T. R. Mahalingam (actor)

Thenkarai Ramakrishna Mahalingam (Tamil: தென்கரை இராமகிருஷ்ணன் மகாலிங்கம்; 1923–1978) was a Tamil film actor, singer and music composer of the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his melodious songs mostly based on romantic or devotional themes.

Early days

From his childhood, Mahalingam used to act and sing in the stage dramas popularly called special dramas. During those days, his closest companion was the famous singer S. C. Krishnan. During that time, when microphones and amplifiers were rarely available, performers had to sing very loudly to make themselves heard. This was how the early singers like Mahalingam, S. G. Kittappa, Krishnan, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and to a large extent TMS trained their voices. In 1933, when prominent singer Kittappa died at the early age of 28, Mahalingam got his first chance at film.

Acting

In 1937, at the age of 14, Mahalingam got the chance to appear in the film called Nandakumar (which was the third film produced by AVM). The film was based on the story of Lord Krishna wherein Mahalingam was chosen to play the lead role. However, the film flopped at the box office in all the three languages (Tamil, Hindi and Marathi) in which it was made. Nevertheless the film was praised for its songs.

Mahalingam got his big break in the film Sri Valli made at the height of the Second World War, in which he played the part of Lord Murugan. The film did well at the box-office and established Mahalingam's reputation as both an actor and singer.

