M. K. Radha

Madras Kandaswami Radhakrishnan, professionally known as M. K. Radha, was an Indian actor and singer who worked mainly in Tamil cinema.

Early life

He was born in Chennai and took up acting in Tamil stage at the age of 7. He was tutored by his father Kandasamy Mudaliar a famous drama teacher at that time.

Career

His career spanned for almost 25 years in Tamil drama as a lead actor during India´s pre-independence days and he was a popular social hero in various patriotic dramas. His film career spanned between 1936 and 1958. Radha was a benefactor of M.G. Ramachandran, and in his autobiography, Naan Yaen Piranthaen, MGR had written effusively about how Radha had helped him, while he was a struggling movie actor in late 1930s.

As a singer

He sang in a few films during the 1940s. Songs from the film Kannamma En Kadhali became popular.

Personal life

Radha was married to M. R. Gnanambal, also an actress.

Awards and honours

In 1973, he received the Padma Shri Award for his contribution to performing arts from President V.V. Giri.
In July 2004, the Indian Postal Service special postal envelope in his memory.
A neighbourhood in Teynampet, Chennai is named M.K. Radha Nagar in his honour.