Got a chance to watch Kamalhassan‘s College drama Nammavar , yesterday in Sun TV. I even watched Bala’s Sethu last night. However, If I choose to talk about it, I’ll be blamed for being biased. So, Ghup Chup.

Nammavar was an extraordinary film in many cases. Kamalhassan seemed to have been normal with out any make-up. Just a 10 day beard and that thick geeky spectacles personified a modern day Proffesor. I wished to have one like him. Couldn’t find though.

Anyway, the point is, Mahesh Mahadevan‘s music for Nammavar was breathtaking. Watching the movie again after a long time, I felt that Mahesh wasn’t praised critcally at the time of Nammavar release. Especially the Waltz music was amazing and still resonates. What a find he was for tamil cinema ? During the time when Rahman was unfolding his musical genius, Mahesh was also doing the same without much notice. Kudos to him. Though he is no more, I wish his music be researched and followed for some quality findings.

Just when I finished watching the movie, I realised that there was a co-incidence of Nammavar and Mahesh Mahadevan. Mahesh could have been the possible source of inspiration for this film. Kamal’s character suffers from Blood Cancer. He comes around with a cool attitude of life. He understands that he has cancer yet he isn’t willing to budge for it. Also he hates someone who pities him for the disease he carries. Interviews with Mahesh’s friends like Mani Ratnam and Kamalhassan have told before that Mahesh was also such a person who was willing to fight the cancer he carried with him and never allowed anyone who would pity him for that. Probably Kamal’s character was directly inspired from Mahesh Mahadevan.

Nammavar was also Kamal’s extravaganza. Be it the scene when he comes with a hi-fi sunglasses or the scene when he pleads to the students to forgive Karan’s mis-behaviour, Kamal proves that he is a self-taught genius. The second-half however went bonkers as it was Kamal Vs Karan. Also in the final scene, the senti stuff went overboard as Kamalhasan says that his ashes be laid in the gardens of the college. Very Artificial. You too Kamal !!