I wanted to be a good citizen. I called my 8 year old Vyasa and said;
Me: வியாசா நம்ம PM வெளிநாட்டுக்கு எங்கேயும் இந்த வருஷம் போக வேணாம்னு சொல்லியிருக்காரு so no holiday this year!
Vyasa: அப்பா போன வருஷம் நீங்க எங்கேயும் கூட்டிட்டு போகலை, இந்த வருஷம் வேணாம்னு சொல்றீங்க, அடுத்த வருஷம் இல்ல எப்பவுமே நீங்க எங்கள கூட்டிட்டு போக மாட்டீங்க! தெரியும்!!
Me: ஏன்பா அப்பிடி சொல்ற?
Vyasa: நீங்க தான் எங்களுக்கு இன்னும் பாஸ்போர்ட் டே எடுக்கலையே!!
Me: (in mind) This boy will grow up smart!
Let’s TRADE!
Client: Vicky Paint Brush / Traders Day
Script & Direction: P Jagan
Camera & Edit: Arun
Art Direction: Deva
Designs: Purushoth
Cast: Anbukkarasi & P Jagan
Two months ago I told my director Mr Shankar that it had been a long time since I met or spoke to him. Few days ago he remembers and send me a message am I free to meet him. Of course sir!
I have never met Mr. Shankar outside of work so I was anxious about the meeting. I met him at his home and I had the chance to see the other side of the man, who was calm, relaxed, chatty, curious and engaging. We spoke about movies, life, food, Kurasowa, Ulaganayagan, Velpari, his old movies, Indian 2!!, Indian 3??!, online world, books etc. We had dinner together and I relished their wonderful home cooked food.
What I expected to be an hour of meeting ended up after 5 hours. When I left his home at 1 in the night, my heart was filled with warmth gratitude and friendship.
WHY MAY DAY IS LABOURS DAY
Client: Vicky Paint Brush / May Day
Script & Direction: P Jagan
Camera & Edit: Arun
Art Direction: Deva
Designs: Purushoth
Cast: Anbukkarasi & P Jagan
It’s been 5 years since you left us. And the past 5 years I’ve been trying to erase this day from my memory yet it surfaces when April comes.
Not a single day has gone in these 5 years, where a thought, a image, a memory or a feeling about you has not come by.
The last 5 years without you my life is filled with loads of vacuum, with occasional spurts of joy. It pains that you are not there to share those minuscule joys with me.
To begin with:
• In the last 5 years I won 11 Maddys for my creative works. And I know how much you would’ve appreciated my success.
• At last ‘Indian 2’ released and some kind people even presented me an award for it.
• We celebrated your b’day the year after you left us. While sharing memories your Editor Antony sobbed inconsolably and no one in the gathering could pacify him.
• Your friend DOP Ramji shared the funny story how you took him along with you to see Sasikala for alliance.
• The drawing of yours posted here was sketched by your right-hand Art Director DRK Kiran. This is what we kept for your memorial gathering in Oct 2021.
• The fans don’t forget to celebrate the anniversaries of your movies. 17 years of Ayan just went by.
And social media had high praise for you during the recent 15 years of KO.
• My sons Kavin completed 10, and Vyasa completed 8. They are the ‘KV’ of my life now.
• Sadhana got married and your son-in-law Vishnu is a very good man.
• Sneha is a doctor now.
• My mom left me the next year you left.
• Surya is no longer your neighbour, he moved to Mumbai.
• Actor Vijay is a politician now and he has contested this assembly elections.
• My friend Dayal is a busy actor now and he still feels you were not there to see his ‘Family Man 2’
• I sometimes go to ‘Kattaiyan Mess’ and eat there on your behalf.
• I am still sketching and I am in my 25th sketch book.
• I stopped wearing all the tees you presented me because I didn’t want them to worn out.
Next year many events will happen and many things will change but one few things will remain same for me – that I’ll miss you.
And I’ll keep thinking about you.
Vaanmadhi Jagan and I went to Michael movie yesterday. While returning back home Vaanmadhi asked me how did she perform in Chennai Sangamam Fashion ramp. I told her since I too was walking the ramp I was backstage and watched her only from back and it was nothing like I have ever seen before. She was flattered and asked me to show her walk. And I did. In road, in the middle of the night. And few streets dogs scampered away!
