S. V. Subbaiah Explained

S. V. Subbaiah
Birth Name:Sengottai Vellaiyan Aasari. Subbaiah
Birth Place:Sengottai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India
Death Place:Red Hills, Chennai
Nationality:Indian
Known For:Character Roles
Occupation:Film Artiste
Children:5 daughters
1 son

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]

Early life

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

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

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

Year Film Role Notes
1946 Debut film
1947 Ekambavanan
KanjanKandasamy
(Miser)
Main Character
1948 Sakuni
Mariamman
1949 MayavathiKaamaruban
1950 Unmayin Vetri
1952
1954 Murugan
Sugam Enge Boopathy, The Postman
1955 Mangaiyar Thilakam Karunakaran
Porter Kandan
Valliyin Selvan Servant
1956 Poor Farmer
King
1957 Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam King Deva Rayar
SoubhagyavathiHero's Father
1958 Vanjikottai Valiban Murugan
1959 Bhaaga Pirivinai Sundaralingam
Naan Sollum Ragasiyam Velayutham
Ponnu Vilaiyum Boomi
Vaazha Vaitha Deivam
1960 Irumbu Thirai Saravanan
Kalathur Kannamma Murugan (Heroine's father) Kamal Haasan's first film (child artiste)
Ponnan (Boatman)
1961 Kappalottiya Thamizhan
Malliyam Mangalam
Paava Mannippu James
Palum Pazhamum
1962 Vadivukku Valai Kappu A. P. Nagarajan's directorial debut
Paadha Kaanikkai
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 (Heroine's father)
Thaayum Magalum Subrahmaniyam (Heroine's father)
1966 Mad Tamil teacher
Thaali Bhagyam Nallasivam
1968 Jeevanaamsam(Hero) Murthi's uncle
1969 Kaaval Dheivam His own Production
Kula Vilakku
1970 PaadhukaappuGuest appearance
1971 Aathi Parasakthi Abirami Pattar
Irulum Oliyum
Moondru DheivangalPasupathy
1972 Velu
1973 Ramu Sastrigal
Nathaiyil Muthu
ManipayalKanthan, a cobbler
Ponnunjal
Pookari
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
1974 Roshakkari
1975 IdhayakkaniPonnusamy (Estate Supervisor)
1976 Unakkaga Naan
Annakili
1977DheepamRamaiya
KavikkuyilRamaiah pillai
1978 Athaivida Ragasiyam
Maariyamman ThiruvizhaHeroine's father
Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye
1979 Gnana Kuzhandhai
Sigappukkal Mookkuthi Last film
1991Nallathai Naadu KekumPolice Inspector Sathiyakeerthi (Archive Footage)[6] Posthumous release. Archive footage of MGR's unfinished film of the same name used.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, S. V. Subbiah . 2022-03-28 . www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com.
  2. Book: Ashish Rajadhyaksha . Paul Willemen . Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. 305 .
  3. News: Guy . Randor . Blast from the Past – Abhimanyu 1948 . 2 October 2009 . . 30 May 2017 . https://archive.today/20170530043249/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/abhimanyu-1948/article3021993.ece . 30 May 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp13.htm Nadigar Thilagam Filmography
  5. Book: Sivakumar . Idhu Raajapaattai Alla . This is not Royal Highway . Tamil . 137–140 . Alliance Company, Mylapore, Chennai 600004, 13th edition, 2014.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4-Gc2SVYoY Nallathai Naadu Kekum (1991)