Trichy, Theatre & FGN

A nostalgic trip down South to the land of my ancestors has left me with a feeling of bliss. There is a great positive vibration in the prosperous city which has burgeoned into a commercial hub of this district. I feel blessed to be born to T.S. Swaminathan and Padma, parents who have lived the most amazing hundred years on this earth. My mother, aged 101 years, is the last surviving child of FGN, F.G. Natesa Iyer. He was a patron of musicians and father of Modern Tamil Theatre. Here is an excerpt from my book Bhagavata Mela My Tryst with Tradition.

                                            The Malaikottai or Rockfort Vinayagar Temple

                                                  The front facade of Rasika Ranjana Sabha



“My maternal grandfather F. G. Natesa Iyer (1880-1963) was a colossus in the field of theatre and a patron of music. A Shakespearean actor famed for his roles as Othello, Hamlet and King Lear, he later opened his own company and staged historical and mythological dramas. He would sing popular classical music compositions as his entry song or when suitable in the story. He held posts like elected Mayor of the city, District Traffic Superintendent of Railways, and leader of the Indian National Congress of this region. Many musicians, actors and artistes received encouragement from him and even after they achieved fame and name, they held our family in great affection. His achievements in theatre earned him the title Father of Modern Tamil Theatre.”

                                                         The Foundation Stone

                                 My Grandmother Rajeswari Mataji and Grandfather's Photographs

                                                The Auditorium is named FGN after its Founder

“They would be welcomed at our home for meals and would happily recount many incidents when FGN played an important role in their lives. Bharat Ratna M. S. Subbulakshmi, acted in many films, and had her debut in the film Seva Sadan opposite FGN.  She told us of the time when FGN had to slap her in a scene. After much hesitation, he agreed to enact the scene. Her young daughter Radha who was present began to cry inconsolably. Palghat Mani Iyer told us of the concert where he, as a young boy, was accompanying a musical giant on mridangam. The musician sang a complicated Pallavi and kept his hand under his angavastram (upper cloth) so that Iyer could not follow the Tala. FGN stood up in the midst of the concert and reprimanded the musician. “The boy can accompany you only if you let him see your hand,” he said sternly. FGN’s grandfather was Tyagaraja Sastri, a composer of merit and a contemporary of the famous saint-poet of the same name.” 

                                              Oil Paintings of FGN in Drama roles

                                           More photos and paintings adorn the walls.

A pioneer of theatre in the South, FGN made his debut in theatre as Goddess Saraswati in a play. His play, ‘Gyanasundari’ achieved great popularity. He had a powerful personality and a tall athletic body, and excelled in roles like Manohara, Raja Harishchandra, and Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Othello. Music was an essential aspect in the dramas of those days and FGN was an expert singer. He was also adept in the rare musical instrument called the Swarbat. FGN was an orator in English and Tamil. As journalist and art critic he contributed under his pen name ‘Hamsa’.

A patron of theatre and music, he established the first formal sabha, ‘Rasika Ranjana Sabha’ in Tiruchirapalli.”

(It was this Sabha that we visited last week (October 2018). The auditorium is named after FGN.)