Gudalur Narayanaswamy Balasubramaniam, popularly known as GNB, was an Indian Carnatic singer. He innovated the art through emphasis on laya control and reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay and the learned alike. He was also a Tamil film actor. Ariyakudi Iyengar inspired him.
Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi are popularly referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest among the established musicians of that era, and was the youngest female to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award. In 1967, she was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award by the government of India. Her daughter, the late K.Srividya, was an actress in Tamil and Malayalam languages.
Avargal is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Sujatha, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Ravikumar. A triangular love story, it revolves around a woman who is caught between the man she fell in love with and her former sadistic husband who is supposedly reformed and wants to rejoin her.
Kaajal is a 1965 Bollywood film produced by Pannalal Maheshwari and directed by Ram Maheshwari. The film stars Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar, Dharmendra, Padmini, Mumtaz, Mehmood, Durga Khote, Helen. The film's music is by Ravi.
Kanna Nalama is a 1972 Indian Tamil language film, written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and Jayanthi, with Major Sundarrajan, Manorama and V. S. Raghavan in supporting roles. It was released on 12 January 1972.
Sivakavi is a 1943 Indian Tamil-language film directed, initially, by P. K. Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukalathur Sama, Thirupurambal, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram. The film's screenplay was written by Thiru Muruga Kirubanandha Variyar. The film was shot at Central Studios and released by Pakshiraja Films in Coimbatore. The film was released on 10 April 1943.
Jayasimha is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film, written by Samudrala Jr. and produced by N. T. Rama Rao and his brother N. Trivikrama Rao for their production company National Art Theatres. Directed by D. Yoganand, the film features Rama Rao playing the eponymous protagonist along with Anjali Devi and Waheeda Rehman in the lead roles, supported by an ensemble cast of S. V. Ranga Rao, Kanta Rao, Gummadi, Relangi and Rajanala Kaleswara Rao.
Kanchana is a 1952 Indian drama film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. The story is based on a popular Tamil novel, Kanchanayin Kanavu, authored by Lakshmi. It was filmed simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam languages.
Madurai Veeran (transl. The Warrior of Madurai) is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by D. Yoganand, written by Kannadasan, and produced by Lena Chettiar. Based on the folklore legend turned deity of the same name, it stars M. G. Ramachandran as the eponymous character, with P. Bhanumathi and Padmini playing his love interests. T. S. Balaiah, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram play supporting roles.
Lalitha was an Indian actress and dancer. She was the eldest of the "Travancore Sisters"—Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini. She started her acting career in the 1948 Tamil film Adhithan Kanavu and has acted in movies of different Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. She entered films before her sisters, concentrating more on Malayalam films, and was mostly cast in vamp roles.
Thillana Mohanambal is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language period musical drama film written, directed and produced by A. P. Nagarajan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and T. S. Balaiah, with A. V. M. Rajan, Nagesh and Manorama in supporting roles. It tells the story of Shanmugasundaram, a nadaswaram player who falls in love with Mohanambal, a Bharatanatyam dancer who reciprocates his feelings, but unfortunate circumstances and their egoistic nature prevents them from confessing their love for one another. How they overcome their self-created obstacles and those created by the people around them forms the rest of the story.
Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language children's film directed by Krishnan–Panju. It is based on the American film The Parent Trap (1961) which in turn was based on Erich Kästner's 1949 German novel Lisa and Lottie. The film stars Jaishankar and Jamuna, with Nagesh, Sundarrajan, G. Varalakshmi, Santha, Kutty Padmini, M. S. S. Bhagayam and V. R. Thilagam in supporting roles. It tells the story of twin sisters attempting to reunite their separated parents.
Naalvar is a 1953 Tamil-language drama film directed by V. Krishnan. The film stars A. P. Nagarajan, Kumari Thankam, N. N. Kannappa, M. N. Krishnan and T. P. Muthulakshmi in major roles. Nagarajan, who played the main lead was also the writer of the film. The film revolves around a family consisting of four siblings.
Ramu is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and written by Javar N. Seetharaman. The film stars Gemini Ganesh and K. R. Vijaya, with Ashokan, Nagesh, V. K. Ramasamy, O. A. K. Thevar and Master Rajkumar—as the title character—in supporting roles. A remake of the Hindi film Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), it revolves around a boy who loses his speech after witnessing his mother's death, and his father attempts to restore his son's speech.
Marumagal (transl. Daughter-in-law) is a 1953 Indian Tamil-language drama film, produced by Lena Chettiar on Krishna Pictures banner and directed by D. Yoganand. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Padmini and Lalitha, with music composed by C. R. Subburaman. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu-language as Ammalakkalu.
Sri Valli is a 1945 Tamil-language film co-directed by A. V. Meiyappan and produced by him under Pragathi Studios. It was co-directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy who also wrote the script. The film stars T. R. Mahalingam and Kumari Rukmani. Sri Valli revolves around the romance between Muruga and Valli, a tribal girl. The rest of the story shows how Valli wins the heart of Murugan.
Policekaran Magal is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by C. V. Sridhar. Based on B. S. Ramiah's play of the same name, it stars Balaji, Muthuraman, Vijayakumari, Santha Kumari and Pushpalatha. The film was released on 7 September 1962 and was a success. It was later remade in Telugu as Constable Koothuru (1963) and in Malayalam as Vyaamoham (1978).
Karaikkal Ammaiyar is a 1973 Indian Tamil Saiva mythological film, written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan and produced by EVR Films. The film's soundtrack was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. The film stars Lakshmi, who played the younger-age Punithavathi role, and K. B. Sundarambal, who played the old-age role—as the title characters, with R. Muthuraman, Manorama, Suruli Rajan, V. S. Raghavan, S. V. Sahasranamam, Sivakumar and Srividya playing supporting roles. Karaikkal Ammaiyar is one of the three women saints among the 63 Nayanmars and is considered one of the greatest figure of Tamil literature. She was born in Karaikkal during the Chola period, a maritime center. Ammaiyar was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and she is believed to have lived during the 6th century, named Punithavathi.
Avan Pithana? is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by P. Neelakantan, produced by R. Periyanayagam and written by M. Karunanidhi. It is a remake of the Telugu film Dagudu Moothalu (1964). The film stars S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, S. V. Sahasranamam, T. S. Balaiah and T. P. Muthulakshmi. It was released on 29 April 1966.
