Manish Khouriwal at 23:40, 7 February 2026

2026-02-07T23:40:04Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Kothamangalam Seenu
|image = Kothamangalam Seenu.jpg
|caption =
|birth_name = V. S. Srinivasan
|birth_date ={{birth date|df=yes|1910|2|17}}
|birth_place = [[Vathirairuppu]], [[Virudhunagar district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2001|8|30|1910|2|17}}
|death_place =
|other_names =
|known_for =
|education =
| occupation = Stage, Film Actor, Carnatic Musician
| title =
| spouse= Anandavalli
|children= 5 sons, 4 daughters
|parents= Subramanya Iyer,<br>Narayani Ammal
|relatives=
|signature =
|website=
|}}
'''''Kothamangalam Seenu''''' (17 February 1910<ref name="kundoosi">{{cite journal | title=நட்சத்திரம் பிறந்தநாள் | journal=குண்டூசி 1951 February - P.35}}</ref> - 30 August 2001) was a [[Tamil Stage]], Cinema actor and a [[Carnatic music]] singer.

==Early life==
Kothamangalam Seenu whose birth name is V. S. Srinivasan, was born in [[Vathirairuppu]] (anglicised as ‘Watrap'), a village in [[Virudhunagar district]], [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="chogamelar">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/chogamelar-1942/article979086.ece | title=Chogamelar 1942 | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=25 December 2010 | accessdate=30 August 2016 | author=Guy, Randor |authorlink= Randor Guy}}</ref> His parents were Subramaniya Iyer and Narayani Ammal. Not much is known about his early life at his birth place except that he was well trained in Carnatic music.
He went to Kothamangalam, a village in Pudukottai district in search of employment.<ref name="chogamelar"/>

==Career==
He started his career as a singer and recorded some [[gramophone record]]s. He gave concerts and also trained students in [[Carnatic music]].<ref name="chogamelar"/>
Later he joined with [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] and began acting in dramas with him.<ref name=ausradio>[https://antrukandamugam.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/kothamangalam-seenu/ Kothamangalam Seenu]</ref>

==Film career==
His melodious voice and expertise in [[Carnatic music]] attracted film producers. Soon, he began to act in films.
The first film that he acted was [[Sarangadhara (1937 film)|Sarangadhara]], released in 1937. He acted in the main character.
During the early years of Tamil Cinema, music and songs dominated the films. In some cases there were as many as 50, 60 songs in one film. Therefore, there was much scope for singers to act in films and Seenu had good opportunities.
However, there were already two big 'guns' who mesmerized people with their golden voice and acting skill.
[[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] and [[P. U. Chinnappa]] were considered 'Super Stars' and held by the people in high esteem.
But Kothamangalam Seenu established a place for himself as a singer actor.
After [[Sarangadhara (1937 film)|Sarangadhara]], he acted in Pattinathar and Vipra Narayana. His songs in [[Shantha Sakkubai]], released in 1939, became very popular. He delivered a musical discourse (கதா காலட்சேபம்) that was a hit.
He acted in the main role as [[Thirumangai Alvar]] in the film with the same name and was released in 1940. His songs in this film were popular.
He acted in several films during the 1940s. His last film 'Thulasi Jalandar' was released in 1947.<ref name=ausradio />
Thereafter, though he lived for more 50 years, he did not act in any films.<ref name="chogamelar"/>

But he was performing Carnatic music concerts on Radio.<ref name="kundoosi"/>

==Filmography==
The following list of films is based on information in Tamil Movie Database.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilmoviesdatabase.com/actor/kothamangalam-seenu/|publisher=tamilmoviesdatabase.com|accessdate=26 July 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126020645/http://tamilmoviesdatabase.com/actor/kothamangalam-seenu/ |archivedate=26 November 2016|title=Kothamangalam Seenu}}</ref><ref name=ausradio />

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Year !! Film
|-
| 1935 || [[Sarangadhara#1935 Tamil film|Sarangadhara]]
|-
| 1935 || [[Pattinathar (1935 film)|Pattinathar]]
|-
| 1938 || [[Vipra Narayana]]
|-
| 1940 || Thirumangai Azhwar
|-
| 1940 || [[Manimekalai (1940 film)|Manimegalai]]
|-
| 1941 || [[Surya Puthri]]
|-
| 1941 || [[Kacha Devayani]]
|-
| 1942 || [[Bhaktha Naradar]]
|-
| 1942 || [[Chogamelar]]
|-
| 1942 || [[Krishna Pidaran]]
|-
| 1944 || [[Dasi Aparanji]]
|-
| 1946 || [[Sakata Yogam]]
|-
| 1947 || Ponnaruvi
|-
| 1947 || [[Ekambavanan]]
|-
| 1947 || [[Mahatma Udhangar]]
|-
| 1947 || [[Thulasi Jalandar]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mapsofindia.com/villages/tamil-nadu/pudukkottai/alangudi/kothamangalam.html Map of Kothamangalam]
*[http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/tamil/ta/content/nttippum-paattlum-ivrinnn-tnnnimuttirai?language=ta நடிப்பும் பாடலும் இவரின் தனிமுத்திரை] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911124419/http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/tamil/ta/content/nttippum-paattlum-ivrinnn-tnnnimuttirai?language=ta |date=11 September 2016 }}, திருமலை மூர்த்தி, சிறப்பு ஒலிபரப்புச் சேவை, 1 ஏப்ரல் 2015
*[http://www.tamilonline.com/thendral/article.aspx?aid=7329 கொத்தமங்கலம் சீனு]
*[https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Katcha-Devayani-1941/article16888038.ece Katcha Devayani (1941)]

'''Some of his songs on YouTube'''
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IKpWbffZio
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gBnoUfgRp8
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bG70TRGKA4

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seenu, Kothamangalam}}
[[Category:Tamil male actors]]
[[Category:Tamil singers]]
[[Category:Male Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil people]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Virudhunagar district]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]

Kothamangalam Seenu - Revision history

Manish Khouriwal at 23:40, 7 February 2026