CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday recalled with nostalgia that Aayirathil Oruvan, her first movie with former chief minister MG Ramachandran, had laid the foundation for her political entry and that she had the privilege of acting as heroine in the highest number of films (28) with MGR.
“It will not be an exaggeration to say that Aayirathil Oruvan has laid foundation for my entry into politics...it was my first film with MGR ...the film gave me an opportunity to meet and interact with him...and this film has left with me an unerasable life-time experience,” the Chief Minister said in her message sent to Divya Films G Chokkalingam, who took pains for the re-release of this movie in digital form after a gap of half a century. September 1 marked the 175th day celebrations of the screening of the digital version of the movie.
Regretting that she could not participate in the celebrations in person due to work, she said she was delighted to know that the digital version of Aayirathil Oruvan too was making history. “This film enjoyed the successful screening of over 100 days in 1965..now it has crossed 175 days..it shows that the movie has withstood the test of time...even now, it attracts present generation too to the theatre….this has proved that Aayirathil Oruvan has achieved what the new films have failed to,” she said.
Expressing happiness at veteran music director MS Viswanathan, playback singer P Susheela, script writer RK Shanmugam, actor L Vijayalakshmi and Madhavi being honoured at the celebrations, the Chief Minister said B R Pantulu, who had directed Aayirathil Oruvan, was a father-figure for her and was very much affectionate. Pantulu was a creator par-excellence as he had given many a classical movie. She also congratulated BR Pantulu’s daughter BR Vijayalakshmi and BR Ravishankar, responsible for the re-release of the film in digital version.