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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Fanpov|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox person
| name = K.B.Sundarambal
| image = K.B.Sundarambal.jpeg
| titles =
| birth_name = Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal
| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1908|10|11}}
| birth_place = [[Kodumudi]], [[Coimbatore District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (now [[Erode District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], Tamil Nadu, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1980|10|15|1908|10|11}}{{cn|date=September 2020}}
| death_place =
| yearsactive =
| website =
| awards = *[[Padmashri]]
*[[National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer]]
| spouse = {{marriage|[[S. G. Kittappa]]|1927|1933}}
| children = 0
}}

'''Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal'''<ref>[http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php Full name as per national awards website of India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131221505/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php |date=31 January 2009 }}</ref> (1908–1980) was an Indian theatre and film actress and singer from [[Erode district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. She performed in [[Tamil cinema]] and was referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage."<ref name="hindu-images">[http://www.thehinduimages.com:8080/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=1350184 Photo description in Hindu Images] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929030340/http://www.thehinduimages.com:8080/hindu/photoDetail.do?photoId=1350184 |date=29 September 2006 }}</ref> A political activist during the [[Indian independence movement]], K.B. Sundarambal was the first film personality to enter a state legislature in India.<ref>[http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/journal/vol9no2/baskaran_cinema.html From the UMICH website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050423210028/http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/journal/vol9no2/baskaran_cinema.html |date=23 April 2005 }}</ref>

==Early years==
K.B. Sundarambal was born on 10 October 1908 in the town of [[Kodumudi]] on the banks of [[Kaveri river]], in [[Erode district]] in Tamil Nadu. As a child, she made money by singing on trains and receiving tips.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.sangeetham.com/others/sundar_kit5.php3 |title=Biography on Sangeetam.com |access-date=2006-06-09 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217091021/http://www.sangeetham.com/others/sundar_kit5.php3 |archive-date=17 February 2005 }}</ref>

==Acting career==
According to some sources,<ref name="bio"/> it was while singing thus on a train for alms that the 19-year-old Sundarambal attracted the attention of [[F. G. Natesa Iyer]], an amateur stage actor, producer and talent-scout. According to other sources,<ref>[http://www.sonymusic.co.in/artist/artist.asp?artistid=1072&cookie%5Ftest=1 Biography on the Sony website]</ref> it was a police official named Krishnaswamy Iyer, an acquaintance of Balambal, who discovered the talent in Sundarambal and introduced the 19-year-old girl to P. S. Velu Nair, one of the reigning dramatists of that era.

In either case, Sundarambal is believed to have made her debut in 1927, on the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] stage, as a member of a travelling theatre troupe. She honed her voice while performing small roles on stage and keeping audiences entertained between acts. Soon enough, she was playing leading roles on stage. Her early stage plays like ''"Valli Thirumanam," "Pavalakodi"'' and ''"Harishchandra"'' proved to be great hits. In particular, ''"Valli Thirumanam"'', where she co-starred with S.G. Kittappa, was a phenomenal success.

==Personal life==
While working together in the theatre, Sundarambal met [[S. G. Kittappa]]. They were married in 1927. The couple, together became popular. S. G. Kittappa died in 1933. Sundarambal left the stage after his death, to pursue a career as a concert artiste. K.B. Sundarambal died in September 1980.

==Filmography==

Sundarambal acted in films as well with notable appearances in ''Manimekhalai'', ''[[Avvaiyar (film)|Auvaiyar]]'', ''[[Thiruvilayadal (1965 film)|Thiruvilayadal]]'', ''[[Karaikal Ammaiyar]]'' and ''[[Kandan Karunai]]''. She portrayed Tamil poet [[Avvaiyar|Avvaiyar]] in films ''[[Thiruvilayadal (1965 film)|Thiruvilayadal]]'' and ''[[Kandan Karunai]]''. She also acted in social films such as ''[[Uyir Mel Aasai]]'', ''[[Thunaivan]]'' and ''Gnayiru Thinggal''. ''Gnayiru Thinggal'' was an unreleased film.

