Even though born a "Kannadiga"(this is the term used for an Indian born in the state of Karnataka and speak Kannada as his native language),I was unaware of Mr .T.P Kailasam and his contributions to the Kannada language and theater world.People say "There is no meaning to your life if you have not read or seen Mr kailasam's novels after being a kannadiga".So it seemed like my life was lifeless until recently when watched this awesome Platinum Remi award winner kannada movie named "Kailowesome"in a movie site.
We would have often heard about a few people in the past ,but hardly found the time to go over their biography and research about them.This particular movie was so impressive that it captivated me from the beginning to the end.Even though lasting for a short duration,this "typical art type movie"had something different in it.It literally swept us through the mind of Kailasam himself and had him speak to us "alive".Yes ,imagine the characters of his novel and plays coming to life and criticising him and analysing the modifications he should have made in the story or the nature of their personality !That's how the director had stitched the sequence of the movie.His plays which were usually based on female characters had all the different aspects of their personalities.There was a widower to a traditional village lady to a prostitute.The important aspect is he had a outstanding element of humor in all his plays .Though born in a Tamil family in Karnataka ,he had immense love towards Kannada language literature.He graduated from London as a Geologist and later came down to his home country to serve for his own language.
Kailasam was the only person who had dared to introduce modern,slang English mixed words into the Kannada language plays.Though these words were often used in the spoken language ,nobody dared to use it in the written literature .Though initially criticised for his play with the language ,he was later prominently admired by most of the literary personalities and common public.He had this peculiar fascinating element of creating hymns like that in Sanskrit in Kannada language which seemed like a traditional prose ,but factually was a rib tickling prose .Also he created his own Kannada versions of the famous English songs which he heard throughout his stay in London and "Indianised it ".For ex:The famous song "It's a long long way to Tipperary,long way to go .To the sweetest girl I know,but my heart's right there"was modified and humorously crafted as "Namma Tipparalli balu dura,nadeyak balu dura...adare alli avale namma basavi".Tipparalli is a village in karnataka and "basavi "is a character created by him.It sounds very hilarious in the kannada language.Song link .His another famous song "Kolike ranga .."is also based on the eternal English song"Constantinople,C,O ,N S ...It's as easy to sing as you sing your A B C ".The Kannada version is really really hilarious.Here is the link to that .Even for those who cannot follow the language ,it can be funny.Kolike song .These famous songs were penned mainly for the plays which he created.He wrote only 17 plays in Kannada language but those plays left an everlasting impression on the Kannada literature and the society.The famous ones were "Tollu Ghatti","Gandasgatti" "sule"etc .Kailasam being a smoker and an addict to liquor , created a prose in Kannda which reflected his personality .The saying "There is only one Kilasam in Kannada and One Beechi for humor"is justified.(beechi is another famous humorist in kannada literature).
Ps: If you find time ,my fellow bloggers ,do not forget to watch this short movie which is a reflection of his personality and also an justification of a crafted master piece.There are English subtitles ,so it's easy to follow.