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 Artists with a creative bent of mind never cease to be active, no matter how old they become. Age can never wither them. Creativity is in their breath. A standing example of this is M.S. Janakiram. His name is bound to set echoes with the great Gemini Studios and its unforgettable productions, since the late forties. His association with Gemini has spread since his youth till the studio was closed down, for reasons best known to the industry. His contribution to the Cinema Industry cannot be adequately described. The mammoth productions of Gemini bore his stamp on the art side. Notable among them were Chandralekha, Nishan, Avvaiyar, Insaniyat, and many more that Vasan directed for others. He was the Art Director of Gemini and it is he who introduced many innovative techniques in that field - like table top, mat shot, etc. His name brings pleasant memories, even today, as these classics are shown on television in various channels.
Though he was technically only an Art Director in Gemini, yet the great Vasan consulted him on many a department. More particularly on story discussions and on occasions when there were imminent strike threats from the labourers. The idea of bringing Zippy - the Chimpanzee, from Hollywood, to play a stellar role in Insaniyat was his brainwave. He is a veritable storehouse of information of the then films and people. Some one must come forward to have them recorded for the sake of history and posterity. He was the first among the Art Directors to be sent by Gemini Vasan to U K and France to be trainedon the finer intricacies in film making. Illusion needs thorough planning, study and execution and above all total dedication.
 Not many know that he is a good poet and also an avid short story writer. When he narrates a tale you can see it happening before you. Such power has he! After the closure of Gemini, he started his own company called the 'Creative Arts' taking care of the audio-visual publicity of his clients. He has produced musical plays for the Radio and Television. He is just 84 and his latest involvement is the creation of a structure where the enviable culture and tradition of our country is preserved. Recent happenings in our country have deeply touched him and, instead of blaming others, he has some solutions to offer. He is deeply patriotic and it is his view that not many amongst us are aware of our country's greatness and the leading and dynamic role it has played in the past and it is still playing. Steps must be taken to make our younger generation become aware of our countless heroes.
Here is how he wants to project Bharat to our own people and to the outside world. Many years ago a time capsule was interred for the future. Now one cannot decipher what it contains. " Supposing we present something which will stare at the face of the onlooker? How to do it? The whole country must gasp in sheer joy and excitement." "Many countries were preparing in their own way to receive the new millennium. Why not I do something that is unique and challenging? No one has given Indian History in a Structural form. Once our great history, heritage, is given that way, it will be fresh, good and useful. It is not a celluloid show, but a perennial exhibition. This is creating a new monument incorporating all the high spots of our culture and civilization and our victory in various fields that they will make their own impact on the onlooker, subtly influencing him with our values."
 "India has been a cradle of several cultures, and what is planned is a synthesis and syncretization of them in terms of art, architecture and culture. In one stroke it will reflect all. As an Art Director it is my dream to construct a huge coliseum, a huge structure measuring 240'x240'x180'. It is not just an arbitrary measure. It must be built in New Delhi. It has got to be only in the Capital. It must be the heart, the cynosure of the Capital. The Structure will embody four styles. The base will be in the style of Sanchi, in a dome shape. This will house all the important events, since the Sanchi period. The Sanchi Stupa is an insignia of our country. Over this will be the Mughal Structure. It will be distinctive of the Mughal Architecture. You know it is quite different from the Arab architecture, as the Mughals merged their style with what was existing and a new blend was born, specifically Indian. Over this will be the British Structure, from the time the British came to the time they quit. All the important events from our point of view, that is unadulterated history. The top part of the Structure will have the present India since our Independence. Let us admit, we have made tremendous strides, our failures notwithstanding."
The building will have four floors and each floor will be distinctive in depicting our heritage. I am giving an overall approach. The architecture of the periods must be clearly portrayed. It will reflect the life of the people and the culture. Culture is not a static thing. It is growing, evolving. Looking from one angle, in one Structure the best of our history, culture, civilization, art and architecture can be housed. All in one! In what manner should the exhibits be arranged and what should the exhibits be must come after collective discussion with eminent artists, historians, art connoisseurs, educationists, architects, engineers and prominent people from several walks of life. Two things it will avoid - religion and politics. One can rope in more. It is not a Utopian idea. I made a plastic model to scale and sent it to the Prime Minister placing my services at the country's disposal. The Prime Minister's office has acknowledged the Table Model of my Structure communicating the Prime Minister's deep appreciation of my idea to unite our country, doing something for the 21st century. This is a harbinger. I am sure it will not be just another tourist attraction, but a purposeful one to our selves first and to the foreigners who want to know all about our history in one stroke."
M.S. Janakiram is a recipient of the Kalaimamani Award of the Tamil Nadu government. He is willing to work with people who will take up this project. Any takers? The NRIs can think it over. This Structure will be more symbolic than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Can we make all efforts to see that this idea takes shape before this decade?
Dr.S.Gopalie
E-mail: gopalie@md4.vsnl.net.in
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