Sunday Celebrity: S.Ve Shekher wears several hats, adds feathers too

Most of the film and stage artistes come and make money and fame and bow out or fade out without being useful to the society. Only a few plough back their popularity which they earned from the public to the society in the form of service.

A playwright, producer, director and film, television, drama and theatre artiste, S Ve Shekher is a household name with Tamil connoisseurs, popularly known for his punch, quick wit and humor as much as his public welfare initiatives. He is also Member of Tamil Nadu State Assembly representing Mylapore constituency, a committed serious social worker. He wears many hats.

He made everyone sit up and take notice of him when he appealed some time back to the Chief Minister for 7% quota for Brahmins. Currently, considered to be the crusader for the cause of Brahmins in Tamil Nadu. On Friday last week Shekher asked for 16 per cent quota for other category (OC) (not Other Community that is known) so that residual percentage is fixed for the rest covering the forward communities. A good logic.

In 2006, he made an entry into politics by contesting and winning the Legislative Assembly elections as an All India Anna Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate from Mylapore. On June 2009, he had issues with AIADMK and was expelled from the party. He decided to start his own party. And he started Brahmins Association under the banner FEBAS which has not received any support from the already existing association Thambras.

Again he caused a flutter in the assembly when he congratulated Mr. M. K.Stalin on his elevation as deputy Chief Minister, and remained in the House when the entire opposition, led by the AIADMK walked out. This led to pandemonium in the Assembly, and embarrassment to the AIADMK. Mr Shekhar said, “I have greeted Mr Stalin out of political culture.”

He was declared an unattached member following his expulsion from the AIADMK. On January 8, amid thumping of desks and applause from treasury benches, S V Shekher urged in the Assembly the State government to erect a life size statue of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in the new assembly complex that is coming up.

Not stopping with that, he eulogized Chief Minister Karunanidhi and Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin for the DMK government’s welfare schemes.

S.Ve Shekher is connected with a lot of social service activities, like blood donation, health camps, environment care, burial of unclaimed bodies, etc.

Cut out for his all roles

Shekher was born Sattanathapuram Venkataraman Shekher in a Thanjavur Iyer family on 26, December1950. He completed his diploma on Mechanical Engineering and post diploma in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

Shekher is married to Uma. The couple have a daughter named Anuradha and a son named Ashwin who has debuted in the Tamil flim 'Vegam' Shekher's stage career began in 1974 when he acted in his first stage play. He became a member of the popular drama troupe- 'Mylapore Boys' and later a team leader. The troupe had performed over 50 plays and over 100 drama skits from 1978 to 1988. Shekhar later became the president of the troupe and the chairman of the troupe (by then renamed Mylapore Nataka Arangam). Most of his later plays and television dramas include characters from his troupe and from his former plays.

Shekhar and his ‘Mylapore Boys’ provided stiff competition for another popular Drama troupe in Madras- 'The Crazy Troupe'- lead by Crazy Mohan. 100 minutes, 200 laughter was his catch word.

He was spotted by director K. Balachandar, who cast him in his movie “Varumai Niram Sevappu.” After performing movie roles in around 70 Tamil films, Shekher moved into television, appearing in ‘Vanna Kolangal’ and ‘Nam Kudumbam.’

An expert in broadcast, sound effects and theatrics, he won the Best All India Programme Producer Award for four years in a row from RAPA (Radio & Television Advertisers & Producers Association). As a photographer, his colour transparencies have adorned the cover pages of popular Tamil magazines.

Staged 24 plays, over 5,600 shows

In 1973, Shekher went to Singapore on a drama tour. Encouraged by the success, he formed his drama troupe, Natakhapriya, which has so far staged 24 plays, with over 5,600 shows. His troupe frequently tours the United States, Europe, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Shekher performed a record of sorts in April 1985. He staged eight full length plays, non stop, from 7.47a.m. to 1.49a.m. of the following day. It found entry in the Limca Book of Records. Shekher credited this to his audience and fellow artistes.

The Mylapore Academy adjudged him "The Best Comedian" for three years in a row. Magazine Wisdom chose him as the 1990s Best Comedian, the Jaycees honoured him as The Outstanding Youth. Awards galore, the state's prestigious Kalaivanar Award in 1991, Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram's Kalai Maamani Award (1993) and Best Drama Troupe Award have only made him much more committed and devoted to the realm of arts and the society.

For stage artiste, Centre has not given an award. If there is one thought of, Shekher is the fittest to be conferred “Padmashree”.

Taking his technical provio along with histrionics, he produced recently a unique television show, a real treat, "S. Ve. Shekher meets S. Ve. Shekher", wherein he is both the interviewer and interviewee. Some of the title accorded by Sabhas and other agencies: “Drama Superstar”, “Comedy King”, “Sirippalai Chirpi”, “Nataka Vasool Chakravarthy”, “Nagaichuvai Nayagan”, “Nagaichuvai Thenral”, “Nagaichuvai Ilavarasan” aptly portray his qualities as humourist. An extrovert, he easily mixes with others.

All his stage plays were received well by the audience, some of which went for repeat shows. The stage plays were:Avan Oru Thani Maram (1974), Kannmoochi, Thirumbi vantha Manaivi, crazy Thieves in Palacvakkam, Tenent Commandments, One More Exorcist, Maha Bharadathil Mangatha, Saathal Illaiyel Kathal, Kathula Poo, Kaatula Mazhai, 100 Udhai vangiya aboorva sigamani, Vaal Paiyan, Ellamey Thamas Than, Ellarum Vanga, Athirshthakaran, Yaamerukka Bayam Yen?, Periya Thambi, Chinna Mappilai Periya Mappiley, Eppavum Nee Raja, Thathtu Pillai, Alwaah, Periyappa, Kudhaiswaami, Mega Vasool.

Acted in more than 90 films

Shekher has acted in more than 90 films. Ninaithale Inikkum (First film for S.Ve.Shekhar, small role - the guy who decodes the address for Rajini), Mr.Bharath (with rajini and sathyaraj), Manalkairu, Poovey poochoodava, Kadhaanayagan, Chidambara Ragasiyam, Sagadevan Mahadevan, Dowri Kalyanam, Simla Special, Payanangal Mudivathillai, Jeans, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Vegam, Krishna Krishna, Sigamani Ramamani.

He has direcrted a feature film titled ‘Krishna Krishna’based on his stage play ‘athirtakaran’. His Commercial Creations which started off as an event Management company became a film production company. The tele serials produced by it ‘Vanna Kollangal’ and ‘Naam Kudumbam’ created sensation. Its feature film ‘Vegam’ starred Shekher’s son Ashwin Shekher. The film was mostly shot in Malaysia.

Gallery – Click on picture to zoom.

- Asian Tribune -