Recently I got an anecdote from a senior citizen in Tiruvannamalai about the famous amateur actor and founder of Rasika Ranjana Sabha of Trichinopoly., Sri.F.G.Natesa Iyer.
During the early 20th century, in the field of drama, the part of the lady characters were done only by male artists. There were two brothers who were famous as actors. K.S.Ananthanarayanan the younger brother excelled in acting lady characters and the elder brother K.S.Chellappa excelled in doing kingly roles. Both of them were so famous throughout South India that crowd would overflow if they were acting. Later they had a bitter quarrel that even went to the courts and they stopped acting together. It was great loss for the Dramatic art and people were hankering to see them together.
At that time FGN intervened and, after lengthy persuations of many months, convinced them that whatever may be their personal grudges against each other they should not make the public suffer for their differences. They would be committing a heinous crime against this divine art. Ultimately they agreed and appeared together for the first time after many years.
This was the subject of a cartoon in the Ananda Vikatan (in the 1930s) entitled 'Two lions in one enclosure' (Oru Koondil irandu simhangal'). Has anyone seen this cartoon ? Can any one locate this for me?
I am collecting data about FGN and RR Sabha has extended their full help. I will be greatful to any one who can provide information about his photographs, letters and articles in the newspapers, anecdotes etc.
I have a copy of an interesting article on the life of M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar which contains a detailed description of how FGN discovered him and gave him the role of Lohidasa which skyrocketted MKT to fame. I heard that he discovered K.B.Sundarambal also in a similar fasion. Is there any article or information available about this event ?
Maniomani
F.G.N of Trichi
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chalanata
- Posts: 603
- Joined: 06 Feb 2010, 15:55
FGN it seems got converted to christianity and got reconverted to hinduism. on reconversion he wanted to perform a pooja in which the prohits refused to participate. FGN announced enam of one gold sovereign for each of those who took part in the pooja and there was a large turnout. it seems he employed some thugs and had the donated soveriegns removed forcibly from the prohits as soon as the pooja was over.
my father used to tell me this story. i do not know whether it is true or not.
my father used to tell me this story. i do not know whether it is true or not.
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mahakavi
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maniomani
- Posts: 15
- Joined: 28 Jan 2007, 11:47
According to the information I have collected, FGN and his brothers had been kidnapped as teenagers and converted to christianity . He sincerely yearned to come back to hinduism and it was according to the the prescription of Maha Periaval that this yagna was conducted. He conducted it with great piety and remorse. People confirm that he paid a dakshina of one soveriegn to each of the participant. It is likely rowdy elements could have snatched the soveriegns and it might have been attributed to him. If he had done any such things Maha Periaval would not had anything to do with him. But several incidents confirm that he treated FGN with great respect whenever he met him. Many of the persons who were close to him say that FGN was very compassionate by nature and went out of the way to help any and every one who approached him for help. Most of his work was for social uplift and social welfare and he never took any steps to build up a fortune or a name.
Maniomani
Maniomani