“In Kalaignar’s memoir Nenjukku Neethi, MK had fondly recalled how on his very first visit to Madras he landed at veteran stage scene set designer artist Dharmajan’s Kondithope House and stayed there for a few months. Dharmarajan wrote grand scenes for Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai, NS Krishnan, RS Manohar and Sivaji Ganesan’s films. Dharmarajan was my neighbour in T Nagar and he used to tell me how MK invited the former for his birthday celebrations,” Shivpprasadh starts the conversation.

Shivpprasadh was the Secretary of Film & Television Producers’ Guild Of South India (between July 1995 and May 1999), where MK used to periodically visit Guild Preview Theatre run by this association. “The preview theatre was located at 2nd Link Street, CIT Colony and MK resided at Oliver Road, Mylapore. The former CM used to come here very often (late nights too) to watch films and I made sure that I am around just to talk to him about films and theatre. He maintained a close rapport with me not because RS Manohar was my uncle, but because of our common passion for films. During our conversations, MK used to fondly recall how my uncle and he had a nice time working in Modern Theatres in Salem with the former as a writer and the latter as a villain,” he says.

Shivpprasadh had produced a Malayalam film Oru Sandesham Koodi (1985) directed by Cochin Haneefa. Karunanidhi liked the film and gave the director a break in Tamil and asked Haneefa to direct Paasa Paravaigal and Paadatha Thenikkal, both for which MK wrote the screenplay. “While producing the TV serial Naragasuran (1989-1991), I did all the post-production works at Murasoli office where MK used to come for meetings. It was always a pleasure meeting him in person,” reminisces Shivpprasadh.

Shivpprasadh and Karunanidhi shared the same birthday (June 3) and both used to wish each other on birthdays. “Karunanidhi doesn’t beat around the bush — he was very outspoken, emotional and hypersensitive. Only those who were close to him knew how much affection he showered. Many might not know this — if MK had any doubts regarding any films, he used to ring up Film News Anandan and clear it even at midnight. He even gave up eating non-vegetarian food, after his favourite pet dog died.” Shivpprasadh has a hand-written Vaazhthu Madal presented to him at his wedding. “This is one gift I am going to treasure forever.”