K. B. Sundarambal

Indian actress and singer

Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal (11 October 1908 – 15 October 1980) was an Indian actress and singer from Erode district, Tamil Nadu. She performed in Tamil cinema and was referred to as the "Queen of the Indian stage." A political activist during the Indian independence movement, K. B. Sundarambal was the first film personality to enter a state legislature in India.

K. B. Sundarambal was born on 11 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.

According to some sources, 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 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.

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.

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 discs extolling the struggle and sacrifices it entailed. She also made it a point to always wear khadi. 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.

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.