Cheran belongs to the classical school of film-makers.

Cheran belongs to the school of serious and sensitive film-makers. His films have a stamp of originality and sensitivity to the core. He made his presence felt by his maiden film "Bharathi Kannama" starring not-so-glamorous Parthipan and Miranda of Tamil films Meena. Starting out his career as an assistant to K S Ravikumar, this rural youth, who hails from a rural town in Madurai district started making soulful films right from his inception. It is evident from his films that he is gifted with a lyrical narrative style and committed, as a creator, to do away with the social evils that permeate our society. He has got a different cinematic idiom and is gutsy enough to make stark social statements in a scenario wherein the majority opt out of the offbeat track. The young man caught the attention of producer Henry. Henry was then on a hectic talent search. After producing the Malayalam film 'Yavanika' directed by K G George he had just made his foray into Tamil with 'Kolangal', a subject based on a girl rescued from the red light area in Mumbai facing social problems back home in Chennai. It is said, Henry was adamant that his films should not only carry the consumer stuff but be socially relevant and morally uplifting.

'Bharathikannama' was out in the theatres competing with big films with big names - Mani Rathnam's 'Iruvar' and Rajiv Menon's 'Minsara Kanavu'. While Parthipan's ratings in the box office was at an all time low, Cheran, considered a novice by the film folks, went on to score over others in his debut film . Top directors were made to eat a humble pie and 'Bharathikannama' had a dream run. The story went like this: a Harijan youth falls in love with his mentor's daughter, a Thevar zamindar girl. In the feudal setup, which is still prevalent in Tamil villages, the barriers of caste and community are a death-knell to any love-pair. The girl is readied to be given in marriage to someone else, while the downtrodden youth kept his mum. The desperate girl chose to commit suicide. And the youth jumps into the burning pyre and ends his life too. In the districts where the Thevars were in majority the film was verbally banned by their organizations because they could not digest a Harijan youth wooing a Thevar girl and falling on top of her dead body to commit suicide. This controversy was enough to fuel its popularity. Cheran became an overnight star director.

Cheran has managed to brush the casteists on the wrong side but he got good mileage out of it, for the film and for himself. 'Porkalam' his next film is the best till date from his stable. The subject dealt with the stigma attached to a handicapped girl in a rural setup. Murali, a potter by profession has a dumb sister. He and Meena, a weaver in the village, are in love. After much difficulty the brother gets a groom but the marriage falls through because his drunken father steals the money kept for dowry. Crestfallen the sister commits suicide and Murali as a penance decides to marry a handicapped girl. The film's offbeat subject and songs by Deva made it into a hit. The controversy was over the casting of Meena. The film had Sanghavi, a village belle madly obsessed with Murali and story revolved around the dumb sister while Meena had very little to do except come in two songs and few scenes. Rumors that Cheran and Meena were having an affair got the film publicity and lot of curious viewers.

Cheran became a celebrity director just after two quality films. He demanded a fat Rs.50 lakhs as salary. His third film "Desiyageetham" created a controversy while in the making. A particular shot was filmed in which the banner reads "Oh leader and protector of three generations of Tamil culture, may you live long". In walks Nasser wearing dark glasses etc as Chief Minister. The four youths led by Murali spit on the banner and abuse Nasser. Reports had it that Tamilnadu Chief Minister was very unhappy over it. The film is about a Chief minister and his family being kidnapped and taken to a remote village making them undergo the hardships of village life to learn about it. The Chief Minsiter's character resembled Karunanidhi and the dialogues were acidic and an indictment of the government.

However, Cheran's wishful thinking was not shared by his audience this time. In the cities it had a seventy-day run and in villages it was a washout. The film which spoke about the hardships of villagers and portrayed them was ironically rejected by the suffering lot. Cheran got disappointed with his fans but he is not a chicken-hearted director to backtrack on his commitment to meaningful cinema. He took up a serious subject for his treatment again. "Vetri Kodi Kattu" dealt with unemployment and the greed of the middlemen. Directors like Cheran breathe fresh air into Tamil cinema, where the stale stuff is the order of the day. Hats off to Cheran and his pedigree in film-making.

Updated on 04 - 04 - 2001

Compiled by U. Bharat.

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