K. S. Gopalakrishnan - The Birth and Grooming of A Creative Artist

The Birth and Grooming of A Creative Artist

"Iyakkunar Thilagam" K.S.Gopalakrishnan was born at Sakkotai near Kumbakonam, Tanjore District in the year 1929 as the eighth son of Shri K. Srinivasan Naidu. When he was about five years old an epidemic orphaned himself and his brothers and sisters, when he lost most of the Bread-winning elders of the family including his parents. While several other relatives took the responsibility of his sisters and brothers, on the suggestion of a family friend, Shri K.S. Gopalakrishnan and his younger brother K.S. Sabarinathan were recommended as Juvenile Artists to the late Shri Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai who was then running a most successful professional drama company of small boys as artists. The late Nawab happily accepted K.S. Gopalakrishnan as he was a very good singer and speaker even at that tender age. At that time the late Nawab was teaching not only acting to the children of his troupe but also taught them languages, literature, music and all necessary qualities of show-manship and all that is essential to mould a complete and fullfledged dramatist. As the Late Nawab was an ardent nationalist many of his plays propagated the ideals of Mahatma Gandhiji and his freedom movement, besides his plays propagated the ideals of Pandit Nehru, Dr.Rajendra Prasad, Rajaji. The late Nawab’s troupe had the honour of the distinguished presence of the great Mahatmaji who witnessed a play and commended the troupe's contribution to the freedom fight. This influenced greatly the thinking of K.S. Gopalakrishnan and made him a staunch nationalist. The result reflects in the thematic values of K.S. Gopalakrishnan’s creations of social relevance even to-day.

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