N. S. Krishnan

Nagercoil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan, (Tamil : நாகர்கோயில் சுடலைமுத்து கிருஷ்ணன்) popularly known as Kalaivanar (lit. 'Lover of arts') and also as NSK was an Indian film actor-comedian, theatre artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry – in the 1940s and 1950s. He is considered as the "Charlie Chaplin of India."[1]

N. S. Krishnan
Born	(1908-11-29)29 November 1908 Nagercoil, Southern Division, Travancore (now part of Tamil Nadu, India)
Died	30 August 1957(1957-08-30) (aged 48) Madras, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1935–1957
Spouse(s)	1931 Nagammal, 1939 T. A. Madhuram, T. A. Vembammal
Children	Kolappan Nagammal
Parent(s)	Father : Sudalaimuthu Mother : EsakkiAmmal

Born in Ozhuginachery, Nagercoil, in the princely state of Travancore, India on 29 November 1908, his stage and cine-screen comedy performances were unique and always carried a message for the people. "Kalaivanar" N. S. Krishnan died at the age of 49, on 30 August 1957.

Career

N. S. Krishnan started his career as a Villu Paatu artist (the Tamil way of reciting stories while singing songs and playing a musical instrument in the form of a bow called "Villu"), He later became involved in Tamil drama and stage shows, as were many film artistes. At one time, he owned a touring drama company. When cinema gradually became popular in South India, he entered the Tamil film world to become one of the most leading Tamil comedians ever, with a unique style. He generally wrote his own comedy dialogues and expressed them in his drama and films so that the message came across, but the subject was not offended.

He acted in nearly 150 Tamil films and the matinee-duo of N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram (later his wife) was very popular in his day; he also did roles along with leading stage and cine artists such as T. S. Durairaj, "Pulimootai" Ramasamy, C.S. Pandian and writers such as Udumalai Narayana Kavi and Subbu Armugham and gave a number of hits. He was a talented singer and his hits include "Sivakavi", "Raja Rani", and "Manamagal".

Though he was more popular among the Tamil populace as a film comedian, Kalaivanar was instrumental in bringing a number of leading Tamil stage and film personalities to the fore. He was a Gandhian, patriot and philanthropist, yet a very controversial figure — with his name linked to a murder and marital controversies.

Personal life

He was married to actress T. A. Madhuram. His grandson NSK Rajan has acted in the film Nagareega Komaali (2006).[2][3] His granddaughters Anu Vardhan and Ramya NSK are working as costume designer and playback singer in the film industry respectively.[4][5]

Controversies

During the mid-1940s, he and M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar were arrested for suspicion of a murder famously known as Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku (Lakshmikanthan Murder Case). They were convicted and later released on appeal to the Privy Council.

When Bhagavathar and NSK were flying very high in fame in drama, cinema and concerts, fate interfered in the form of Lakshmikanthan. C. N. Lakshmikanthan or Lakshmikantham was a famous film journalist of Madras Presidency. His foray into journalism began in 1943 when he launched a film weekly called Cinema Thoothu, which was extremely successful. He wrote extensive columns devoted to the personal lives of some of the top actors and actresses of the day. Many actors and actresses responded by paying large amounts of money to "buy" his silence. As a result, Lakshmikanthan set up a prosperous vocation.

Eventually, matters reached a standstill when film actors M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, N. S. Krishnan and film director Sreeramulu Naidu submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Madras, Arthur Oswald James Hope, requesting him to revoke the license for the magazine. Hope obliged and the license for the magazine was cancelled. Lakshmikanthan tried to run the magazine with forged documents but, after a few months, he was forced to close shop.

Unfazed, Lakshmikanthan set up a new magazine called Hindu Nesan, in which he continued his scandalous stories on Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Krishnan and a few other top actors, actresses and movie people of the day. The tactics paid huge dividends and Lakshmikanthan purchased his own printing press.

On 8 November 1944, he was attacked by some people with a knife in Purasawalkam, in downtown Madras. He was admitted to the General Hospital, Madras as an outpatient: The wound was not serious enough. In his statement to the police, he did not name anyone as the accused, but only stated that someone had attacked him. He was found very jovial at the police station as he was in the hospital. During his treatment, it was reported that he wanted to expose the murderers involved in the Boat Mail murder. (A train named Boat mail used to run between Madras and the then Dhanushkoti station.) A rich banker from Devakottai was murdered in the train between Chengalpet and Madras. A notable singer-cum-actress who traveled with the banker was missing/fled when the train reached Madras. The political backing this singer had kept the truth about the real killers under the carpet. The killers saw to it that the case should not come to the court for trial. There is another version which says that Lakshikanthan was murdered by this group and not by NSK/MKT.

