Kambadasan

Kambadasan was born on 15th September 1916 in a village near Tindivinam, named Ulagapuram, in the South Arcot District (Madras Presidency). His birth name was Appaavu a.k.a. Rajappa. His mother was Balammal and his father was Subbarayar. He was a potter. Kambadasan had 5 sisters so he was the only son in the family. When he was a child, he and his family shifted to Purasaivakkam in Chennai. His curiosity about stage plays increased as he aged. With his harmonium playing skills, singing talents, and fine voice, he soon became a well-known name in stage plays.

His devotion to poet Kambar made him opt for the pen name Kambadasan when literally translated means, a fan of Kambar. He had written many plays, short stories, and poems as a writer. Due to his numerous talents, entry into Tamil Cinema was made easy for him. His career started as an actor and then moved on to becoming a lyricist and writer. Dialogues for Saalivaahanan were written by him. The lyricist of the hit song Arul Thaarum Deva Mathaave in Citadel's Gnana Soundari was also Kambadasan. Other songs of Kambadasan are Aatrin Karai Thanile, Ennum Ezhuthum, and Lalila Lallo among other famous songs.