K. B. Sundarambal
Encyclopedia
Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal (1908–1980) was a renowned stage artist and singer of South India
. She was popularly referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage." She was noted both for her resonant, vibrant voice and for the dignity of her performances. A political activist during the Indian independence movement
, K.B. Sundarambal was the first film personality to enter a state legislature in India.
(also spelled "Kodumadi"), on the banks of the Kaveri
, about 35 km from the town of Erode
in present-day Tamil Nadu
. Little is known of Sundarambal's father; her mother Balambal,and her brother Kangasabapathy barely managed to eke out a living. Indeed, so penurious was the family that Sundarambal, as a child, is said to have made some much-needed money by singing ditties on trains and receiving tips from the passengers.
In either case, Sundarambal is believed to have made her debut in 1917, on the Tamil
stage, as a member of a travelling theatre troupe. This was the turning point in her life. The talented young girl honed her voice while performing small roles on stage and keeping audiences entertained between acts. Soon enough, she was essaying 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.
fell in love. They were married in 1927. For the next few years, Sundarambal lived a life that was both personally and professionally satisfying. The couple became cult figures with theatre aficionados. Unfortunately, the phase came to a sudden end with the untimely death of S. G. Kittappa in 1933. Sundarambal left the stage sometime after this happened, preferring to pursue a career as a concert artiste.
, the Tamil poet-saint, was so convincing that she has become almost synonymous with the legendary personality. Since no portrait of the historical poetess exists, Avvaiyar is depicted using Sundramabal's image! "Nandanar" and "Avvaiyar," in both of which she played Avvaiyar, were runaway hits. Her other great successes were in "Manimekhalai," "Thiruvilayadal
," "Karaikal Ammaiyar" and "Kandan Karunai
." Sundarambal's golden voice and the devotional fervour of her singing set the box offices afire.
Her voice is so unique and melodious that few ever have managed to mimic her songs.
and they became ardent supporters of the Indian National Congress
. They had harnessed their popularity and talents to further that cause. Sundarambal continued to champion the movement, recording several gramophone discs extolling the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. She also made it a point to always wear khadi
. She often actively campaigned in support of Congress party candidates at various elections. After India gained independence, K.B. Sundarambal entered the Legislative Council of Madras State
in 1951 as a Congress nominee, thus becoming the first film artist to enter an Indian legislature.
awarded her the Padmashri for her contributions to the arts.
K.B.S had received two National Awards for her singing.
K.B. Sundarambal, artiste extraordinaire, died in October 1980.
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. She was popularly referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage." She was noted both for her resonant, vibrant voice and for the dignity of her performances. A political activist during the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, K.B. Sundarambal was the first film personality to enter a state legislature in India.
Early years
K.B. Sundarambal was born on 11 October 1908 in the town of KodumudiKodumudi
Kodumudi is a panchayat town in Erode district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- Geography :Kodumudi is located at . It has an average elevation of 144 metres ....
(also spelled "Kodumadi"), on the banks of the Kaveri
Kaveri River
The Kaveri , also spelled Cauvery in English, is a large Indian river. The origin of the river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the...
, about 35 km from the town of Erode
Erode
Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...
in present-day Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Little is known of Sundarambal's father; her mother Balambal,and her brother Kangasabapathy barely managed to eke out a living. Indeed, so penurious was the family that Sundarambal, as a child, is said to have made some much-needed money by singing ditties on trains and receiving tips from the passengers.
Stage debut
That was Sundarambal's training in music. According to some sources, it was while singing thus on a train and begging for alms that the 10-year-old Sundarambal attracted the attention of F. G. Natesa Iyer, an amateur stage actor, producer and talent-scout, later municipal chairman of tiruchchirapalli district, in chennai. According to other sources, it was a police official named Krishnaswamy Iyer, an acquaintance of Balambal, who discovered the talent in Sundarambal and introduced the 10-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 1917, on the Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
stage, as a member of a travelling theatre troupe. This was the turning point in her life. The talented young girl honed her voice while performing small roles on stage and keeping audiences entertained between acts. Soon enough, she was essaying 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.
