Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram


Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram also known as Pattukottai Kalyanasundaranar, was an Indian poet and lyricist. Considered to be the most popular Tamil lyricist of the 1950s, he is particularly remembered for the philosophy-tinged lyrics he penned for M. G. Ramachandran’s movies.

Early life

He was born on April 14, 1930 in an agricultural family at Sengapaduthankadu, a village near the town of Pattukkottai. His parents were Arunachalam Pillai and Visalakshi Ammal. Arunachalam Pillai was a Tamil scholar and a folk poet. PKS had an elder brother, Ganapathisundaram, and a sister, Vedhanayaki. PKS never went to school, but had an in-born talent for poetry.

Career

PKS worked for Kuyil, a magazine run by Bharathidasan. His first opportunity to write lyrics for a Tamil movie was for Paditha Penn. However, he achieved success as lyricist even before the release of Paditha Penn when Maheswari, a film for which he penned five song lyrics, was released ahead on November 13, 1955. The music director for this movie was G. Ramanathan; C. V. Sridhar wrote the script and dialogue. The Kalyanasundaram–Sridhar combination proved to be successful again with the movie Kalyana Parisu. As detailed by director Sridhar's reminiscences, PKS wrote 8 lyrics for this triangular love plot, all of which were successful.
PKS was very active and successful in the Tamil film industry during the years 1954–1959 and wrote around 250 songs during this period, including several songs for two leading Tamil movie stars of that period – MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. List of movies, which feature PKS lyrics for the two actors:
MGR: 7 movies; Chakravarthi Thirumagal, Mahadhevi, Nadodi Mannan, Arasilangkumari, Thirudadhe, Vikramaadhithan and Kalai Arasi.
Sivaji Ganesan: 11 movies; Rangoon Radha, Ambikapathi, Pudhaiyal, Makkalai Petra Magarasi, Uthama Puthiran, Padhi Bhakti, Aval Yar ?, Bhaaga Pirivinai, Thanga Padhumai, Irumbu Thirai, Punar Jenmam.

Later life

He married Gowravammal from Athikkottai. His mentor Bharathidasan presided over the nuptials on September 11, 1957 at Madras. In 1959, the couple gave birth to their only child, whom they named Kumaravelu. After suffering severe migraine attacks, Kalyanasundaram underwent surgery to his nose in September 1959. A few days after surgery, he died of cereberal haemorrhage on October 8, 1959.

List of films for which PKS wrote lyrics

  1. Maheswari
  2. Paditha Penn
  3. Marma Veeran
  4. Kula Dheivam
  5. Paasavalai
  6. Rangoon Radha
  7. Chakravarthi Thirumagal
  8. Makkalai Petra Magarasi
  9. Allavudeenum Arputha Vilakkum
  10. Karpukkarasi
  11. Sowbagyawathi
  12. Aaravalli
  13. Ambikapathy
  14. Mahadhevi
  15. Pudhaiyal
  16. Kanniyin Sabatham
  17. Uthama Puthiran
  18. Pillai Kaniyamudhu
  19. Petra Maganai Vitra Annai
  20. Thedi Vandha Selvam
  21. Thirumanam
  22. Nadodi Mannan
  23. Naan Valartha Thangai
  24. Anbu Engey
  25. Pathi Bakthi
  26. Thanga Padhumai
  27. Pandithevan
  28. Nalla Theerpu
  29. Kalyana Parisu
  30. Kalyanikku Kalyanam
  31. Pudhumai Penn
  32. Vaazha Vaitha Deivam
  33. Ulagam Sirikirathu
  34. Aval Yaar
  35. Bhaaga Pirivinai
  36. Kan Thiranthathu
  37. Amudhavalli
  38. Thalai Koduthaan Thambi
  39. Ponn Vilaiyum Boomi
  40. Kalaivaanan
  41. Irumbu Thirai
  42. Rathinapuri Ilavarasi
  43. Mahalakshmi
  44. Sangili Devan
  45. Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
  46. Ondrupattal Undu Vazhvu
  47. Aalukkoru Veedu
  48. Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar
  49. Veerakkanal
  50. Arasilangkumari
  51. Punar Jenmam
  52. Thirudadhe
  53. Kumara Raja
  54. Vikramaadhithan
  55. Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam
  56. Kalai Arasi
  57. Maganey Kel ''

    Legacy

The first compilation of Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's songs appeared in 1965 in print form. Comparative studies and criticism have also been published in the form of books by several authors, like Paa. Udayakumar, Ki. Sembiyan, Solomon Pappaiah, Irakuladasan, M. P. Manivel, Pandian, Paa. Veeramani and others.
Tamil Nadu Murpokku Ezhuthalar Sangam, Pattukkottai, brought out souvenirs on Pattukkottaiyaar's 50th, 56th and 60th birthdays. A bronze statue was unveiled at a busy junction in Pattukkottai town and a special souvenir was released on the statue unveiling ceremony in 1995..
Government Of India brought out a souvenir on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of India's Independence recognising Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathi,Pavendhar Bharathidasan and Makkal Kavignar Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram as the three foremost poets of the 20th century in Tamil.
In 1981, the then Chief Minister of the state, M. G. Ramachandran conferred posthumously the prestigious Bharathidasan Award to Pattukkottaiyaar. Later in 1993,the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram declared nationalization of Pattukkottaiyaar's literary works.In 2000,a memorial structure, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram Manimandapam, was erected in Pattukkottai and was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi.

Personal life

He is a very kind person with helping tendency and positive thoughts.