Reminiscing the Film Duo's Friendship in Kovai

It is a common sight even today that certain devotees buzz the deity's name as 'Muruga! Muruga! while climbing the stairway leading to the Arulmigu Subramaniasamy Thirukovil on Marudhamalai. As how, many of us 'thank the heaven' when the lights glow at once after a local electrician replaces the melted fuse at home, most devotees, uttering the expression 'Marudhamalai Muruga!' while climbing up the hill, know little about the man, who constructed the stairway to the God's abode and electrified the hill shrine.

However, in the memories of many yesteryear movie buffs in Coimbatore, the man still lives as Sandow MMA Chinnapa Thevar, for the films produced by him including the MGR starrers Thai Sollai Thattathe, Vettaikaran, Dharmam Thalaikaakkum etc were box office hits in Coimbatore.

An ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, Thevar also donated a part of his income to the benefits of various Murugan temples across Tamil Nadu.

Unable to pursue his academic education beyond class V on account of a hard-up family situation in his childhood, Chinnappa Thevar eked out a living as a mill worker. Later, with his flair for martial arts, he established the gymnasium Veera Maruthi Theka Payichi Salai at Ramanathapuram and practised Pazhu Thookuthal, Silambam, Surul Kaththi Suttruthal, Kaththi Sandai and Malyudhdham there.

As Coimbatore was once a popular cinema hub with the functioning of Central Studios and Pakshiraja Studios, Thevar had an opportunity to get acquainted with various film personalities who made the cotton city their hometown those days.

On an occasion, a film actor, who was working in the Central Studios for a monthly salary, observed the sturdy Thevar perform his exercises in the Veera Maruthi Theka Payirchi Salai and introduced himself to the robust man. From then on, they became friends for life.

One day the film actor's mother met Thevar near her rented house in Ramanathapuram and inquired him:

“Where has your friend gone? He hasn't been home since morning. Did you see him? I can buy provisions to cook lunch for him only after he brings his salary this afternoon”

But, Thevar asked her to wait for a while and brought her some rice and dhal from his relative Pechiammal's home. The woman smiled and her whole face lit up. She went into the house and started cooking.

Later in the afternoon, when her hungry son came home, he was delighted at the delicious meal prepared by his mother. He asked her...

“Where did you get the rice and dhal for cooking?”

His mother replied that only his friend provided them.

it is appropriate to recall that the hungry son was none other than the yesteryear matinee idol and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran!

A prototype for friendship, MGR made Chinnappa Thevar popular by donning the lead role in many of his movies including Thaaikku Pin Thaaram, Vivasayi, Thozhilali and Nalla Neeram. When Thevar passed away in 1978, MGR, who was then the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, revisited Ramanathapuram and paid his last respects to his dear departed friend.