Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam (TRM) was already a singing sensation on stage, when A.V. Meyyappa Chettiar cast him in the role of Krishna in the film Nandakumar , released in 1938, when TRM was only 14.
TRM’s first box office hit was Meyyappa Chettiar’s Sri Valli , released in 1945. S.G.
Kittappa, whom TRM admired, had popularised Kavi Kunjara Bharati’s Ellorayum polave (raga Suddha Saveri) TRM sang it in Sri Valli . Like Kittappa, TRM sang at a sruti of anju kattai (G scale). TRM’s next hit in 1947 was Naam Iruvar , also produced by Meiyyappa Chettiar.
TRM played the role of Sukumar, the hero. His son was born while the film was being shot, and was named Sukumar. In 1948, TRM and AVM teamed up again for Vedala Ulagam , translated faithfully as ‘Demon land’, even in the 78 rpm record labels.
It was a fantasy film that drew both children and adults in droves. Comedian Sarangapani’s line “Idliyaare vaanga, vayathukkulla ponga”, became a kind of refrain in many homes, when idli was served. From Naam Iruvar .
| Photo Credit:The Hindu Archives TRM sang Bharati’s ‘Senthamizh nadenum podinile’ as the title song. In the TRM song ‘Maha sugitha roopa sundari’, the hero serenades the heroine Rajeevi ( actress Mangalam). Interestingly, this tune was used in the Ilaiyaraja song ‘Madana moha roopa sundari’ sung by Malaysia Vasudevan in the film Indru Poi Naalai Vaa .
In the same year in Modern theatres’ Adithan Kanavu , TRM sang ‘Maduramaana ruchi ulla.