Marriage
While working together in the theatre, Sundarambal and S. G. KittappaS. G. Kittappa
Shencottah Ganagathara Aiyer Kittappa was a Tamil classical singer and stage actor who was active in the pre-cinema days of the 1920s. He was the husband of singer and film actor K. B. Sundarambal.- Early life :...
fell in love. They were married in 1927. For the next few years, Sundarambal lived a life that was both personally and professionally satisfying. The couple became cult figures with theatre aficionados. Unfortunately, the phase came to a sudden end with the untimely death of S. G. Kittappa in 1933. Sundarambal left the stage sometime after this happened, preferring to pursue a career as a concert artiste.
Filmography
A celebrated theatre personality and an accomplished concert artiste, Sundarambal was to find success in films as well. Although she accepted only a few film offers, they have proved to be landmarks. Her performance as AvvaiyyarAvvaiyyar
-Plot:When a childless Brahmin couple find a baby left alone, they prefer to adopt her. Since they are rich and childless, they raise her in wealth and pomp. But when the girl grows up, she concentrates upon Lord Vinayaka and not thinking of marriage like other girls of her age. When the parents...
, the Tamil poet-saint, was so convincing that she has become almost synonymous with the legendary personality. Since no portrait of the historical poetess exists, Avvaiyar is depicted using Sundramabal's image! "Nandanar" and "Avvaiyar," in both of which she played Avvaiyar, were runaway hits. Her other great successes were in "Manimekhalai," "Thiruvilayadal
Thiruvilayadal (1965 film)
Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah...
," "Karaikal Ammaiyar" and "Kandan Karunai
Kandan Karunai
Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri...
." Sundarambal's golden voice and the devotional fervour of her singing set the box offices afire.
Her voice is so unique and melodious that few ever have managed to mimic her songs.
| Year | Film | Song | Music | Production Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Nandanar Nandanar (1935 film) Nandanar or Bhakta Nandanar is a 1935 Tamil film directed by Manik Lal Tandon. It marked the film debut of the carnatic singer and stage artist K. B. Sundarambal. She was paid a then unprecedented One lakh Rupees as salary for this film. This was also the first film for Ellis R.... |
piththam theLiya marundhondRikkirathu | Asandas Classical Talkies | |
| 1935 | Nandanar Nandanar (1935 film) Nandanar or Bhakta Nandanar is a 1935 Tamil film directed by Manik Lal Tandon. It marked the film debut of the carnatic singer and stage artist K. B. Sundarambal. She was paid a then unprecedented One lakh Rupees as salary for this film. This was also the first film for Ellis R.... |
vazhi maRaithirukkudhE | Asandas Classical Talkies | |
| 1940 | Manimekalai | maasindRi kulamaadhar | T. K. Productions | |
| 1940 | Manimekalai | siRaichAlai enna seiyum | T. K. Productions | |
| 1940 | Manimekalai | paavi yEn piRandhEn | T. K. Productions | |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | katRathu kaimaN aLavu | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | muthmizh deivamE vA | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | ayyanE anbarkku meiyyanE | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | > Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
|
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | kUriya vALaR | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | poRumai enum nagai aNindhu | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | aRam seiyya virumbuvElanE | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | vElanE senthamizh viththAga....mayilERum vadivElanE | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | koodi nadandhukoLLa vENdum | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | kanni thamizh naattinilE veNNilaavE | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | ganNanaathanE varuga | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | aalai palaavaakkalAmO | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | periyathu kEtkin | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | nellukku iraitha nIr | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1953 | Auvaiyar | munnai nAL pArikku | Mayavaram Venu, M. D. Parthasarathi & Parur Anantharaman | Gemini Studios Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film... |
| 1964 | Poompuhar | vAzhkai enum Odam | R. Sudharsanam | Mekala Pictures |
| 1964 | Poompuhar | thappithu vanthAnappA | R. Sudharsanam | Mekala Pictures |
| 1964 | Poompuhar | andRu kollum arasan | R. Sudharsanam | Mekala Pictures |
| 1964 | Poompuhar | thunbamellAm | R. Sudharsanam | Mekala Pictures |
| 1965 | Thiruvilayadal Thiruvilayadal (1965 film) Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah... |
gnAnapazhathai pizhindhu | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures |
| 1965 | Thiruvilayadal Thiruvilayadal (1965 film) Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah... |
