K. D. Santhanam

K. D. Santhanam was an Indian actor, writer and lyricist who worked mainly in Tamil films.

Career He was a teacher at Madurai Sri Mangala Bala Gana Sabha training young boys in dramatics. He was known as a strict disciplinarian. He punished erring boys beating them with a cane, sometimes chasing the running boys. One of his students became a renowned actor later who acknowledged to his friends that it was due to the discipline of his tutor he was able to reach heights. The actor is Sivaji Ganesan. Later Santhanam has done minor character roles in which Sivaji Ganesan featured as the hero. This information has been recorded by writer Aroordas in his biography.

As an actor He is a character artiste and has featured in more than 100 films.

In Pasamalar, he featured as Rajaratnam, a village senior who arranges the marriage of Sivaji Ganesan with M. N. Rajam.

"Ahaa Enna Porutham" is a hit song from the film Ragasiya Police 115. In between the verses one can hear a commanding voice asking "Ange ennamma saththam?" (What is the noise there?). The voice is of Santhanam, who featured as Dhanapal Muthaliar (a filmmaker), father of Neela (Jayalalithaa) in the film.

He featured as the father of M. G. Ramachandran in the film Aasai Mugam.

As a Lyricist During the 1950s, Tamil Cinema had a number of classic lyricists who enriched the films with their variety of songs. Udumalai Narayana Kavi and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram wrote leftist oriented songs. A. Maruthakasi specialised in agricultural songs. Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam wrote melodious songs. Kannadasan wrote on life and philosophy. Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass wrote songs that appealed to the common man. Santhanam made his mark by writing songs with rhythmic flow known in Tamil as Santham.

A classic example of his "santham" song is "Thamizh Maalai Thanai Chooduvaal" from the film Ambikapathy. The sequence is: a poet takes up a challenge thrown by the King to sing 100 songs without referring to earthly pleasures, in order to win his daughter, the princess. Practically, in a film, it is impossible to sing 100 songs at a stretch. Santhanam wrote five songs for this scene. It was shown on screen using the running notation method. The fifth song becomes the 99th song. The poet gets excited. He sings the last five lines of the last verse in one breath. The word flow was such that it made the audience spellbound. This song is said to be the stamp song of Santhanam.

Music director Ilaiyaraaja once said that he got the inspiration for his song "Vaa Vennilla" from the film Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986) was a song written by Santhanam – "Vaan Meedhile Inba Thaen Maari Peyudhe" from the film Chandirani (1953).

His dance song "Laalu Laalu", written for the film Vijayakumari (1950) was rendered by Vyjayanthimala and became popular.

There are many noteworthy songs written by K. D. Santhanam.

Filmography

Actor and Lyricist Year Film Lyricist Actor Notes 1948 Gnana Soundari 1 Song 1948 Vedhala Ulagam 1949 Kanniyin Kaadhali 2 Songs 1950 Parijatham 1950 Vijayakumari 1951 Kaithi 1951 Mohana Sundaram 1951 Sudharshan 1952 Chinna Durai 1952 Kaadhal 1952 Velaikaran 1953 Velaikari Magal 1953 Azhagi 1953 Chandirani 1953 Devadas 1953 Marumagal 1954 Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari 1955 Gomathiyin Kaadhalan 1955 Menaka 1955 Mudhal Thethi 1957 Ambikapathy 1957 Chakravarthi Thirumagal 1957 Manamagan Thevai 1958 Pathi Bakthi 1958 Engal Kudumbam Perisu 1959 Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali 1960 Aadavantha Deivam 1960 Aalukkoru Veedu 1960 Kadavulin Kuzhandhai 1960 Kairasi 1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan 1960 Vijayapuri Veeran 1961 Kumara Raja 1961 Nallavan Vazhvan 1961 Palum Pazhamum 1961 Pasamalar 1962 Aadi Perukku 1962 Senthamarai 1963 Ezhai Pangalan 1963 Kaanchi Thalaivan 1964 Pasamum Nesamum 1965 Aasai Mugam 1965 Kalangarai Vilakkam 1968 Poovum Pottum 1968 Ragasiya Police 115 1969 Akka Thangai 1969 Vaa Raja Vaa 1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari 1971 Kankatchi 1971 Kulama Gunama 1972 Agathiyar 1972 Sange Muzhangu 1973 Karaikkal Ammaiyar 1973 Rajaraja Cholan 1973 Thirumalai Deivam Ilaya Thalaimurai 1977 Sri Krishna Leela

Script writer Chinna Durai (1952)