In this article, we will tell you about K. B. Sundaram bal who was the first film artist to get elected to the state legislative assembly. She was more popular for her singing and won many awards. In this blog we are going to tell you the K. B. Sundaram bal Biography, so read this full blog to get the complete information..
K. B. Sundaram bal Bio
K. B. Sundar am bal’ s full name is Kodu mudi Balam bal Sundaram bal. She was a very popular Indian theater and film actress and also a singer. She was from Erode district, Tamil Nadu. She predominantly worked in Tamil cinema and was considered the ‘Queen of the Indian stage’. During the Indian Independence movement, she became a political activist. She was the first film personality to enter the state legislature in India.
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Early life
K. B. Sundarambal was born on 10 October 1908 in Kodumudi, Coimbatore district, Madras Presidency which is now known as Erode district, Tamil Nadu. When she was a child, she earned money by singing on trains and receiving tips.
Film career
According to some sources, her talent was recognized by F. G. Natesa Iyer when she was singing on a train at the age of 19. He was an amateur stage actor, producer, and talent scout. He discovered her talent and introduced that 19-year girl to P.S. Velu Nair who was one of the reigning dramatists of that era.
She made her first debut in 1927 on the Tamil stage. At first, she performed small roles on stage and kept the audience entertained between acts. Soon enough, she started playing leading roles on stage. After that, she started acting in films as well and she made many notable appearances in Manimekhalai, Auvaiyar, Kandan Karunai, and many more.
Political career
Sundarambal and her husband were much influenced by the Indian Independence movement and thus they became keen supporters of the Indian National Congress. She continued making recordings and gramophone discs for people telling about the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. Moreover, she made a point to always wear Khadi. She often actively campaigned in the elections in support of Congress party candidates. When India gained Independence, she entered the Legislative Council of Madras state in 1951 as a Congress member. And thus she became the first film artist to enter the Indian legislature.
Personal life
In 1927, she married S. G. Kittappa who worked with her in the theater. The couple became popular together. But her husband died in 1933. After his death, she left the stage to pursue a career as a concert artist.
She died on 15 October 1980 at the age of 72.
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Awards
In 1964, Tamil Isai Sangam titled her ‘Tamil Isai Perarignar’ which means most learned in Tamil music. In 1970, the Government of India honored her with Padma Shri for her contribution to the arts and she was also awarded the National Film Award for Best female playback singer by the government of India. In 1969, she also won the Tamilnadu State film award for best female playback.
She was the first person in the Indian Film Industry to get a salary of 1 lakh rupees. She became the first lady member of the Tamil Nadu state legislative assembly at that time.
So this article was a brief description of her personal life and political career.
