The Versatile Beard.

       Bearded men are rare in Tamil Cinema,that too among those who have a screen image as popular heroes.The recently successful director -cum hero in this category is M.Sasikumar.Earlier we had Manivannan who with his  beaming beard was a dynamic director, character actor,comedian and villain.The other reputed Tamil director P.Vasu is quite often seen with a beard.But Tamil Cinema can never ignore the most vibrant T.Rajendar whose constant beard speaks of his versatility in the film field.Like Oliver Goldsmith in English literature known for his manifold accomplishments as poet,novelist,essayist short story writer and playwright T.Rajendar has displayed his creative might as film director, story and dialogue writer,lyricist,actor,singer and music composer.
    Starting his film career with Orudhalai Raagam,T.Rajendar made a clean sweep for quite some time,coming out with great hits like Rayil Payanangalil,Thangaikkor Geedham,Uyirullavarai Usha,Uravai Kaatha Kili,Mydhili Ennai Kaadhali,Samsaara Sangeedham, En THangai Kalyaani and Oru Thaayin Sabadham. His other moderate entries were,Sonnaaldhaan Kaadhalaa,Kaadhal Azhivadhillai and Veeraasaamy.
      What is special about T.Rajendar besides his cheek bound beard, is his Tamil, with its innate flair for alliterations.His felicity in the deliberation of Tamil dialogues with copious alliterations would at least partially remind one of Kambar's great legacy of high sounding words making sense and substance. T.Rajendar is synonymous of sentiments.His  creative thrust has emotional well being as its core and he would not bother if he has to resort to melodramatic narration, for the sake of dramatic efficacy of delineation of events,situations and  characters.
    I would say T.Rajendar is the most emotional of all makers of Tamil films, because, he never lets down the spontaneous urge for shedding tears, whenever he cannot control his emotions.One who cries naturally, while being emotionally disturbed, is a true human being, because weeping under emotional stress is one of the basic characteristics of human life.Very often, one can see T.Rajendar crying even on stage, whenever he is emotionally struck.This is a valid demonstration of a film personality of traditional mould and T.Rajendar is undoubtedly an upholder of the traditional base .
     Oruthalai Raagam with all its ingredients of juvenile gusto,pangs of romance, positive energy of friendship,fascinating power of music and the stout interlinking emotional chord,was one of the grandest Tamil films of the Nineteen Seventies. Rayil Payanangalil that followed Oruthalai Raagam continued to reflect all these ingredients with a little bit of decline in the power of narration. Shankar, Rooba,Jothi,Usha,and Ravinder whose tenure in Tamil Cinema did not last long were definitely great talents spotted out by the ever versatile T.Rajendar. Nalini who first appeared in a secondary role in Sathya Movies' Raanuva Veeran and Amala who made a successful and sparkling round in Tamil films for nearly a decade and a half, were introduced as heroines by T.Rajendar, in his mega hit films Uyirullavarai Usha and Mythili Ennai Kadhali, respectively.  
     One can see even the titles of T.Rajendar's films singing rich musical tunes into the ears of film lovers. Mythili Ennai Kaadhali was a mind blowing film with fantastic music and dance components and the exclusive contribution of T.Rajendar at all levels, made the film a historic piece, displaying the aesthetics of film making.Thangaikkor Geedham gave a lift to the career of Anand Baabu the actor son of Veteran comedian Naagesh. The film also showcased Sivakumar's newer dimension in acting. Nalini scored reasonably for her capacity to emote without overacting.This talented actress made use of the base created in T.Rajendar films for her later and stronger performance in films like Paalaivana Rojaakkal and Nooravadhu Naal.
     As a music director T.R.gave beautiful melodies like 'Idhu Kuzhandhai Paadum Thaalaattu' 'Naan Oru Raasiyillaa Raajaa, Kadavul Vaazhum Boomiyile' Vaasamillaa Malaridhu {all from Oruthalai Raagam},'Salangaiyittaal Oru Maadhu'Naanum Undhan Uravai{from Mydhili Ennai Kaadhali} Vagaikkarai Kaatre Nillu,Indhira Logagathu[Uyirullavarai Usha}Endhan Paadalgalil Nee Neelaam bari{Uravai Kaatha Kili},Amaidhukku Perdhaan Saanthi, Noolumillai Vaalumillai{Rayil Payangalil and many others.Of these Naanum  Undhan Uravai is a high pitch number powerfully rendered by SPB, pouring forth the agony of the soul. The other similar songs were Nan Oru Raasiyilla Raaja and Noolumillai Vaalumillai from the masterly voice of TMS. Majority of the songs in T.Rajender's composition, were delivered by  veteran singers like TMS,SPB and Jeyachandran,
     T.Rajendar delivered in his own voice a couple of sweet melodies like Thatti Paarthein {Thangaikkor Geedham}and Ada Ponnaana Manase Poovaana Manase {Mythili Ennai Kaadhali}. T.Rajendar has proved to be a qualitative music composer by enriching Tamil Cinema not only through his solo hits,duets and melody songs but also through gaanaa type,high spirited songs like 'Ada Goppa Mavane' {Uyirullavarai Usha} 'Ennaasa Mydhiliye'{Mythili Ennai Kaadhali}and 'Emmaadi Aathaadi' {Manmadhan} all in his  gruff but receivable tone and tenor. What makes him an exceptional music composer is his right awareness of mixing rhythm with lyrics and making  perfect instrumental addition to vocal presentation.Being a poet himself, he seems to have no difficulty in turning words into musical units,in tunes worthy of  wonderful auditory experience.
       Tamil Cinema during its expansive growth and progress has been immensely proud of the valid and invaluable contribution of very many talents in a number of fields related to the  art of film making .Mostly, we have seen them as independent talents in their respective area of specialization, such as acting,singing,music composing,choreographing,directing and other activities concerning over all cinematography.But here is an individual, who can contribute meaningfully as story and screen play writer,lyricist,music composer and actor.He is all in one, doing a little more than the director-cum-heroes like Bhagyaraj,Paarthiban,Cheran and Sundar C. Like the beard that has come to stay with him,his talents have ever remained as his perpetual assets, making him more distinguished by the term 'the versatile beard' .
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