Remembering Singeetham Srinivasa Rao

A sharp mind, a quirky sense of humour, a young heart and a perennial desire to experiment with his movies defined Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. As he departs at 94, he leaves behind a body of work that has a sense of permanence.

Having found an ally in Kamal Haasan, Singeetham discovered a sense of freedom, especially in the Tamil industry. A hero being visually challenged was never the template for films, but the duo smirked at such notions through the 1981 flick Raaja Paarvai. For many fans the song Andhi mazhai from this lovely film, remains a ear-worm.

A celluloid venture without dialogues? Bring it on, said Singeetham and along with Kamal, dished out Pesum Padam, also called Pushpak, Pushpaka Vimana and Pushpaka Vimanam. The 1987 silent film had different titles across languages, just for the fans to connect.

The film, extensively shot in Bengaluru, proved that the right visuals, actors and background score could mask the absence of the uttered word. And can ice be used as a weapon of murder? Apparently it works, as evident in one crazy scene.

Siblings split at birth and then finding their way back together is a trope as old as the hills. Singeetham gave it a twist by making one brother a dwarf, who is also consumed with a sense of extracting revenge. The result was Aboorva Sagodharargal in 1989.

With Kamal dishing out a bravura performance, the film was a blockbuster. And if you want to figure out black humour, just watch the song Vaazha veikum kadhalukku jai in which Kamal and Gautami are prancing on a truck, oblivious to a dead body in their midst.

Even as Telugu and Kannada outings kept Singeetham busy, he dipped into Tamil often and in 1990, along with Kamal, helmed Michael Madana Kama Rajan. The story of quadruplets growing up in different homes and speaking Tamil dialects ranging from Palghat to Madras, remains a classic. “You know what I mean?,” is a dialogue that even today evokes laughter while a fish went missing in sambar!

In 1994, Singeetham directed Magalir Mattum, headlined by Urvashi, Revathi, Rohini and Nasser. Produced by Kamal, the story of how three women form a sisterhood and strike back against their lecherous boss, stays relevant. And veteran Nagesh as the corpse, was a hoot.

Singeetham also dished out Chinna Vathiyar with Prabhu and Khushbu in the lead in 1995. After their 1998 reunion for Kaathala Kaathala, a laugh-riot, Singeetham and Kamal joined hands in 2005 for Mumbai Express. A black-comedy centred around a kidnapping and some bumbling men, worked for some, did not work for another section, and yet it had its moments.

It was also fitting that Kamal did a retrospective on Singeetham, reliving their films together and getting inputs from his other collaborators. Those videos on YouTube are an essential watch for all cinephiles. Singeetham will be remembered for his boundless energy, one that also helped him direct Sing Geetham, well into his nineties.