Sujatha's science fictions
When people were getting a bit bored with tV serials which were telecast as "Sponsored Programmes" in Madras DD, the announcement of "En Iniya Iyandhira" created quite a sensation. Whoever had read "En iniya Iyandhira" and "Meendum Jeeno" by Sujatha were genuinely surprised as they thought that these stories cannot be made into a big budget bollywood film, let alone Chennai TV serial. Their suspicion was genuine as Madras doordarshan had a stupid 13 episode cap for sponsored serials in regional language. This at the time when Hindi serials like Buniyaad were allowed to run for 90 weeks maximum. Finally when the serial was launched, it had tremendous viewership for a scifi serial. The serial had the enchanting Sivaranjani in the lead role along with Maniratnam mentored Anand as her pair. Added attraction was the robo dog Jeeno. Though I liked the dog part very much, I could not understand much of the serial as it was the first scifi serial I saw in Thamizh. Scifis to me were only Startrek series. Having seen that quality of special effects and imagination, the thamizh serial paled in technical area. Though the acting was top class, top choice being Chaaru haasan for the "leader" character. The shock of the serial was the scene where sivaranjani finds out that her husband is just a robot (android I learned later watchin terminator). I would love to see this serial rerun or better still made as a movie, preferably by Mani Ratnam or Kamal. Anyways truly a landmark serial made way ahead of it times. A similar magnum opus effort was a historical serial attempted by T.Rajendar. I could not recollect the name of the serial, but it was centred on Kulothunga Sozhan, again had a couple of good actors with good Thamizh diction. If anybody can provide more information on that front, would be helpful. After this serial, there was a rumour that Ponniyin selvan was being made as a serial by Kamal haasan!! Meanwhile, a team silently went about making Kalki's social epic "Alai Oasai" into a serial. I was caught up with my chemistry tuitions and completely missed this serial. However what I heard from my father was that it was not well made. I could guess it as there were rumours that Kalki's "Thyaaga Bhoomi" was also being attempted for small screen but later abandoned. Truly it would be an interesting day , when Kalki's efforts like "Sivagaamiyin sabadham" and "Ponniyin Selvan" were to be made as TV soaps!!