|
|
Charming Vignettes: ‘Pattukkottai’ Prabakar
- C. Manivannan
|
<<<previous
- Business
people say that the trend is changing now and one has to keep
pace with the trend for the survival. Is this statement applicable
for you writers too?
[Laughs] There is no such trend existing in our field. Only
thing is that writers should be prudent in selection of themes
for their work. Then they will win the hearts of the readers
too. Writers should also be aware of the happenings around them.
That is a must.
See! Jeyakanthan’s ‘Agnipravesam’ created stir
among the reading public for its revolutionary story line of
‘widow remarriage’ because such things were not in practice
and were considered odd in those days. If a writer selects the
same theme for the present situation, when such marriages are
widely accepted, he/she would be mistaken for a retarded. I
think some of the other topics too would get the same kind of
treatment [i.e. rejection] from the readers like divorce between
the spouses, boy- girl relationship and the like because these
are absolutely common nowadays. So, survival of writers is purely
in their own hands based on how well they have understood the
readers’ pulse.
- Heard
that cine writers often go places like Ooty, Kodaikanal and
do their screenplay work posh 5 star hotels to. How about
you?
That
is mainly for privacy. There is no need to go anywhere if privacy
is available in one’s home. I too make occasional visits to
such places to give final touches to my work.
- Do you
agree with the general criticism about writers that writers
of the past possessed qualities like social consciousness
and wisdom, and this is quite obvious in their writing too.
But the present day writers are more interested and capable
of giving only the entertainment stuff to the readers.
I think it is incorrect to say that. Social awareness exists
in the entertainment-based novels too. If the limit is exceeded,
it turns vulgar. Writers of this genre too have a social vision
and this is made clear in many of their works. One cannot advise
all the time. Youngsters of today love to hate the word ‘advice’.
When they are not prepared to heed their parents’ advice, how
would a third person’s advice be fruitful or effective? More
over, I don’t believe literature can change the society. If
so, why all the atrocities that happen around us daily?
- But,
people expect more writers to be more of ‘visionaries’ -----
I am not saying that writers should be relieved of their social
responsibilities. I know the regard public have for writers.
But, if writers concentrate on advising society to have their
‘social responsibility’ tag intact, they and their work
will soon be forgotten. As far as my works are concerned, I
always believe in giving social messages like sugarcoated pills.
It reflects in my writing as well.
Apart from 200 detective novels, I have done more than 100 novels
with social thoughts. More than 50 of my serial stories have
this same quality. Also, my novel ‘Kanavugal Ilavasam’
found a place in the syllabus of the literature students of
Trichy SRC College. And as I already said in the beginning,
many of my works were honoured at the very highest level mainly
for their community-oriented themes. I am really proud of that.
- Eternal
historic novels like ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ type novels are possible
these days? Are you interested in giving it a try?
I really don’t know if it is still possible for this younger
generation. I think their interest lies in ‘Harry Potters’,
‘Vikram Seths’ and the like. But, writers do write historic
novels regularly. Out of interest, I too tried a short story
with a historical back ground. I mentioned a scene happened
around a rose garden. After a few days, I received a letter
from a stranger stating that the flower rose had not entered
to India then [i.e. the period I mentioned in that story] and
he also added it was a Moghul King who brought the rose to India
and so on. So, the point I made in the story was wrong, he concluded
in that letter. That very moment I realized that historical
novel was definitely not my cup of tea.
- What
are the projects you are handling now…
In television, ‘Varam’ mega serial is now going on
with my screenplay work and as usual my schedules are, by God’s
grace always tight with cine work as well as magazine works.
- Your
family…
Well, my parents and my younger brother are in Pattukkottai.
I am here in Chennai with my wife Shanthi and two daughters
Swarna Ramya and Swarna Priya. I am fortunate to have supportive
family members before as well as after my marriage. That is
a big asset you know, for an artiste like me. My wife is my
secretary too. She is very helpful in all my professional matters.
My elder daughter is in college now. She likes to compere and
in fact, she handled the stage well during actor Parthiban’s
‘Kirukkalgal’ book release function. It was very well received.
My second daughter is very much interested in music. She is
learning classical vocal and keyboard instrument.
- Your
future plans…
‘Every day is a little life; live it to the fullest’ is my very
favorite saying. And I try to live accordingly. Really, I like
to take each day as it comes. So, I never imagine my life beyond
a certain stage. In the core of my heart, I have one deep desire
for the future i.e. an eye on the directorial venture. I hope
to get into that one day
Concluded
|
|
