Revisiting a phenomenon

During a conversation with a good friend from Hyderabad, Chennai-based Shrikanth Veeravalli was surprised to know that despite being a Tamilian, the latter was unaware of personalities like MGR and Kamaraj.
Revisiting a phenomenon

During a conversation with a good friend from Hyderabad, Chennai-based Shrikanth Veeravalli was surprised to know that despite being a Tamilian, the latter was unaware of personalities like MGR and Kamaraj.

“If that was the case with someone close to my age, 25 years after MGR’s passing away, there will be a whole new generation that doesn’t know anything at all,” says Veeravalli.

The realisation propelled the 47-year-old, a senior management professional and crossword compiler, to write his first book, ‘MGR: A Biography’ that follows the life of a man, who went on to become a phenomenon both as an actor and a successful politician.

Published by Rupa Publications, the 145-page book that hit the stands recently, traces the 70-year journey of the actor-turned-politician, from his entry into filmdom, matrimony, his rise in the world of films, his eventual involvement in politics, later his stint as Chief Minister and finally, his demise.

“But the story doesn’t end there; the legend of MGR is being continued even today. The man hasn’t died at all. In a few months, in every street corner, his birthday will be marked by playing his popular numbers. He will always be present in the psyche of Tamil people,” says Veeravalli.

While there have been other books earlier about the matinee-idol–turned-CM, this biography offers an all-encompassing account of MGR.

“One book in English titled MGR The Man and The Myth by K Mohandas was more about the latter’s observation of his functioning. He had covered only a particular period. Fortunately, in Tamil there were sufficient number of works — MGR’s autobiography Naan Yen Piranthen and other books which were written in different times,” he adds.

With close to 200 hours of labour, 180 hours went into research, while writing, however, took little time. “When you are covering a life history of 70 years, it is very difficult not to miss out important parts and attempting to add all kinds of trivia,” says Veeravalli. He adds that he didn’t want to meet people who knew MGR, in order to keep it objective.

The writer says that the book has the scope for those who read it to make a judgment. “I didn’t want to eulogise this man or make it a hagiography. But, no individual can pass judgment in this forum; I probably don’t have the capacity to do so. I have left it for readers to understand why he took a few decisions,” he adds.

Veeravalli, who has a keen interest in history , crime fiction and political writing, has a few more works on the anvil.  “I have completed a work of fiction and am looking to pen a book on Madurai, which happens to be the oldest town in the world and was an independent Sultanate for 80 years. Most old cities have either changed shape or the names have changed. It has a 2,500-year-old history,” he adds.

MGR: A Biography is  priced at `295

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