S. V. Subbaiah (1920-1980) was an Indian actor who featured mainly in Tamil-language plays and films. He featured mostly in character roles that communicated emotional feelings.[1]

S. V. Subbaiah
S. V. Subbaiah in Roshakari (1974)
Born
Sengottai Vellaiyan Aasari. Subbaiah

1920 (1920)
Sengottai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India
Died29 January 1980(1980-01-29) (aged 59–60)
Red Hills, Chennai
NationalityIndian
OccupationFilm Artiste
Known forCharacter Roles
Children5 daughters
1 son

Early life

edit

Subbaiah hails from Sengottai in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. Spurning academic pursuits, he joined a drama troupe called ‘Senkottai Ananda Sakthivel Paramananda Boys Company’ when he was 11 years old. Later, he was part of drama troupes such as Balashanmukhananda Sabha and Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Subbaiah's performance as Kavi Anandar in S. D. Sundharam's play Kaviyin Kanavu staged by Sakthi Nataka Sabha in 1945 fetched rave reviews. This paved the way for him to enter Tamil films.

Film career

edit

His first film was Vijayalakshmi (1946) produced by Pragathi Pictures, the forerunner of AVM Productions. Next he featured in Kanjan (1947) produced by Jupiter Pictures and directed by Kovai Ayyamuthu and T. R. Gopu.[2] Then, he featured as Sakuni in Abhimanyu in which M. G. Ramachandran donned the role of Arjuna.[3]

Subbaiah's breakthrough came with the film Kaalam Maari Pochu (1956) in which he featured in a character role. This set the tone for his type of role in future films. Though there are many films that his role remains ever-green among Tamil film lovers, the role he played in the historical film Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961) will lie deep down in their minds. He featured as Subramania Bharati in this film. His style as Bharati was followed by many artistes, right from Sivaji Ganesan to Kamal Haasan, in the role of Bharati, in future films.

Subbaiah produced a film Kaaval Dheivam under his own banner Ambal Productions. The film featured big-time stars like Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, T. S. Balaiah, M. N. Nambiar, Nagesh and V. K. Ramasamy in well defined roles. Most of them appeared as guest artistes.[4]

Sivakumar and Lakshmi starred in this film. Sivaji Ganesan refused to receive any payment for his role. A sentimental Subbaiah said "In my next birth I will become a dog and serve Sivaji Ganesan". Such was his humble persona.[5]

Personal life

edit

S. V. Subbaiah Was born in Vishwakarma family. Subbaiahbaiah was interested in agriculture. He bought lands in Karanodai near Sengundram (Red Hills) and developed it into a farm. When he was not occupied with film shooting, he worked on his farm. He was deeply religious and lived his life with certain principles, such as not working after 9 p.m. He was a voracious reader and a fan of Jayakanthan.

He died on 29 January 1980 due to ill health. It was a strange coincidence that the man born at Sengottai, which means Red Fort, died at his farm in Sengundram which means Red Hills.

Filmography

edit
Year Film Role Notes
1946 Vijayalakshmi Debut film
1947 Ekambavanan
Kanjan Kandasamy
(Miser)
Main Character
1948 Abhimanyu Sakuni
Mariamman
Thirumalisai Alvar
1949 Mayavathi Kaamaruban
1950 Unmayin Vetri
1952 Rani
Velaikaran
1954 Pudhu Yugam Murugan
Sugam Enge Boopathy, The Postman
1955 Mangaiyar Thilakam Karunakaran
Porter Kandan
Valliyin Selvan Servant
1956 Kaalam Maari Pochu Poor Farmer
Naane Raja
Rambaiyin Kaadhal King
1957 Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam King Deva Rayar
Soubhagyavathi Hero's Father
1958 Vanjikottai Valiban Murugan
1959 Bhaaga Pirivinai Sundaralingam
Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai
Naan Sollum Ragasiyam Velayutham
Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi
Vaazha Vaitha Deivam
1960 Irumbu Thirai Saravanan
Kalathur Kannamma Murugan Kamal Haasan's first film (child artiste)
Parthiban Kanavu Ponnan (Boatman)
1961 Kappalottiya Thamizhan Subramania Bharati
Malliyam Mangalam
Paava Mannippu James
Palum Pazhamum
1962 Vadivukku Valai Kappu A. P. Nagarajan's directorial debut
Paadha Kaanikkai K. Shankar
1963 Naanum Oru Penn Kali A. V. M. Rajan's debut film
Panathottam
Yarukku Sontham
1964 Kalai Kovil Gifted Musician Lead role
M. S. Viswanathan's own production
1965 Kaakum Karangal Ranganathan
Thaayum Magalum Subrahmaniyam
1966 Ramu Mad Tamil teacher
Thaali Bhagyam Nallasivam
1968 Jeevanaamsam (Hero) Murthi's uncle
1969 Kaaval Dheivam His own Production
Kula Vilakku
1970 Paadhukaappu Guest appearance
1971 Aathi Parasakthi Abirami Pattar
Irulum Oliyum
Moondru Dheivangal Pasupathy
1972 Needhi Velu
1973 Arangetram Ramu Sastrigal
Nathaiyil Muthu
Manipayal Kanthan, a cobbler
Ponnunjal
Pookari
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
1974 Roshakkari
1975 Idhayakkani Ponnusamy (Estate Supervisor)
1976 Unakkaga Naan
Sathyam
Annakili
1977 Dheepam Ramaiya
Kavikkuyil Ramaiah pillai
1978 Athaivida Ragasiyam
Maariyamman Thiruvizha Heroine's father
Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye
1979 Gnana Kuzhandhai Vaakeesar or Thirunavukarasar
Sigappukkal Mookkuthi Last film
1991 Nallathai Naadu Kekum Police Inspector Sathiyakeerthi (Archive Footage)[6] Posthumous release. Archive footage of MGR's unfinished film of the same name used.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, S. V. Subbiah". www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  2. ^ Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. p. 305.
  3. ^ Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "Blast from the Past – Abhimanyu 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  4. ^ Nadigar Thilagam Filmography
  5. ^ Sivakumar. Idhu Raajapaattai Alla [This is not Royal Highway] (in Tamil). Alliance Company, Mylapore, Chennai 600004, 13th edition, 2014. pp. 137–140.
  6. ^ Nallathai Naadu Kekum (1991) Classic Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Jeppiar Pictures. 1991. Character's name mentioned from 00:07:20 to 00:08:00.

Bibliography

edit
edit