#5 - Back to the Family!

Back on stage through the Rajambal Company, SVS continued to act in her troupe for several months. He acted in various roles with ease, quickly gaining the affection and admiration of his peers in the troupe. So much so, that Rajambal lovingly claimed that although the troupe had lost M.V. Mani, they had gained 'Motor Mani'.

The nickname 'Motor' was because my grandfather was working with the bus service company. Even his colleagues in the bus company were overjoyed at his joining the drama troupe. They felt SVS did the right thing by exploring his passion and talent. 

Despite all this, SVS continued with his job at the bus company at the beginning. He was also keen to get the driving license, unwilling to let go of what could be a valuable skill. When he couldn't get his permanent license the first time he tried, he realized he needed a little more practice. 

As luck would have it, Rajambal Company owned a Chevrolet car; very similar to the one he'd practiced with. That's when SVS decided to join the troupe as a permanent member and make use of the opportunity to practice using the car. He became a member of the company and began to travel with the group in the stage journey.

Here again, his colleagues in the bus company were very supportive and felt it was the right decision on his part. In his autobiography, SVS has mentioned that it felt 'right' when he took up acting full-time once again. Isn't that what every true artist feels? They become one with the art, often dedicating their whole lives and purpose to the art form. Something that SVS too did. Until his last breath!

Anyway, a few months passed by, and SVS became a favorite for Rajambal. With his quick wit and honesty, she knew SVS was someone who could be trusted. And that was the reason why she asked SVS to accompany her to Madurai where she was to take part in the annual festivities.

Reunion with the TKS Brothers:

Once in Madurai, SVS got to know that his old buddies from the Shri Bala Shanmuganandha Sabha were also performing nearby. Overjoyed, he went to meet his friends with whom he'd spent considerable time. 

As soon as the TKS brothers and the other members saw SVS, they welcomed him with complete gusto. A joyful reunion happened, and he was asked to stay back for the night. It was only the next morning that the eldest brother amongst the TKS brothers, Periya Annachi, as he was fondly known, asked SVS to stay back with the troupe and not just for the night.

Why work under a woman? Was Periya Annachi's argument.

When I read this, I was a little disturbed and pleasantly surprised. Disturbed because the field of acting was and is a male-oriented field where a woman was/is naturally expected to take a back seat. 

While it was a different era and the differences were even more pronounced back then, I was also very proud when I realized SVS did not have any reservations to work with Rajambal, whom he refers to as Rajambal Ammaiyaar in his autobiography, addressing her with immense respect.

As the granddaughter of this legend, it warms my heart to know he was a feminist who believed in equality in gender. Especially in an era when the word 'feminism' had little significance. 

Coming back to the story, SVS was in a fix. He couldn't outrightly say no to the same man who was more of an elder brother than a colleague. Yet, SVS did not have the heart to come out of the Rajambal Company without notice. In his heart, he knew it wasn't fair. For Rajambal and her troupe members had treated him with a lot of respect and valued him as an artist.

Annachi, seeing the indecision on SVS' face, ordered SVS to stay back, insisting it was for the best. Simultaneously, NSK dragged SVS to a nearby shop to get him clothes. This sealed the deal for SVS who did long for the company of his friends. The fact that Annachi promised good roles in the newer patriotic plays that the brothers staged also tipped the decision in their favor.

Freedom Movement and Plays:

SVS was again a part of Shri Bala Shanmuganandha Sabha after a brief hiatus. It was the year 1931, and historical plays were slowly being replaced by plays that spotlighted Desa Bhakthi. 

Gandhiji had traveled to London for the Second Round Table Conference. The fight for independence was gaining momentum. Artists and plays began to stage plays and sing songs about freedom, often glorifying the freedom fighters and emphasizing their struggles.

SVS, too, got to play many interesting roles, including the role of Bhagat Singh. After the execution of Bhagat Singh, the masses were in a frenzy. Freedom movements started gaining more popularity and solidarity, and plays that spiked the intensity of patriotic feelings were in demand. 

But the government was aware of the effects of these plays and musicals on the common man. Knowing there was a real danger of art unifying men for a singular purpose, officials began to ban the staging of plays in many places. Unfortunately for the artists and troupes, this meant a slash in their enthusiasm as well as their income.

After trying to run a profitable show and not entirely succeeding, the TKS brothers finally decided to sell a personal property and raise some funds; they wanted to better their craft and the surrounding infrastructure first. By then, SVS was also summoned back by his family. They wanted to meet him and soon.

Realizing it was another break in his acting career, with a heavy heart, SVS returned back home, hoping to hear from the brothers soon; blissfully unaware of what was in store for him back home. Little did he know that his life would take another turn. This time, due to the entry of a person who played a very important part in his life. Jayalakshmi!

Who was Jayalakshmi, also later known as Jayamma? Stay tuned for my upcoming post next week to unravel the details!