In an interview, Sridhar recalled how magnanimous MGR was, and how he was treated with honor, understanding and respect:

In order not to give Sridhar a bad name that we went begging to MGR, MGR suggested that they have a discreet meeting in Nambiyar’s house. But Sridhar, insisting that he had no fear of such a ‘bad name’, went to Ramavaram thottam. Sridhar explained his circumstances, and asked MGR to help him out by acting a film in his direction. MGR replied that he was happy to get a chance to work with Sridhar.

As always, MGR the perfect professional immediately understood Sridhar’s problems and finished the film in a few months. He assured Sridhar of his fullest cooperation and gave him bulk dates. He went one step further and gave a handwritten note that he was giving priority to complete Sridhar’s film. Sridhar was overwhelmed when MGR explained that this note would help Sridhar to get the necessary finances for the venture.

It was a hit Telugu film- Dasara Pulludu ( stg. Nageswara Rao) that was the inspiration for Urimaikkural, though Sridhar adapted it to suit MGR and the Tamil masses. However, MGR insisted on copying the attire of Nageswara Rao in the original, including the Andhra style dhothi.

As was his wont, Sridhar wanted Kannadasan to write the lyrics. Considering the fact the MGR and Kannadasan weren’t the thickest of pals (!), Sridhar asked MGR’s permission to do so, MGR readily gave the go ahead ( “Kavignarudan thaan poosal, avar varigaludan alla- dhaaaralamaaga ezhuthattum”). Sridhar got two songs written by Kannadasan and composed and recorded by MSV ( Vizhiye kathai ezhuthu and Aambalaingala neenga aambalaingalaa).

It was then that Kannadasan wrote a particularly virulent piece against MGR in a magazine, and Sridhar got the jitters, and asked MGR about the fate of the songs- MGR replied that he still had no objection to Kannadasan writing the songs. However, if Sridhar felt that MGR fans might not take kindly to Kannadasan’ songs, he was free to change the lyricist, he would not interfere in
the matter and it was up to Sridhar to decide.

Sridhar consulted some distributors, who advised him to use the two songs written by Kannadasan for some other film, and get the songs for Urimaikkural written by some other lyricist. Accordingly, Sridhar approached Vaali and got a fresh set of songs written, composed and recorded. (Sridhar approached Vaali only after explaining his predicament to Kannadasan, who agreed to the change). When MGR got to know this, he called Sridhar and told him to retain Kannadasan’s two songs as well, as those songs were really good.

Urimaikkural went on to become a super hit, and the songs are popular to this day. The songs are:

Vizhiye kathai ezhuthu- KJY, PS- Kannadasan
Aambalaingalaa neenga aambalaigalaa- LRE- Kannadasan
Oru thaai vayitril vandha udanpirappil- TMS- Vaali
Kalyana valaiyosai kondu- TMS, PS- Vaali
Nethu poothaale roja mottu-TMS-Vaali
Ponna porandhaa aambalaikkitta -TMS- Vaali
Maatikkittaaradi mayilakkaalai- LRE- Vaali

Though Vizhiye kathai ezhuthu was the pick of the lot, Kalyana Valai osai kondu has its own folksy mellow enchantment- Latha carrying MGR’s sathunavu and walking towards the field, where MGR is engaged in a honest day’s labor. Sighting his beloved and hearing her call, he wipes the sweat off his brow, and washes his hands in the pump-set, and wipes them in Latha’s mundhaanai. He has his fill of both the lunch and Latha, and returns, fully refreshed, to yer-ottify!

Though KJY and SPB were increasingly singing for MGR, the 70s too had some memorable TMS-PS duets in MGR films- Kalyana valaiosai is among them.

Watch and enjoy this evergreen MGR & Sridhar movie.