But on 9 November 1944, Lakshmikanthan died mysteriously in the hospital. He was murdered. The police, based on the statement made by Lakshmikanthan's bodyguard, arrested eight persons as accused for the murder. Among them were Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan. This came as a rude shock to their fans and the cine world.

After usual committal proceedings before the Madras Presidency Magistrate, the case came up for hearing at the Madras High court before Justice Vere Mockett. A group of brilliant lawyers – V. T. Rangasamy Iyengar, Rajagopalachariar (Rajaji), Braddel, B.T. Sundararajan, Govind Swaminathan, Srinivasagopal and K. M. Munshi – argued the case for the accused. After a prolonged trial, the jury found MKT and NSK guilty with four others.

Appeals were heard by a bench of the High Court consisting of Lionel Leach, Chief Justice of Madras, Justice K.P. Lakshmana Rao and Advocate General K. Rajah Iyer. The appeals were filed by the then leading members of the Bar, V.V. Srinivasa Iyengar and Sri V.C. Gopalarathnam. The appeals were dismissed.

MKT and NSK filed an appeal in the Privy Council, London which was the highest court of appeal. A British barrister, D. N. Pritt, appeared for them. Privy Council referred the case back to India for a fresh appraisal.

The appeal came up before a bench of two judges: Justice Happel and Justice Sahabuddin (who migrated to Pakistan in 1947 during partition of India and retired as Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court). V. L. Ethiraj, a successful barrister appeared for MKT and NSK, He argued that the judges had not properly directed the jury and the evidences of doubtful nature have not been properly assessed. Ethiraj convinced the judges that all the witnesses produced against MKT and NSK were tutored and coached; there were many inconsistencies in their evidence and statements; and the case had many loopholes. The judges agreed and acquitted MKT and NSK. One of the judges who heard the remanded appeal remarked in the court that the knife produced as evidence cannot even kill a rat.

MKT, NSK and four others came out of prison after 30 months. Experts and laymen felt that the truth about the real killers of Lakshmikanthan has not come out and MKT, NSK and others were the unfortunate victims of the game of power politics.

The killers were never found. Bhagavathar never regained his lost fame.

Later, NSK resumed acting in movies, but his jail term and fight for justice made him penurious. His wealth was lost in fighting the case and so was the case of co-accused Bagavathar. Haridas, which was released while he was in jail ran for three consecutive Deepavalies with packed houses. People crowded the theatre, as they felt they would not have another chance to see their superstar on the silver screen.

Death

N.S. Krishnan had been undergoing treatment for hepatitis since August 12, 1957. He died at the General Hospital, Madras on August 30, 1957 following complications of the disease.[6]

Legacy

• The leading Tamil Nadu politician and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu 'Kalaignar' Karunanidhi, when asked once by a journalist (of the Tamil magazine Kumudham) about who the non-political hero in his life was, answered it was Kalaivanar. Karunanidhi knew him well and worked in some of his film projects.
• Kalaivanar was an active member of the Dravidian Movement. Kalaivanar Arangam (or Kalaivanar Arts Centre) was named after him.[7] The building is one of the leading landmarks in the city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.

