Read the full article here: https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/readers-write-in-51-my-introduction-to-cowboys-horses-and-westerns/
Born in 60s and growing up in Kanyakumari district from 4th to 12th grade, most of the movies I watched were Tamil movies, few English movies (once we moved to Nagercoil from Cheruppalur) and occasional Malayalam movies. I use the term English movies since I didn’t know the term Hollywood that time!! Exposure to terms like Hollywood, Western, genres, happened late 80s and early 90s. I was lucky to be born in to a family of movie goers, grew up watching all kinds of movies. Plus, 70s/80s that was the only available entertainment. Tent kotta or glorified concrete tent kotta (but Nagercoil had few good cinema halls though) in walkable distance, no need of reservation, and we had 3 intervals!! Being in a remote village, and limited prints, you get to see new Tamil movies after 3-4 months – it was a waterfall system!!
English movies, thanks to Indian Censor board, if you were lucky you get to see them in cities after 1-2 years. Due to limited prints, famous movies were recycled, and you get to see them every year or every other year. I was lucky to watch movies that were released before I was born – Paraskathi, Vanchikottai Valiban, Malaikallan, Uthamaputhiran, Nadodi Mannan, Alibabavum 40 thirudargalum, Enga Veettu Pillai, Pasamalar, Puthiya Paravai, Adimaipen, Neerkumizhi, Ehirneechal, VP Kattabomman, Motor Sundarampillai, etc. Including original Apoorva Sagotharagral (S.S.Vasan’s). Pretty much all “Pa” and “Ti” series of Bhimsingh and APN combo with Sivaji.
With all those there was something missing – what we got was all serious family drams, love stories, Raja Rani stories, mythology, and Puranas based stories. Yes, there was KB, Sridhar, Bhimsingh, CVR, APN, and other famous directors. But they were all serious directors. We got love stories masquerading as comedies. Something missing, there was a gap. That was the gap that got filled successfully by my favorite maverick Director Karnan and later filled in by SPM to some extent. SPM to some extent because SPM made serious and good movies too!! As a kid in early teens watching Karnan’s movies were great fun and boy, I was fully entertained. There were cow boys riding horses whizzing past the screen, interesting costumes (we don’t see them anywhere anyone wearing it), fight scenes that met child’s fantasy, landscapes you don’t get to see in other fares. Jaishankar, Asokan, Manohar, Raja Kokila, Vijayalalitha went along with Karnan to give us those glorious, silly, insane, and crazy entertainers. Jaishankar was referred to as Tamil James bond and Clint Eastwood. Karnan was a famous cinematographer but I am grateful to him for the movies he gave as a director since he introduced me to a genre which I didn’t know existed that time. I watched those movies without knowing cow boys, or western genre – those terms I learnt late 80s and early 90s. I was able to build on his foundation, albeit a weak one, went on to enjoy stalwarts like Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah, Clint Eastwood, and more.
Continued in the link above.