In a statement issued by A.S. Shankarapandian, General Secretary of Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI), he stated as follows:
N.S. Krishnan (short for Nagercoil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan) earned the distinction of being called the king of comedy in Tamil cinema and the Tamil Charlie Chaplin. He was born on 29.11.1908 to Sudalaimuthu and Isakki Ammal at Ozhuginasery under Nagercoil Corporation. Born into a poor family, he could not continue his education after Class 4. As a child, he sold soda at a drama theatre and later became a Villupattu artist and stage actor. He joined the Madurai Sri Balasubramania Sabha, began acting in minor roles and became famous in comedy roles. He later started his own drama company.
In the 1930s, he campaigned against alcohol through patriotic plays. He modernised traditional arts such as Kinthanar Kalakshepam, Therukoothu and Villupattu and took them to the people. He entered cinema through the film Sathi Leelavathi in 1936 and acted in more than 150 films. Rather than limiting comedy to physical expression, he used social reform ideas to make people laugh and think, raising the standard of comedy. His first wife was Nagammal (son Kolappan), his second wife was actress T.A. Mathuram (their baby daughter died at three months), and his third wife was Vembu (with whom he had four sons and two daughters).
M.G.R. once praised him by saying that if anyone called him a humanitarian, Kalaivanar was the first reason for it. Such was his generosity. He provided extensive assistance to poor people and drama troupes. At his own expense, he built a Gandhi memorial pillar in Nagercoil city park and inscribed Gandhi’s ideas on it.
In 1944, he was accused along with Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the murder case of magazine editor Lakshmikanthan and was released after spending 30 months in prison. He lost a large part of his assets because of the case. Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar conferred on him the title Kalaivanar.
He died at the age of 48 on 30.8.1957 due to liver inflammation caused by alcohol consumption. More than one lakh people participated in his funeral procession and paid tribute. Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai continues to bear his name. The Kalaivanar statue inaugurated by former Chief Minister M.G.R. at the Manimedai junction in Nagercoil still stands smiling. In 1941, he built a house named Mathura Bhavanam after his wife in Ozhuginasery, Nagercoil. It was one of the first concrete houses built in Kanyakumari district.
This grand building with mosaic flooring, once attractive to visitors, has now lost its splendour and stands dilapidated, damaged, poorly maintained and neglected. Kalaivanar’s descendants live in one part of it, while the remaining portions have been rented out. It is a matter of concern that the home of a great multifaceted artist—a stage actor, comedian, philanthropist and film director—is deteriorating. Therefore, the government should take appropriate action to preserve the specified house and convert it into a memorial home that reflects Kalaivanar’s greatness. This would be the greatest tribute we can offer for his service to the arts.
Head Office,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI).
