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Delhi Kumar
 Mettioli is
a serial that engages members of all ages during the prime time slot (9-9.30
p.m.) and has turned out to be a household name among
Tamil families. Most people
are able to relate to the events that unfold on TV about the life of the five
sisters and the
father, laughing while they laugh and sharing
their tears at a difficult moment.
Stealing the hearts of the viewers is
Chidambaram Pillai, the affable father
character, played by effervescent actor Delhi Kumar, a man who started acting as a theatre
artiste and slowly grew into one of the most remembered names of the small
screen and achieved pivotal status as Chidambaram Pillai of Mettioli. This role has
given him a unique identity among the people.
Here are the excerpts of an
interview with Chidambaram Pillai...er, Delhi Kumar...
My ambition to act began early as I had acted during my college days. Soon after completing
my graduation, I left for Delhi for a career and worked for 25 years there. The thirst for drama was unquenchable and I managed to
act in a few Tamil dramas.
 We used to perform three to four
dramas a year and we were a popular bunch among the
theatre crowds of Delhi. This brought chances from down south as we were invited
to stage plays here. And, owing to the presence of so many 'Kumars' here, I was christened 'Delhi' Kumar by the critics to differentiate me from the other
Kumars. This turned out to be my 'new' name and now I am known only by this
name.
After my transfer from Delhi to Chennai, I started to
act in more dramas, especially with
Mylapore Fine Arts, which fetched me a lot of awards, including the Tamil Nadu
state government award,
Kalaimamani. At this point, I was transferred back to
Delhi. After my retirement, I returned to Chennai. I have been here for the past seven years.
As acting was a burning passion
for me, I was heartbroken as people ignored stage plays after the advent of TV. But, director
K Balachender, who knew
me through my stage plays, gave me a chance to work in his serial 'Premi'. Offers came pouring in after that and I have finished about 50 serials.
But, Mettioli has given you that special identity, am I right?
 Yes. The reception to the serial was
unprecedented and unexpected. It's true that I have earned a lot of name and fame after acting in this serial and people in the rural areas call me 'Mettioli
Sir'.
It is the real-life situations
of the serial that hold viewer interest and led to the success of Mettioli. People empathise with us as they recount past incidents while meeting us. Many girls who meet me see their father in me and some repent
that they don't have a father like me. This serial has touched the inner core of every viewer and this has
led to the success of the serial.
Do you attribute the reason for
the success of the serial to is length? Could it have sustained the same tempo in a 13-part series?
Surely not. The problems the serial
highlights are the viewers' day-to-day life and they discuss it in public and even argue. The reason for this is the half-an-hour that we spend with them daily. But this would be really
short-lived. For, everybody forgot 'Chithi' once it went off the air though it
was such a smashing success. Its the turn of 'Mettioli' now and someone else after sometime. It all depends on the mood and the liking of the viewers.
Have you acted in films?
Yes, two films in Mani
Ratnam's production, 'Kannathil Muthamittal' and
'Dum,
Dum,
Dum'. I only accept roles that suit my
talent and demands quite a bit from me. Since I am financially well to do, I take up acting for satisfaction alone.
What differences do you see in
drama, cinema and television?
 A lot.
For a performer, the stage gives 100 per cent satisfaction which is not the case with the small screen or the silver screen.
It's for the simple reason that stage acting is open to experiments and
improvisation which is not possible in the other two mediums which work within closed frames. A stage play can give 500 new performing chances if staged 500 times and the true talent of an artiste is discovered. But, in
cinema, it's all over within two hours and there is no room for improvement even if required.
Similarly, with TV, which is again a rigid structure. But the only difference between the last two media is that a mistake today can be rectified tomorrow which is totally impossible in cinema.
TV artistes claim an advantage in reaching
out to people better, compared to cine artistes. Your comments, please?
Sure. The fact that we reach the homes daily gives us an edge over
cinema actors. This was proved during an outdoor shooting of a film where I had more people talking with me, much to the surprise of the popular hero and the
heroine of the film. This astonished other actors as well.
How do you feel when you act as a father
of five girls?
 Working three years as a well-knit family has established a true bonding between us. Though we act on
screen, we all share a good chemistry as the girls call me Appa (father) and I see them as my own daughters. This was especially established in California,
America, when I visited my daughter there. While shopping there, I decided to buy gifts for all
the five girls and bought similar
gifts for all of them. Even my daughter laughed at me but I insisted on it and said
there was an indescribable love behind the act though I know it would change once the serial is over.
Acting as a soft father of five girls and
then as a bit rough and egoistic father in Anandam - Do moods overlap?
No, not really. My 40-year experience comes in handy as I stick to the characters I
do. May be this would be the case for a new comer but not for experienced actors.
Your unforgettable moment in
Mettioli?
 The one during the Kodaikannal episode where all the characters venture
for the holiday in spite of the problems and egos. But, some unavoidable circumstances bring back the haunting days. In this situation, I lie down weeping,
and all my daughters come and see me and shed tears. This was shot at 4.30 a.m. The girl who acts as
'Bhavani' could not control her emotions and burst out really seeing my plight. This incident moved everyone
on the location and this was an unforgettable moment for me. The reality of the shot could have been the reason for
this. And this is a regular feature in an artiste's life. After staging 400 or 500 shows, we
become a strong unit and move about like that. At the end of the show there would be a sense of fatigue
and a case of missing each other. But that would be solved in a stage play but not in a teleserial
where we are not sure of the next cast.
A lot of cinema artistes now
act on TV. Does that affect the small screen actors in any way?
No. There is nothing like that. There won't be unless there is a shortage of good actors
on the small screen, because people see us as the
characters and not merely actor. Once, during a shooting, people were all discussing the serial
'Mettioli', totally oblivious of my name. They asked my name during pack up and I said 'Delhi Kumar'.
This was indeed a proud moment. The story is the hero here, and the
characters are the heroine. The stars do not matter here, the story matters.
Your expectations as Mettioli
Chidambaram?
My daughter Saro should be treated well by her mother-in-law Rajam
who should undergo a transition.
That's all I wish and expect.
Any plans to go back to stage plays as producer?
I am not interested in that. I am more into teleserials and I wish to continue
there.
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