Kambayanatham Rangaswami Kanakavalli (born 1918), known professionally as K. R. Chellam, was an Indian actress who appeared in Tamil language films.[1]
Early life
Kambayanatham Rangaswami Kanakavalli was born in 1918 to a middle-class Iyengar family in Thanjavur. She lost her mother at an early age, so her father Rangaswami, a lawyer, raised her along with her two siblings. Chellam, as she was informally known, dropped out of school early, and married a Bombay-based insurance salesman, later settling there with him. This marriage resulted in two daughters. After the family incurred financial losses due to the insurance salesman's mismanagement, they went to Madras almost penniless.[2]
Career
Kanakavalli made her film debut with a minor role in Kausalya (1935) to support her family financially. As cinema was considered taboo in India at that time and she did not want her acquaintances to know she was in that profession, she chose her nickname Chellam as her stage name, though her family ultimately learned the truth. The film became a box office bomb and its production company closed, forcing Chellam to continue as an actress to stay afloat. With help from actress T. N. Meenakshi, she was cast in a bigger role in Madras Mail (1936). This film performed well and got Chellam noticed, resulting in her being cast in Balayogini (1937), also a success. Her next film Vanaraja Karzan (1938) received significant media attention because she wore a revealing outfit. Adrishtam (1939), in which she played a lawyer, established her as an actress of "high merit".[2] She was active in films from 1935 to about 1960.[3] Her last film was Pattaliyin Vetri (1960).[4] As of September 1990, Chellam was living in Madras with one of her daughters, a doctor.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Kausalya | [2] | |
| 1936 | Madras Mail | [2] | |
| 1937 | Balayogini | Sarasa | [5] |
| 1938 | Vanaraja Karzan | Leela | [6] |
| 1938 | Desa Munnetram | [7] | |
| 1939 | Adrishtam | Lawyer | [8] |
| 1941 | Surya Puthri | Thapathi | [9] |
| 1942 | En Manaivi | Chellam | [10] |
| 1943 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | [11] | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Shakthi | [12] |
| 1944 | Poompavai | Ponnammal | [13] |
| 1945 | Meera | Udha | [14] |
| 1946 | Lavangi | Komalam | [15] |
| 1947 | Naam Iruvar | Ambujam | [16] |
| 1947 | Deiva Needhi | [17] | |
| 1948 | Vedhala Ulagam | Mohanavalli | [18] |
| 1948 | Bhaktha Jana | [19] | |
| 1952 | Thai Ullam | Santhamma | [20] |
| 1953 | Jatakam | Kannammal | [21] |
| 1954 | Rajee En Kanmani | Raji's aunt | [22] |
| 1954 | Vaira Maalai | [23] | |
| 1955 | Kalvanin Kadhali | [24] | |
| 1956 | Mathar Kula Manikkam | ||
| 1957 | Karpukkarasi | Singari | [25] |
| 1959 | Aval Yaar | [26] | |
| 1959 | Orey Vazhi | [27] | |
| 1960 | Pattaliyin Vetri | ||
| 1960 | Paavai Vilakku | [28] |
References
- ↑ செல்லுலாய்ட் பெண்கள். Dinakaran(10 October 2018). Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 K. R. Chellam: Sheer poverty drove her to acting. The Indian Express(1 September 1990).
- ↑ Interview of Mrs. K R Chellam - one of the early actresses of Tamil cinema(25 May 1989). Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ↑ நீர்க்குமிழி: குடும்பத்தைக் காப்பாற்ற திரை நடிப்பு! - கே.ஆர் செல்லம், மாதவன், பிரதீப். Hindu Tamil Thisai(15 December 2017). Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ↑ Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2013: Tamil Films that have earned National and International Recognition{{#if:Dhananjayan|, Dhananjayan}. Blue Ocean Publishers(2014)
- ↑ The Best of Tamil Cinema{{#if:Dhananjayan|, Dhananjayan}. Galatta Media(2011)
- ↑ Blast from the past: Desa Munnetram (1938). The Hindu(17 December 2011). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ Adrishtam 1939. The Hindu(1 August 2008). Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ↑ Suryaputhri (1941). The Hindu(16 November 2013). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ Template:Cite AV media
- ↑ Karaikkal Ammaiyar (1943). The Hindu(21 December 2013). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ↑ Prabhavathi{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Krishnan Pictures(1944)
- ↑ Poompavai{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Rangam Bros(1944)
- ↑ Template:Cite AV media
- ↑ லவங்கி{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Sri Jagadish Films(1946)
- ↑ Template:Cite AV media
- ↑ Deiva Neethi 1947. The Hindu(11 December 2010). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ வேதாள உலகம்{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. AVM Productions(1948)
- ↑ Bhaktha Jana 1948. The Hindu(28 August 2010). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ தாய் உள்ளம்{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Narayanan & Company(1952)
- ↑ ஜாதகம்{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. R. N. R. Pictures(1953)
- ↑ ராஜி என் கண்மணி{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Gemini Studios
- ↑ Blast from the past – Vaira Maalai 1954. The Hindu(24 December 2011). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ Kalvanin Kadhali 1954. The Hindu(22 November 2008). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ கற்புக்கரசி{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Jupiter Pictures(1957)
- ↑ Aval Yaar (1957). The Hindu(21 June 2014). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ Orey Vazhi 1959. The Hindu(23 August 2014). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ↑ Blast from the past: Paavai Vilakku 1960. The Hindu(25 October 2014). Retrieved 13 June 2020.