Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan (1905-57)
Legendary Tamil film comedian, stage actor and political activist. Born in Nagerkoyil, in former Travancore. Joined the TKS Brothers drama troupe aged 17, replacing the comedian and film star M.R. Swaminathan (seen in e.g. 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chintamani, 1947). Was already a noted stage star when débuting in the TKS Brothers production of Raja Sandow’s Menaka. Early films with Sandow (Vasantsena, Chandrakantha) where he met his wife and long-term comedy partner T.A. Mathuram (1918-1974). Played the lead role in Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, establishing his distinctive brand of comedy. Classic screen image developed Kattiyankaran folk theatre conventions with a separate sub-plot and spoken dialect as opposed to the high-flown Elangovan-type language (e.g. playing fishermen with T.S. Dorairaj in Shakuntalai; Mudhal Thedi). In this style, the comedian can address the audience directly and allude to topical events (e.g. his funny song in Paithiakaran, referring to his jail sentence; his lines in the costumed period movie Amarakavi referring to a recent visit to the USSR). The style is enhanced by the comic but politically strident lyrics of Udumalai Narayana Kavi, written specially for Krishnan (e.g. Nallathambi). Initially a Marxist sympathiser and a friend of Pa. Jeevanandan (whom he sheltered when the CP was banned), Krishnan became first a nationalist and then a DMK supporter, producing C.N. Annadurai’s DMK Film Nallathambi, directing Panam and acting in the Karunanidhi-scripted Raja Rani and Rangoon Radha. Together with M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, he was convicted of murdering the gossip columnist Lakshmikantan although he proclaimed his innocence all his life. His wife started the N.S.K. Nataka (aka Eneskay Nataka Sabha) staging plays mainly directed by and featuring the star S.V. Sahasranamam. Their best-known play is P. Neelakantan’s nationalistic Nam Iruvar, later filmed (1947) by the AVM Studio. The company débuted in film production with Paithiakaran; their best-known productions are Nallathambi and the Krishnan-directed Manamagal and Panam. Panam, a major DMK film, featured the Parasakthi (1952) combination of writer Karunanidhi and star Ganesan while Krishnan sang a pro-DMK song. It also featured documentary footage of a DMK Party conference. Biography by Narayanan (1992).
FILMOGRAPHY (* also d): 1935: Menaka; 1936: Vasantsena; Chandrakantha; Sati Leelavathi; 1937: Ambikapathy; Balamani; 1938: Dakshayagnam; 1939: Thiruneelakantar; Maya Machhindra; Manikavasagar; Ramalinga Swamigal; Rambayin Kadhal; Sirikathe; Ananda Ashramam; Prahlada; 1940: Bhakta Tulsidas; Naveena Tenali Raman; Parasuramar; Naveena Vikramadithan; Budhiman Balwan Ivan; Kalamegham; Mani Mekalai; Bhuloka Rambha; Shakuntalai; Uthama Puthran; 1941: Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum; Ezhanda Kadal; Ashok Kumar; Vedavathi; Aryamala; Krishnapidaran; Chandrahari; 1942: Kannagi; Prithvirajan; Sivalinga Satchi; Manonmani; 1943: Arundhati; Sivakavi; Mangamma Sapatham; Bhagya Lakshmi; 1944: Burma Rani; Mahamaya; Bhartrahari (Tam); Jagathala Prathapan; Prabhavati; Poompavai; Raja Rajeshwari; Haridas; Salivahanan; Kalikala Minor; Palli Natakam; Soora Puli; 1945: Paranjoti; Bhakta Kalathi; Srivalli; 1946: Pankajavalli; 1947: Paithiakaran; Kannika; 1948: Devadasi; Chandralekha; Krishna Bhakti; 1949: Nallathambi; Ratnakumar; Mangayar Karasi; Inbavalli; Pavalakkodi; 1950: Laila Majnu; Parijatham; 1951: Manamagal/Pelli? Koothuru*; Vanasundari; 1952: Panam*; Amarakavi; 1954: Nallakalam; 1955: Mudhal Thedi; Kaveri; Nam Kuzhandai; Dr Savithri; Stree Ratna; 1956: Raja Rani; Nannambikkai; Asai; Madurai Veeran; Kannin Manigal; Kudumba Vilakku; Rangoon Radha; 1957: Chakravarthi Thirumagal; Pudhu Vazhvu; Yar Paiyan; Ambikapathy; 1959: Thangapathumai; 1960: Raja Desingu; Thozhan; 1961: Arasilankumari.