Kali N. Rathnam


Narayana Padaiyatchi Ratnam, popularly known as "Kali" N. Ratnam, was a Tamil stage and film artist known for his roles as a comedian in Tamil movies of the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned Tamil actor and politician M. G. Ramachandran was a protege of Rathnam.

Early life

Rathnam was born at Malaiyappanallur near Kumbakonam in Tanjore District in the year 1897 to Narayana Padayatchi and Thangathammal. His parents were agriculturists and Rathnam was acquainted with rural songs and folk arts from a very early age. As a young boy, Rathnam learned to act from a stage actor named Parameswaran Iyer. Seeing Rathnam perform the role of Kali in a stage play, Iyer christened him "Kali" N. Rathnam.

Career

Rathnam joined the Madurai Original Boys Company in 1923 and acted in Pathi Bhakthi, the first movie produced by the Company. Rathnam's second movie was Mannarswami. But Rathnam's first hit was Chandrakantha. Following the success, Rathnam acted in hit movies such as Uthama Puthiran, Sathi Murali, Sabapathy, Manonmani, Burma Rani, Chow Chow, Paranjothi, Sri Murugan, Arthanari, Aaravalli, Sahada Yogam, Udayanan Vasavadatta, Kannika, Sulochana, Sri Aandal, Adhithan Kanavu, Devdasi, Pizhaikum Vali, and Bhojan.

Personal life

While in a drama tour of Coimbatore, Rathnam was impressed by the histrionic skills of C. T. Rajakantham, daughter of the owner of the house in which they stayed and inducted her into his troupe. The two became a successful comedy pair and acted together in a number of movies.
Prior to this, Rathnam had married twice. The first wife's name was Kunjammal who died at a young age. Rathnam and Kunjammal had two daughters Meenalochani and Lokanayaki. Then he married his second wife Pichaimmal. Rathnam and Pichaimmal had a son Shanmuga Sundaram. Rathnam died when his son was nine months old. Shanmuga Sundaram married Chandra, daughter of his sister Meenalochani RajaRam. Now Meenalochani RajaRam, Shanmuga Sundaram and Chandra are living in Kumbakonam.

Death

Rathnam died in August 1950 at the age of 52 or 53. His last completed film role was in the Ellis R. Dungan-directed Ponmudi.

Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.
YearFilmLanguageRole
1936Pathi BhaktiTamilDetective
1936MannarswamiTamil
1936Chandrakantha TamilThirukallur Bandaara Sannidhigal
1937Raja MohanTamil
1938Punjab KesariTamil
1938Meenakshi KalyanamTamil
1939Mathru Bhoomi
1940Uthama Puthiran
1940Sathi MuraliTamil
1941SabapathyTamilSabapathy
1941Surya Puthri
1942ManonmaniTamil
1942Sivalinga Satchi
1943Dewan Bahadur
1945Burma RaniTamilKunjitham
1945Chow Chow
1945Paranjothi
1946Sri MuruganTamil
1946Arthanari
1946Aaravalli
1946Sahada Yogam
1946ValmikiTamil
1947Kannika
1947Udayanan Vasavadatta
1947Sulochana
1947Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva ChinthamaniTamilKali
1948Sri Aandal
1948Adhithan Kanavu
1948Devadasi
1948Pizhaikum Vali
1948Bhojan
1949Mayavathi
1950Ezhai Padum Padu
1950PonmudiTamilLast film