As Pushpak turns 35, Kamal Haasan pens heartfelt note for director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao

Actor Kamal Haasan’s silent film Pushpak has turned 35. On the special occasion, Kamal took to Twitter to share a note in which he remembered the film’s director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and urged that they should try and not allow their art to age. Also read: Kamal Haasan, Akshara Haasan dance to Who’s The Hero at his birthday bash. Watch

Originally made as Pushpaka Vimana for its release in Karnataka, the film was titled Pushpak to be released in the North Indian belt. It also starred Amala Akkineni, Tinu Anand, Prathap Pothan and Farida Jalal among others.

Kamal took to Twitter and wrote: “Among the great directors I have worked with, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is the youngest till date. Our endeavour called Pushpak is now older than us; it is 35 years old. Sir, we have to keep our art young can’t allow it to age. I know you would chuckle, it is one of my favourite music (sic).”

Pushpak, which was a commercial hit, went on to bag the National award as the movie providing wholesome entertainment. In the film, Tinu played the character of an assassin who uses an ice dagger to kill Kamal Haasan’s character. Pushpak marked the maiden collaboration between Kamal and Singeetham. The duo went on to work in films such as Apoorva Sagodhargal, Michael Madhana Kama Rajan and Raja Paarvai, Mumbai Express and Sommokkadidhi Sokokkadidhi.

The film was originally planned to be made in 1981 when Kamal and Singeetham were working on Raja Paarvai. Kamal Haasan in an interview with The Hindu many years ago, “He first narrated the idea while we were making Raja Paarvai but at the time, he was quite keen on making “serious” cinema like Dikkatra Parvathi (1974). So, when he narrated the idea to me, he did so carrying the mood to make serious stuff and the film was originally titled ‘Advaitham’. But I reckoned that if we made it that way, the film would end up becoming an art film. Although every film is an art film, I said why not make it similar to a Charlie Chaplin film that is fun and entertaining? That’s how I became a partner in creating Pushpak.”

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