Kambadasan (1916–1973) was an Indian writer, poet and film lyricist who worked mainly in Tamil-language films.
Kambadasan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Appaavu a.k.a. Rajappa 15 September 1916 |
| Died | 23 May 1973 (aged 56) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, Poet |
| Known for | Film Lyricist |
| Parent(s) | Father: Subbarayar Mother: Balammal |
Early life
editKambadasan was born as Appaavu a.k.a. Rajappa at Ulagapuram, a village near Tindivanam in the then South Arcot District (Madras Presidency) on 15 September 1916. His father Subbarayar was a potter and his mother is Balammal. He was the only son to his parents whose other five children were all girls. The family migrated to Purasaivakkam in Chennai when he was a child. The school education came to an end with 6th standard.
He was interested in stage plays. With his fine voice, singing talents and ability to play the harmonium, he soon established a place for himself in stage dramas. Rajappa was devoted to poet Kambar and took his pen name as Kambadasan which means fanatic of Kambar.
Career
editAs a writer, he has written short stories, poems and plays.
With his talents, it was an easy entry for him into the Tamil cinema. He started as an actor and then developed into scriptwriter and lyricist. His debut as a lyricist was in Vaamana Avatharam (1940) in which he was credited as C. S. Rajappa.[1] He wrote the dialogues for Saalivaahanan (1945)[2] and as a popular lyricist with the hit song Arul Thaarum Deva Mathaave in Citadel's Gnana Soundari (1948). Another song Parthal pasi theerum sung by the erstwhile P. U. Chinnappa for the film Mangayarkarasi (1949) also was a hit. He was also featured as the court poet in this film.[3]
He was adept at writing for dubbed films. Many of the films dubbed from Hindi and Telugu were successful at the box office in Tamil mainly due to his dialogues and lyrics. The challenge for writing for dubbed films is to write lyrics with the tune already set and to suit the lip movements. A case in point for his success in such films is Vaanaratham (1956). Lata Mangeshkar who sang the original Hindi songs rendered the Tamil versions written by Kambadasan.[4]
Family life and death
editHe first married Chitralekha, a dancer and daughter of Malayalam poet Vallathol. The marriage did not last long and they separated soon. Then he married poet and school teacher Susheela. That marriage also failed. He married again a dancer Anusuya.[citation needed]
Kambadasan was admitted to Royapettah hospital due to failing health condition related to alcoholism, and he died on 23 May 1973.[citation needed]
Filmography
editAs actor
edit| Year | Film | Role | Director | Banner | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Draupadi Vastrapaharanam | R. Prakash | Sreenivas Cinetone | ||
| 1934 | Srinivasa Kalyanam | A. Narayanan | Sreenivasa Cinetone | ||
| 1949 | Mangayarkarasi[5] | Court Poet | Jiten Bannerjee | Bhagya Films |
As Script and Dialogues writer
edit| Year | Film | Director | Banner | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Poompaavai | Krishnan–Panju | Leo Films | Story |
| 1945 | Saalivaahanan | B. N. Rao | Bhaskar Pictures | Dialogues |
| 1949 | Mangayarkarasi | Jiten Bannerjee | Bhagya Pictures | Screenplay |
| 1949 | Naattiya Rani | B. N. Rao | Baskar Pictures | Story & Dialogues |
| 1952 | Thanthai | M. R. S. Mani | Excel Productions | Dialogues Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1953 | Avan Yaar | Antony Mitradas | Neela | Dialogues Dubbed from Malayalam |
As lyricist
edit| Year | Film | Music Director | Director | Banner | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Vaamana Avatharam | N. B. S. Mani | Prem Chethna | Lakshmi Films | Credited as C. S. Rajappa |
| 1942 | Aaraichimani | Srinivasa Rao Shinde | P. K. Raja Sandow | Kandhan Studio | |
| 1944 | Mahamaya | S. V. Venkatraman Kunnakkudi Venkatrama Iyer |
T. R. Raghunath | Jupiter Pictures | |
