Spotlight back on : Maro Charitra
Kamal Haasan's debut as a lead actor in Telugu Cinema!
Maro Charitra : Another History
“Iyampettai Arivudainambi Kaliyaperumal Indran”
I remember laughing at this rajinikanth interview scene when a voice came from behind - “This is from the original Thillu Mullu. The director, who was mentor to both rajini and kamal during their starting days, gave many classics with each of them.” That set the ball rolling for me to land up in plethora of resources talking about the sigaram (mountain peak) this man is. Iyakkunar Sigaram indeed (Director Paramount) !
Fate had it that neither Thillu Mullu (which I started watching randomly in TV) nor Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu (which I searched and found it in amazon prime) was the first K. Balachander film that I completely watched. A notable thing that stuck with me was how the director kept us invested in the lead characters he had written. Maro Charitra, a 1978 Telugu-language romance film starring Kamal Haasan and Saritha in the lead roles, became the first K.Balachander film that I completed!
From now on : KB - K. Balachander ; KH - Kamal Haasan
In Maro Charitra, we have an impulsive and emotional KH who takes decisions in the drop of a hat. For instance - He is an employed young man in late 1970s India (when unemployment was a major issue) who would resign his job and go back to home just because his boss scolded him. On the other hand, Saritha takes a minute or two before she does something even in her defense - like asking a creep to back off from her. However, the point is she (fortunately) does it on her own and doesn’t need someone filling in to show her anger. An independent minded woman. Beyond these lead characters, KB establishes the supporting characters and the environment with such subtle yet impactful scenes.
The lead pair’s romance, though seems largely inspired by the classic Romeo and Juliet, follows the beats of their individual characters - the impulsive, hormonal and rash portions brought in by KH while the calmness, maturity and reining in done by Saritha - and makes for an engaging watch. It all takes a unique (for its time) turn as it goes for Another History, which the film wishes to literally spell it out for us.
Once their parents oppose their cross-cultural union, as opposed to fighting with them and both sides not understanding each other, they all agree to come to a truce and decide to put the couple’s love to test. Whether their love wins and they get to be together is what the rest of the movie is about. This is served to us deliciously by a confident KH and an earnest Saritha, supported by the technicians.
While M.S.Vishwanathan’s melodies and numbers held us with the film, Bhale Bhale Mogadivoi (with its peppy english lyrics in between) was surely ear-catching among all the blockbuster songs in this movie. The only successful remake of this movie happens to be the famous and better-known-than-its-original Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981, Hindi) which was directed by KB himself with KH reprising his role. KH had said that it was quite a challenge to give equally good songs for this Hindi version.
KB’s decision to make this a black-and-white film, when color films were already mainstream, made me wonder whether this was a subtle tribute to the film’s title. However, there must be something more to it and this is one more question I would like to ask KH! A special mention for B.S.Loknath, who was KB’s go-to cinematographer, for capturing KB’s vision wonderfully in just 2 colors.
Mouna Ragam (1986, Tamil) was about a woman forced into marriage despite her parents wishes, and it was lauded for its grounded, introspective and realistic take on the same. I am probably taking a long shot here but what if Mani Ratnam saw Maro Charitra and thought - what if this couple’s romance is not realized and the girl has to go ahead with marriage? How will Saritha’s character take it? - I mean WHAT IF! (Do let me know if you have other thoughts about this!!)
Dwelling a little more in such thoughts convinced me that Mouna Ragam is to Arranged marriage couple as is Maro Charitra to a love marriage couple. Unsurprisingly, both movies are progressive for their times, gave a strong voice for their female leads (which was not the norm back then) and put forward feminist thoughts.
Trivia - KH personally requested KB to launch him in Telugu cinema as lead actor with this movie. Coincidentially, this ended up being the case for his hindi debut too 3 years later - remake of this same movie. KB was also involved in spotting Megastar Chiranjeevi and Isai Puyal AR Rahman. Man has been a king maker of sorts!
KB was a King Maker indeed! Has Made some Queens too!
Such lovely charecters , such a clever screen play.
But the climax is where one is feels , " What's the necessity for such sadism?"
" Mouna Ragam is to Arranged marriage couple as is Maro Charitra to a love marriage couple. " - Mouna Ragam had a positive climax , Maro Charita leaves you wondering " Why should only failed love stories make history? " There is list of KB movies with sad endings - Aval Oru Thodargathai, Arangetram, Avargal , Punnagai Mannan....
Hoping you would rewrite " Mouna Ragam is to Arranged marriage couple as is -------------- to a love marriage couple. " My pick would be Edhir Neechchal by Balachander. Whats yours?