Degree copy

You'll find grade A filter coffee stores lining the streets of Matunga Central. What you won't find easily is a South Indian film corner. We hunted down one for you

The blink-and-miss sticker that read 'Tamil and Malayalam VCDs' (available here) has long been peeled off. It's the sticker that led us to the electronic equipment store located in LBS market in the same lane as famous Udipi joint Rama Nayak's.


A customer looks for Sivan paatu (devotional music sung in praise of
Shiva) at National Electronics, Matunga. PICS/ Pradeep Dhivar

For incurable Southern film junkies or even those who've been more curious about South Indian heroes who've been slowly muscling their way into Hindi films recently, National Electronics will be well worth a stop.

The store stocked long-playing records of Tamil film songs when it opened doors three decades ago, says A Madasamy, the 33 year-old go-to guy for South Indian films here. While we were surprised to find multiplayer adventure game Grand Theft Auto peeking out of one corner, VCDs and DVDs of classic MGR films and new-ish Vikram films are the big draw.

"Our sales have gone down because everybody downloads nowadays," says Madasamy. A native of Tirunelveli, Madasamy has been manning the regional film section for 12 years.u00a0

It's Malayalam over Tamil
"DVDs of Tamil films release really late," rues Madasamy, "So Malayalam films are doing better sales over the last few years." For proof, he shows us brand new VCDs of Malayalam superstar Mammootty's recent releases.

The Tamil section has to catch up by decades -- a relatively old film like Thevar Magan starring Kamal Hasan, that released in theatres in 1992, is yet to be released on video.

But music makes it to the store quickly. The soundtrack of Raavan's Telugu version (Raavanudu) gleams at us from the shelves. "Anything by Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman flies off the shelves. Nowadays, there are few takers even if videos are sold for as less Rs 50. Just a few years ago, people bought CDs of Iruvar and Kannathil Muthamittal even though they cost as much as Rs 500," says Madasamy, of the Mani Ratnam hit films with music scored by Rahman.u00a0


Rajinikantu00a0inu00a0Chandramukhi, Bhool Bhulaiya's Tamil version


Kamal Haasan's 2002 hit comedy Panchathantiram


A selection of Tamil comedian Vadivelu's film clips


A VCD of gags from Tamil comedian Vivek's films

For die-hard Dravidians
A group of women walk in looking for "Sivan paatu" (devotional music sung in praise of Shiva). Madasamy attends to his customers quickly and promises to keep playback singer SP Balasubramaniam's devotional albums ready by the next month. Besides devotional music, you'll find Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan's Carnatic violin CDs sharing shelf space with music CDs that include the works of famous Tamil poet and lyricist Kannadasan, who gave superstar MGR (also former Tamil Nadu CM MG Ramachandran) his biggest hits. Also spotted: a VCD of 'Crazy Mohan's' comedy series on TV. Considering, the series no longer plays on TV, it's sheer nostalgia gold.
Plus, any classic you want, you can count on Madasamy to order it for you. We were sold a couple of years ago.

At: National Electronics, 2-3-4, LBS Market, Near Railway Station, Matunga (C.R.), Mumbai 400019
Call: 24145671 / 24126789

SUPER STOCK
For more South Indian music and moviesu00a0

>> Giri Stores
Although here you'd find more devotional music with film and popular music hidden away on the lowest shelves.
Giri Stores, basement, same building as HDFC bank, Matunga Central. Call: 24141344

>> Landmark
The store, with its main branch in Chennai, stocks both, old and new Tamil films but you won't find the low-priced Tamil comedy series easily here. It's also low on Malayalam and Kannada content.u00a0
Landmark Music, Andheri.u00a0Call: 26396011