I cannot but think or muse over my school days, early college days, and my fancy for Tamil magazines. I have shared many of my recollections. If anyone remembers anything more than these, I appreciate them really. 

There used to be a column in ‘Kumudam’ termed ‘Kelvi Neram’ (Question Hour). This will be confined to the conversation within a family; Dad, Mom, Perianna, one young man, and a girl. They would discuss everything from day-to-day life to science, politics, literature, sports, movies, and world events. The ideas expressed will move smoothly from one subject to another with some banters thrown in between. Perianna (Elder Brother) only will have profound knowledge of many things, and his answers would be educative. 

‘Anandavikatan’ used to practice a special way for film reviews. For all the movies the reviews always will be in the form of a conversation between two persons. If it is a modern sort of story, the persons would be two youngsters Sekar and Chander. If it is based on domestic problems, the conversation will be between Shanmugasundaram and his wife Meenakshi Ammal, a middle-aged couple. If the movie is a commercial potboiler the reviewers would be between Munusami and Manickam. Got it? The conversation will express their feelings on the actors and the narrative and also on songs. I remember for Sridhar’s ‘Kalyana Parisu,’ it was by Sekar-Chander. ‘Bhaga Pirivinai’ by Shanmugasundaram and Meenakshi Ammal. Almost all MGR films were discussed by Munusami and Manickam. The criticism will be strong, and lingo of each duo will vary according to the story and the characters. 

Kumudam was the first one to change its format and presented in a mixed manner defying the rules generally magazines were following at that time. For some time Kumudam asked artist Varnam to draw the still from the film for their review. I still remember the beautiful reproduction of Gemini and Savitri for the film ‘Katthiruntha Kangal.’

Well, those were days; yes. Some days which I still remember as fond memories of the past. 

Postscript: The Anandavikatan Deepavali Malar the one I first time got (1961). The cover art explanation was when Seetha returns to Ayodhya after exile, her friends ask her ‘How does Ravana look like?’ Since Seetha had only seen his foot, she drew his figure starting with his Ravana’s feet as she knows the art of ‘Samudrika Lakshanam’ to imagine him/her from any part of the body. The illustration was as usual done by Gopulu. 

The issue of Kalaimagal Deepavali malar was also purchased for me for the first time. That only carried Anuthama memorable short story ‘Thinnai’ which I still remember.