K. Subramanyam

K. Subramanyam Biography

K. Subramanyam was a renowned south Indian film director who started his career in the silent era of Indian cinema. He was most active in the eras of 1930’s and 1940’s. Renowned Bharatnatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam is his daughter. Mentor of legendary vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi - S. D. Subbulakshmi was his second wife, who too was a noted singer. He was a key figure in establishing Madras as the centre of south Indian film industry.

He was a native of Papanasam born in the year 1904.  He started his film career as scenarist and producer of silent films. Along with the businessman and philanthropist, Alagappa Chettiar he started Meenakshi Cineton and under this banner he directed the first movie, Pavalakkodi which marked the debut of famous singer-actor, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. ‘Balayogini’ was one of the earliest movies based on social problems and through this movie, he badly criticized caste system. His early work was derived mainly from the stage conventions and Balayogini marked his shift in choosing themes for movies.

‘Seva Sadan’ released in 1938 was a women-oriented movie and another noted one was the saint film Bhakta Cheta. Thyagabhoomi and Mana Samrakshnam were the noted movies based on social themes. Thyagabhoomi was based on a novel with the same name, which was banned by British. He introduced the popular actor K. S. Ashwath to film world through the movie, Streerathna. He has also directed one Malayalam film Prahlada in 1941.

K. Subramaniam first married Meenatchi and had 8 children. Padma Subrahmanyam was one among them. He later married S. D. Subbulakshmi with Meenatchi’s consent and the couple had one son. He kept both the families together and maintained both relationships till the end of his life.  

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Updated: March 27, 2014