She sang in movies as well. She worked under music directors Mayavaram Venu, [[M. D. Parthasarathy]], Parur S. Anantharaman, R. Sudharsanam, [[K. V. Mahadevan]], [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]], [[T. K. Ramamoorthy]], [[M. S. Viswanathan]] and [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Song
! Music
! Production Company
|-
| 1935
| [[Nandanar (1935 film)|Nandanar (1935)]]
| 1. Piththam Theliya Marundhondrikkirathu 2. Vazhi Maraithirukkudhe
|
| Asandas Classical Talkies
|-
| 1940
| [[Manimekalai (1940 film)|Manimekalai]]
| 1. Maasindri Kulamaadhar 2. Siraichalai Enna Seiyum 3. Paavi Yen Pirandhen
|
| T. K. Productions
|-
| 1953
| [[Avvaiyar (film)|Avvaiyar]]
| 1. Katrathu Kaiman Alavu 2. Muthmizh Deivame Va 3. Ayyane Anbarkku Meiyyane 4. Ulaginile Thamizhnadu Uyarga 5. Kooriya Vaalar 6. Porumai Enum Nagai Anindhu 7. Aram Seiyya Virumbuvelane 8. Velane Senthamizh Viththaga....Mayilerum Vadivelane 9. Koodi Nadandhukolla Vendum 10. Kanni Thamizh Naattinile Vennilaave 11. Gannanaathane Varuga 12. Aalai Palaavaakkalamo 13. Periyathu Ketkin 14. Nellukku Iraitha Nir 15. Munnai Nal Parikku 16. Vennila Vea
| Mayavaram Venu, [[M. D. Parthasarathy]] & Parur Anantharaman
|[[Gemini Studios]]
|-
| 1964
| [[Poompuhar (Movie)|Poompuhar]]
|1. Vazhkai Enum Odam 2. Thappithu Vanthanappa 3. Thunbamellam 4. Andru Kollum Arasan
| R. Sudharsanam
| Mekala Pictures
|-
|1965
|Gnayiru Thinggal (Unreleased)
|1. Seeru Thamizh Paalundu Vetrikku Vel Kondu
|[[M. S. Viswanathan]]
|
|-
| 1965
| [[Thiruvilaiyadal]]
| 1. Gnanapazhathai Pizhindhu 2. Pazhaniyappa 3. Vasi Vasi Endru 4. Ondranavan
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
|-
| 1966
| [[Mahakavi Kalidas (1966 film)|Mahakavi Kalidas]]
| 1. Sendru Va Magane 2. Kalathil Azhiyatha
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| Kalpana Kalamandir
|-
| 1967
| [[Kandan Karunai]]
| 1. Ariyathu Ketkindra 2. Muruga Muruga
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| ALS Productions
|-
| 1967
| [[Uyir Mel Aasai]]
| 1. Kelu Papa, Kelu Papa, Kelvigal Aayiram Kelu Papa 2. Nalla Ganapathi.... Thunbikkai Nadhan Thunai 3. Iyappa Abayam Koduppathunthan Kaiyappa
| [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]]
| Ayyappan Productions
|-
| 1969
| [[Thunaivan]]
| 1. Gnanamum Kalviyum 2. Kondadum Thiruchendu 3. Andru Nee 4. Koopitta Kuralukku 5. Kondadum Thiruchendur
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| Dandayudhapani Films
|-
| 1972
| [[Shakthi Leelai]]
| 1. Amma…Sakthiyenum Deivam Konda Padai Veedu 2. Enggeyum Sakthi Undu
| [[T. K. Ramamoorthy]]
| Raman Pictures
|-
| 1973
| [[Karaikkal Ammaiyar (film)|Karaikkal Ammaiyar]]
| 1. Odungal Odi Ullam Urugi....Thagathagavena Aada Vaa 2. Iraivaa Un Pugazh Paduven 3. Piravatha Varam Vendum 4. Padugingen Unnai Padugingren 5. Vaduvatha Or Pozhuthum
| [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]
| Eveeyaar Films
|-
| 1973
| [[Thirumalai Deivam]]
| 1. Ezhumalai Irukka Namakkenna Manakkavalai 2. Nalellam Unthan Thirunale
| [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]]
| Shanthi Combines
|}

==Political activism==
Sundarambal and her husband S.G. Kittappa had been much influenced by the [[Indian independence movement]] and they became ardent supporters of the [[Indian National Congress]]. They had harnessed their popularity and talents to further that cause. Sundarambal continued to champion the movement, recording several [[gramophone records|gramophone discs]] extolling the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. She also made it a point to always wear [[khadi]].<ref name="bio"/> She often actively campaigned in support of Congress party candidates at various elections.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020312213151/http://hindu.com/thehindu/2001/02/04/stories/1304078x.htm from The Hindu, 4 February 2001] – "During the district board election at [[Tirunelveli]] in 1934, where the strength of the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] was unquestionable and unshakeable, Kodhainayaki, with 12 other women among whom was the popular K. B. Sundarambal, took upon herself to storm the Justice Party bastion with her mesmerising oration."</ref> After India gained independence, K.B. Sundarambal entered the Legislative Council of [[Madras State]] in 1951 as a Congress nominee, thus becoming the first film artist to enter an Indian legislature.

Her mentor C.Satyamurthy was prisoned by the British for participating in [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942.

==Honours==
In 1964, the Tamil Isai Sangam conferred upon her the title of ''"Tamil Isai Perarignar (Most Learned in Tamil Music)."'' In 1970, the [[government of India]] awarded her the [[Padmashri]] for her contributions to the arts. She was awarded with the [[National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer]] by the Government of India, for her work in [[Thunaivan]]. She also won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback]] for [[Thunaivan]] in 1969. She was also the first person in the Indian film industry to command a salary of one lakh rupees. She became the first lady member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

==Further reading==
*''Kodumudi Kokilam K.B. Sundarambal varalaru.'' Biography in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] by P. Chozhanadan. Published by Rishabham Pathippagam, K.K. Nagar, Chennai 600 078.

==Footnotes and references==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0839048}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050113100438/http://www.sruti.com/Aug04/bshelf.htm Review of a biography on K.B.Sundarambal]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090131221505/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php Indian government website on Padmashri]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040107071652/http://www.sangeetham.com/others/archives/freedom_women.php3 Two awards in 1969]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040107071652/http://www.sangeetham.com/others/archives/freedom_women.php3 From the Hindu newspaper]
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107071652/http://www.sangeetham.com/others/archives/freedom_women.php3 |date=7 January 2004 |title=Political activism }}

{{National Film Award Best Female Playback Singer}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundarambal, Kodumadi Balambal}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:People from Erode district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Actresses from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Women in Tamil Nadu politics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Best Female Playback Singer National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Tamil Nadu]]

K. B. Sundarambal - Revision history

2405:201:E02F:2069:4426:B8E3:1D54:5EB0 at 04:08, 2 December 2021