KB Sundarambal - When life gave her lemons, she made lemonade.

This is the story of a woman, a singer, who is a living memory for many of the older generations in South India. Sundarambal’s life and career coincided with several crosscurrents in twentieth century India - the arrival of an increased number of gramophone companies from Europe into the country in search of new voices, the introduction of cinema and its slowly increasing popularity and the escalation in political activity in India because of the freedom struggle. It was also the time when, increasingly, young women joined the nascent theatre and film industry which stigmatized them rather unfairly. Many traditional patrons of artistes, basically royalty and landed gentry, had lost the resources to continue to extend their age-old support to musicians, actors and dancers. In the changed scenario drama troupes and film studios became the new venues for artistes to showcase their talent, and earn a living.

Photograph taken October, 1932

(https://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:K.B.Sundarambal.jpeg)

The Early Years

Kodumudi Balambal Sundarambal was from Erode, Tamil Nadu, born in October 1908. Her early life was one of extreme privation. At one point, unable to cope with dire poverty, Sundarambal’s mother was about to jump into the Kaveri with her three children, when the little girl convinced her to give life another chance. Sundarambal, even at that young age, promised her mother to earn for the family by her talent for singing. And she kept her word.

Sundarambal began to sing on trains to entertain passengers, and earned money. This was all the musical training Sundarambal had, but one apparently so complete that it stood her in good stead all her life. Her strong and resonant voice, her dignified demeanour and her confidence on stage became her hallmarks. Soon she came to the attention of people connected with Tamil theatre who were on the constant look-out for fresh talent.

Sundarambal’s Career and Superstardom in Tamil Theatre

Sundarambal started her acting career in 1917 as a singer between acts in plays put up by several drama companies that flourished in the Madras Presidency. Tamil theatre had seen a sea change for the better under the stewardship of Sankaradas Swamigal (1867‐1922). The plays used a mixture of music styles - Carnatic classical music, popular music and Parsi drama music from Bombay (as it was known then) - to create an easily accessible, cosmopolitan musical experience. By 1920, Tamil gramophone records were among the best-selling records in India, and catapulted Sundarambal from being a popular actor/singer in dramas to a superstar of drama music. Her unique voice was inimitable and helped her carve a niche from which she would not be dislodged for years. 

Sundarambal was now also the leading lady in mythological dramas. On a working trip to Sri Lanka with a troupe she met SG Kittappa, an actor known for the range of his singing voice. They were soon a hit pairing with the audiences and notched up success after success at the box office.

Her voice was so unique that it was impossible to imitate her. In the 1920s and the 1930s, Sundarambal was the reigning queen of Tamil drama.

Her contribution to India’s Freedom Struggle

Sundarambal and Kittappa became politically involved with the ongoing freedom struggle in India. This was a mass struggle against British colonizers and involved all society. They were closely associated with the Indian National Congress party which was in the struggle's forefront. Sundarambal ensured she always wore khadi, the fabric after Mahatma Gandhi’s own heart, as a mark of support to the freedom movement. She lent her voice to campaigns that took the message for freedom across to the people, urging all Indians to join the fight to throw out the British. 

A few years after Sundarambal and Kittappa were married, she delivered a baby boy who lived just for a few weeks. Kittappa was nowhere to be seen. Soon Sundarambal and Kittappa split up since he had taken to drink. Kittappa died young of Sirrosis.

Sundarambal’s Continued Success

Sundarambal’s work continued unabated. She was now not only a playback singer in drama and film but also an actor with a respected body of work, and a political activist.

Sundarambal’s work as a performing artiste and her contribution towards India’s freedom struggle were recognised in her lifetime. After Indian Independence in 1947 she was conferred Isai Perarignar by the Tamil Isai Sangam, a distinguished organisation that promotes Tamil music. She was awarded the national award Padmasri in 1970 for her contribution towards the arts and was twice the recipient of the National Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Thunaivan in 1969. A sign of her mass appeal was the fact that she was amongst the highest-paid in the Indian film industry of the time. Her music appealed to listeners from across a wide cross-section of society. Sundarambal’s professional collaborations also cut across the film music / classical music divide and she worked with musicians from all genres. This dichotomy of one person appealing across the spectrum to both - afficionados of light film music as well as die-hard classical music lovers - has never been easy to resolve, even to this day. Sundarambal could bridge this gap effortlessly throughout her career. That in itself is an indication of her talent and her appeal.

Sundarambal took to concert singing and went on to become a performing artiste of renown. She was a trendsetter in other ways too - she was the first person from the world of films to be elected to a state legislature in India, the Tamil Nadu Vidhana Sabha, in 1951. She remained a very successful recording artiste for Tamil films until her death in 1980.

Never Say Die Spirit

Sundarambal overcame a rough start in life, due to poverty and a lack of education, by making the most of the one true asset she possessed - her voice. By nurturing this one talent she was able to explore new avenues constantly and lead a path-breaking, fulfilling life.

Here is Sundarambal singing Pazham Neeyappa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th2gMb7xNEM