T. R. Mahalingam (actor)

Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam (16 June 1924 – 21 April 1978)[1] born in Sholavandan Thenkarai was an Indian actor and playback singer of the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his melodious songs mostly based on romantic or devotional themes.

T. R. Mahalingam
T. R. Mahalingam in 1950s
Born(1924-06-16)16 June 1924
Died21 April 1978(1978-04-21) (aged 53)
NationalityIndian
Known for
  • Actor
  • Playback singer

Early days

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Mahalingam's career as an actor and singer began since his childhood. He regularly appeared in stage plays popularly called special dramas. Mahalingam trained as a singer during the time when microphones and amplifiers were rarely present in performance halls. His music training, like those of singers S. G. Kittappa, Krishnan, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and to a large extent TMS, stressed voice projection and singing loud so as to be audible in large auditoriums. So it was that in 1933, when the prominent singer Kittappa died at the early age of 28, Mahalingam got his first break in films.

Acting

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In 1937, at the age of 14, Mahalingam got the chance to appear in the film Nandakumar, the third film produced by AVM. The film was based on the story of Lord Krishna wherein Mahalingam was chosen to play the lead role. The film failed at the box office in all the three languages (Tamil, Hindi and Marathi) in which it was made. Nevertheless, it received great accolades for its songs.

Mahalingam got his big break in the film Sri Valli made at the height of the Second World War, in which he played the part of Lord Murugan. The film did well at the box-office and established Mahalingam's reputation as both an actor and a singer.

Music composers he sang for

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Many music directors gave him memorable songs, including S. V. Venkatraman, K. V. Mahadevan, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, G. Ramanathan, Sharma Brothers, T. A. Kalyanam, C. N. Pandurangan, Lalitha Venkatraman, T. Rajagopala Sarma, C. R. Subbaraman, T. G. Lingappa, S. Rajeswara Rao, R. Sudarsanam, and Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan.

Playback singers he sang with

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While Mahalingam had many solo hit songs, he also sang with other singers.

He sang the most number of duets with S. Varalakshmi.

He also sang duets with other female singers: P. A. Periyanayaki, T. R. Rajakumari, P. Bhanumathi, T. V. Rathnam, A. P. Komala, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, T. S. Bagavathi, S. Janaki, P. Leela and P. Susheela.

He was also paired to sing with male singers such as Sirkazhi Govindarajan and S. C. Krishnan.

Filmography

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Year Film Language Banner
1938 Nandhakumar Tamil AVM Productions
1939 Prahaladha Tamil Salem Sankar Films
1940 Bhooloka Rambai Tamil Salem Shanmugha Films & Vijaya Maruthi Pictures
1940 Parasuramar Tamil
1941 Sathi Murali Tamil Central Studios
1942 Sathi Sukanya Tamil Modern Theatres
1942 Mayajothi Tamil
1942 Manonmani Tamil
1943 Dhaasippen or Jothi Malar Tamil Bhuvaneshwari Pictures
1944 Baktha Hanuman Tamil Raman Pictures
1945 Sri Valli Tamil Pragathi Studios
1947 Naam Iruvar Tamil AVM Productions
1948 Gnana Soundari Tamil Newton Studio
1948 Vedhala Ulagam Tamil AVM Productions
1948 Adhithan Kanavu Tamil Modern Theatres
1949 Pavalakodi Tamil Pakshiraja Studios
1949 Mayavathi Tamil Ganapathy Pictures
1949 Inbavalli Tamil Shyamala Pictures
1950 Laila Majnu Tamil Balaji Pictures
1950 Ithaya Geetham Tamil Citadel Film Corporation
1950 Macha Rekai Tamil Sukumar Productions
1950 Parijatham Tamil Lavanya Pictures
1951 Mohana Sundaram Tamil Sukumar Productions
1952 Velaikaran Tamil Sri Valli Productions
1952 Chinna Durai Tamil Sukumar Productions
1954 Vilayattu Bommai Tamil Sukumar Productions
1958 Maalaiyitta Mangai Tamil Kannadasan Films
1959 Manimekalai Tamil Sekhar Art Film Enterprises
1959 Abalai Anjugam Tamil Aruna Films
1959 Amudhavalli Tamil Jupiter Pictures
1960 Thanthaikku Pin Thamaiyan Tamil Surya Films
1960 Aada Vandha Deivam Tamil Majestic Studios
1960 Rathinapuri Ilavarasi Tamil Sri Vinayaka Pictures
1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan Tamil Kannadasan Productions
1961 Ennai Paar Tamil Pazhaniappa Productions
1961 Sri Valli Tamil Narasu Studio
1963 Pannaiyar Magan (Unreleased) Tamil RA Pictures
1965 Thiruvilaiyadal Tamil Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1971 Ilangeswaran Tamil Shashti Pictures
1971 Kannan Karunai Tamil NAD
1972 Agathiyar Tamil Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1972 Thiruneelakandar Tamil Sudarkodi Films
1973 Rajaraja Cholan Tamil Anand Movies
1973 Thirumalai Deivam Tamil Shanthi Combines
1977 Sri Krishna Leela Tamil Sree Umaiyambikai Pictures

References

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  1. ^ "Thanthaiyin Kadanai Adaiththa Magal!". The Hindu (Tamil). 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2019.