K.B.Sundarambal | |
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| Born | Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal (1908-10-11)11 October 1908 Kodumudi,Coimbatore District,Madras Presidency,British India (nowErode District,Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | 19 September 1980(1980-09-19) (aged 71)[1] |
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| Children | 0 |
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Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal[2] (11 October 1908 – 19 September 1980) was an Indian actress and singer fromErode district,Tamil Nadu. She performed inTamil cinema and was referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage."[3] A political activist during theIndian independence movement, K.B. Sundarambal was the first film personality to enter a state legislature in India.[4]
K.B. Sundarambal was born on 11 October 1908 in the town ofKodumudi on the banks ofKaveri river, inErode district in Tamil Nadu. As a child, she made money by singing on trains and receiving tips.[5]
According to some sources,[5] it was while singing thus on a train for alms that the 19-year-old Sundarambal attracted the attention ofF. G. Natesa Iyer, an amateur stage actor, producer and talent-scout. According to other sources,[6] it was a police official named Krishnaswamy Iyer, an acquaintance of Balambal, who discovered the talent in Sundarambal and introduced the 19-year-old girl to P. S. Velu Nair, one of the reigning dramatists of that era.
In either case, Sundarambal is believed to have made her debut in 1927, on theTamil stage, as a member of a travelling theatre troupe. She honed her voice while performing small roles on stage and keeping audiences entertained between acts. Soon enough, she was playing leading roles on stage. Her early stage plays like"Valli Thirumanam," "Pavalakodi" and"Harishchandra" proved to be great hits. In particular,"Valli Thirumanam", where she co-starred with S.G. Kittappa, was a phenomenal success.
While working together in the theatre, Sundarambal metS. G. Kittappa. They were married in 1927. The couple, together became popular. S. G. Kittappa died in 1933. Sundarambal left the stage after his death, to pursue a career as a concert artiste. K.B. Sundarambal died on 19 September 1980.
Sundarambal acted in films as well with notable appearances inManimekhalai,Auvaiyar,Thiruvilayadal,Karaikal Ammaiyar andKandan Karunai. She portrayed Tamil poetAvvaiyar in filmsThiruvilayadal andKandan Karunai. She also acted in social films such asUyir Mel Aasai,Thunaivan andGnayiru Thinggal.Gnayiru Thinggal was an unreleased film.
She sang in movies as well. She worked under music directors Mayavaram Venu,M. D. Parthasarathy, Parur S. Anantharaman, R. Sudharsanam,K. V. Mahadevan,S. M. Subbaiah Naidu,T. K. Ramamoorthy,M. S. Viswanathan andKunnakudi Vaidyanathan.
| Year | Film | Song | Music | Production company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Nandanar (1935) | 1. Piththam Theliya Marundhondrikkirathu 2. Vazhi Maraithirukkudhe | Asandas Classical Talkies | |
| 1940 | Manimekalai | 1. Maasindri Kulamaadhar 2. Siraichalai Enna Seiyum 3. Paavi Yen Pirandhen | T. K. Productions | |
| 1953 | Avvaiyar | 1. Katrathu Kaiman Alavu 2. Muthmizh Deivame Va 3. Ayyane Anbarkku Meiyyane 4. Ulaginile Thamizhnadu Uyarga 5. Kooriya Vaalar 6. Porumai Enum Nagai Anindhu 7. Aram Seiyya Virumbuvelane 8. Velane Senthamizh Viththaga....Mayilerum Vadivelane 9. Koodi Nadandhukolla Vendum 10. Kanni Thamizh Naattinile Vennilaave 11. Gannanaathane Varuga 12. Aalai Palaavaakkalamo 13. Periyathu Ketkin 14. Nellukku Iraitha Nir 15. Munnai Nal Parikku 16. Vennila Vea | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathy & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios |
| 1964 | Poompuhar | 1. Vazhkai Enum Odam 2. Thappithu Vanthanappa 3. Thunbamellam 4. Andru Kollum Arasan | R. Sudharsanam | Mekala Pictures |
| 1965 | Gnayiru Thinggal (Unreleased) | 1. Seeru Thamizh Paalundu Vetrikku Vel Kondu | M. S. Viswanathan | |
| 1965 | Thiruvilaiyadal | 1. Gnanapazhathai Pizhindhu 2. Pazhaniyappa 3. Vasi Vasi Endru 4. Ondranavan | K. V. Mahadevan | Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures |
| 1966 | Mahakavi Kalidas | 1. Sendru Va Magane 2. Kalathil Azhiyatha | K. V. Mahadevan | Kalpana Kalamandir |
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai | 1. Ariyathu Ketkindra 2. Muruga Muruga | K. V. Mahadevan | ALS Productions |
| 1967 | Uyir Mel Aasai | 1. Kelu Papa, Kelu Papa, Kelvigal Aayiram Kelu Papa 2. Nalla Ganapathi.... Thunbikkai Nadhan Thunai 3. Iyappa Abayam Koduppathunthan Kaiyappa | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Ayyappan Productions |
| 1969 | Thunaivan | 1. Gnanamum Kalviyum 2. Kondadum Thiruchendu 3. Andru Nee 4. Koopitta Kuralukku 5. Kondadum Thiruchendur | K. V. Mahadevan | Dandayudhapani Films |
| 1972 | Shakthi Leelai | 1. Amma...Sakthiyenum Deivam Konda Padai Veedu 2. Enggeyum Sakthi Undu | T. K. Ramamoorthy | Raman Pictures |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | 1. Odungal Odi Ullam Urugi....Thagathagavena Aada Vaa 2. Iraivaa Un Pugazh Paduven 3. Piravatha Varam Vendum 4. Padugingen Unnai Padugingren 5. Vaduvatha Or Pozhuthum | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Eveeyaar Films |
| 1973 | Thirumalai Deivam | 1. Ezhumalai Irukka Namakkenna Manakkavalai 2. Nalellam Unthan Thirunale | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Shanthi Combines |
Sundarambal and her husband S.G. Kittappa had been much influenced by theIndian independence movement and they became ardent supporters of theIndian National Congress. They had harnessed their popularity and talents to further that cause. Sundarambal continued to champion the movement, recording severalgramophone discs extolling the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. She also made it a point to always wearkhadi.[5] She often actively campaigned in support of Congress party candidates at various elections.[7] After India gained independence, K.B. Sundarambal entered the Legislative Council ofMadras State in 1951 as a Congress nominee, thus becoming the first film artist to enter an Indian legislature.
Her mentor C.Satyamurthy was prisoned by the British for participating inQuit India Movement in 1942.
In 1964, the Tamil Isai Sangam conferred upon her the title of"Tamil Isai Perarignar (Most Learned in Tamil Music)." In 1970, thegovernment of India awarded her thePadmashri for her contributions to the arts. She was awarded with theNational Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer by the Government of India, for her work inThunaivan. She also won theTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback forThunaivan in 1969. She was also the first person in the Indian film industry to command a salary of one lakh rupees. She became the first lady member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
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