Filmography

As Actor

No	Year	Film	Language	Co-stars	Role	Other notes
1	1960	Raja Desingu	Tamil	MGR, S. S. Rajendran, P. Bhanumathi, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram		This movie was released after his death
2	1960	Arasilangkumari	Tamil	MGR
3	1959	Thozhan	Tamil			This movie was released after his death
4	1958	Thanga Padhumai	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini	Chinnaiya
5	1957	Ambikapathy	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram		N. S. Krishnan died before the completion of this film
6	1957	Chakravarthi Thirumagal	Tamil	MGR, Anjali Devi, S. Varalakshmi
7	1956	Yaar Paiyan	Tamil	Gemini Ganesan, K. Savithri, T. A. Madhuram
7	1956	Manimekalai	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram
8	1956	Balya Chakram	Tamil
9	1956	Asai	Tamil	Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram
10	1956	Raja Rani	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram
11	1956	Laila Majnu	Tamil
13	1956	Madurai Veeran	Tamil	MGR, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram	Cobbler
14	1956	Rangoon Radha	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, P. Bhanumathi	Naidu
15	1955	Kalacharam	Tamil
16	1955	Kannin Manigal	Tamil
17	1955	Sri Ratna	Tamil
18	1955	Athiroopa Amaravathi	Tamil
19	1955	Paditha Muttal	Tamil
20	1955	Pudhu Vazhvu	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Lalitha, Padmini, Madhuri Devi, T. A. Madhuram
21	1955	Maha Sakthi	Tamil
22	1955	Nan Nambikkai	Tamil
23	1955	Governors Cup	Telugu
24	1955	Nam Kuzhandai	Tamil
25	1955	Kudumba Villakku	Tamil
26	1955	Doctor Savithri	Tamil
27	1955	Kaveri	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, Lalitha, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram
28	1955	Mudhal Thethi	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, Anjali Devi, T. A. Madhuram
29	1954	Nalla Kalam	Tamil			Directed by Krishnan-Panju
30	1953	Thalapathi	Tamil
31	1953	Nadigan	Tamil
32	1952	Amarakavi	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Rajakumari, B. S. Saroja, T. A. Madhuram
33	1952	Panam	Tamil	Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram
34	1952	Manathodu Vazh	Tamil
35	1952	Thottakkaran	Tamil
36	1952	Ragasiyam	Tamil
37	1951	Vanasundari	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari, S. Varalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
38	1950	Parijatham	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, T. A. Madhuram
39	1950	Manamagal	Tamil	Lalitha, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram
40	1949	Viswamitra	Tamil
41	1949	Rathnakumar	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, MGR, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram
42	1949	Pavalakkodi	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam
43	1949	Inbavalli	Tamil
44	1949	Kanniyin Kaadhali	Tamil
45	1949	Macha Rekai	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, S. Varalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
46	1949	Thambi Durai	Tamil
47	1949	Mangaiyarkkarasi	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, Anjali Devi, T. A. Madhuram
48	1949	Nallathambi	Tamil	P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram	Zamindar
49	1948	Chandralekha	Tamil	M. K. Radha, Ranjan, T. R. Rajakumari, T. A. Madhuram
50	1948	Samsara Nouka	Tamil			only T. A. Madhuram
51	1947	Sri Valli	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, Rukmini, T. A. Madhuram
52	1947	Paithiyakkaran	Tamil	M. G. Ramachandran
53	1949	Pavalakkodi	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, T. E. Varadhan, T. A. Madhuram
54	1947	Brahma Rishi Vishvamitra	Tamil			The film was first released and did not perform well in box-office, then the comedy track was added
55	1947	Pankaja Valli	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari, T. A. Madhuram
56	1949	Krishna Bakthi	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, K. R. Ramaswamy, T. A. Madhuram
57	1947	Kannika	Tamil	T. E. Varadhan, M. S. Sarojini, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
58	1946	Arthanari	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Ramachandran, T. A. Madhuram
59	1946	Deva Dasi	Tamil
60	1944	Mahamaya	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, T. A. Madhuram
61	1945	Burma Rani	Tamil	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, K. L. V. Vasantha, T. A. Madhuram
62	1945	Baktha Kalathi	Tamil	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, K. Thavamani Devi, T. A. Madhuram
62	1945	Paranjothi	Tamil	K. Sarangkapani, V. A. Chellappa, T. A. Madhuram
63	1945	Chow Chow – Kalikala Minor, School Drama, Soora Puli	Tamil
64	1945	Saalivaahanan	Tamil	Ranjan, T. R. Rajakumari, M. G. Ramachandran, T. A. Madhuram
65	1944	Raja Rajeshwari	Tamil	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, K. L. V. Vasantha		only T. A. Madhuram
66	1946	Valmiki	Tamil
67	1944	Haridas	Tamil			For the first time in Tamil cinema history, Haridas ran successfully for 110 weeks in Chennai Broadway Talkies. Was screened from 16 October 1944 to 22 November 1946
68	1944	Poompavai	Tamil	K. R. Ramaswamy, U. R. Jeevarathinam, T. A. Madhuram
69	1944	Bharthruhari	Tamil	Serukulathur Sama, B. Jayamma
70	1944	Jagathalaprathapan	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. A. Madhuram
71	1944	Prabhavathi	Tamil	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, T. R. Rajakumari, T. A. Madhuram
