Nagesh about MGR

I had come across Nagesh in many studios and knew each other and even did interview of him. Nagesh probably thinking that as I was from an English movie weekly `Screen' at our first meeting said that he is married to Regina who speaks fluent English. He also said that he was a clerk in the Indian Railways. I asked him in all innocence -" Is she an Anglo Indian ?". Nagesh turned red-green- blue , sputtered and kept quiet. I later learnt that Anglo Indian ladies image in Chennai was those wore frocks, smoked and drank wine, danced wildly in parties and came from areas like Doveton.
He told me what he had been saying to everyone. His going to mother's funeral after it was over due to his job commitment etc. The first thing that comes to my mind whenever I saw Nagesh, it was the song `Avalukku enna Alagiya Mugham' ( Server Sundaram). Step aside Micheal Jackson- Prabhu Deva please. It was at the shooting of a Telugu film `Gandeevam' with Balakrishna and Roja which had  ANR in the cast and Mohanlal doing a cameo in a song. I was guest of Balakrishna at Hyderabad. Nagesh and me were sitting in the house where the shoot was going on. Nagesh went for his shots and came back to chit chat. By noon, I decided to go to my hotel and to my surprise Nagesh too was coming with me in the same car.
On the way I picked up a bottle of brandy and Nagesh smiled. . " This is a paid holiday. Evening I am shifting to Jubilee Hills Hotel and my interview with Balakrishna could be tonight or tomorrow. Till then then just relax. Joining me ? " I asked. Go ahead, he said.As I had warmed up, Nagesh came in. He took the bottle and opened it and took  a deep sniff  and with a smile he said this kick is enough. But what came later was dynamite.
Our talk moved to MGR with whom he is said to have a broken friendship  that put his career in jeopardy and led to strained finances. Finally MGR is said to have bailed him out. The talk between us was in 1994.MGR died in 1987. When I asked him about MGR bailing him out when his theater was to be auctioned , he said it is all old stuff. I asked him about whether it was his rift with his comic sidekick Manorama ( a pair that MGR had popularized) was the reason for MGR's anger.
He said that his relationship with MGR was such that he could take any liberties that other's would dread and still get away with it. He said when the dialogue sheet came, he would add some dialogues that would poke fun at MGR. During rehearsal, MGR would hear the dialogue and say - Look you are going too much. Be careful, my boys  ( fans) might beat you up.  I would say -It will never happen as I keep calling you Anna ( big brother) and you call me Thambi ( younger brother).
He them said that he understood MGR after an incident he saw. Nagesh said that everyday he noticed that a unit hand was very vociferous in cheering MGR after a shot. ( It was a norm that unit hands clapped and cheered the actors after each shot, especially after a stunt scene). One day MGR called the aide and asked him what this unit hand wanted. The unit hand was employee of Sathya  Studios owned by MGR . He also told the manager that give him what he wants and tell him to report for work at the Ramapuram residence from now onward. Nagesh at first thought it was a promotion for the flattery but later only did MGR tell him - When somebody starts outdoing others in flattery, then be sure that he has a hidden agenda. By putting him in my farm house, he will be financially secure but will not see the studios again.
Nagesh blasted me saying - Why are you waiting for his interview? He should be waiting for you. These days no respect for press. Then he said - See what waste of time . Cameraman is taking several shots of Roja's backside when she is going upstairs. I was told the camera costs Rs 10,000 per hour. ( Then a Steadycam is said to cost that much).
Later, I met him in Vijaya studios where the shooting of Nammavar was going on. Kamal was the hero and K S Sethumadhavan the director. The makeup rooms and corridors were supposed to be backdrop of a college, I was told. I asked Nagesh who played a college Principal - What Sir, You and Kamal are making a good team now -a-days ? He replied - Kamal himself is a good humorist and his comic timing is perfect. Now he needs an actor who will be a great foil to him and who else but this old WAR HORSE. He is open to hearing you out and best part is he does not put you on a pedestal and instead treats you like everyone .
I don't remember Nagesh having any titles  like the comedians have today. Vaigai puyal, Chinna Kalaivanar, and so on.