Serugulathur Sama

Swaminathan Vaidyanathan (26 June 1904

Film career He was a handsome person and had the ability to sing in bass voice. While he was working in the Cosmopolitan club he came in contact with a member of the club Ananthanarayanan Narayanan, who established Srinivasa Cinetone, the first sound recording studio of south India in Kilpauk. Narayanan introduced Swaminathan into films. Swaminathan, now known as Serukalathur Sama, had good looks and singing talent. He was cast as Lord Krishna in most of the films. Sama's role as great Tamil poet Kambar of 12th century, in the movie Ambikapathi was much appreciated.

Film Producer and Director With his success as an actor he embarked on production of films. He leased National Movietone Studio on Poonamallee High Road, Chennai and changed its name as Bharat Cinetone. His first production was Shylock, (Tamilized as Shailak) adapted from Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice. He directed the film along with his lawyer friend and signed as Sama-Ramu.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1934 Draupadi Vastrapaharanam Krishna 1935 Maayaa Bazaar 1936 Bama Parinayam 1937 Chintamani Krishna Ambikapathy Kambar 1938 Vishnu Leela 1939 Thiruneelakantar 1940 Krishnan Thoothu Parasuramar Sakuntalai Kanwa Rishi Shailak Shailak 1941 Subadra Arjuna Thiruvalluvar 1942 Manonmani Sundara Munivar Nandanar Vedhiyar Rajasooyam 1943 Arundhathi Sivakavi 1944 Baktha Hanuman Bharthruhari Bharthruhari Rajarajeshwari 1945 Bhakta Kalathi Burma Rani Buddhist monk Meera 1946 Aaravalli Sooravalli 1948 Jeevajothi Raja Mukthi 1950 Beedala Patlu Ezhai Padum Padu Vijayakumari 1951 Marmayogi Sage 1954 Panam Paduthum Padu 1962 Manithan Maravillai Pattinathar Sivasarmar