pazhaniyappA | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures |
| 1965 | Thiruvilayadal Thiruvilayadal (1965 film) Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah... |
vAsi vAsi endRu | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures |
| 1965 | Thiruvilayadal Thiruvilayadal (1965 film) Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah... |
ondRAnavan | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures |
| 1966 | Mahakavi Kalidas | sendru vA maganE | Kalpana Kalamandir | |
| 1966 | Mahakavi Kalidas | kAlathil azhiyAtha | Kalpana Kalamandir | |
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri... |
ariyathu kEtkinndRa | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
ALS Productions |
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri... |
murugA murugA | K. V. Mahadevan K. V. Mahadevan Krishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... |
ALS Productions |
| 1967 | Uyir Mel Aasai | kELu papa, kELu papa, kELvigaL aayiram kELu papa | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Ayyappan Productions |
| 1969 | Thunaivan | gnAnamum kalviyum | Dandayudhapani Films | |
| 1969 | Thunaivan | koNdAdum thiruchendu | Dandayudhapani Films | |
| 1969 | Thunaivan | pazhanimalai meedhilE kuzhandai vadivaagavE…jayamuNdu bayamillai | Dandayudhapani Films | |
| 1972 | Sakthi Leelai | amma…sakthiyenum deivam koNda padai veedu | T. K. Ramamoorthy T. K. Ramamoorthy T. K. Ramamurthy, Tiruchirapalli Krishnaswamy Ramamurthy, is a popular South Indian Tamil music composer and violinist. He hails from the from a family of violinists. He is popularly known as Mellisai Mannar . His major works are in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. Along with M. S... |
Raman Pictures |
| 1972 | Sakthi Leelai | T. K. Ramamoorthy T. K. Ramamoorthy T. K. Ramamurthy, Tiruchirapalli Krishnaswamy Ramamurthy, is a popular South Indian Tamil music composer and violinist. He hails from the from a family of violinists. He is popularly known as Mellisai Mannar . His major works are in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. Along with M. S... |
Raman Pictures | |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | OdungAl Odi uLLam urugi....thagathagavena aada vaa | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Eveeyaar Films |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | iRaivaa un pugazh pAduvEn | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Eveeyaar Films |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | piRavAtha varam vENdum | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Eveeyaar Films |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | pAdugingEn unnai pAdugingREn | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Eveeyaar Films |
| 1973 | Thirumalai Deivam | yEzhumalai irukka namakkenna manakkavalai | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Shanthi Combines |
| 1973 | Thirumalai Deivam | nAllelAm undhan thirunALE | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical music violinist.-Early life:He was born to Sri Ramaswamy Sastri and Smt. Meenakshi at Kunnakudi, a temple town of Lord Murugan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.His father was a scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, and a composer and exponent of... |
Shanthi Combines |
Political activism
Sundarambal and her husband S.G. Kittappa had been much influenced by the Indian independence movementIndian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
and they became ardent supporters of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. They had harnessed their popularity and talents to further that cause. Sundarambal continued to champion the movement, recording several gramophone discs extolling the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. She also made it a point to always wear khadi
Khadi
The term khādī or khaddar means cotton. khādī is Indian handspun and hand-woven cloth. The raw materials may be cotton, silk, or wool, which are spun into threads on a spinning wheel called a charkha. It is a versatile fabric, cool in the summer and warm in the winter...
. She often actively campaigned in support of Congress party candidates at various elections. After India gained independence, K.B. Sundarambal entered the Legislative Council of Madras State
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
in 1951 as a Congress nominee, thus becoming the first film artist to enter an Indian legislature.
Honours
In 1964, the Tamil Isai Sangam conferred upon her the title of "Tamil Isai Perarignar (Tamil Music Ace)." In 1970, the government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
awarded her the Padmashri for her contributions to the arts.
K.B.S had received two National Awards for her singing.
K.B. Sundarambal, artiste extraordinaire, died in October 1980.
Further reading
- Kodumudi Kokilam K.B. Sundarambal varalaru. Biography in TamilTamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
by P. Chozhanadan. Published by Rishabham Pathippagam, K.K. Nagar, Chennai 600 078.