M. K. Kamalam
Encyclopedia
M. K. Kamalam was an India
n actress in Malayalam cinema
. She was the heroine in the first Malayalam talkie film, Balan
(1938).
as the third daughter of Kumarakam Mangat Kochupanicker, a music teacher, and his wife Karthyayini.
Aside from acting, she was also active in music. Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar
was her first music teacher. She also trained under Thomas Punnan, Narayanan Bhagavathar, Ochira Raman Bhagavathar, and Kottayam Sankunni Nair.
, and actor Alleppey Vincent who were all watching the play. Aged 15, she acted in the first Malayalam "talkie" film, Balan
(1938).
Kamalam also sang a trio of songs in her first movie in which the song Jagadeeswara Jayajaya became quite popular. Kamalam's was the first Malayalam voice ever heard on the sound track of a film as her debut film was the first audio movie in the language. Her acting in the movie was considered quite bold because at that time it was uncommon for a woman to act in movies or even in state plays.
After her appearance in a movie, she went on to become popular in stage plays. Due to her contract with the stage company, she could not take any offers from movies until much when she filmed a movie called Bhootharaayar which was never released due to the death of the producer Thrissur Appan Thampuran. Bhootharaayar was also actor S. P. Pillai
's debut film.
Plays in which she appeared include Sree Narayana Guru
, Anarkali
, Magdalana Mariyam, Kochu Seetha, and Marakkanavatha Manushyan. She retired from acting in 1964 only to return 10 years later to appear in the film, Sayahnam. Her final stage appearance was in Jeevitham Avasanikkunnilla, written by Thrissur Nadaka Kalasamithi.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n actress in Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
. She was the heroine in the first Malayalam talkie film, Balan
Balan (film)
Balan is a 1938 Malayalam film directed by S. Nottani. It was the first talkie in Malayalam. Based on the short story Vidhiyum Mrs. Nayarum by A. Sundaram, its screenplay and dialogues are written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film is a melodrama and was the first movie in this genre in...
(1938).
Personal life
Kamalam was born in 1923 at KottayamKottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
as the third daughter of Kumarakam Mangat Kochupanicker, a music teacher, and his wife Karthyayini.
Aside from acting, she was also active in music. Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar
Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar
Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar was a Malayalam theatre actor, singer, and author. He is known for his contributions to Malayalam sangeetha natakam...
was her first music teacher. She also trained under Thomas Punnan, Narayanan Bhagavathar, Ochira Raman Bhagavathar, and Kottayam Sankunni Nair.
Career
She appeared in her first play Allirani when she was seven. She acted in it with her father. She got the invitation to act in a movie while she was acting in a play called Vichithravijayam. She was selected from the five ladies who were in the play by director S. Nattani, producer T. R. SundaramT. R. Sundaram
Tiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram was a Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sinhalese film actor, director and iconic film producer...
, and actor Alleppey Vincent who were all watching the play. Aged 15, she acted in the first Malayalam "talkie" film, Balan
Balan (film)
Balan is a 1938 Malayalam film directed by S. Nottani. It was the first talkie in Malayalam. Based on the short story Vidhiyum Mrs. Nayarum by A. Sundaram, its screenplay and dialogues are written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film is a melodrama and was the first movie in this genre in...
(1938).
Kamalam also sang a trio of songs in her first movie in which the song Jagadeeswara Jayajaya became quite popular. Kamalam's was the first Malayalam voice ever heard on the sound track of a film as her debut film was the first audio movie in the language. Her acting in the movie was considered quite bold because at that time it was uncommon for a woman to act in movies or even in state plays.
After her appearance in a movie, she went on to become popular in stage plays. Due to her contract with the stage company, she could not take any offers from movies until much when she filmed a movie called Bhootharaayar which was never released due to the death of the producer Thrissur Appan Thampuran. Bhootharaayar was also actor S. P. Pillai
S. P. Pillai
S. P. Pillai was an Indian film and stage actor, best known for his comic roles in Malayalam films.-Biography:S. P. Pillai was born in 1913 in Ettumanoor, Kottayam. His father Shankara Pillai, was a police constable. Pillai lost his parents at a young age itself...
's debut film.
Plays in which she appeared include Sree Narayana Guru
Sree Narayana Guru (film)
Sree Narayana Guru is a 1985 Malayalam film directed by P. A. Backer and produced by A. Jaffer. It won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration....
, Anarkali
Anarkali (1966 film)
Anarkali is a 1966 Malayalam romance film based on the historical love story between Prince Salim and Anarkali. Directed and produced by Kunchacko, the film was a direct adaptation of the 1953 Hindi film of the same name. The film stars Prem Nazir and K. R...
, Magdalana Mariyam, Kochu Seetha, and Marakkanavatha Manushyan. She retired from acting in 1964 only to return 10 years later to appear in the film, Sayahnam. Her final stage appearance was in Jeevitham Avasanikkunnilla, written by Thrissur Nadaka Kalasamithi.