- N. S. Krishnan
-
'Kalaivanar' N. S. Krishnan Born November 29, 1908
Nagercoil, Travancore, IndiaDied August 30, 1957 (aged 48)
IndiaOccupation Actor Years active 1935-1957 Spouse T. A. Madhuram Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan (Tamil: நாகர்கோயில் சுடலைமுத்து கிருஷ்ணன்), popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s.
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.
Contents
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') and later became involved in Tamil drama and stage shows, as were so many film artistes in his days, and at one-time owned his own touring drama company; and when cinema gradually became popular in South India, he entered the Tamil film world to become one of the leading Tamil film comedians ever, with a unique style. He generally wrote his own comedy dialogues and expressed them in his drama and films in such a way that the message was carried across, but the subject to whom it was intended was not offended.
He acted in nearly 150 Tamil films and the matinee-duo of N S krishnan and T. A. Madhuram (later his better half) in Tamil films was very popular in his days; he also did roles along with leading stage and cine artists of his time like T. S. Durairaj, 'Pulimootai' Ramasamy, C.S. Pandian and writers like Udumalai Narayana Kavi and Subbu Armugham and gave a number of hits in those days. He was also a talented singer and hits include Sivakavi, Raja Rani, and Manamagal.
Though he was more popular among the Tamil populace as a film comedian (and even in the modern day he is remembered for that), Kalaivanar was instrumental in bringing a number of leading Tamil stage and film personalities of his days to the fore; he was also a Gandhian, patriot and philanthropist, yet a very controversial figure - with his name linked to a murder and also some marital controversies.
Controversies
During Mid 1940s he and M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar were arrested for suspicion of murder famously known during that time as Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku (Lakshmikanthan Murder Case), both were convicted and later released on appeal with privy council.
When MKT and NSK were flying very high in fame in drama, cinema and concerts, fate interfered in the form of Lakshmikanthan. Lakshmikanthan, a notorious criminal with a perverted mind, edited a yellow magazine called 'Hindu Nesan'. Lakshmikanthan's target was not only the small fry in the society but also the movie people, business magnates, prosperous lawyers, doctors, famed musicians, landlords, zamindars, Rajahs, press barons, religious heads, politicians etc. He wrote salacious and scandalous sex stories about them purely on the basis of gossips and hearsay. Majority of them were unauthenticated and filthy news. Being afraid of ill fame, some of those on whom Lakshmikantan wrote tried to silence him with hush money. Encouraged by this sort of income he continued to write all sorts of nonsense about them regularly and with the result had numerous enemies from all walks of life.
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 but only as an outpatient, for the wound was not serious enough. Even in his statement to the police he did not name any particular person 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 (In those days a train named Boat mail used to run between Madras and Dhanushkoti station which is not in existence now). A rich banker from Devakottai was murdered in the moving train between Chengalpet and Madras. A notable singer cum actress who travelled with the banker was missing/fled when the train reached Madras. The political backing which this singer had kept 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 suddenly, the next day i.e. on 9 November 1944, Lakshmikanthan died mysteriously in the hospital. He was murdered. The police, based on the statement made by LKanthan's bodyguard, arrested eight persons as accused for the murder. Among them were MKT 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 Vera Mockett. A group of brilliant lawyers namely Mr. V.T.Rangasamy Iyengar, Sri Rajagopalachariar (Rajaji), Mr. Braddel, Mr. B.T.Sundararajan, Sri Govind Swaminathan, Mr. Srinivasagopal and Mr. K.M.Munshi argued the case for the accused. After prolonged trial, the Jury, much to the dismay of many, found MKT and NSK guilty along with four others.
Appeals were heard by a bench of the High Court consisting of Sir Linel 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. However, the appeals were dismissed.
MKT and NSK filed an appeal in the Privy Council, London which was then the highest court of appeal. The internationally famous ((British Barrister)), D.N.Pritt appeared for them. Privy Council then referred the case back to India for a fresh appraisal.
The appeal came up before a bench of two judges namely Mr. Justice Happel and Mr. Justice Sahabuddin (who migrated to Pakistan in 1947 during partition of India and retired as Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court). Mr V.L.Ethiraj, a successful Barrister appeared for MKT and NSK and argued that the Judges had not properly directed the Jury and the evidences of doubtful nature have not been properly assessed. Mr. Ethiraj convinced the Judges by his powerful arguments that all the witnesses produced against MKT and NSK were tutored and coached and there were a lot of inconsistencies in their evidence and statements and the case had many loopholes. The Judges agreed with Mr. Ethiraj's arguments 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 !! The judgment was given a few months before India became free.
MKT, NSK and four others came out of prison after thirty months' imprisonment. Experts and even 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 real killers were never pinned down and the truth lies buried somewhere to this day. Indian legal history will record this case as one of the most tragic miscarriages of justice. It ruined the life and career of an astonishingly gifted musician. MKT Bhagavathar never regained his lost fame.
