M. K. Kamalam

M. K. Kamalam (1923 – 20 April 2010) was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema. She was the heroine in the first Malayalam talkie film, Balan.

Personal life Kamalam was born in 1923 at Kottayam as the third daughter of Kumarakam Mangat Kochupanicker, a music teacher, and his wife Karthyayini.

Aside from acting, she was also active in music. Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar was her first music teacher. She also trained under Thomas Punnan, Narayanan Bhagavathar, Ochira Raman Bhagavathar, and Kottayam Sankunni Nair.

Career She appeared in her first play Allirani when she was seven. She acted in it with her father. She got the invitation to act in a movie while she was acting in a play called Vichithravijayam. She was selected from the five ladies who were in the play by director S. Nattani, producer T. R. Sundaram, and actor Alleppey Vincent who were all watching the play. Aged 15, she acted in the first Malayalam "talkie" film, Balan (1938).

Kamalam also sang a trio of songs in her first movie in which the song Jagadeeswara Jayajaya became quite popular. Kamalam's was the first Malayalam voice ever heard on the sound track of a film as her debut film was the first audio movie in the language.

Death Kamalam died on 20 April 2010 at Kottayam. She was under treatment at Kottayam Medical College where she fell out of her hospital bed and broke her leg. The exact cause of death has not yet been released. She was 86. She was survived by her husband and three children.