Theatre veteran YG Parthasarathy’s centenary year will be celebrated on Saturday in the city. Known for his loyalty and generosity, family and friends of YGP recall their fondest memories of him.
CHENNAI: During the golden years of Tamil theatre ruled by yesteryear veterans like RS Manohar, Sivaji Ganesan and Major Sundararajan, YG Parthasarathy’s United Amateur Artistes (UAA) opened audiences to a new era of social plays. YGP and UAA became synonymous not only for producing quality plays but, also for nurturing talented artists including former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Lakshmi, Nagesh, Cho, Moulee, AR Srinivasan and also Y Gee Mahendra.
The centenary year of YGP is being celebrated as a nine-day fest until September 30 (also his birthday) by Mahendra and his daughter Madhuvanti. Theatre artists who have known YGP up close and personal recall about the man, who was ‘74-years young’, when the curtain came down.
“I remember him as a great leader and a very good friend,” says Mahendra, as he talks about his father. Known for treating his co-actors, technicians, workers and friends with concern and respect, YGP earned the goodwill of everyone he knew. “He had a large heart; he was also jovial and loved working with young people. That’s the spirit we imbibed from him. So, if I play the role of a 25-year old college student in the play Ragasiyam Parama Ragasiyam with confidence even today, despite being in my 60s, it’s because of him!” he claims.
YGP successfully balanced his day job as the deputy chief controller of imports and exports, and produced several plays along with his friend, Pattu. “They were the Laurel and Hardy combo of stage. Their situation-comedy and the way they took forward UAA is remarkable. I have to credit Parthasarathy for encouraging me to start my own troupe — Stage creations in 1966,” recalls Kathadi Ramamoorthy.
UAA has produced several seasoned artistes, and one such person who was discovered by YGP was AR Srinivasan. A casual skit performance in office became ARS’ gateway to join YGP, and the duo clicked instantly. “I went to meet him in the evening and 30 minutes later, he became ‘Pachanna’ to me!” he recalls. “He broke the ice between us immediately and, for a man of his stature to be so down-to-earth was very endearing...it’s something we don’t find often these days.”
Despite TV and social media, Tamil theatre is still popular among the audience in the city, opines Delhi Ganesh and credits YGP for providing a strong foundation for social plays to flourish. “I love him! When I came from Delhi and acted in Visu’s Dowry Kalyana Vaibogame, YGP immediately came to me and said that my performance was natural and different. He was the first one to say that I will soon be an actor in cinema and it happened!” beams Ganesh. “He was a happy ‘young’ person. He used to pull my leg every time I went to his house to meet Mahendra. He always encouraged youngsters and in fact used to be proud that all his friends were below the age of 50.”
‘Crazy’ Mohan adds that YGP was the first person to visit him after his mother’s demise. “He didn’t even know who she was. But when he heard the news, he was the first person to visit me,” says Mohan. “If people chant ‘Rama Rama’, YGP chanted ‘Drama Drama’. Vali had written Moondrezhuthil yen moochu...my three words are YGP!” he adds.
He Didn’t Preach: Madhuvanti
For Madhuvanti (in pic), the centenary celebration of her grandfather is more like a celebration of fine arts. She talks about qualities that she has imbibed from him. “I spent 13 years of my life with him. Whatever his schedule was, he used to be in the front gate of the school at 3:30 pm sharp to pick me up. Being the founder of the school didn’t matter to him and he came to pick me up like a normal grandfather,” she recalls, and adds that he never preached life values. “I learnt them all by just observing him...that it’s important to be there for people especially during their sufferings, even if we don’t share their happy moments,” she adds.
YGP’s 100th birth centenary celebration will take place until September 30 at Vani Mahal, T Nagar.
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