K. R. Chellam

Kambayanatham Rangaswami Kanakavalli (born 1918), known professionally as K. R. Chellam, was an Indian actress who appeared in Tamil language films.

Early life Kambayanatham Rangaswami Kanakavalli was born in 1918 to a middle-class Iyengar family in Thanjavur. She lost her mother at an early age, so her father Rangaswami, a lawyer, raised her along with her two siblings. Chellam, as she was informally known, dropped out of school early, and married a Bombay-based insurance salesman, later settling there with him. This marriage resulted in two daughters. After the family incurred financial losses due to the insurance salesman's mismanagement, they went to Madras almost penniless.

Career

Kanakavalli made her film debut with a minor role in Kausalya (1935) to support her family financially. As working in films was considered taboo in India at that time and she did not want her acquaintances to know she was in that profession, she chose her nickname Chellam as her stage name, though her family ultimately learned the truth. The film became a box office bomb and its production company closed, forcing Chellam to continue as an actress to stay afloat. With help from actress T. N. Meenakshi, she was cast in a bigger role in Madras Mail (1936). This film performed well and got Chellam noticed, resulting in her being cast in Balayogini (1937), also a success. Her next film Vanaraja Karzan (1938) received significant media attention because she wore a revealing outfit. Adrishtam (1939), in which she played a lawyer, established her as an actress of "high merit". Her last film was Pattaliyin Vetri (1960). As of September 1990, Chellam was living in Madras with one of her daughters, a doctor. 1938 Vanaraja Karzan Leela 1938 Desa Munnetram 1939 Adrishtam Lawyer 1941 Surya Puthri Thapathi 1942 En Manaivi Chellam 1943 Karaikkal Ammaiyar 1944 Prabhavathi Shakthi 1944 Poompavai Ponnammal 1945 Meera Udha 1946 Lavangi Komalam 1947 Naam Iruvar Ambujam 1947 Deiva Needhi 1948 Vedhala Ulagam Mohanavalli 1948 Bhaktha Jana 1952 Thai Ullam Santhamma 1953 Jatakam Kannammal 1954 Rajee En Kanmani Raji's aunt 1954 Vaira Maalai 1955 Kalvanin Kadhali 1956 Mathar Kula Manikkam 1957 Karpukkarasi Singari 1959 Aval Yaar 1959 Orey Vazhi 1960 Pattaliyin Vetri 1960 Paavai Vilakku