A woman was aboard a train with her child, and with a determination of living a single life here-after in a male dominated society. A teary-eyed man is waving her goodbye for her unknown future. Up comes the end card of Avargal, "Written and directed by K.பாலசந்தர்". Your heart craves for the welfare of that woman, a character that KB, as the director is known, etched with cutting-edge precision. A movie where soon-to-be-legends of தமிழ் cinema, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, are a testimony of polarizing characters. Rajinikanth as the sadist husband of the protagonist, and Kamal Haasan as the naive one-side lover, are the two sides of a coin that KB minted.
His command at showing the lives of middle-class families in plain fashion drew people to his movies, though most of his films were 'A' rated, for the content was deemed inappropriate in those days. I think some of his films would still be rated 'A' today (like Arangetram), for you need a little bit of maturity to understand the complexity and finesse with which KB portrays his ideas and anger. This is the KB of the 70s - daring and brutally raw. A man who looked through the fiery-eyed bus conductor from the Madras Film Institute, like a Prophet scripting a legacy, that left an indelible mark in the thamizh film industry. Shivaji Rao thus became Rajinikanth, a man every person in Tamil Nadu relates himself with. I guess he was named so after Sivaji Ganesan's character in Gouravam, 'Barrister Rajinikanth'. Rajini can easily be rated as 'THE' find of the industry.
KB's coming of age to themes like these were fostered during his drama days, where again he was out-of-the-box in his characterizations. The silver screen opened to receive this man to itself. The boldness of KB was realized right from the word go when he cast thespian Nagesh as the lead in his first ever directorial, Neer Kumizhi (in my list of to-watch films). Major Chandrakanth (KB's script only), Edhir Neechal and Server Sundaram showed KB the actor in the form of Nagesh (which Nagesh himself claimed in Vaali's 50 - sadly none of the three are alive). The care with which KB groomed Nagesh the artist can be seen with his many portrayals, including a drunken-doctor split-personality-like role in Aboorva Raagangal. Many of KB's films, though having a serious tone, is never devoid of strong wit (scenes that make you laugh and cry at the same time), viz., Edhir Neechal, Server Sundaram, Ninaithaale Inikkum.... This was to be transformed later into his television exploits too.
Through Kavithalaya, he is credited for introducing today's legends like A.R.Rahman (KB was Roja's producer), actor Vivekh and many more. His Duet is a perfect tribute by ARR to this Kollywood's guru.
Starring as Margadarisi in Uthama Villain, the role had everything that was KB. The scene where Manoranjan (Kamal) meets his guru (KB) to request him to direct Manoranjan's last movie evokes a tear or two and a stark reminder of who KB is and why Nagesh, Kamal and Rajini are celebrated. KB, the real 'Margadarisi' will always be remembered for quashing stereotypes across decades.
Notable Films of KB:
Neer Kumizhi
Ethir Neechal
Server Sundaram
Major Chandrakanth (story, dialogues)
Arangétram
Aboorva Raagangal
Thappu ThAlangal
Avargal
Moondru Mudichu
Aval Oru Thodarkathai
Thaneer Thaneer
Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu
Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
Puthu Puthu Arthangal
Roja (*credits for introducing ARR)
Duet
