-> SPS, > > I think, when Krishna offers these two offers, he asks Arjuna to make > the first choice as he is the youngest of the two. Duryodhana is > tensed thinking that Arjuna will ask for the army of Krishna, but > Arjuna opts for unarmed Krishna and Duryodhana is much relived and > walks away happily with Krishna's army on his side. > > Regards, > Satish =========================>
This is also an unique situation. The king supporting one side and ordering his army to fight against the side he is supporting. Impossible to visualise in today's environment. Sampath
As for me I visualise most of ancient kings in the form of Sivaji. The moment someone mentions Kattabomman,Raja Raja,Karnan or even VOC or Bharathi the first face that comes to my mind is that of Sivaji as that character.
Dear Malthi and SPS Is Duriyothanas son not married to Blaramas daughter? I totally agree with SPS regarding NTR I would say even Nitish Bharadwaj was not bad in the televsion series Sri
Dear Dr Sri (and all) - the story relating Duryodhana's son and Balarama's daugther and the 'maya bazar' is a folk tale, very popular one at that. It is not part of Vyasa's Mahabharat.
As far as Sri Krishna and other mythological roles go - I am a die hard NTR fan. His Krishna is amazing, so is Ravana, and Arjuna and Sri Rama and Duryodhana and Karna.( I mean the guy was just born to play mythology, there is no doubt about that. I find the hindi serials a complete turnoff/rubbish, sorry to anyone who likes them.) Since we are talking of the Arjuna/Duryodhana debacle with Sri Krishna during the war, here is a link on that exact episode from the awesome telugu movie Sri Krishnavataram. You may not follow telugu but the music in Ghantasala's melliflous voice is awesome, so is NTR and the guys who play Arjuna and Duryodhana.
Dear SRS I never realized the appeal of NT Rama Rao, only knowing him from 'India Today' magazine articles in the 80s- early 90s, when he was heavy -- elderly.
I was visiting a family in Guntur, AP, 12/99, and the old folks were watching one of his movies on tv. Wow, I see why he was so popular.
You know the famous bronze Nataraja from Thiruvengadu [sp.?], prabha lost -- the one Rodin was so impressed by? looked just like him. Kathie
Kathy, your adventures are amazing, you watched a telugu movie in Guntur, wow:)
Most of our actors get heavy egos and bodies to match as they grow older, NTR was no exception. The best of his movies were in 50s and early 60s ending with the dawn of the color era. He was blessed with great looks and also very well read in mythology himself and directed some of them, in telugu of course but extremely well always trying to see positive qualities even in so called negative characters like Ravana and Duryodhan. I have another friend Sara on the west coast who is a painter/krishna devotee and wanted a pic of Krishna where he is not feminine looking. Every painting i sent her would be 'effeminate' and finally i lost patience and sent her one of NTRs. She was so impressed and ended up doing numerous paintings with him as model :))
NTR is a Legend... But he has acknowledged before entry into Polity that he was following the footsteps of MGR ...
MGR was a migrant from Lanka, Kerala affliations, did not step beyond primary education, appeared in female role too in initial days, has to face Giant Sivaji in Film-acting ....
Iruvar by Maniratnam touched certain high points..
ANNA is a very Great Legend.. We are entering into his Centenary !
I am not discussing Polity.. outlining contemporary History of TN::
Imagine Congress - which Party helped getting India Independence in 1947 and Reoublic in 1950 ..
Whose R Venkatraman, Minister got BHEL , Ordnace Factory Trichy, Cardite Aruvankadu, Heavy Vehicles - ICF Madras ... who had the vision of creating the Madras neighbourhood as early in 1965 - by acquiring lands (which was later named as Anna Nagar !) ..
This Party under the Leadership of Kamaraj was routed in TN because of Anna - Rajaji combine !
And MGR was used as trump card ...
If OUR YOUTH have been reading on Anna's raise and the way he grew the Party, it will open several avenues to determine SUCCESS FORMULA..
Limiting to this mail, Anna programmed MGR very well..
And MGR retained whatever was programmed and survived Anna too .. politically and physically .....
Whoever is planning Polity - name of party / flag / who should - should not - DO what etc., etc., this formidable combination has become their Arthasastram !
And NTR followed MGR simply .....
Recent entry of Chiranjeevi reminded me of those years .. with flaws in present day planning too ...
True to RATIONALISM in TN, MGR saw GOD in the Smiles of Poor.. and adored Buddhan - Jesus - Gandhi !
True to Andhra sentiments, NTR was seen as LORD KRISHNA by the Telugu Desam !
I know this Forum is not for detailed discussion on this.. just outlined since it is Kathie who has shown interest..
Pls enlighten me on the Thivengadu Nataraja, as I have seen one in Thanjai museum !
Dear SPs, may I humbly point out we were discussing NTR in movies, not in politics. I do agree MGR was his guru in politics but not in movies, atleast not in early movies. He was a person of considerable talent as far as acting goes, which is why he acted beside Sivaji too in most of the tamil movies he starred. (Sampoorna Ramayanam, Telani Raman, Karnan). Am not sure if most people here have seen telugu movies (early ones) but if you are interested in mythology there is no better visual media than NTR movies esp the ones he directed, to this day.
We have to give credit where it is due, don't you think?
Nice to see your very informative mails... > > NTR is a Legend... But he has acknowledged before entry into Polity > that he was following the footsteps of MGR ... ===================================================>
Clarifying : NTRgaru followed the foot prints of MGR in polity only.
will reword that ::
But he has acknowledged while entering into Polity that he was following the footsteps of MGR .
Below is a blogpost from a friend - there are couple of good ones in this series on madras. But this photo of MGR and the old lady - sums up his charms to this day
Here is Bangalore, Rajkumar is given much importance! for ex, during riot or any disturbance, many companies put Rajkumar's photo on the entrance which avoids any attack on teh building!
Yes for sure. Rajkumar was perhaps the only big star who could sing, he sang pretty well and was very good at portraying devotional roles such as Raghavendra and Kannappa Nayanar.
A big difference between MGR and NTR/Rajkumar is that MGR was political from the word 'go'. All his movies had strong political message and that was his tactic indeed to succeed and become popular. NTR and Rajkumar were people who banked more on talent. NTR made it into politics a'la MGR later. Rajkumar made some hesitant forays but retired and died an actor only.
Personally I feel anyone's popularity lasts couple of generations after they are alive - and their progeny or political successors are cashing in on that. After that they are another figure in the history book or in their old movies, that is all. Perhaps if we look at the then super star MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar it might make some sense.