| 1948 | Gnana Soundari | S. V. Venkatraman | F. Nagoor, Joseph Thaliath Jr. | Citadel Film Corporation | |
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | S. V. Venkatraman | Joseph Thaliath Jr. | Citadel Film Corporation | |
| 1950 | Laila Majnu | S. V. Venkatraman | F. Nagoor | Balaji Pictures | |
| 1950 | Parijatham | C. R. Subburaman S. V. Venkatraman |
K. S. Gopalakrishnan | Lavanya Pictures | |
| 1951 | Vanasundari | S. V. Venkatraman C. R. Subburaman |
T. R. Raghunath | Krishna Pictures | |
| 1951 | Mayakkari | P. Adinarayana Rao | P. Sridhar | Aswini Pictures | Film made in Tamil and Telugu simultaneously |
| 1952 | Aan or Murattu Adiyal | Naushad | Mehboob Khan | Dubbed from Hindi | |
| 1952 | Pasiyin Kodumai | P. S. Diwakar | K. J. Mohan Rao | K & K Combines | Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1952 | Priyasakhi | Br Lakshmanan | G. R. Rao | Neela Productions | Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1952 | Shyamala | G. Ramanathan T. V. Raju Dinakar Rao |
P. A. Subba Rao | Yuva Pictures | |
| 1953 | Anbu | T. R. Pappa | M. Natesan | Natesh Art Pictures | |
| 1953 | Avan | Shankar Jaikishan | Raja Nawathe | R. K. Films | Dubbed from Hindi |
| 1953 | Avan Yaar | Brother Lakshmanan | Antony Mitradas | Neela | Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1953 | Poongodhai | P. Adinarayana Rao | L. V. Prasad | Anjali Pictures | Film made in Tamil and Telugu simultaneously |
| 1953 | Thanthai | P. S. Diwakar | M. R. S. Mani | Excel Productions | Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1955 | Kangal | S. V. Venkatraman G. Ramanathan |
Krishnan–Panju | Motion Picture Team | |
| 1955 | Maaman Magal | S. V. Venkatraman | R. S. Mani | Mani Productions | |
| 1956 | Kannin Manigal | S. V. Venkatraman | T. Janakiraman | Maheswari Pictures | |
| 1956 | Kudumba Vilakku | T. R. Pappa | F. Nagoor | Nagoor Cine Productions | |
| 1956 | Marma Veeran | Vedha | T. R. Raghunath | Mehboob Studio | |
| 1956 | Moondru Pengal | C. N. Pandurangan | R. S. Prakash | Jayasri Lakshmi Pictures | |
| 1956 | Nannambikkai | S. V. Venkatraman | K. Vembu Charlie |
Film Centre | |
| 1956 | Vaanaratham | Naushad | S. U. Sunny | Sunny Art Productions | Dubbed from Hindi |
| 1957 | Magathala Nattu Mary | R. Parthasarathy | S. S. Rajan | Jaikumar Pictures | |
| 1958 | Avan Amaran | T. M. Ibrahim | S. Balachander | Beaubills Films | |
| 1959 | Kalaivaanan | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | P. Pullaiah | Sharadha Films | |
| 1959 | Manimekalai | G. Ramanathan | V. S. Raghavan | Sekar Art Film Enterprises | |
| 1959 | Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa | V. Krishnamoorthi | Muktha Srinivasan | Jagajothi Films | |
| 1959 | Yaanai Valartha Vaanambadi | Br Lakshmanan | P. Subramaniam | Neela | Dubbed from Malayalam |
| 1961 | Akbar | Naushad | K. Asif | Sterling Investment Corporation | Dubbed from Hindi |
| 1962 | Mahaveera Bheeman | M. S. Gnanamani | S. A. Subbaraman | Jaikumar Pictures | |
| 1963 | Kubera Theevu | C. N. Pandurangan | G. Viswanathan | Nithyakalyani Films |
References
edit- ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (26 June 2011). "Saalivaahanan 1945". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (4 April 2008). "Mangayarkarasi 1949". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Nitya Menon (5 October 2014). "When the south got a taste of her music". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017.
Bibliography
edit- "பிறவிக் கவிஞர்களுள் ஒருவர் கம்பதாசன்" [Kambadasan, One of the born poets]. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017., Dinamani
- "காலம் மறந்து விட்ட காதலும் கண்ணீரும் தந்த கவிஞர் கம்பதாசன்" [Forgotten poet Kambadasan who gave love and tears]. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
- G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014.
- G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition November 2016.
External links
edit- Kambadasan songs
- A list of his published works can be seen in the Tamil Wiki article Kambadasan