Later NSK resumed acting in Movies, but his jail term and fight for justice made him penurious, his hard earned wealth was lost in fighting the case and so was the case of co-accused MKT Bagavathar, who once ate in Silver and Gold plates and was the first Super Star of Indian Cinema. Haridas, which was released while he was in jail ran for 3 consequent Deepavalies with packed houses. People crowded the theatre as they felt, they would not have a chance to see their superstar in silver screen
Trivia
- 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 also worked in some of his film projects.
- Kalaivanar was an active member of the Dravidian Movement. The Tamil Nadu Government erected a memorial-building in 1979, called 'Kalaivanar Kalai Arangam' (or Kalaivanar Arts Centre) in honour of Kalaivanar's contribution to the Arts, and the building is one of the leading landmarks in the city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.
- NSK was generous to a fault.The following anecdote was written in Agathiyar Yahoo Group by JayBee (Dr. S.Jayabarathi of Malaysia): "One day, an emaciated looking man came to his house. At that time, NSK was playing carrom board with a friend. When the man approached NSK, NSK did not look up at him. He continued with his game. NSK simply asked him whether he had eaten. The man said he had not eaten for three days. NSK told him to go and eat a hearty meal first. Of course NSK knew that the man was hungry because he had no money. He called one of his friends who were around him watching his game. He told him to reach into NSK's shirt pocket and take out the money. The friend did so. But what came out was a thick unopened wad of five rupee currency notes. The friend tried take out a note. In those days, a five rupee was a big sum. NSK got angry. He scolded him, "ada thariththiraththukku thuNai pOnavanE! innum kuuda thaaraaLamaa pichchuk kuduvEn?". (" O, He who gives company to poverty, why don't you extend your magnanimity and take out some more?") The friend took out a thicker portion containing quite a number of notes and gave them to the poor man. When the man came back, NSK heard his story and needs and gave him substantial help. In the meanwhile...... NSK continued playing......."
Filmography
As Actor
No Year Name of Film Language Co-stars Role Other notes 1 1960 Raja Desingu Tamizh MGR, S. S. Rajendran, P. Bhanumathi, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram This movie was released after his death; 2 1959 Thozhan Tamizh This movie was released after his death; 3 1958 Thanga Padhumai Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini 4 1957 Ambikapathy Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram N. S. Krishnan died before the completion of this film 5 1957 Chakravarthi Thirumagal Tamizh MGR, Anjali Devi, S. Varalakshmi 6 1956 Yar Paiyan Tamizh 7 1956 Manimekalai Tamizh T. R. Mahalingam, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram 8 1956 Balya Chakram Tamizh 9 1956 Asai Tamizh Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram 10 1956 Raja Rani Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram 11 1956 Laila Majnu Tamizh 12 1956 Arasilang Kumari Tamizh MGR 13 1956 Madurai Veeran Tamizh MGR, P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram Cobbler 14 1956 Rangoon Radha Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, P. Bhanumathi Naidu 15 1955 Kalacharam Tamizh 16 1955 Kannin Manigal Tamizh 17 1955 Sri Ratna Tamizh 18 1955 Athiroopa Amaravathi Tamizh 19 1955 Paditha Muttal Tamizh 20 1955 Pudhu Vazhvu Tamizh M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Lalitha, Padmini, Madhuri Devi, T. A. Madhuram 21 1955 Maha Sakthi Tamizh 22 1955 Nan Nambikkai Tamizh 23 1955 Governors Cup Telugu 24 1955 Nam Kuzhandai Tamizh 25 1955 Kudumba Villakku Tamizh 26 1955 Doctor Savithri Tamizh 27 1955 Kaveri Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, Lalitha, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram 28 1955 Mudhal Thethi Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, Anjali Devi, T. A. Madhuram 29 1954 Nalla Kalam Tamizh 30 1953 Thalapathi Tamizh 31 1953 Nadigan Tamizh 32 1952 Amarakavi Tamizh M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Rajakumari, B. S. Saroja, T. A. Madhuram 33 1952 Panam Tamizh Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram 34 1952 Manathodu Vazh Tamizh 35 1952 Thottakkaran Tamizh 36 1952 Ragasiyam Tamizh 37 1951 Vanasundari Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari, S. Varalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram 38 1950 Parijatham Tamizh T. R. Mahalingam, T. A. Madhuram 39 1950 Manamagal Tamizh Lalitha, Padmini, T. A. Madhuram 