Book launches are usually tedious affairs – unless the book has an interesting theme and the people at the event present it cleverly. But when the repetitive anecdotes and practiced felicitations start, you know it’s not going to be an exception.
The launch of Palani G Periasamy’s Idhaya Oli (Heartbeats) at Le Meridian, Chennai, on 6 August, was nothing to skip a heartbeat over. Even though there was a beautiful dance performance, and divine music by musical prodigy Uthara Unnikrishnanand as a prelude, the actual event in itself was a drawn out affair of white-clad men garlanding and covering each other in ponnadai (the shiny cloth used for felicitations) and making long, boring speeches.
N Ram, the Chairman of Kasturi & Sons Limited and Publisher of The Hindu, lyricist/poet, Vairamuthu, yesteryear actress Saroja Devi, and director Thangar Bachan, were among the legion of prominent people on the stage. They all agreed that the book is inspiring enough to be made a mandatory text for schools and colleges. Director Thangar Bachan even went on to say that he would not hesitate to resort to mild flogging to ensure that his children read the book!
Vairamuthu, said, ” The book can be divided into two parts: the part which gives an insight into Periasamy’s life and the other significant part, gives an insight into the life of MGR”. N Ram, was suitably impressed with the book and said that it was indeed remarkable to be able to recall in great detail what happened several decades ago.
