T. R. Mahalingam (actor)

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T. R. Mahalingam
T.R.Mahalingam.jpg
T. R. Mahalingam in 1950s
Born(1924-06-16)16 June 1924
DiedApril 21, 1978(1978-04-21) (aged 53)
NationalityIndian
Known forActor, singer, director

Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam (16 June 1924 - 21 April 1978) [1] born in Sholavandan Thenkarai was an Indian actor, singer and music composer of the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his melodious songs mostly based on romantic or devotional themes.

Contents

Early days

Mahalingam's career as an actor and singer began since his childhood. He regularly appeared in stage plays popularly called special dramas. Mahalingam trained as a singer during the time when microphones and amplifiers were rarely present in performance halls. His music training, like those of singers S. G. Kittappa, Krishnan, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and to a large extent TMS, stressed voice projection and singing loud so as to be audible in large auditoriums. So it was that in 1933, when the prominent singer Kittappa died at the early age of 28, Mahalingam got his first break in films..

Acting

In 1937, at the age of 14, Mahalingam got the chance to appear in the film Nandakumar, the third film produced by AVM. The film was based on the story of Lord Krishna wherein Mahalingam was chosen to play the lead role. The film failed at the box office in all the three languages (Tamil, Hindi and Marathi) in which it was made. Nevertheless, it received great accolades for its songs.

Mahalingam got his big break in the film Sri Valli made at the height of the Second World War, in which he played the part of Lord Murugan. The film did well at the box-office and established Mahalingam's reputation as both an actor and a singer.

Music composers he sang for

Many music directors gave him memorable songs, including S. V. Venkatraman, K. V. Mahadevan, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, G. Ramanathan, Sharma Brothers, T. A. Kalyanam, C. N. Pandurangan, Lalitha Venkatraman, T. Rajagopala Sarma, C. R. Subburaman, T. G. Lingappa, S. Rajeswara Rao, R. Sudarsanam, and Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan.

Playback singers he sang with

While Mahalingam had many solo hit songs, he also sang with other singers.

He sang the most number of duets with S. Varalakshmi.

He also sang duets with other female singers: P. A. Periyanayaki, T. R. Rajakumari, P. Bhanumathi, T. V. Rathnam, A. P. Komala, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, T. S. Bagavathi, S. Janaki, P. Leela and P. Suseela.

He was also paired to sing with male singers such as Seerkazhi Govindarajan and S. C. Krishnan.

Filmography

YearFilmLanguageBanner
1938 Nandhakumar Tamil AVM Productions
1939 Prahaladha TamilSalem Sankar Films
1940Bhooloka RambaiTamilSalem Shanmugha Films & Vijaya Maruthi Pictures
1940ParasuramarTamil
1941 Sathi Murali Tamil Central Studios
1942 Sathi Sukanya Tamil Modern Theatres
1942MayajothiTamil
1942 Manonmani Tamil
1943 Dhaasippen or Jothi Malar TamilBhuvaneshwari Pictures
1944Baktha HanumanTamilRaman Pictures
1945 Sri Valli Tamil Pragathi Studios
1947 Naam Iruvar Tamil AVM Productions
1948 Gnana Soundari TamilNewton Studio
1948 Vedhala Ulagam TamilAVM Productions
1948 Adhithan Kanavu Tamil Modern Theatres
1949 Pavalakodi Tamil Pakshiraja Studios
1949 Mayavathi TamilGanapathy Pictures
1949 Inbavalli TamilShyamala Pictures
1950 Laila Majnu TamilBalaji Pictures
1950 Ithaya Geetham TamilCitadel Film Corporation
1950 Macha Rekai TamilSukumar Productions
1950 Parijatham TamilLavanya Pictures
1951 Mohana Sundaram TamilSukumar Productions
1952 Velaikaran TamilSri Valli Productions
1952 Chinna Durai TamilSukumar Productions
1954 Vilayattu Bommai TamilSukumar Productions
1958 Maalaiyitta Mangai TamilKannadasan Films
1959 Manimekalai TamilSekhar Art Film Enterprises
1959 Abalai Anjugam TamilAruna Films
1959 Amudhavalli Tamil Jupiter Pictures
1960 Thanthaikku Pin Thamaiyan TamilSurya Films
1960 Aada Vandha Deivam TamilMajestic Studios
1960 Rathinapuri Ilavarasi TamilSri Vinayaka Pictures
1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan TamilKannadasan Productions
1961 Ennai Paar TamilPazhaniappa Productions
1961 Sri Valli TamilNarasu Studio
1963Pannaiyar Magan (Unreleased)TamilRA Pictures
1965 Thiruvilaiyadal TamilSri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1971 Ilangeswaran TamilShashti Pictures
1971 Kannan Karunai TamilNAD
1972 Agathiyar TamilSri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1972 Thiruneelakandar TamilSudarkodi Films
1973 Rajaraja Cholan TamilAnand Movies
1973 Thirumalai Deivam TamilShanthi Combines
1977 Sri Krishna Leela TamilSree Umaiyambikai Pictures

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References

  1. "Thanthaiyin Kadanai Adaiththa Magal!". The Hindu (Tamil). 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2019.