inderSTADTBala Gopalan's noWHere in the *CITY

More than fifty years back, Ali Baba – an Arabian classic – was made as a Tamil movie. I watched it in the 80′s, nearly three decades after it was made. My parents and grand parents gave it the necessary build up. An exciting story to both share verbally and watch it on-screen as family.

Recently, I watched it with my 3-yr old, more than half a century later. The story is immortal. This particular movie’s version is still very “watchable” and immensely enjoyable. More so, when I find that my 3-yr old is many times as excited as I was when I watched it for the first time (when probably my parents felt what I am feeling now).

Anda ka kasam – this movie’s version of the mantra that is needed to open and close the cave’s door – ROCKS!

Below is the full version:

Open:
Anda ka kasam
Abu ka hukum
Thirandidu Sesame!

Close:
Anda ka kasam
Abu ka hukum
Moodidu Sesame!

Starring:
Alibaba ……………….. M.G.Ramachandran [MGR]
Margianna ……………. P.Bhanumathi
Kasem Khan …………. M.G.Chakkarapani
Alibaba’s sister ………. M.N.Rajam
Margianna’s sidekick .. K.Sarangapani
Cobbler ………………. K.R.Thangavelu
Abu Hussein …………. P.S.Veerappa

Following names sound familiar?
Dances ………………. Waheeda Rahman
Sword Fighting ……… R M.N.Nambiar

A very perfunctory research seems to indicate that the two names mentioned immediately above are in deed who one might think they are. Waheeda Rahman is from the south (Hyderabad) and started her career with bit parts/dances for movies made in the then-Madras.

Regardless of the initials reading R.N. (as opposed to M.N.) in the opening credits, to me, when you put sword fighting and Nambiar in one line or sentence, the reference can be to only one person – the one and only M.N.Nambiar. And, you can see in the credits of other movies where MGR has been referred to as M.G.Ramachander (instead of M.G.Ramachandran). So totally plausible that it is just a case of a simple typo.

Enjoy this immortal story presented in chaste Tamil. Veerappa as Abu Hussain is stuff of legends.

Ali Baba and 40 Thieves – Part 1 of 3 (Tamil, 1955)

Ali Baba and 40 Thieves – Part 2 of 3 (Tamil, 1955)

Ali Baba and 40 Thieves – Part 3 of 3 (Tamil, 1955)