Disclaimer: I do not believe and I am not Claiming to look anything like Kamala Hassan. Just relating my experience of a lifetime of being told I look like Kamal by different people
I am sure all of you have seen this movie "Meendum Kokila" produced in 1981.
Reminds me of an incident in 1983 when I was watching this movie for the first time with Chottakka (my older sister) and Amma from a video cassette at Lane Cove Sydney. (BTW Three of us watched Tamil movies after Mithu went to sleep early.)
That night we were watching "Meendum Kokila" starring Kamala Hassan
Chottakka interrupts saying "OMG you look so much like Kamal, especially now with your beard. "Vaadu madiriyae undaavu" she said. Don't know why? it made me feel proud that minute.
Amma did not comment as her vision was extremely poor then due to Galucoma and Cattarragh. Reminds me of another incident when Amma went to the Toilet and came out with a bamboo plant in her hand and I said "Amma what are you doing?. "Sorry I thought this was a colourful umbrella and wanted to bring it out" and she was scared. I felt so sorry for poor Amma could not see even in day time yet she never grumbled. I told her not to worry it is only a plant and I can replant it in the same pot.
Another time when I walked past the kitchen I saw my mother in the kitchen cooking something. She had the habit of using her saree ends when lifting something hot off the stove. One of the handy uses of a saree. No tea towel required except the pallu was hanging behind her and the end was on fire. I quickly rushed in squashed the saree end and put the flame out. Imagine the tragedy had I been at work at that moment. Thank God. This is why we have to count our Blessings and be Happy in Life; yet majority like to whinge for ever.
Back to original story. Even today Durga says "Rambo you look so much like Kamal I say" and I say "Oh Yeah. I have heard it before 🙂 " In fact my friend Durga with his sleepy eyes looked more like Kamal. Hope I can find some Black and white photos somewhere
This takes me to another incident that took place in Madras in 1972 when we were living at Edward Elliots Road, Madras now known as Chennai. My Doctor sister Chammakka had an after hours Clinic in Triplicane and she was a bit scared to come home alone by bus at nights. So I used to hop on a bus to Triplicane and escort her back home. I was such a good Brother right ?
On one such trips, I remember I was wearing a red checkered shirt and had my huge glasses with black rim and terelene bell bottom pants. Just back from work as Junior Engineer Highways
The bus came and I boarded all seats were taken so I was standing near the back. Ahead of me in the middle seats were three girls returning home to Triplicane from Stella Maris college. The Girls kept looking back and giggling. So I looked behind me to see what was so funny. Nothing unusual. There was one fisher woman with a smelly fish basket. To avoid the stench I moved forward and was standing right next to the girls.
The cheeky and pretty one looks up at me and says "Periya Kamalnu ninappu" ( meaning he thinks he is Kamal) and all three giggled. Dumb me only then realised the joke was on me. Next stop a seat became available and I sat down.
Triplicane bus stop came. The three girls got off and I got down after. Two girls went in a different direction the cheeky one headed straight towards Chammakka's clinics direction. She thought I was following her and I could see she started to walk faster, looking behind her from time to time to see where I was. I too kept pace and maintained the distance for the fun of it
As we were nearing the clinic Mr Venkatraman was on the street coming to the clinic from the opposite direction. This girl stopped and said something to him (God only knows what she told him). He looked ahead and saw me and in his usual boisterous manner, in a loud voice, he said "Chander Vaappa. Good timing Akka will be finishing soon" (in Tamil). (He was Chammkas secretary then). I could see the girl standing behind Venkatraman and her jaw drop. Venkatraman and I walked into the surgery.
End of story
I shared this incident with Chottakka & Amma when we were watching the movie after pausing the movie.
Let us see if there is really some resemblance between me and Kamal
1963 Loyola College
1975 Madras
With Buddy Durga
( Basically we were Copying Kamals stye )
1978 Sydney
1980 Sydney
1984 Sydney
1988 Bahrain
1990 Madras
1983 Sydney
Fast forward to year 2001.
I went to Tirupathy with my sister and we both decided to shave our heads having lost our mother in 2000.
My buddy Ramanujam was there in Madras and he tells me Dai Mottai guess who is here in Madras? I asked who and he says The One and Only LP, the Kishore Kumar of Canada.
One night all three of us went and saw this Kamal Movie called "Aalavandhan". A pretty violet movie.
Intermission came and I stood up to stretch my legs and someone behind me started to clap and wolf whistle so in my mind I assumed there was some pretty girl they were cheering. Then in seconds everyone was clapping and even standing up. When I turned around to see what was going on, I realised some started to wave at me and one flash light went off too. Someone took a photo on a digital camera. (There were no digital phones with cameras then. Just the anologue Nokias) Ramanujam nudges me and says Dai they think you are Kamal, because of your Mottai; Sit Down quickly. So it was not just family who saw the resemblance even total strangers in a dark cinema did. Don't know about in 2020, now that we are both old farts
2001 Madras as Aalhavandhhan
Fast forward to October 2006
On 10th Dec 2006, I was going to turn 60 and my sister Chottakka wanted to celebrate my 60th like a wedding at Woodlands hotel as in 1980. So the plan was to go to Madras early December.
In Sept I received a wedding invite from my classmate Chandilya whose son was getting married to another classmate and shoolmate Deva's niece. Deva was one of my closest friends at School and IITM but we lost touch totally after he moved to USA. The wedding was end october so I decided to go to Madras mid october and to stay on to december for my 60th. Mithu was tied up at work so she was to fly closer to the date. This turned out to be a holiday of a life time. attended he wedding followed by a surprise invite to another close friend Shyam Sundar's son Gautam's engagement ceremony and a big St Bedes reunion. This must have been a mad wedding season as I attended my cousin Shantaram's daughters wedding ( I grew up with them in Port Blair Andamans). It was a grand wedding. I had asked the driver to park the car and come back and there was no sign of the chap. so I stepped out and stood at the entrance to the wedding hall looking for the driver.
A Man who looked like an autorickshaw driver came right up to me and saluted me and said "Saar Namaskaram" I said Namaskaram and asked him "Eppidipa Irukkae" not that I knew him.
"Enna Saar Nadikkiringa" he said meaning Sir why are you acting?"
I said Yarappa Nee, Theriyalliyae? ( Who are you. Sorry I don't recognise you ? I assumed he was some one I knew but forgot
He Said in Tamil "Saar why will you know me ? I am just an autorickshaw driver but I know you very well and am so happy to see you"
I said Puriyaliyae pa" ( I dont understand) and he says
Saar Neetu daan " Vettaiaaud Vilayadu Cinema Parthaen Saar Nalla Padam saar. Nalla Nadicirukkeeenga"( I saw the movie Vettaiaadu Vilayadu only last night. Very good movie and you acted well.
I had seen the movie too and this man thought I was Kamala Hassan. I tried to explain I was not and he was not willing to buy my story. I just said Thank you and went inside and he says Saar one Photo Please. I did take a photo as my Nikkon was hanging on my shoulder and I did send hima copy by mail after getting it printed.
Unfortunately I dont have many pictures from the wedding itself besides a group photo but here are a few from that trip in Oct 2006
Now I don't see any resemblance whatsoever except we had both become podgier. My polarised glasses probably changed shades and the man could not see my eyes.
At the end of the day all we are left with are sweet memories. Have a Great day Every One
