Remembering veteran tamil actor Srikanth

I remember meeting Srikanth on lazy Saturday evening around 2003 outside Narada Gana Sabha along with my family at the outdoor canteen at the Sabha. 

It was unforgettable interaction. One distinctly remembers Srikanth so relaxed and so much at peace with himself. He was very happy that we were taking our kids to R.S. Manohar’s play that evening. He thought it was essential education.

When one thinks of Srikanth, his unmistakable voice comes to the fore.

The villain in Anna Bhoomi, Devar’s first 3D film was Srikanth. Unfortunately his voice quality gave away the suspense of the movie or whatever was left of it.

For me Srikanth’s best film was the poignant ‘Raja Nagam’, which was a remake of Puttana kanagal’s Naagara Haavu and remade into Hindi as Zahreela Insaan, with Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh.

For me the song, “Adutha Athu Ambujatha parthela” will be a constant reminder of Srikanth and Sowcar Janaki.

Srikanth was metrosexual. Remember his looks in Venniradai. He was amazingly handsome. But somewhere in 70s, after Thanga Pathakkam, when he became a villain, his hairstyling slowly became bizzare undoing his natural state.

The mantle of villain in Tamil cinema was supposed to have been passed to Rajnikanth. However with Bairavi, Srikanth was the villain and Rajnikanth as the hero, the the foundations of superstardom for Rajnikanth was laid. The rest is history.

I will always remember Srikanth as the gentleman whom I met on the lazy Saturday afternoon

May your soul rest in peace, Sir.