pinnacle and KH to certain extent.

I somehow not convinced with this type of celebrity/combo analysis instead I would like to go by films of that era and estimate what so colossal unique about it. Day by Day & Era by Era I feel the story, narration has really lost its depth. For once I can take a movie for its screenplay and technical brilliance but the next one I can't. Be it novel, movie or a painting.

Some films which immediately comes to my mind of 60's.

1. Thiruvilayaadal
2. Thillaana Mohanaambaal (APN/KVM)
2. Aayirathil Oruvan
3. Ethir neechal, Neerkuzmili, Major Chandrakanth,Iru Kodugal, (Kb's) 4. Karnan
5. Kaadhalikka Neramillai, NOA (Sridhar)
6. All P's (ABSingh)
7. Galatta Kalyaanam (CVR)

There could be many. Like NOV said story, screenplay, acting, music, songs, lyrics, comedy & what not .

The advantage of having 10-15 tamil channels is really paying me off. Watching leisurely at your choice of these classics/songs is priceless rather wasting time and money on every new wretched films.


[/u]

[MannoFr]

60s is the Golden Period of Tamil Cinema.

வழி மொழிகிறேன்.

அறுபதுகளுக்கு அடுத்து வந்தவர்கள் தொழில் நுட்பத்தில் வளர்ந்திருக்கலாம். செறிவுள்ள படங்கள் மின்னல் கீற்று போல அவ்வப்போது வந்து சென்றிருக்கலாம். நான் இன்னொரு திரியில் எழுதிய பிராந்திய மொழி வசனங்களை கொண்டு வந்திருக்கலாம். ஆனால் தொடர்ச்சியான சிறந்த படைப்புக்கள், பரந்த கற்பனை வளம் என எல்லாவற்றிலும் முயற்சித்து பார்த்த எழுபதுகளுக்கு முந்தைய படைப்புக்களே இன்னும் கவர்கிறது.

[Big A]

Blasphemy neruppu moottufying alert:
Nerd,
Humor na naama dhairiyama blanket statement-e vidalaam

P.S: Nagesh scenes in Thiruvilayaadal > Kadhalikka Neramillai

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Instead of moottufying or anachifying why dont you post what do you feel as best. 10 list pannungha atharkappuram pesalam. If Johny features any of your list, I am ready to rip it apart. kayil :theepandham:
UAT >> potatharkum serthu thaan

[Paul Bunyan]

Just finished watching முள்ளும் மலரும், fantastic!

I'm not sure whether it was MM or UP that was dissed prior to seeing with BGM (or at least the story written about one of these two movies). If that was about UP, I'll kind of agree half-heartedly.

OTOH, if the story was about MM, vehemently disagree! This doesn't need songs / music / any such paraphernelia It would have still been wonderful!

Mahendran, Rajini, Shobha, fadAfat (IR is obviously an extra extra bonus for this movie), great job!

Sarath Babu Why is he punishing the steering in senthAzham poovil

[Slonopotam845]

Instead of moottufying or anachifying why dont you post what do you feel as best. 10 list pannungha atharkappuram pesalam. If Johny features any of your list, I am ready to rip it apart. kayil :theepandham:
UAT >> potatharkum serthu thaan

I wonder if there is necessarily any one single period which can be called *the* golden age for the industry as a whole. There have always been pockets of greatness surrounded and dwarfed by mediocrity, right till this point in time, illaya? IMO NT, rose above the mediocrity of his time. The same with the other big guns in their respective times. OK. munna pinna irundhirukkalaam but not by a distance, where we have a clear golden decade. Personal a namakku porkaalangal irukkalaam.

P.S: I like Mahendran and Johny but please feel free to rip apart Johny or any film for that matter

UAT > because i laughed heartily in many scenes, something which i cannot say for KM. Generation gap, maybe but it works both ways, right?

[HedgeYourBets]

Mod,

Please merge from the Films thread?

[softy54534]

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/f...1350330100.htm

'மணிரத்னம் டேஸ்ட் நம்ம மாதிரி'ன்னு காலரைத்தூக்கி உட்டுக்கலாம்

BTW, I've read this article long back and searched in the web after watching MM

[radikal]

Avvalavu complicated onnum illai its between 60's & 70 and 80's may be... paarpom. unga lista podunga paarpom.

P.s: Johny, sure I will (if it features in your list).

End Digression.