S. D. Subbulakshmi

Srivaikundam Duraisamy Subbulakshmi was an Indian actress and singer who was active in Tamil cinema during the 1930s and 1940s. She was the wife of film director K. Subramanyam. She is credited with having introduced the singer and family friend of hers, M. S. Subbulakshmi to Tamil cinema and mentored her in her early days.

Early life S. D. Subbulakshmi was born in Srivaikundam to Duraisamy and Janaki Ammal. Since childhood, S. D. Subbulakshmi had shown keen interest in stage dramas. The family moved to Madurai, where she learned Carnatic music and dance. Her parents took photos of her in various makeups and showed them to a number of drama companies. This helped her to start as a child actress in stage plays. She grew up acting in stage dramas and managed to act in a number of dramas with well-known artists such as M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, K. B. Sundarambal and T. R. Mahalingam and earned a very good name. Pavalakkodi was one such drama where she had acted with M. K. Thiagaraja Bhagavather and became very famous.

Cinema life Letchumanan Chettiar or Lena Chettiar of Krishna Pictures, who had seen the drama wanted to picturise the drama and requested K. Subrahmanyam to direct that film. Lena Chettiar and K. Subrahmanyam watched the drama together. K. Subrahmanyam suggested retaining for the film the artists who had acted in the drama and Lena Chettiar agreed to this. Through Pavalakkodi, S. D. Subbulakshmi entered Tamil Cinema in 1934. She became a famous heroine in the 1930s till mid-1940s, then she switched to mother and supporting roles.

Introducing M. S. Subbulakshmi S. D. Subbulakshmi became instrumental in introducing M. S. Subbulakshmi when she persuaded K. Subrahmanyam to give the daughter of her friend Madurai Shanmugavadivu, a chance on the concert stage at the exhibition he was organising in connection with the 1932 Mahamagam Festival in Kumbakonam. Thus, it was also K. Subrahmanyam who first helped to make M. S. Subbulakshmi a star in the world of song. It was on that stage that M. S. Subbulakshmi became a star.

Later, when he negotiated with Sadasivam for the film rights for a story serialised in Ananda Vikatan, starring M. S. Subbulakshmi in the film, she came almost as part of the package. Thus started M. S. Subbulakshmi's film career in Sevasadanam with S. D. Subbulakshmi guiding throughout.

Family life S. D. Subbulakshmi married the lawyer turned director K. Subramanyam with the consent of his first wife Meenatchi. K. Subramanyam kept both families together and managed them without any discrimination between them. She had a son named Abaswaram Ramji.

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1934 Pavalakkodi Princess Pavalakkodi 1935 Naveena Sadaram Sadharam 1936 Usha Kalyanam Usha 1936 Kuchela Lord Krishna and Suseela 1936 Naveena Sarangadhara Chitrangi 1937 Mr. Ammanchi 1939 Thyaga Bhoomi Savithri 1942 Ananthasayanam Mohini 1943 Krishna Sudhaama Kannada 1945 Maanasamrakshanam 1946 Vikatayogi 1952 Andhaman Kaidhi Kamatchi 1952 Panam 1954 Thookku Thookki 1954 Thuli Visham 1955 Gulebakavali 1956 Mathar Kula Manickam 1957 Raja Rajan Queen Senbagavalli 1957 Rani Lalithangi Empress Angaiyarkanni 1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Kausalya 1959 Aana Valarthiya Vanampadi Thankamani Malayalam 1959 Yaanai Valartha Vaanampaadi Thangamani 1959 Kalyana Parisu Vasanthi and Geetha's mother 1960 Kadavulin Kuzhandhai 1960 Sivagami 1962 Pattinathar Meenatchi 1964 Pattanathil Bhootham Latha's mother 1966 Sadhu Mirandal Parvarthy Tamil; Special Appearance 1970 Engirundho Vandhaal Radha / Kamala's mother