Nagercoil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan ( NSK), popularly known as Kalaivanar NSK, was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer and screenwriter in the early stages of the Tamil film industry. He is considered as the "Charlie Chaplin of India.

 

Personal life:

 

 

 

He was born  into a Vellalar family in Ozhuginasery, Nagercoil, in the princely state of Travancore, India on 29 November 1908, to Sudalaimuthu Pillai and Isaki Ammal.

 

 

He was first married to Nagammai and then to actress T.A.Madhuram later to her younger sister T.A.Vembammal. NSK had seven children through Vembhu.

 

He was known for his unique comedic style and for pairing with his wife, T.A. Madhuram, in many films, often being featured prominently in movie posters alongside the lead actors.

 

 Early Life and Career:

 

N.S. Krishnan came from an impoverished family and  had to support his family’s sustenance by pulling carts from a young age. He was a pioneer in Tamil cinema's transition from silent films to talkies. Before he entered the cinema arena he was a consummate “villu pattu” artist, where Nationalistic, Societal thoughts were sung. The first film he acted was Sathi Leelavathi but film Menaka was released first in 1935, which was touted as the first social film in Tamil cinema. NSK brought about the change in dialogue delivery, humour, so that they had to be meaningful and watchable with family audiences. His humour and comedy are still alive in the minds of his avid fans.

 

In all his films there were messages of Nationalism, social evils like removal of superstitions, denial of caste barriers, campaigns against alcoholism, gambling, black-marketing, and untouchability, all laced with humour never hurting anyone’s feelings and sensitivity in the process.

 

 

 

He was a Gandhian at heart but publicly a Dravidian sympathizer. True to himself he built a memorial for Gandhi in his hometown Nagercoil.

 

 

Kalaivanar was an active member of the Dravidian Movement. Kalaivanar Arangam was named after him. The building is one of the leading landmarks in the city of Chennai and  houses the Tamil Nadu.

 

He started the Indian Film artists Association in 1953 and become the President of the Association in 1957. He was also chosen as the Honorary President for Tamil Dramatists Association and Nagercoil Tennis Club (Kalaivanar was working as a ball picker for Rs. 3 in his childhood days).

 

 

In his lifetime NSK was conferred the  title “KALAIVANAR” in the year 1947 by the Nataraja Educational Society. “NAGASUVAI ARASU” by Vishwanatham, “PURATCHI VIKATA VENDAN” by Poet Bharathidasan.

 

 

 

N. S. Krishnan delivered a speech on his impressions of the Soviet Union, which was transcribed and published in a book called "Kalaivanar Kanda Russia" (The Artiste Sees Russia). The book includes a transcript of his speech on the Soviet Union, specifically focused on his travel experiences.

 

As a mark of respect and remembrance the ruling Tamil Nadu government then in 1969, erected and unveiled the statue of NSK on G N Chetty Road, T Nagar.

 

 

 

NS Krishnan worked in as many as 150 films, the last of which ‘Raja Desingu’ was released after his death.Krishnan was also a gifted singer and his numbers in ‘Sivakavi’, ‘Raja Rani’ and ‘Manamagal’ became immensely popular. A noted lyricist of the time Udumalai Narayana Kavi usually wrote the lyrics for Krishnan.Krishnan worked with Thiagaraja Bhagavathar in hits like ‘Ambikapathy,‘Thiruneelakantar’ and ‘Haridas’  with MGR in ‘Sathi Leelavathi’’, ‘Arasilankumari’, ‘Madurai Veeran’ and ‘Chakravarthi Thirumagal’. S V Sahasranam, and Subbu Arumugam were responsible for script writing.

 

 

 

He also worked in films where the dialogues were penned by M Karunanidhi. The dialogues for films like ‘Panam’ and ‘Manamagal’ directed by NS Krishnan were written by him. SS Vasan’s magnum opus ‘Chandralekha’ which starred MK Radha, Ranjan and TR Rajakumari in the lead roles also featured Krishnan in his trademark comic avatar. There was a time in Tamil cinema when no film was complete without the celebrated comedian.

 

 

Krishnan also produced films like ‘Nallathambi’, directed by CN Annadurai who later became the CM of Tamil Nadu, which was a major hit.

 

 

 

Achievements:

 

NSK did many achievements which were first of the kind. NSK is the

 

First actor

 

1.     to complete 100 films

2.     to act with real life pair T A Madhuram for maximum number of movies

3.     Who was given complete freedom by director and producer to choose comedy track and songs in the way he wanted.

 

First comedian

 

1.     Who had "short scenes" already filmed with separate troupe and sold them to producers to include them in the upcoming movies

2.     whose "short scenes" were included in few movies after they failed at the box office to boost up the collection

3.     Who became a producer, writer and director as well.

4.     to convey messages on superstition and social/political reforms through the songs

 

Farewell:

 

 

 

During his last days, when he was ailing, NSK was admitted to the General Hospital all the artistes including M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagawadhar and MGR visited him and comforted him .NSK didn't lose his sense of humor and talked to all his friends and relatives with humor dominating his talk.  "Kalaivanar" N. S. Krishnan died at the age of 48, on 30 August 1957. The hospital was thronged with his fans and friends. It was said that when he died  a large number of people visited to pay the last tribute. Tamil Cinema  produced  lot of comedians but no one reached the fame and versatility that NSK had. NSK succeeded in winning a special place in the heart of all the Tamils, not only in Tamil Nadu but also in all the states and countries.

 

Comedy with a cause — Kalaivanar’s voice still echoes !!