Actor Kamal Haasan, actor Maadhu Balaji, director K.S. Ravikumar and other dignitaries launching the books at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: M. SRINATH

Actor Kamal Haasan on Thursday launched 25 books compiling the works, including plays and short stories, of actor and playwright ‘Crazy’ Mohan.

Speaking on the occasion, he said he was happy that they found each other. “Ours is a story of two brothers born in each other’s homes. We would speak every day. If someone were to listen in on our conversations, they would think we ought to have been in an asylum. He did not mind my atheism; he accepted it,” he said.

Director K.S. Ravikumar said there were times when Mohan would keep thinking and wait for even 15 days to develop a character, but dialogues came to him quickly. “If you ask him to write dialogues for one film, he will write for four,” he added.

Actor Jayaram said though he had acted in over 300 films in the last 37 years, people of all languages recall Thenali and Panchathantiram, the movies where he co-starred with Mr. Haasan, which were directed by Mr. Ravikumar and scripted by Mohan. Publisher Alliance Srinivasan said that he had been trying to get Mohan’s plays published since 1991.

“If Crazy Troupe has been able to sustain themselves since the 1980s, it is because of their clean comedy,” he added.

Brought out by The Alliance Publishers to mark their 125th anniversary, the books will have story and dialogues of plays, including Return of Crazy Thieves, Allaudin and 100 Watts Bulb, Madhil Mel Maadhu, and Chocolate Krishna; and two plays written by Mohan for theatre personality Kathadi Ramamurthi. His replies to questions from readers in the popular Tamil magazine Kalki and short stories that appeared in magazines are also included in the books.

Actor Maadhu Balaji said the books had neat humour, and 25 sketches made by artist Keshav. “The play Chocolate Krishna will be released as a graphic novel. We are taking the books to all schools and colleges and also giving away two sets of each book to two senior citizen homes and padasalas.”

To get the copies of the books, call 9289281314.

Musician Gayathri Girieesh, businessman Ravi Appaswamy, and director S.B. Kanthan were among those present.