K. D. Santhanam – Sivaji Ganesan’s guru in dramatics

K. D. Santhanam was a stage actor from Tamil Nadu. He has also scripted a few movies in Tamil, apart from doing character roles and writing song lyrics. One of his most successful students in the field of theatre is none other than the legendary Sivaji Ganesan, with whom he shared screen space in many movies like Pasamar, Paalum Pazhavum etc playing minor roles. Later the actor himself has acknowledged that his guru taught him discipline, which helped him in profession a lot and conquer new heights. Santhanam acted in more than 100 Tamil films, and penned lyrics for around 40 films or so.

K. D. Santhanam started his career as a dramatics teacher in Madurai Sri Mangala Bala Gana Sabha, where Sivaji Ganesan was one of his students. He joined film industry in 1948 as a lyricist. He wrote a single song for the movie, Gnana Soundari. From there on, he stayed in the film industry for next three decades. As a film actor, he marked his screen debut with the film, Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari in 1954 which starred Sivaji Ganesan in lead role. From there on he played senior character roles in many movies starring Sivaji, and also accepted projects with other actors.

As a lyricist, some of his best works in the 1950s are Kaadhal, Azhaki, Gomathiyin Kaadhalan, Menaka, Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari, Marumakal, Manamagan Thevai, Devadas etc, and his works in 1960s include – Vijayapuri Veeran, Kaanchi Thalaivan etc. Sri Krishna Leela in 1977 was the last movie as a lyricist, and he last appeared in Rajaraja Cholan, Ilaya Thalaimurai etc. As an actor some of his memorable roles are Pasamar, Paalum Pazhavum, Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Ragasiya Police 115, Sange Muzhangu, Aasai Mugham, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Kalangarai Vilakkam, Rajaraja Cholan etc.

K. D. Santhanam – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He played M. G. R’s father in the film Aasai Mugam.

2. He taught dramatics at Madurai Sri Mangala Bala Gana Sabha, and was well-known for his discipline and strict punishments. He even run after boys with cane to give punishments, and canned them for mistakes.

3. While in the 1950s he was most engaged in writing song lyrics, he shifted to acting roles most in the 1960s.

4. He scripted 1952 film, Chinna Durai, starring T. R. Mahalingam and S. Varalakshmi. The script was based on Iru Mohinigal authored by Vaduvoor K. Duraisamy Ayyengar.