73	1943	Aswini	Tamil
74	1943	Bagya Lakshmi	Telugu
75	1944	Harischandra	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba
76	1943	Mangamma Sapatham	Tamil	Ranjan, Vasundhara Devi, T. A. Madhuram
77	1943	Sivakavi	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
78	1943	Kubera Kuchela	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. A. Madhuram
79	1943	Arunthathi	Tamil	C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam, T. A. Madhuram
80	1942	Emantha Sonagiri	Tamil
81	1942	Kathambam	Tamil
82	1942	Manonmani	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari, T. A. Madhuram
83	1942	Prithiviraj	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, A. Sakunthala, T. A. Madhuram
84	1942	Panchamirtham (Naadaga Medai & Thiruvaazhatthaan)	Tamil
85	1943	Dhaasippen or Jothi Malar	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, M. G. Ramachandran, T. A. Madhuram
86	1942	Sivalinga Satchi	Tamil
87	1942	Kannagi	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, T. A. Madhuram
88	1942	Krishna Pidaran	Tamil	Kothamangalam Seenu, T. A. Madhuram
89	1942	Aaraiychi Mani or Manuneethi Cholan	Tamil	P. B. Rangachari, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
90	1941	Iru Nanbargal	Tamil
91	1941	Vedha Vathi or Seetha Jananam	Tamil	M. R. Krishnamoorthi, M. G. Ramachandran, T. A. Madhuram
92	1941	Chandra Hari	Tamil	T. A. Madhuram
93	1941	Izhandha Kadhal (Lost Love)[8]	Tamil	C. S. Jayaraman, T. A. Madhuram
94	1941	Ashok Kumar	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. G. Ramachandran
95	1941	Aryamala	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, T. A. Madhuram
96	1941	Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum	Tamil	T. A. Madhuram
97	1940	Sakunthalai	Tamil	M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam, T. A. Madhuram, T. S. Durairaj
98	1940	Parasuramar	Tamil	U. R. Jeevarathinam, T. A. Madhuram
99	1940	Manimekalai or Bala Saniyasi	Tamil	K. B. Sundarambal, Kothamangalam Seenu, T. A. Madhuram		In those days there were movies that had 2 titles
100	1940	Bhoologa Rambai	Tamil	T. K. Shanmugam, K. L. V. Vasantha, T. A. Madhuram
101	1940	Sathi Murali	Tamil	M. K. Radha, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
102	1942	Naveena Vikramadityan or Buddhimaan Balavaan Avaan	Tamil	T. A. Madhuram		First ever spoof movie in Tamil. Trolled a movie named Vikramadityan
103	1940	Chandraguptha Chanakya	Tamil	N. C. Vasanthakokilam, T. A. Madhuram
103	1940	Tharuthalai Thangavelu	Tamil	T. A. Madhuram
104	1940	Naveena Tenali Raman	Tamil	T. A. Madhuram
105	1940	Uthama Puthiran	Tamil	P. U. Chinnappa, M. V. Rajamma, T. A. Madhuram
106	1940	Sirikkathe	Tamil			Consist of five stories under one single title (an innovative idea in those days) the titles where:Adangka Pidari, Puli Vettai, Poli Panchali, Malai Kannan, Yama Vathanai
107	1940	Kalamegam	Tamil	T. N. Rajarathnam, S. P. L. Dhanalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram
108	1939	Prahaladha	Tamil	T. R. Mahalingam, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, R. Balasubramaniam, M. G. Ramachandran
109	1939	Rambaiyin Kaadhal	Tamil	K. Sarangkapani, K. L. V. Vasantha, T. A. Madhuram
110	1939	Pommi Kalyanam	Tamil
111	1939	Madurai Veeran	Tamil
112	1939	Sri Math Ramalinga Swamigal	Tamil
113	1939	Maya Machindra	Tamil	M. K. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran
114	1939	Manikkavasagar	Tamil	M. M. Dandapani Desikar
115	1939	Thiruneelakantar	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
116	1939	Aanandha Ashramam	Tamil	P. B. Rangachari, C. V. V. Panthulu
117	1940	Krishnan Thoothu	Tamil	Serukulathur Sama, P. Kannamba, T. A. Madhuram
118	1938	Dakshayagnam	Tamil	V. A. Chelappa, M. M. Radhabai
119	1937	Balamani	Tamil
120	1936	Chandra Kantha	Tamil	Kali N. Rathnam, P. U. Chinnappa
121	1937	Baktha Thulasidass	Tamil
122	1937	Ambikapathy	Tamil	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
123	1936	Vasantha Sena	Tamil	V. A. Chellappa, S. P. L. Dhanalakshmi, M. S. Vijayal
124	1936	Sathi Leelavathi	Tamil	M. K. Radha, MGR
125	1935	Menaka	Tamil	T. K. Shanmugam, T. K. Baghavathi, T. K. Sankaran, T. K. Muthurswamy

As Director

• Panam (1952) – Dialogues by M Karunanidhi
• Manamagal (1951) – Dialogues by M Karunanidhi
• Pelli Koothuru (1951)

References

1. ""The generous comic genius"". Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
2. "Stargazing". The Hindu. 17 February 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
3. "A rich lineage for them - Tamil News". 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
4. "Weaves of fortune". The Hindu. 6 December 2001. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
5. Kamath, Sudhish (3 September 2012). "The MAESTro's MAGIC continues". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
6. "dated August 31, 1957: N.S. Krishnan dead". The Hindu. 31 August 2007. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
7. Nov 26, Ajitha Karthikeyan | TNN |; 2009; Ist, 00:37. "Curtains down on landmark auditorium Kalaivanar Arangam | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
8. Sundararaj Theodore Baskaran The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema 1996 Page 215 " Udumalai Narayana Kavi ... N.S.Krishnan invited him to work in his film Lost Love/Izhanda Kathal (1941)"

External links

• N.S. Krishnan on IMDb