NS Krishnan – The man who revolutionized the South Indians through comedy
Born Nagarkoil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan, or affectionately known as NS Krishnan (NSK) in the Tamil film circle, he was a comedy icon in the Tamil (South Indian) film industry from 1935 to 1955. He was privileged to be known as the ‘Charlie Chaplin of India’, as he was a contemporary of the world famous Hollywood comedian.
NSK, born in 1908 into a poverty-stricken family, carved a niche for himself, using laughter to expose the inequities 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, offset 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 dominance of caste-based sociopolitics, NSK’s entry into the world of cinema was more than a blessing in disguise, as each character which he played not only reflected his witty ingenuity but also worked for his benefit as he saw fit to educate and spread didactics by using movies as a medium for school and revolutionized the thinking of the masses. Many film critics to this day see 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 free of dust to be seen whenever one have personal problems and when you address the problems. -constant rise of social and political ascendancy in India.
Critics and insiders 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. He sparked common sense among moviegoers by using simple everyday situational comedy 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 the removal of caste-based social politics were his main focus. He translated these ideas on screen brilliantly, slapstick genre aside, and instead relied on his perfect gift of timely dialogue delivery of his intended messages; he did it very effectively. This not only made him a revolutionary comedian but also a cult figure in South India. The popularity of him skyrocketed to the point that the producers were negotiating for a separate comedy track, even in the absence of the leading man.
One of his most famous breakthrough movie scenes was when a postman delivered a letter plus a money order to his home, supposedly from his son, who stayed and worked in town, 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, especially 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 clinic”, and “sending his greetings” to everyone he knew in town. The postman also conveyed the request in the letter of ‘for what purpose and to whom should the money order cash be delivered accordingly’. In a last point of the letter, the son ‘transmitted 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 fuss with the postman at the entrance. Hearing the concussion, NSK will rush to the front and investigate the cause. After the clarification of the postman, who innocently claimed that he cannot fulfill the son’s request, NSK’s sarcasm was the highlight of the final scene. Mockingly, he would say that this concussion could have been avoided in all circumstances if the women were literate. The simple scene of a postman delivering a message became didactic, exposing the plight of uneducated women.
The above was just one of many scenes in the movies that had appeared. 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 South 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 crowds in his funeral procession are said to have been comparable to those at the funeral of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of Indian independence.