Kalki Krishnamurthy | |
|---|---|
 Krishnamurthy on a 1999 stamp of India | |
| Born | Ramasamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy (1899-09-09)9 September 1899 Puthamangalam, nearManalmeduMayiladuthurai |
| Died | 5 December 1954(1954-12-05) (aged 55) Chennai, India |
| Pen name | KalkiTamil:கல்கி |
| Occupation | journalist, critic and writer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Municipal High School,Mayiladuthurai & National High School,Tiruchi |
| Period | 1899–1954 |
| Genre | Historical fiction,social novels |
| Notable works | Ponniyin Selvan,Sivagamiyin Sapatham,Thyaga Bhoomi,Parthiban Kanavu,Alai Osai,Kalvanin Kadhali |
| Notable awards | Sahitya Akademi Award forAlai Osai |
| Spouse | Rukmani |
| Children | 2 |
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy (9 September 1899 – 5 December 1954), better known by his pen nameKalki, was an Indian writer, journalist, poet, critic and Indian independence activist who wrote inTamil. He chose the pen-name "Kalki", the future incarnation of theHindu GodVishnu.[1] He founded a magazine, which was also namedKalki, withT Sadasivam being the co-founder, in 1941. Krishnamurthy‘s writings include over 120 short stories, 10 novellas, 5 novels, 3 historical romances, editorial and political writings and hundreds of film and music reviews.
Ramaswamy Krishnamurthy was born in a Poor Tamil Brahmin Iyer family on 9 September 1899 in Puthamangalam, nearManalmedu, inMayiladuthurai district in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu. Krishnamurthy's father was Ramaswamy Aiyar, an accountant in Puttamangalam village in the oldTanjore district of erstwhileMadras Presidency. He began his primary education in his village school and later attended Municipal High School inMayiladuthurai but quit in 1921, just short of completion of his Senior School Leaving Certificate, in response toMahatma Gandhi's 1921call for non-co-operation joining theIndian National Congress instead.[2][3]
His son Kalki Rajendran was married to Sadasivam's daughter Vijaya. Krishnamurthy's daughter Anandi was married toSadasivam's nephew (sister's son) Ramachandran, known as Ambi in music circles. Anandi's daughter Gowri Ramanarayanan was a music critic forThe Hindu newspaper, and she also learned music under M S Subbulakshmi.[4]
Krishnamurthy started writing fiction stories inNavaskthi in 1923 where he worked as a sub editor. He was working under the tutelage ofThiru Vi Ka when he published his first book(Kalvanin Kadhali)in 1937. He started working withC Rajagopalachari in Thiruchengode in Gandhi Ashram. He publishedVimochanam along withRajaji, a journal propagating liquor prohibition. He was working in freedom struggle and during 1931, he was jailed for six months. He joinedAnanda Vikatan, a popular Tamil magazine along with editor S S Vasan. He became very popular as a critic, witty author, political commentator and short story writer. He wrote under various pen names like "Kalki", "Ra. Ki", "Tamil Theni" and "Karnatkam". He leftAnanda Vikatan and joined freedom struggle in 1941. On his release, he and Sadasivam started a weekly namedKalki. He was the editor in the journal till his death on 5 December 1954.[5]
| Serial | Name | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sivagamiyin Sapatham (1 January 1944 – 30 June 1946)[6] | Pallava Dynasty |
| 2 | Parthiban Kanavu (16 October 1941 – 10 February 1943)[7] | |
| 3 | Ponniyin Selvan (29 October 1950 – 16 May 1954) | Chola Dynasty |
| Solaimalai Ilavarasi (1947) | The Independence of India |
| Serial | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subhathraiyin Sagodharan | The story revolves around a young man and woman who meet on a train journey from Tirunelveli to Chennai and initially plan to end their lives due to personal failures. However, their encounter takes a different turn, leading to a positive resolution. Kalki's writing style is praised for its wit, incisive commentary on various aspects of life, and ability to weave historical and fictional elements together. |
