Born Nagarkoil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan, or affectionately known as NS Krishnan (NSK) in Tamil film circles, he was a comedic icon in the Tamil (South Indian) film industry from 1935 to 1955. He had the privilege of being known as the ‘Charlie Chaplin of India’ as he was a contemporary of the world famous Hollywood comedian.
Born in 1908 into a poverty-stricken family, NSK carved a niche for himself, using laughter to expose the inequalities of life in India, especially in Tamil Nadu (the state for people of Tamil origin) at the time. His lack of formal education was never an excuse because he lived an exemplary life, compensated by his curiosity, innate genius and enthusiasm. Stuck in extreme superstition entangled in the ancient traditional traditions of the Tamils, interwoven with Hindu belief and the prevalence of caste-based sociopolitics, NSK’s entry into the world of cinema was more than a blessing in disguise, as each character that he played not only reflected his ingenious wit, but also worked to his benefit, as he saw fit to educate and spread didactics by using film as a medium for school and revolutionized the thinking of the masses. Many film critics to this day view NSK’s comedy scenes with TA Mathuram, his real-life wife and also his on-screen partner, as a hidden treasure that must be kept dust-free to be seen whenever. you have personal problems and when you approach the problem. -constant rise of social and political ascendancy in India.
Critics and pundits hail NSK as a genius, a social reformer, and perhaps many still cling to the solid movement that there will never be another like him. Triggered common sense among moviegoers by using simple everyday sitcom sequences to awaken the mindset of most Tamils and Indians in general, poking fun at their bleak state of affairs due to mishaps stemming from living in a cocoon of caste and religion . dogmatism. Political reform, women’s liberation, education, and elimination of caste-based social policy were his main focus. He translated these ideas brilliantly on screen, leaving aside the slapstick genre, and instead relied on his perfect gift for timely delivery of dialogue from the messages intended from him; he did it very effectively. This not only made him a revolutionary comedian, but also a cult figure in South India. His popularity skyrocketed to the point that producers were negotiating a separate comedy track, even in the absence of the leading man.
One of his most famous revolutionary movie scenes was when a mailman delivered a letter plus a money order to his house, supposedly from his son, who stayed behind and worked in the city, only to be accepted by his wife (played by his wife in real life). ) at the entrance. NSK was shown sitting in the background, oblivious to the scene taking place in the foreground. The wife, being illiterate, insisted that the postman do her a favor by reading the contents of the letter. This was a common practice in India, where a large segment of the agrarian society was illiterate, even more so among women.
The postman, succumbing to the request, read the contents of the letter. He began by deciphering the son’s eagerness in ‘his parents’ health consultation’, and ‘sending his regards’ to everyone he knew in town. The postman also conveyed the request in the letter ‘for what purpose and to whom the money order cash should be delivered accordingly’. At a last point in the letter, the son ‘conveyed his dearest kisses’ from him to his mother. Being a touchy subject, the postman wittily said that there was one more ‘thing’ that his son would give to the mother but ‘he would not read or give it’. Sensing that the postman was hiding something from her, the lady made a ruckus with the postman at the entrance. Hearing the concussion, NSK will rush to the front and investigate the cause. After the postman’s clarification, who innocently claimed that he cannot comply with the son’s request, NSK’s sarcasm was the highlight of the final scene. Tauntingly, he would say that this concussion could have been avoided under all circumstances if women could read and write. The simple scene of a postman delivering a message became didactic, exposing the plight of women deprived of education.
The above was just one of many scenes in the movies that he had appeared in. There are many more to discuss and glorify about this wonderful personality who was not only a brilliant comedian, playwright, lyricist, director, singer, but also a well-known philanthropist.
A clever comedian and satirist, NSK, although his ardent following was confined to the Tamil-speaking area of southern India, the intensity of his devotion seems to have equaled anything in the annals of comedy, in which his comedies carried a universal message for all to appreciate. When he died in 1957, the crowd at his funeral procession is said to have been comparable to that at the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian independence.