40 1949 Viswamitra Tamizh 41 1949 Rathnakumar Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, MGR,P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram 42 1949 Pavalakkodi Tamizh 43 1949 Inba Valli Tamizh 44 1949 Kalvanin Kathali Tamizh 45 1949 Macha Rekai Tamizh T. R. Mahalingam, S. Varalakshmi, T. A. Madhuram 46 1949 Thambi Durai Tamizh 47 1949 Mangaiyarkkarasi Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, Anjali Devi, T. A. Madhuram 48 1949 Nallathambi Tamizh P. Bhanumathi, T. A. Madhuram Zamindar 49 1948 Chandralekha Tamizh T. A. Madhuram 50 1948 Samsara Nonga Tamizh only T. A. Madhuram 51 1947 Sri Valli Tamizh T. R. Mahalingam, K. T. Rukmani, T. A. Madhuram 52 1947 Paithiyakkaran Tamizh MGR 53 1947 Pavalakkodi Tamizh 54 1947 Brahma Rishi Vishvamitra Tamizh The film was first released and did not perform well in box-office, then the comedy track was added 55 1947 Pankaja Valli Tamizh 56 1947 Krishna Bakthi Tamizh 57 1947 Kannagi Tamizh 58 1946 Arthanari Tamizh 59 1946 Deva Dasi Tamizh 60 1945 Maha Maya Tamizh 61 1945 Burma Rani Tamizh C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, T. A. Madhuram 62 1945 Baktha Kalathi Tamizh 63 1945 Chow Chow - Kalikala minor, School Drama, Soora Puli Tamizh 64 1945 Salivahanan Tamizh MGR 65 1944 Raja Rajeshwari Tamizh only T. A. Madhuram 66 1944 Valmiki Tamizh 67 1944 Haridas Tamizh For the first time in Tamil cinema history, Haridas ran successfully for 110 weeks in Chennai Broadway Talkies. Was screened from 16.10.1944 to 22.11.1946 68 1944 Poompavai Tamizh K. R. Ramaswamy, U. R. Jeevarathinam, , T. A. Madhuram 69 1944 Panthru hari Tamizh 70 1944 Jagathala Prathaban Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa 71 1943 Prabhavathi Tamizh 72 1943 Ilandha Kathal Tamizh 73 1943 Aswini Tamizh 74 1943 Bagya Lakshmi Telugu 75 1943 Harischandra Tamizh MGR 76 1943 Mangamma Sapatham Tamizh Ranjan, K. S. Vasundhara Devi T. A. Madhuram 77 1943 Sivakavi Tamizh 78 1943 Kubera Kuchela Tamizh 79 1943 Arunthathi Tamizh 80 1942 Emantha Sonagiri Tamizh 81 1942 Kathambam Tamizh 82 1942 Manonmani Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, T. A. Madhuram 83 1942 Prithiviraj Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, T. A. Madhuram 84 1942 Panchamirtham or Thiruvalathan Tamizh 85 1942 Dhaasippen or Kilattu Mappillai Tamizh MGR 86 1942 Sivalinga Satchi Tamizh 87 1942 Kannagi Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, T. A. Madhuram 88 1942 Krishna Pidaran Tamizh 89 1942 Aaraiychi mani or Manuneethi Cholan Tamizh 90 1941 Iru Nanbargal Tamizh 91 1941 Vedha vathi or Seetha Jananam Tamizh 92 1941 Chandra hari Tamizh 93 1941 Elandha Kadhal Tamizh 94 1941 Ashok Kumar Tamizh M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , MGR 95 1941 Aryamala Tamizh 96 1941 Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum Tamizh 97 1940 Sakunthalai Tamizh M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam, T. A. Madhuram, T. S. Durairaj 98 1940 Parasuraman Tamizh 99 1940 Manimekalai or Bala Saniyasi Tamizh In those days there were movies that had 2 titles 100 1940 Bhoologa Rambai Tamizh 101 1940 Sathi Murali Tamizh 102 1940 Naveena Vikramatityan Tamizh 103 1940 Chandraguptha Chanakya Tamizh 102 1940 Puthiman Balavan Aavan Tamizh 103 1940 Tharuthalai Thangavelu Tamizh 104 1940 Naveena Tenali Raman Tamizh 105 1940 Uthama Puthiran Tamizh P. U. Chinnappa, M. V. Rajamma, T. A. Madhuram 106 1940 Sirikkathe Tamizh Consist of five stories under one single title (an innovative idea in those days) the titles where:Adanka Pidari, Puli Vettai, Poli Panchali, Malai Kannan, Yama Vathanai 107 1939 Kalamegam Tamizh 108 1939 Prahalatha Tamizh MGR 109 1939 Rambaiyin Kathal Tamizh 110 1939 Pommi Kalyanam Tamizh 111 1939 Madurai Veeran Tamizh 112 1939 Sri Math Ramalinga Swamigal Tamizh 113 1939 Maya Machindra Tamizh MGR 114 1939 Manikkavasagar Tamizh 115 1939 Thiruneelakantar Tamizh M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 116 1938 Anandashramam Tamizh 117 1938 Krishna Toodhu Tamizh 118 1938 Dakshayagna Tamizh 119 1937 Balamani Tamizh 120 1937 Chandra Kantha Tamizh 121 1937 Baktha Thulasidas Tamizh 122 1937 Ambikapathy Tamizh M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 123 1936 Vasantha Sena Tamizh 124 1936 Sathi Leelavathi Tamizh MGR 125 1935 Menaka Tamizh As Director
- Panam (1952) - Dialogues by M Karunanidhi
- Manamagal (1951) - Dialogues by M Karunanidhi
- Pelli Koothuru (1951)
External links
Categories:- Tamil comedians
- Tamil film directors
- Indian film directors
- Indian actors
- Dravidian movement
- Anti-Brahmanism
- 1957 deaths
- 1908 births
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