Sorgam (சொர்க்கம், Heaven, 1970, Tamil)
I remember entering the hall late when the first song was on-going and Sivaji was immersed in a day dream. In his dream, there was a chubby girl with coarse features and thick limbs (Vijayalalitha) gyrating to an electric guitar infused hot music clad in scanty parchment named clothes stuck with rupee bills. Some how, I remember the hall as the same one as the one where Psy wowed Penangites. As usual it was a last minute plan by Amma's regular movie buff, Rajamah. Rajamah, whose monthly grocery bill would include cartons of Ipoh's Chap Kwan Loong dragon brand 'minyak angin' (medicated oil), could easily be a glue sniffer -only difference was her glue was medicated oil. It was from her condition that I learnt about the diagnosis of 'Rhinitis Medicamentosa' - of a lady with chronic congestion of her nose whilst continuing with her sniffing of her medicated oil!
This must be easily one of the last few movies that I was summoned as a chaperon. I suppose after that the Tamil films which were released dwelt more on adult subjects (Aval Oru Thodar Kathai) and the unpleasant double-meaninged dialogues that later came of vogue. Even young village boys started talking dirty in the late 70s!
A few things that stay fresh in my mind about this flick. Besides the dream scene under the money tree, I remember the drunken hero singing a philosophical song beside an Austin Morris 1100cc. A recurring theme which fascinated me then was the quicksand. In a few scenes, the villain showed his prowess by pushing his victims there. It also happened to the hero but (surprise, surprise) he escaped.
the story starts with 3 university friends, Shankar (a 42year old Sivaji Ganeson), Balaji and Nagesh celebrating Shankar's conferment of his B.A. degree over a piece of sandwich in the park. In their conversation, we are told that Shankar, the honest hardworking one had plans of being reach through sheer hard work and intelligence. Balaji feels that one should grab whatever chance that come along, whether legal or otherwise. Nagesh, who repeated exams again and again believes in fate. With that introduction, they part different ways.
Shankar, after many failed attempts at getting sponsors to back his mega plan to build a mammoth factory, he settles down to be a clerk. (B.A. and engineering plan does not compute, does it? - don't ask, just watch! Shh!) He meets the love of his life, K.R. Vijaya, marries and is a happy father of a young child.
In comes a new partner from Main Branch to his office, guess who? Balaji. He manages to win some rich man's heart (R.B.Manohar) and became his confidante and partner in business!
Shankar bypass all the other hopefuls and becomes the manager of his office. He climbs up the corporate ladder. His boss agrees to finance his big factory plan with Balaji's recommendation (Talk about cronyism).
As the volume of his abode increases, so does his consumption of alcohol. He battles alcoholism, almost loses his family and is reunited in the end.
All this are told are told in a long winded way to encompass all the aspects of entertainment to make it a wholesome family entertainment worth every paise for an average Indian viewer. For technology, the film makers showed their skill in capturing double act scenes. The rich tycoon in the story has an evil brother who impersonate him for the money. Then there is MRR Vasu, the chief clerk who has seven kids. Three of the kids, boys are identical in appearance to him in physique and built and the four daughters who look like a pea of a pod with his wife all appear in the same frame! Comedy relief is given by Nagesh in his failed ventures in fortune telling scenes, as a taxi driver and his courting of MRR Vasu's eldest daughter.
I heard some rumours which said that Sivaji himself was fighting the bottle around that time. I would not be surprised as I thought that even though he looked sleek and sharp in his tight fitting jacket and drain pipe suit, I swear there was a persistent tinge of jaundice in his conjunctiva and an occasional blood shot eyes during close ups.
The take home message was that one should not chase for happiness through wealth but rather, family should be given importance.
A feel good nostalgic and entertaining flick bringing us to a time when things were simpler, either black or white and lesser shades of grey!
| Don't understand why it is 'சொர்க்கம்' and not 'சொர்கம்' |
This must be easily one of the last few movies that I was summoned as a chaperon. I suppose after that the Tamil films which were released dwelt more on adult subjects (Aval Oru Thodar Kathai) and the unpleasant double-meaninged dialogues that later came of vogue. Even young village boys started talking dirty in the late 70s!
A few things that stay fresh in my mind about this flick. Besides the dream scene under the money tree, I remember the drunken hero singing a philosophical song beside an Austin Morris 1100cc. A recurring theme which fascinated me then was the quicksand. In a few scenes, the villain showed his prowess by pushing his victims there. It also happened to the hero but (surprise, surprise) he escaped.the story starts with 3 university friends, Shankar (a 42year old Sivaji Ganeson), Balaji and Nagesh celebrating Shankar's conferment of his B.A. degree over a piece of sandwich in the park. In their conversation, we are told that Shankar, the honest hardworking one had plans of being reach through sheer hard work and intelligence. Balaji feels that one should grab whatever chance that come along, whether legal or otherwise. Nagesh, who repeated exams again and again believes in fate. With that introduction, they part different ways.
 |
| Dream sequence |
In comes a new partner from Main Branch to his office, guess who? Balaji. He manages to win some rich man's heart (R.B.Manohar) and became his confidante and partner in business!
Shankar bypass all the other hopefuls and becomes the manager of his office. He climbs up the corporate ladder. His boss agrees to finance his big factory plan with Balaji's recommendation (Talk about cronyism).
As the volume of his abode increases, so does his consumption of alcohol. He battles alcoholism, almost loses his family and is reunited in the end.
The take home message was that one should not chase for happiness through wealth but rather, family should be given importance.
A feel good nostalgic and entertaining flick bringing us to a time when things were simpler, either black or white and lesser shades of grey!
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