Narayana Padaiyatchi Ratnam (c. 1897 – August 1950), popularly known as "Kali" N. Ratnam, was a Tamil stage and film artist known for his roles as a comedian in Tamil movies of the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned Tamil actor and politician M. G. Ramachandran was a protege of Rathnam.
Early life
Rathnam was born at Malaiyappanallur near Kumbakonam in Tanjore District in the year 1897 to Narayana Padayatchi and Thangathammal. His parents were agriculturists and Rathnam was acquainted with rural songs and folk arts from a very early age. As a young boy, Rathnam learned to act from a stage actor named Parameswaran Iyer. Seeing Rathnam perform the role of Kali in a stage play, Iyer christened him "Kali" N. Rathnam.
Career Rathnam joined the Madurai Original Boys Company in 1923 and acted in Pathi Bhakthi (1936), the first movie produced by the Company. Rathnam's second movie was Mannarswami (1936). But Rathnam's first hit was Chandrakantha (1936). Following the success, Rathnam acted in hit movies such as Uthama Puthiran, Sathi Murali (1940), Sabapathy (1941), Manonmani (1943), Burma Rani (1945), Chow Chow (1945), Paranjothi (1945), Sri Murugan (1946), Arthanari (1946), Aaravalli (1946), Sahada Yogam (1946), Udayanan Vasavadatta (1947), Kannika (1947), Sulochana (1947), Sri Aandal (1948), Adhithan Kanavu (1948), Devdasi (1948), Pizhaikum Vali (1948), and Bhojan (1948).
Personal life
While in a drama tour of Coimbatore, Rathnam was impressed by the histrionic skills of C. T. Rajakantham, daughter of the owner of the house in which they stayed and inducted her into his troupe. The two became a successful comedy pair and acted together in a number of movies.
Prior to this, Rathnam had married twice. The first wife's name was Kunjammal who died at a young age. Rathnam and Kunjammal had two daughters Meenalochani and Lokanayaki(late). Then he married his second wife Pichaimmal(late). Rathnam and Pichaimmal had a son Shanmuga Sundaram (Retd PWD Superintendent Engineer). Rathnam died when his son was nine months old. Shanmuga Sundaram married Chandra, daughter of his sister Meenalochani RajaRam. Now(2020) Meenalochani RajaRam, Shanmuga Sundaram and Chandra are living in Kumbakonam.
Death
Rathnam died in August 1950 at the age of 52 or 53. His last completed film role was in the Ellis R. Dungan-directed Ponmudi.
Filmography This is a partial filmography. You can expand it. Year Film Role1936Pathi Bhakti Detective 1936Mannarswami1936Chandrakantha Thirukallur Bandaara Sannidhigal 1937 Raja Mohan 1938 Punjab Kesari1938Meenakshi Kalyanam1939Mathru Bhoomi 1940Uthama Puthiran 1940Sathi Murali1941 Sabapathy Sabapathy1941Surya Puthri 1942 Manonmani1942Sivalinga Satchi1943Dewan Bahadur 1945 Burma Rani Kunjitham1945Chow Chow 1945Paranjothi 1946 Sri Murugan1946Arthanari 1946Aaravalli 1946Sahada Yogam1946Valmiki1947Kannika 1947Udayanan Vasavadatta 1947Sulochana 1947 Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani Kali1948Sri Aandal 1948Adhithan Kanavu1948Devadasi 1948Pizhaikum Vali 1948Bhojan 1949Mayavathi 1950Ezhai Padum Padu 1950 Ponmudi
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