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

(1916-09-15)15 September 1916
Died23 May 1973(1973-05-23) (aged 56)
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Writer, Poet
Known forFilm Lyricist
Parent(s)Father: Subbarayar
Mother: Balammal

Early life

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Kambadasan 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

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As 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

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He 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

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As actor

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Guy, Randor (26 June 2011). "Saalivaahanan 1945". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  3. ^ Guy, Randor (4 April 2008). "Mangayarkarasi 1949". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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

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