Kali N. Rathnam

Narayana Padaiyatchi Ratnam (c. 1897 – August 1950), popularly known as "Kali" N. Ratnam, was a Tamil stage and film artist known for his roles as a comedian in Tamil movies of the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned Tamil actor and politician M. G. Ramachandran was a protege of Rathnam.[1]

Narayana Padaiyatchi Rathnam
Ratnam in the movie Sabapathy (1941)
Born
Ratnam

c. 1897
Kumbakonam, British Raj
DiedAugust 1950 (age 52 or 53)
Kumbakonam, India
Occupation(s)stage and film actor, singer
Years active1923–1950
Spouse(s)Kunjammal, Pichaiammal, C. T. Rajakantham
ChildrenMeenalochani Rajaram, Lokanayaki, Shanmuga Sundaram

Early life

Rathnam was born at Malaiyappanallur near Kumbakonam in Tanjore District in the year 1897 to Narayana Padayatchi and Thangathammal. His parents were agriculturists and Rathanm was acquainted with rural songs and folk arts from a very early age. As a young boy, Rathnam learned to act from a stage actor named Parameswaran Iyer.[2] Seeing Rathnam perform the role of Kali in a stage play, Iyer christened him "Kali" N. Rathnam.[2]

Career

Rathnam joined the Madurai Original Boys Company in 1923 and acted in Pathi Bhakthi (1936), the first movie produced by the Company. Rathnam's second movie was Mannarswami (1936). But Rathnam's first hit was Chandrakantha (1936). Following the success, Rathnam acted in hit movies such as Uthama Puthiran, Sathi Murali (1940), Sabapathy (1941), Manonmani (1943), Burma Rani (1945), Chow Chow (1945), Paranjothi (1945), Sri Murugan (1946), Arthanari (1946), Aaravalli (1946), Sahada Yogam (1946), Udayanan Vasavadatta (1947), Kannika (1947), Sulochana (1947), Sri Aandal (1948), Adhithan Kanavu (1948), Devdasi (1948), Pizhaikum Vali (1948), and Bhojan (1948).[3][4]

Personal life

While in a drama tour of Coimbatore, Rathnam was impressed by the histrionic skills of C. T. Rajakantham, daughter of the owner of the house in which they stayed and inducted her into his troupe. The two became a successful comedy pair and acted together in a number of movies.

Prior to this, Rathnam had married twice. The first wife's name was Kunjammal who died at a young age. Rathnam and Kunjammal had two daughters Meenalochani and Lokanayaki(late). Then he married his second wife Pichaimmal(late). Rathnam and Pichaimmal had a son Shanmuga Sundaram (Retd PWD Superintendent Engineer).[5] Rathnam died when his son was nine months old. Shanmuga Sundaram married Chandra, daughter of his sister Meenalochani RajaRam. Now(2020) Meenalochani RajaRam, Shanmuga Sundaram and Chandra are living in Kumbakonam.

Death

Rathnam died in August 1950 at the age of 52 or 53. His last completed film role was in the Ellis R. Dungan-directed Ponmudi.

Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

YearFilmLanguageRole
1936Pathi BhaktiTamilDetective (First film role)
1936 MannarswamiTamil
1936 Chandrakantha TamilThirukallur Bandaara Sannidhigal
1937Raja MohanTamil
1938Punjab KesariTamil
1938 Meenakshi KalyanamTamil
1939 Mathru Bhoomi
1940 Uthama Puthiran
1940Sathi MuraliTamil
1941SabapathyTamilSabapathy
1941 Surya Puthri
1942ManonmaniTamil
1942 Sivalinga Satchi
1943 Dewan Bahadur
1945Burma RaniTamilKunjitham
1945 Chow Chow
1945 Paranjothi
1946Sri MuruganTamil
1946 Arthanari
1946 Aaravalli
1946 Sahada Yogam
1946 ValmikiTamil
1947 Kannika
1947 Udayanan Vasavadatta
1947 Sulochana
1947Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva ChinthamaniTamilKali
1948 Sri Aandal
1948 Adhithan Kanavu
1948 Devadasi
1948 Pizhaikum Vali
1948 Bhojan
1949 Mayavathi
1950 Ezhai Padum Padu
1950PonmudiTamilLast film

References
  1. "Kali N Rathnam". Antru Kanda Mugam. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  2. Guy, Randor (5 February 2015). "The Rathnam brand of comedy". The Hindu.
  3. "Kollywood Comedian Kali N Rathnam Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. "Kali N. Rathnam". Spicyonion.com. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  5. https://www.tn.gov.in/department/42. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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