Naan Avan Illai (நான் அவனில்லை, I am not him, Tamil; 1974)
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| The Movie was in Black & White, though! |
Director: K Balachander
Gemini Ganesan had always played second fiddle in the limelight of the Tamil silver screen in the 60s. This king of romance (Kathal Mannan), both on and off screen, had always been overshadowed by thespians of that time, MGR with do-gooder holier than thou propaganda film actor and the over the top character actor in Sivaji Ganesan. Gemini Ganesan had mostly acted in roles as a sacrificing love struck man for the sake of family or circumstantial situations.
The whole story happens in a court room over a few days as the witnesses are called in one by one to unfold their side of the story. GG, as Nanjil Nambi, a simple but articulate seemingly God fearing (Hindu God) nationalistic appearing man from lower rung of society is put to the dock charged for cheating. Nanjil dismisses his court appoint lawyer and opts to defend himself.
Then comes a Rao from Delhi who tells of a certain Brahmin Government official who cheated him of Rp 15,000 whom he gave as an understanding of bribe to secure a project. Details of the events of the transaction is told in flashbacks as the testimony of the rest of the witnesses. Nanjil denies by asking him embarrassing questions which put the witness in a precarious position.
Then comes a matching agency agent (M.N. Rajam) who is called in to testify the accusation a Telugu lady who married GG and was cheated of her jewelry. A Malayalee also comes of being conned by a Shatru Menon- GG again.
The case became more convoluted as the investigators could not identify GG's mother tongue. One smart alec suggested that upon intense provocation, jolt or pain, he would scream in his mother tongue. Even that felt flat - He yelled an undecipherable word which turned out to be Chinese. There is slight comedy relief brought by a couple in the public gallery. The wife spends all her time listening to trials with her bored husband. Thengai Sreenivasan comes as a mysterious witness, Johnny Walker, who turned out to be GG's accomplice.
Gemini Ganesan had always played second fiddle in the limelight of the Tamil silver screen in the 60s. This king of romance (Kathal Mannan), both on and off screen, had always been overshadowed by thespians of that time, MGR with do-gooder holier than thou propaganda film actor and the over the top character actor in Sivaji Ganesan. Gemini Ganesan had mostly acted in roles as a sacrificing love struck man for the sake of family or circumstantial situations.
If MGR could play double roles in scores of films as identical twins separated at twins and get away with it and Sivaji could give an absolutely stunning depiction of nine roles which signified nine values of human in 'Navarathiri', the filmmakers would have thought, "Why not cast him in a role a cheating lover in multiple roles?"
The story was actually a play in Marathi made in 1962.
The whole story happens in a court room over a few days as the witnesses are called in one by one to unfold their side of the story. GG, as Nanjil Nambi, a simple but articulate seemingly God fearing (Hindu God) nationalistic appearing man from lower rung of society is put to the dock charged for cheating. Nanjil dismisses his court appoint lawyer and opts to defend himself.
Albert Asirvatham (Asokan), a coffin maker takes the stand. He alleges that Nanjil is actually his long lost brother of 15 years by the name of David Asirvatham. He tells of his brother of being a rolling stone, never staying in one place. He accuses him of leaving his mute wife and two sons. Nanjil ridicules Albert and denies.
Then comes a Rao from Delhi who tells of a certain Brahmin Government official who cheated him of Rp 15,000 whom he gave as an understanding of bribe to secure a project. Details of the events of the transaction is told in flashbacks as the testimony of the rest of the witnesses. Nanjil denies by asking him embarrassing questions which put the witness in a precarious position.
The presiding judge (Poornam Viswanathan), a North Indian Muslim, has a daughter (Lakshmi) who was also conned of some money when she met a suave Urdu speaking Casanova, Akbar Ali, on a train journey. And she knows it is GG. [Flashback: GG dressed in Northen Indian Muslim attire and mannerisms]
Then comes a matching agency agent (M.N. Rajam) who is called in to testify the accusation a Telugu lady who married GG and was cheated of her jewelry. A Malayalee also comes of being conned by a Shatru Menon- GG again.
Next, a trustee of a temple, accuses GG of masquerading as a holy man, Hari Hara Das, and scooted off with her daughter and the temple jewelry. The daughter, later appears as a cabaret dancer, disillusioned with life after being duped and raped in the holy shrines!
Then comes in an Anglo-Indian widow, Mrs Kingsley, who swore that GG is indeed her new husband, Jack Solomon. Kannama, the histrionic lady from the slump, appears to vouch that GG is indeed her husband, alive and living with her all the while!
The case became more convoluted as the investigators could not identify GG's mother tongue. One smart alec suggested that upon intense provocation, jolt or pain, he would scream in his mother tongue. Even that felt flat - He yelled an undecipherable word which turned out to be Chinese. There is slight comedy relief brought by a couple in the public gallery. The wife spends all her time listening to trials with her bored husband. Thengai Sreenivasan comes as a mysterious witness, Johnny Walker, who turned out to be GG's accomplice.
He narrated a story which was reminiscent of the 'Madu Tiga' where all of GG's wives coming together to trash out the truth! The judge passed a judgement of guilty with 7 years of imprisonment.
As he is led out of the court house, GG is stabbed by his brother Albert Asirvatham. Only then the viewers realise GG's true identity as he crosses his chest in a crucifix and dies. So GG is David Asirvatham after all and is a pathological liar.
We saw Gemini in the roles of a) a bumpkin, b) Brahmin Govt servant, c) Urdu poet, d) a Telugu man, e) a Malayalee naval officer, f) a pious holy man, g) an Anglo-Indian gentleman and 2 others. I think missed two, 9 altogether!
At a time when lip sync and voice overs were unheard off, GG excelled in his rendition of dialogue in various intonations and dialects. Maybe I am biased, they were some overlaps in mannerisms of the different roles.
For a person who started his career in a villain's role, he had no qualms of assuming the role of an antihero at time in Tamil movies where a hero is either good or bad! Here the hero assumed the role of an anti-hero quite convincingly.
N.B. The 2007 remake by new generation of actors was a big hit!
As he is led out of the court house, GG is stabbed by his brother Albert Asirvatham. Only then the viewers realise GG's true identity as he crosses his chest in a crucifix and dies. So GG is David Asirvatham after all and is a pathological liar.
We saw Gemini in the roles of a) a bumpkin, b) Brahmin Govt servant, c) Urdu poet, d) a Telugu man, e) a Malayalee naval officer, f) a pious holy man, g) an Anglo-Indian gentleman and 2 others. I think missed two, 9 altogether!
At a time when lip sync and voice overs were unheard off, GG excelled in his rendition of dialogue in various intonations and dialects. Maybe I am biased, they were some overlaps in mannerisms of the different roles.
For a person who started his career in a villain's role, he had no qualms of assuming the role of an antihero at time in Tamil movies where a hero is either good or bad! Here the hero assumed the role of an anti-hero quite convincingly.
N.B. The 2007 remake by new generation of actors was a big hit!
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