K. A. Thangavelu

K. A. Thangavelu
Born	Karaikal Arunachalam Thangavelu[1] (1917-01-15)15 January 1917 Karaikal, Pondicherry, French India
Died	28 September 1994(1994-09-28) (aged 77) Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	Danaal Thangavelu
Occupation(s)	Actor, Comedian
Years active	1936; 1951–1994
Spouse	Rajamani ​ (m. 1943)​
Children	3[2]
Relatives	Ashwin (grandson)[3]

In this Indian name, the name Arunachalam is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Thangavelu.

In this Indian name, the toponymic surname is Karaikal. It is not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Thangavelu.

Karaikal Arunachalam Thangavelu (15 January 1917 – 28 September 1994) popularly known as "Danaal Thangavelu", was an Indian actor and comedian popular in the 1950s to 1970s. Not known for physical, acrobatic comedy like his contemporaries J. P. Chandrababu and Nagesh, Thangavelu's humour is recognised for his impeccable timing in verbal agility and the characteristic twang of his delivery. He exclusively acted in Tamil films.

Early life

Thangavelu was born on 15 January 1917,^[4] in Karaikal, but shifted at an early age to Tirumalairayanpattinam. He was one of three sons of Arunachalam and Karumammal. Due to Arunachalam's alcoholism, the family struggled for food every day. Karumammal died when Thangavelu was six years old, and Arunachalam remarried; Thangavelu's stepmother often abused him.^[1] Arunachalam left for Singapore to find better employment and Thangavelu was sent to live with his relatives, but they too abused and ill-treated him.^[5] As a child, Thangavelu was a music and theatre fan, often sneaking into halls to watch plays. He eventually joined the Rajambal Company troupe, and was taught acting and mentored originally by Yedhartham Ponnuswamy Pillai, and later by M. Kandaswamy Mudaliar.^[1]

Career

Thangavelu spent nine years at Rajambal Company, and after Kandaswamy Mudaliar shifted to the film industry, he too did the same, debuting with a minor, uncredited role in Sathi Leelavathi (1936). Due to lack of success, Thangavelu quit films and survived on alms at a Murugan temple near Kanchipuram until actor M. M. Marappa saw his plight and brought him back into the acting field, this time in theatre. As a result, Thangavelu became more financially stable, and his father also returned to live with him. After a long sabbatical from films, Thangavelu returned to the field in 1951 with Manamagal; director N. S. Krishnan cast him after having already seen and liking his several stage performances. He followed it with a comical role in Singari the same year, through which he got the prefix "Danaal" after the often repeated word of his character. Films like Ponvayal and Panam Paduthum Padu (both released in 1954) were instrumental in establishing Thangavelu as a comedian.^[1] Throughout his career, Thangavelu acted only in Tamil films.^[5] He won the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani in 1968 and Kalaivanar award in 1989.^[2]

Personal life

Thangavelu was originally married to Rajamani.^[5] He later married actress M. Saroja who was his pair in more than 50 films. Despite their age difference, they fell in love and married in Madurai Murugan temple during the 100th day celebration of their film Kalyana Parisu.^[6] His grandson Ashwin is a television actor.^[3]

Death

Thangavelu died on 28 September 1994 at his house in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.^[2][5]

