{"id":43541,"date":"2006-02-23T22:08:22","date_gmt":"2006-02-24T02:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=43541"},"modified":"2015-10-16T22:17:33","modified_gmt":"2015-10-17T02:17:33","slug":"t-k-kalaa-gets-kalaimaamani-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=43541","title":{"rendered":"T.K. Kalaa gets “Kalaimaamani” award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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by D.B.S. Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among those receiving the Tamil Nadu state governments \u201cKalaimaamani\u201d award this year will be the singer TK Kalaa of \u201cThayit Sirandha Kovilum Illai\u201d fame.Kalaa who displayed great promise when she burst on the Tamil film scene in the early seventies faded away gradually. It is to the credit of Chief minister Jayalalitha Jayaram\u2019s administration that it has thought it fit to give due recognition to a talented singer of vast potential at this juncture.<\/p>\n

\"T.K.<\/a>

T.K. Kalaa<\/p><\/div>\n

It is indeed a sign of our times that present day Tamil film song fans are fated to listen to a multiple of voices \u201cmurder\u201d the sweet Tamil language in their renditions while many native warblers of high calibre continue to languish for want of opportunities to sing play back.Thiruthani Kabali Kalaa (TK. Kalaa) though honoured by an award is one songstress who despite her rich, uniquely harmonious voice and elegant style of singing never received the chances she fully deserved in the Tamil film song realm.
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\nKalaa is the daughter of a Kodambakkam based artiste couple Kabali and Shanmugasunthari. The latter was a stage actress who worked in yester year drama troupes like Balamurugan and Jothy nataka sabhas.She later acted in minor roles in many MGR films like Kannan En Kathalan, Neerum Neruppum, Ithayakkani etc. As a child Kalaa accompanied her mother to various studios and was enthralled by Kollywood.<\/p>\n

What attracted her most was singing. Kalaa learnt Carnatic music from Ammapettai Krishnamurthy. Kalaa is thrilled that her guru Krishnamurthy too is to receive a \u201cKalaimaamani\u201d this time along with her at the hands of Jayalalitha. It is reported that Kalaa had met the chief minister some time ago and eagerly asked her whether she had ever listened to her songs. Jayalalitha replied \u201cKalaa paattai Ketkaamalaa? \u2014\u2013 Kettirukken\u201d. (Not heard Kala\u2019s songs?\u2026\u2026.. I have heard). Incidently Kalaa\u2019s mother Shanmugasunthari received the same award during M.G. Ramachandran\u2019s time as CM.<\/p>\n

With the daughter wanting to sing in films Shanumugasunthari tried hard to fullfil Kala\u2019s dreams. Her first break came through AP Naagarajan. Shanmugasunthari had acted in many dramas scripted by the legendary APN . This helped her in canvassing for Kalaa.APN who made a name through films of devotional fervour and literary flavour was filming the story of sage \u201cAhathiyar\u201d played by singer Seergali Govindarajan. Violin maestro Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan was composing music.<\/p>\n

One sequence in the film was about a young boy serving his parents diligently.He places his parents above all else and even dares to defy Agathiyar in this respect.. The sequence required a song extolling the virtues of parents sung by a different type of voice. TK Kalaa fitted the bill. She sang the song \u201cThaayit Sirantha Kovilum Illai, Thanthai Sol Mikka Manthiram Illai\u201d perfectly<\/p>\n