| 2 | Otrai Roja | This story is about two strangers – a young man and a young woman – who meet on a train from Tirunelveli to Chennai. The woman is originally from Sri Lanka and the man is from Madras (nowChennai). They have failed in their respective exams and plan to end their life. Things take a different turn from here and all ends well. |
| 3 | Theepiditha Kudisaigal | two individuals, a young man and woman, who meet on a train from Tirunelveli to Chennai. Both are contemplating suicide after failing their exams. Their meeting takes an unexpected turn, and the story concludes with a positive outcome. The narrative is known for its social commentary, particularly on themes of literacy, women's empowerment, and education. |
| 4 | Pudhu Ovarsiyar | |
| 5 | Vasdhadhu Venu | |
| 6 | Amara Vazhvu | |
| 7 | Sunduvin Sanyasam | |
| 8 | Thirudan Magan Thirudan | |
| 9 | Imayamalai Engal Malai | |
| 10 | Pongumaangkadal | |
| 11 | Master Medhuvadai | Collection of 5 short stories |
| 12 | Pushpa Pallaaku | |
| 13 | Prabala Nakchatiram | |
| 14 | Pithalai Ottiyanam | |
| 15 | Arunachalathin Aluval | |
| 16 | Parisil Thurai | |
| 17 | Susila MA | |
| 18 | Kamalavin Kalyanam | |
| 19 | Tharkolai | |
| 20 | S.S.Menaka | |
| 21 | Saradhaiyin Thandhiram | |
| 22 | Governor Vijayam | |
| 23 | Kanaiyazhiyin Kanavu | |
| 24 | Banker Vinayakarao | |
| 25 | Tiger King | The story revolves around a King whose death at the hands of a tiger had been foretold by astrologers when he was born. He tries to reverse the fate spelled out for him and the author uses thinly veiled satire to walk the reader through the King's attempts which later prove futile, in a manner that makes them laugh. |
| 26 | Punnaivanthupuli | |
| 27 | Devakiyin kanavan | |
| 28 | onbathu kulinilam | |
| 29 | number 888 | |
| 30 | Thiruvazhundhur sivakozhundhu | |
| 31 | Zamindar Mahan | |
| 32 | Mayilak kalai | |
| 33 | Rnagathurkam Raja | |
| 34 | Idintha kottai | |
| 35 | Mayilvizhi maan | |
| 36 | Thappili cup | |
| 37 | Kethariyin Thaayar | |
| 38 | Gandhimadhiyin kadalan | |
| 39 | Srikandhan punarjenmam | |
| 40 | Paladaindha Bangala | |
| 41 | Chandramathi | |
| 42 | Chiranjeevi kadhai | |
| 43 | Kadithamum kaneerum | |
| 44 | Vaira mothiram(Kaanama pogaathathu) | |
| 45 | Veenai Bavani | |
| 46 | Dhanakodiyin Manoratham |
Krishnamurthy was also a film and music critic, writing under the pseudonym "Karnatkam".[citation needed] He also penned lyrics for many songs, most of which were adapted intoCarnatic Music.[citation needed]
Krishnamurthy died in Chennai on 5 December 1954 aged 55 years fromtuberculosis.Kalki magazine's special issue forAnnai Sarada Devi, dated the day Krishnamurthy died, was his last editorial work. The magazine shared the information that his health was improving prior to his demise.[8]
Various individuals including veteran actor, director, philanthropist and formerChief Minister of Tamil Nadu,M. G. Ramachandran; actor, director and politician,Kamal Haasan; and directorMani Ratnam, have tried to adapt Krishnamurthy's novelPonniyin Selvan, into a film at various stages, but only Mani Ratnam has succeeded so far. The first part of Mani Ratnam's two-part film was released on 30 September 2022 asPonniyin Selvan: I, and second part was released on 28 April 2023 asPonniyin Selvan: II.
The 912-page hard-bound volume, brought out by Vanathi Pathipagam, is priced at `450.
With a preface by 'Kalki' K Rajendran on how the biography was born, the back cover shows 'Kalki', conceivingAlai Osai, a famous novel set against the background of India's freedom struggle. The first edition was brought out in 1976 and the second in 1999.
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