When it comes to dancing, Helen ruled the Hindi cinema world back then, captivating audiences with her moves. In South Indian cinema, there were many talented dancers as well, with several heroines also being skilled in dance—a trend that continues even now. If I mentioned Pran as the quintessential villain in Hindi cinema, it was Nambiar who played that role in Tamil. His menacing facial expressions alone were enough to send shivers down the spine!

In Hindi, my favorite heroines from that era were Nutan and Waheeda Rehman, both of whom seemed to defy aging with their evergreen charm. In Tamil, I admired E.V. Saroja, Saroja Devi, and Chandrakala. E.V. Saroja might not have acted in many films, but she had a presence on screen that I found captivating. As for heroes, I didn’t have a particular favorite, but Shammi Kapoor captured the hearts of many youngsters in those days, just as MGR did in Tamil cinema.

I haven't watched too many movies from other regional languages, so I fully acknowledge that I’ve missed out on some cinematic gems. The two Malayalam movies that I did watch and remember well are Chemmeen and Cross Belt (I hope I got the name right).

My father used to take my brother and me to English movies, but many of them went right over my head at the time. War films were particularly enjoyable for me because they had a clear, action-packed storyline that I could follow. Some titles that spring to mind are Von Ryan’s Express, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Where Eagles Dare, The Guns of Navarone, and many more. Nearly 55 years later, I felt a desire to read the original novels that inspired these films, and I’ve slowly been ticking them off my list. So far, I’ve managed to read The Guns of Navarone. One movie that disturbed me deeply was Beach Red, which I watched with some colleagues. It depicted the horrors of war in a way that left a lasting impact.

Comedy, of course, was another genre that I enjoyed, thanks in no small part to my love for P.G. Wodehouse’s novels. Who could forget the legendary Laurel and Hardy or Charlie Chaplin? Even at this age, I can still enjoy their timeless humor. I’m not sure if kids today have the same access to these classics. Some other English comedies that I recall fondly include The Great Race, up in the World, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Shaggy Dog, and, in later years, The Crazy Boys of the Games and Herbie Goes Bananas.

The era of spy thrillers also made its mark. I watched a few James Bond films but, to be honest, I never quite managed to follow the intricate plots. I’m hoping to dive into Ian Fleming’s novels one day.

When it comes to mega-productions, the ones that most of us have watched are the epic films The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur.

But what about Tamil cinema?

Continued in 204. Lights And Sights - Part 6