Potpourri of titbits about cinema - R. K. Ramasamy

Nadippisai pulavar

Ramasamy was born as the third child to Ramabadra Chettiar and Kuppammal at the hamlet Ammasamudram near Kumbakonam. Due to lack of interest, Ramasamy discontinued after 4th std. and he started taking formal training in music from the veteran musician Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai. Kali N. Ratnam, a popular comedian of the time, put the seven-year old Ramasamy in Madurai Origibal Boys Drama Company when he understood his fervor for acting. And, Ramasamy joined the T. K. S. Drama Troupe at his age of 13. Subsequently, he joined N. S. Krishnan’s troupe and acted in many plays. Many of his stage plays were made into films and Ramasamy did minor roles in them. He married Kalyani who was his co-star in many plays. When ‘Arignar’ Anna’s stage play “Velaikkaari” was made into film, Ramasamy acted as the hero and it was a turning point for both his career and the Tamil cinema. When the political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was launched, Ramasamy joined the party and contributed a lot to its growth through his public speeches and songs. He was made an MLC (member of Legislative Council) also. Though he had acted as hero in number of films, he considered his films in which he co-starred with MGR, Sivaji and Gemini Ganesh as most important and unforgettable. He strove hard for the growth of the DMK party as well as cinema. When his health deteriorated, the DMK met all his medical expenditure. In spite of intensive treatment, Ramasamy died on 5-8-1971.