Filmography

Year	Film	Language	Song	Music	Banner
1937	Nandhakumar	Tamil		S. V. Venkatraman	AVM Productions
1939	Prahaladha	Tamil		Sharma Brothers	Salem Sankar Films
1940	Bhooloka Rambai	Tamil		G. Ramanathan	Salem Shanmugha Films & Vijaya Maruthi Pictures
1940	Parasuramar	Tamil		G. Ramanathan
1940	Sathi Murali	Tamil			Modern Theatres
1941	Dhayalan	Tamil			Modern Theatres
1942	Manonmani	Tamil		T. A. Kalyanam & K. V. Mahadevan	Modern Theatres
1943	Dhaasippen or Jothi Malar	Tamil		Lalitha Venkatraman & S. Rajeswara Rao	Bhuvaneshwari Pictures
1945	Sri Valli	Tamil	* Kaayadha Kaanagatthe.... Mevaadha Maan	T. Rajagopala Sarma & R. Sudharsanam	AVM Productions
1947	Nam Iruvar	Tamil	* Iga Vaazhvinile Aanandham (with T. S. Bagavathi) * Solai Malaroliyo (with T. S. Bagavathi) * Vaazhiya Senthamizh * Vetri Ettu Thikkum Kotta * Vittu Viduthalaiyagi	R. Sudharsanam	AVM Productions
1948	Gnana Soundari	Tamil	* Kaadhalitthaalum Inbam Melaam (with P. A. Periya Nayaki) * Mana Mohanane (with P. A. Periya Nayaki) * Mannile Kadalil	S. V. Venkatraman	Citadel Films
1948	Vedhala Ulagam	Tamil	* Senthamizh Naadennum Podhinile	R. Sudharsanam	AVM Productions
1948	Aadhithan Kanavu	Tamil	* Madhuramaana Rusiyullathe (with Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi)	G. Ramanathan	Modern Theatres
1949	Pavalakkodi	Tamil	* Annam Vaangalaiyo	C. R. Subburaman	Pakshiraja Studios
1949	Laila Majnu	Tamil		S. V. Venkatraman	Balaji Pictures
1949	Mayavathi	Tamil			Modern Theatres
1950	Parijaatham	Tamil	* Vaan Nilave (with T. V. Rathinam)	S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman
1950	Idhaya Geetham	Tamil	* Vaanulaavum Thaarai Nee * Odi Vaa Venmugil Pole (with T. R. Rajakumari)	S. V. Venkatraman	Citadel Films
1950	Machcha Rekhai	Tamil		C. R. Subburaman	Sukumar Productions Limited
1950	Sukumar	Tamil			Sukumar Productions Limited
1951	Mohanasundaram	Tamil	* O Jagamadhil Inbam (with S. Varalakshmi) * Pulli Maanaippola (with S. Varalakshmi) * Kanneer Thaano (with S. Varalakshmi) * Kanavilum Unnai Maraven * Paattu Venuma	T. G. Lingappa	Sukumar Productions Limited
1952	Chinnadurai	Tamil		T. G. Lingappa	Sukumar Productions Limited
1952	Theruppaadagan	Tamil	* Adivarum Thendralile	G. Ramanathan	Sukumar Productions Limited
1952	Velaikkaran	Tamil
1954	Vilaiyaattu Bommai	Tamil		T. G. Lingappa	Sukumar Productions Limited
1958	Malai Itta Mangai	Tamil	* Vengiyum Kumari Idai ….Engal Dravida Ponnaadu * Sillendru Pootha.... Senthamizh Thenmozhiyaal * Naanandri Yaar Varuvaar (with A. P. Komala) * Thingal Mudi Soodum	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	Kannadasan Films
1959	Manimekalai	Tamil	* Kanngalin Vennilave (with P. Bhanumathi) * Aandavan Thamizhanada * Unnai Kaana Engum	G. Ramanathan	Shekhar Art Film
1959	Abalai Anjugam	Tamil	* Ilaiya Kanniyin Azhagiya Vadhanam (with S. Janaki) * Vennile Kudai Pidikka (with P. Suseela)	K. V. Mahadevan
1959	Amudhavalli	Tamil	* Aadai Katti Vandha Nilavo (with P. Suseela) * Kannirandum Ondrai Ondru * Aadalama Nalam Aadalama (with P. Leela) * Thannaale Thaan Ketta * Thatthuva Kalaiyudan Viithagar * Iyal Isai Naadaga Kalaiyaale (with S. C. Krishnan) * Kaalam Enum Oru Aazha Kadalinil (with P. Suseela) * Pittham Theliya Marundhoru	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	Jupiter Pictures
1960	Aadavantha Deivam	Tamil	* Aasai Kondaen Amudhamae * Kodi Kodi Inbam Peravae * Sangam Muzhangivarum Singaara Thamizh Kalaiye (with P. Suseela) * Sottu Sottunu Sottudhu Paaru Inge (with P. Suseela)	K. V. Mahadevan
1960	Rathnapuri Ilavarasi	Tamil	* Padikka Padikka Nenjil Inikkum (with S. Janaki) * Kaadhalukku Naanku Kanngal * En Endru Ketkave Aalillai * Porumai Oru Naal	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	Sri Vinayaga Pictures
1960	Kavalai Illaadha Manithan	Tamil	* Naan Deivama Illai Nee Deivama	Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy	Kannadasan Films
1961	Ennai Paar	Tamil	* Kaatchiyum Neethan Karpaniyum Neethan (with S. Janaki) * Edhirkondu Varaverkkudhe (with S. Janaki)	T. G. Lingappa
1961	Sri Valli	Tamil	* Karpaga Cholaiyile * Thandhaikku Annaalil Mandhiratthai * Mogana Punnagaiyil Enakkoru Mogam * Gnana Pazhame Mei Gnana Pazhame * Unakkagave Pirandha Azhagan	G. Ramanathan	RR Pictures
1965	Thiruvilayadal	Tamil	* Illaadhathondrillai Eellaamum Nee Endru Sollaamal Solli Vaithaai * Isai Thamizh Nee Seidha Arumsaadhanai	K. V. Mahadevan	Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1971	Agathiyar	Tamil	* Aandavan Dharisaname Mei Adiyar Vendidum Anubavame * Isaiyai Thamizhai Iruppavane (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan ) * Malainindra Thirukumaraa * Muzhu Mudhar Porule * Namachivaya Ena (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan )	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan	Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1972	Thiruneelakandar	Tamil		C. N. Pandurangan
1973	Rajaraja Cholan	Tamil	* Thanjai Periya Koyil (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan & S. Varalakshmi) * Thendralodu Udanpiranthaal (with Sivaji Ganesan dialogues)	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan	Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
1973	Thirumalai Dheivam	Tamil	* Thiruvarul Tharum Dheivam	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan	Shanthi Combines
1977	Sri Krishna Leelai	Tamil		S. V. Venkatraman

• Nandanaar
• Thanthaikku Pin Thamaiyan
• Pannaiyar Magal

References

• Detailed biography of actor T. R. Mahalingam
• Article on T. R. Mahalingam by Shaji
• T. R. Mahalingam filmography at IMDB
• T. R. Mahalingam,the Actor Singer in My Movie Minutes