Devan - Satirically yours
I was holding this for some time. But I couldn't stop me from writing this post. That's the magic of Devan. Blame my poor memory, I vaguely remember I was introduced to Devan through his "Thuppariyum Sambu" teleserial when I was in my seventh grade. All I could remember now is Y.G.Mahendra's bald head and curved nose makeover.
After a long hiatus, I was reintroduced to him a couple of months back with a great expectation of enjoying some vintage humor. Later I bagan wondering why Devan is considered as a funny writer. Even to my surprise, I view it as a misnomer.
Being born in 1913, Devan authored a wide range of classics that were well ahead of his time (1940-50s). If I could say rich vocabulary and grandeur style defined Kalki, it was the unconventional narrative style with unadulerated witticisms marked Devan's works. Be it the fictional accounts cooked up through Mallari Rao or directly from the author, each one the story had its own uniqueness.
Devan was more a screenwriter than a storyteller. It was 'Rajiyin Pillai' that showed me 'Alaipayuthey' was one of the offsprings of such back and forth narrative style. (Still 'Rajiyin Pillai' is a maze for me!). Currently I'm reading his 'Miss. Janaki'. An awesome narration. Will write about it later. Telling stories in letters, procedures, news items, and whatsoever unusual things you could hardly imagine can be encountered in a couple of his fictions.
So, what this guy has to do with non-fictions? This thought popped in me when I came across a bunch of non-fictions in his 'Seenupayal' (probably written during his tenure as "Ananda Vikatan" editor?). I knocked my head twice. I am not sure if complex issues such as war, independence, temperment, materialism, fast world (in 40s!!), aging, plagiarism, press rights, etc. are described in a more lighter vein anywhere else.
Although I am still not quite sure how to refer Devan for his works, I could say one thing. We lost another forty more years of irony, wit and sarcasm from this legend!
After a long hiatus, I was reintroduced to him a couple of months back with a great expectation of enjoying some vintage humor. Later I bagan wondering why Devan is considered as a funny writer. Even to my surprise, I view it as a misnomer.
Being born in 1913, Devan authored a wide range of classics that were well ahead of his time (1940-50s). If I could say rich vocabulary and grandeur style defined Kalki, it was the unconventional narrative style with unadulerated witticisms marked Devan's works. Be it the fictional accounts cooked up through Mallari Rao or directly from the author, each one the story had its own uniqueness.
Devan was more a screenwriter than a storyteller. It was 'Rajiyin Pillai' that showed me 'Alaipayuthey' was one of the offsprings of such back and forth narrative style. (Still 'Rajiyin Pillai' is a maze for me!). Currently I'm reading his 'Miss. Janaki'. An awesome narration. Will write about it later. Telling stories in letters, procedures, news items, and whatsoever unusual things you could hardly imagine can be encountered in a couple of his fictions.
So, what this guy has to do with non-fictions? This thought popped in me when I came across a bunch of non-fictions in his 'Seenupayal' (probably written during his tenure as "Ananda Vikatan" editor?). I knocked my head twice. I am not sure if complex issues such as war, independence, temperment, materialism, fast world (in 40s!!), aging, plagiarism, press rights, etc. are described in a more lighter vein anywhere else.
Although I am still not quite sure how to refer Devan for his works, I could say one thing. We lost another forty more years of irony, wit and sarcasm from this legend!
posted by Vish at 7:37 PM
2 Comments:
It took me so many searches to find someone showing interest in "Devan". I read Those books in my formative years, and Devan left a mark.
Good observation. Thanks
You are true vetrimagal. Thanks for your comment
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