All in all Azhaguraja is a famous character associated with the comedy actor Goundamani. This name also will remind us of the Petromax light and the comedy scene from a Karakattakaran movie in which Goundamani says the ‘Indha Kaara vechiruntha’ dialogue.
Present generation people of may not have seen a Jaanavasam car. Jaanavaasam car was used to take the bride and groom in a procession during olden days. Muthusamy who lives in Mullai Nagar in Coimbatore is renting out the cars for the Jaanavassam procession and he has been in this business for the past 40 years.
How can a person who rents out cars can be All in All azhaguraja? Muthusamy is renting petromax lights along with the car rental business. When one visits his shop, one can catch a glimpse of the cars used for Jaanavaasam. The roof of the shop is adorned with the petromax lights and the cars that are used for Jaanavaasam are lining up in front of the shop. One will be taken back to 40 years. While showing us his collection, Muthusamy beams with pride and a smile lights up his face.
In conversation with SimpliCity, throwing light on his cars and the petromax lights, Muthusamy says “I am originally from Palani in Dindugal district. I came to Coimbatore when I was 10 years old. I was working as tea master in bakeries. After that I, learned to repair the kerosene stoves and opened my own shop on a platform in the Thadagam Road. It is then that I became aware about the petromax light.”
“I purchased them and started to rent it out during marriages. It was around this time that the movie with the comedy scene of Goundamani and petromax light was released. In the movie Goundamani will teach Senthil about the light. People used to make fun of me behind my back using the dialogue. Petromax lights have lost relevance as gas lights have taken their place in this contemporary era.”
“When I was taking the petromax lights to the marriage ceremonies I learned about the Jaanavaasam cars. I decided to purchase a car and rent it out. I bought the cars in 1970’s used by the wealthy people for a wallet-friendly cost. I made modifications to the cars according to the requirements for a marriage and rented them out. I received a good response. Following which I bought 9 cars and rented them out.”
“People who saw my car asked if they can use my cars in their films. My cars were used since black and white cinema and recently my cars were used in the movies Sangamam, Simmasanam, Katcheri Arambam, and Pattathu Yaanai. My cars were hired for marriage ceremonies from the states of Kerala and Telengana. Superstar Rajinikanth drove my car when he was shooting for a Telugu movie in Pollachi.”
“Jaanavaasam car was used to introduce the couple to others during their marriage. The Bride and the Groom will be taken in procession in a decorated car for some distance. The procession will be an eye catcher with the decorated car illuminated by the light from the Petromax lights on both sides of the car. A groom was upset due to the absence of a car for Jaanavaasam.”
“Today the Jaanavaasam does not have many takers. As the orders have decreased, I sold 6 of my nine cars. I have only 3 cars now. Getting more than 2 orders in a month has become a rarity. I will get from 3 thousand to 4 thousand for a day per car. The expenses for petrol and the driver have to be taken care of with that amount.”
Muthusamy who is 84 years old says that the cars the petromax lights are the only income source for him and his wife. He is worried about the death of this business more than his insufficient income from the rental business.
Present generation people of may not have seen a Jaanavasam car. Jaanavaasam car was used to take the bride and groom in a procession during olden days. Muthusamy who lives in Mullai Nagar in Coimbatore is renting out the cars for the Jaanavassam procession and he has been in this business for the past 40 years.
How can a person who rents out cars can be All in All azhaguraja? Muthusamy is renting petromax lights along with the car rental business. When one visits his shop, one can catch a glimpse of the cars used for Jaanavaasam. The roof of the shop is adorned with the petromax lights and the cars that are used for Jaanavaasam are lining up in front of the shop. One will be taken back to 40 years. While showing us his collection, Muthusamy beams with pride and a smile lights up his face.
In conversation with SimpliCity, throwing light on his cars and the petromax lights, Muthusamy says “I am originally from Palani in Dindugal district. I came to Coimbatore when I was 10 years old. I was working as tea master in bakeries. After that I, learned to repair the kerosene stoves and opened my own shop on a platform in the Thadagam Road. It is then that I became aware about the petromax light.”
“I purchased them and started to rent it out during marriages. It was around this time that the movie with the comedy scene of Goundamani and petromax light was released. In the movie Goundamani will teach Senthil about the light. People used to make fun of me behind my back using the dialogue. Petromax lights have lost relevance as gas lights have taken their place in this contemporary era.”
“When I was taking the petromax lights to the marriage ceremonies I learned about the Jaanavaasam cars. I decided to purchase a car and rent it out. I bought the cars in 1970’s used by the wealthy people for a wallet-friendly cost. I made modifications to the cars according to the requirements for a marriage and rented them out. I received a good response. Following which I bought 9 cars and rented them out.”
“People who saw my car asked if they can use my cars in their films. My cars were used since black and white cinema and recently my cars were used in the movies Sangamam, Simmasanam, Katcheri Arambam, and Pattathu Yaanai. My cars were hired for marriage ceremonies from the states of Kerala and Telengana. Superstar Rajinikanth drove my car when he was shooting for a Telugu movie in Pollachi.”
“Jaanavaasam car was used to introduce the couple to others during their marriage. The Bride and the Groom will be taken in procession in a decorated car for some distance. The procession will be an eye catcher with the decorated car illuminated by the light from the Petromax lights on both sides of the car. A groom was upset due to the absence of a car for Jaanavaasam.”
“Today the Jaanavaasam does not have many takers. As the orders have decreased, I sold 6 of my nine cars. I have only 3 cars now. Getting more than 2 orders in a month has become a rarity. I will get from 3 thousand to 4 thousand for a day per car. The expenses for petrol and the driver have to be taken care of with that amount.”
Muthusamy who is 84 years old says that the cars the petromax lights are the only income source for him and his wife. He is worried about the death of this business more than his insufficient income from the rental business.