On the rare occasions I sit down to watch a movie, I invariably choose a black-and-white film of sound vintage, preferably set in Madras. That way, I get some gems by way of buildings and streets of the past. Sadly, the print is often execrable in quality and even worse, very rarely was a film shot on location, and so the finds are not many. But occasionally, something unusual comes up, and that is worth it.
Last week, I was watching Gemini Ganesan’s 1953-release Avvaiyar. This was not with any idea of finding something of Madras in it, for it is a period film, with what little location shooting there being deep in some forests. I was watching it mainly to delight in K.B. Sundarambal’s singing. But I was to be rewarded, and in no small measure. Madras did come up, and most unexpectedly.
A surprise find
Towards the end, Avvai, with most of her action-filled life behind her, comes to a village. And I sat up. For this was a real hamlet, with tiled houses and a small temple at the far end. I have not been able to identify what that shrine is, but what followed was of interest. Avvai, now singing her famed Athichudi to a group of young children, passes a processional mount – a magnificent rishabam or bull, placed on a four-wheeled cart. And then, she comes to a lovely 16-pillared stone pavilion, with a temple behind. This was a shrine different to the small one seen earlier.
