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* How did Anandan change to Film News Anandan?
I was interested in becoming a camera man. I joined as an assistant to Thiru C.J. Mohan, who was the cameraman for Kalaivanar. He conducted photography classes for me. I had a box camera then. Mr. Mohan appreciated my photos and asked me to buy a Rolliflex camera. I went to town with the new camera. The first picture I took was of Sivaji Ganesan. The movie 'Raja Rani' was being shot then. When I approached Sivaji and asked his permission for a picture, he said, 'Of course, you can take it.' Those were the first words I spoke to the great man. From then on I started taking a number of off beat pictures. Film chamber used to bring out a magazine, those days. I was a news reporter for this. My job was to collect details about the actors, producer, director of a movie. I continue to do this till this day. Thiru Devarajan of film news once asked me to take pictures for his magazine. When the pictures were published, credit was given as "Film news Anandan'. The name has stuck till today. * About the awards you have received?
* About your close interaction with the artistes...
* As a veteran in the industry, your comments on the current problems... Producers have only now realised the folly of giving the full movie to TV channels, for the sake of publicity. Claiming to review the movie, the channels analyse, showcase the entire movie. Then how can you expect the public to go to the cinema halls? The decision taken by the cine industry is a good one. The channels rate movies and call it 'Top 10'. Sadly the movie rated as "10" gets no patronage. I have a major issue with this rating practice. The channels have no business doing such things. * To induce people to walk into cinema halls, away from television, good quality movies have to be produced, right? No one starts production with the intention of making a bad film. The ones to be blamed are the actors and actresses. They sign up to work simultaneously in a number of films. When the shooting schedule is for 10 days, they want to finish it in 6 days. The producers and directors are in a hurry to complete the film. Obviously, because of this hurry, the quality suffers. * But then the actors have always got away, thanks to the producers?
* Any plans of an exhibition that will be of use to Tamil Cinema? I have exhaustive information on 6000 films. I want to compile this into a single book. If I get involved in this, my present income will suffer. However, I'm determined to do this soon. I have spoken about this to a number of people. So far no one has come forward to help me with this project. All my photographs were taken from me and an exhibition was organised. No one even thanked me, for the sake of courtesy. In this scenario, I'm not sure if I can expect help from any one. I have exhaustive information on 16,000 films released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam & Kannada. I want to set up a permanent exhibition with this. I have written to the Government and I'm waiting for a favourable reply. Interview by Saravanan
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Film News Anandan is a well known and respected personality in the Tamil cinema industry. The 78-year-young Anandan has been managing a Cinema Information Centre for the last 60 years. He has complete information related to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Telugu movies. He is a veritable storehouse of information on movies. In an open chat with Chennaionline, he talks about how he came to be known as Film News Anandan, his triumphs and travails, the stand off between TV and movies, his ambition... 
That is a big story. My parents named me Mani. My father
P.K. Gnanasagaram was a government servant. When I was being admitted in school I told my teacher my name was Anandakrishnan. From then on this Mani became Anandakrishnan! My father, along with his colleagues, was managing an amateur drama troupe. There was a play every month and I used to go to these plays with my father. This got me interested in drama. While still in school, I wrote a play and acted in it. I was a good singer too. I was a student of Hindu High School. After school I joined Quaide Millath Arts college, known as Government. Arts college then. When I was a college student, I had a chance to interact with the drama troupes of YGP, MGR, etc. I used to write the dialogues, do stage management and help in small odd jobs. When Cho made his debut, I taught him how to deliver his dialogues. My involvement with drama made me long for getting into movies.
Kalaignar gave me a Rs. 1 lakh purse on behalf of all the cine artistes at a special function organised for this purpose. I was awarded the Kalaimamani by the then government of Kalaignar. I was awarded Kalai selvam by the Nadigar Sangam. The Kannadasan centre honoured me with Thirai Thurai Agaradhi (Enclyopedia of Cinema industry). Mobile
University, Sivaji Award, Kala Peedam (awarded to Telugus only) are some of the other awards I have been honoured with. However, the one I cherish most is an award I got from America. I was going through my mail and I saw an envelope stamped abroad. At first I did not open it. When I opened this mail after going through all the others, I got a pleasant shock. The American Biographical Institute had selected me as 'man of the year' for the year 1997. I was selected from among 5000 people; they also released a book about me. 
I approached Sivaji for writing a piece titled Navarasam. He asked his daughter to take leave of absence from school and he enacted this navarasa with her. This piece of mine appeared in Pesum Padam. Sivaji Sir became a close friend. When his100th movie Navarathri was released, I brought out a commemorative album containing all his 100 movies. Sivaji enjoyed this and appreciated the effort. I have compiled similar albums for K.R.Vijaya, Jayalalitha, Sivakumar, Kamalhassan, etc. on their completing 100 movies. I am now compiling one for Sarath Kumar.
Yes. The actors' salaries was increased by these producers. The producers create demand for the actors by offering them more and more. Which actor will refuse a higher offer? What is the point in lamenting now? Things have come to such a pass that a successful 10th day run is widely publicised! Both parties (producers and actors) should co-operate and bring out quality movies. 