Partial filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1936	Sathi Leelavathi		[7]
1951	Manamagal
	Singari
1952	Amarakavi
	Kaliyugam
	Panam
1953	Anbu
	Thirumbi Paar
	Panakkari
1954	Illara Jothi
	Suham Engei
	Nanban
	Panam Paduthum Padu
	Ponvayal	Esraj	[8]
	Pona Machchan Thirumbi Vanthan
	Vilayattu Bommai
	Vaira Maalai
1955	Ulagam Palavitham
	Ellam Inba Mayam
	Kathanayaki
	Gulebakavali
	Koteeswaran
	Gomathiyin Kaadhalan
	Chella Pillai
	Maheswari
	Mangaiyar Thilakam
	Methavikal
	Missiamma
1956	Rambaiyin Kaadhal
	Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum	Gulam	[9]
	Amara Deepam
	Kalam Maripochchu
	Kudumba Vilakku
	Nalla Veedu
	Naga Panchami
	Marma Veeran
	Mathar Kula Manikkam
1957	Alavudinum Arbutha Vilakkum
	Ambikapathi
	Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi
	Karpukkarasi
	Chakravarthi Thirumagal
	Soubakyavathi
	Neelamalai Thirudan
	Bhaktha Markandeya
	Baagyavathi
	Mallika
	Maya Bazaar
	Vanangamudi
1958	Uthama Puthiran
	Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam
	Kanniyin Sabatham
	Kathavarayan	General
	Senjulakshmi
	Neelavukku Niranja Manasu
	Boologa Rambai
	Manamulla Maruthaaram
	Mangalya Bhagyam
	Vanji Kottai Valipan
	Pathi Bakthi	Parameswaran Pillai
1959	Kalyana Parisu
	Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali
	Naan Sollum Ragasiyam
	Manjal Mahimai
1960	Adutha Veettu Penn	Singer	[10]
	Anbirkoor Anni
	Irumbu Thirai
	Kadavulin Kuzhandhai
	Kaithi Kannayiram
	Kairasi	Madhu	[11]
	Thangam Manasu Thangam
	Thangarathinam
	Deivapiravi
	Naan Kanda Sorgam	Sundar	[12]
	Pattaliyin Vetri
	Pudhiya Pathai
	Meenda Sorgam
1961	Arasilangkumari
	Thirudathe
	Panithirai
	Pasamalar
	Then Nilavu
1962	Raani Samyuktha
	Azhagu Nila
	Vikramaadhithan
	Parthal Pasi Theerum
	Valar Pirai
	Senthamarai
1963	Arivaali
	Idhayathil Nee
	Koduthu Vaithaval
	Kattu Roja
1964	Ullasa Payanam
	Vazhkai Vazhvatharke
1965	Enga Veetu Pillai
	Enga Veettu Penn
	Vallavanukku Vallavan
1966	Enga Paappa
	Iru Vallavargal
	Kathal Paduthum Padu
	Parakkum Pavai
	Petralthan Pillaiya
1967	Uyir Mel Aasai
	Rajathi
	Pen Endral Pen
	Penne Nee Vaazhga
1968	Galatta Kalyanam	Dharmalingam
	Thillana Mohanambal
	Kuzhanthaikkaga
	Harichandra
1969	Nam Naadu
	Gurudhakshaneiy
	Anjal Petti 520
1970	Vietnam Veedu
	Kann Malar
	Nilave Nee Satchi
1971	Sumathi En Sundari
	Arutperunjothi
1973	Amman Arul
	Ponnunjal
1974	Kalyanamam Kalyanam
	Anbu Thangai
1981	Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo	Head constable
1982	Krodham
1987	Manaivi Ready	Thangappan
1989	Avathellam Pennale	Naidu
1994	Periya Marudhu	Vaithiyar

References

1. Raman, Mohan V. (24 September 2016). "King of comedy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
2. "K. A. Thangavelu dead". The Indian Express. 29 September 1994. p. 1. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
3. "Actor Thangavelu grandson turns hero". Kollywood Today. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
4. Sri Kantha, Sachi (19 December 2017). "MGR Remembered – Part 41 | Near Death Experience and its Aftermath". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
5. Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about cinema – Thangavelu". Kalyanamalai. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
6. Kesavan, N. (26 June 2016). "Comediennes who made Tamil cinema bright". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
7. ராஜநாயஹம், ஆர்.பி. (13 November 2015). "நினைவுகளின் சிறகுகள்: கே.ஏ. தங்கவேலு – அண்ணே என்னைச் சுடப்போறாங்க!" [Wings of memories: K. A. Thangavelu – My big brother is going to shoot me!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
8. Guy, Randor (14 January 2012). "Ponvayal 1954". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
9. அலிபாபாவும் 40 திருடர்களும் [Alibaba and the Forty Thieves] (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Modern Theatres. 1956. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
10. Guy, Randor (7 September 2013). "Adutha Veettu Penn 1960". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
11. கைராசி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Vasu Films. 1960. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
12. Guy, Randor (7 February 2015). "Naan Kanda Sorgam 1960". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

External links

• K. A. Thangavelu at IMDb