Madras Kandaswami Radhakrishnan (20 November 1910 – 29 August 1985), professionally known as M. K. Radha, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was born in Chennai and took up acting in Tamil stage at the age of 7. He was tutored by his father Kandasamy Mudaliar a famous drama teacher at that time. His career spanned for almost 25 years in Tamil drama as a lead actor during India´s pre-independence days and he was a popular social hero in various patriotic dramas.

M. K. Radha
M. K. Radha in the late 1940s
Born
Madras Kandaswami Radhakrishnan

(1910-11-20)20 November 1910
Died29 August 1985(1985-08-29) (aged 74)
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1958

Filmography

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Year Title Role Co-Star Notes
1936 Sathi Leelavathi Krishnamurthy M. S. Gnanambal, M. G. Ramachandran
1936 Chandramohana or Samooga Thondu Chandra Mohan T. N. Meenakshi
1938 Anaadhai Penn T. A. Sundarambal, P. U. Chinnappa
1939 Maya Machhindra Machindran M. S. Saroja, M. G. Ramachandran
1940 Sathi Murali M. R. Santhanalakshmi
1941 Prema Bandhan T. Suryakumari, R. B. Lakshmi Devi
1941 Rajagopichand
1941 Vana Mohini K. Thavamani Devi
1944 Dasi Aparanji Pushpavalli
1945 Kannamma En Kadhali M. S. Sundari Bai
1948 Chandralekha[1] Veerasimhan (Tamil), Veersingh (Hindi) T. R. Rajakumari
1948 Gnana Soundari Suseela
1949 Apoorva Sagodharargal[2][3] P. Bhanumathi Double Role
1951 Saudamini P. Kannamba, A. Nageswara Rao
1951 Samsaram Gopu Pushpavalli
1951 Sansar Narayan Pushpavalli
1952 Moondru Pillaigal
1953 Avvaiyar King Pari K. B. Sundarambal
1954 Nallakalam Pandari Bai
1954 Bahut Din Huwe King Madhubala, Savitri
1955 Grihalakshmi
1955 Porter Kandhan Kandhan G. Varalakshmi
1956 Kannin Manigal Inspector Padmini, M. V. Rajamma
1956 Paasavalai King G. Varalakshmi, M. N. Rajam
1957 Ambikapathy Kambar Sivaji Ganesan
1957 Karpukkarasi King Gemini Ganesan, G. Varalakshmi
1957 Pudhaiyal Sivaji Ganesan
1957 Neelamalai Thirudan Ranjan, P. Kannamba
1957 Vanangamudi King Sivaji Ganesan, P. Kannamba, Savitri
1957 Anbe Deivam R. Nagendra Rao, Sriranjani, Jr.
1958 Uthama Puthiran King Sivaji Ganesan, P. Kannamba

Personal life

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Radha was married to M. R. Gnanambal, also an actress.[4]

Awards and honours

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In 1973, he received the Padma Shri Award for his contribution to performing arts from President V.V. Giri.

In July 2004, the Indian Postal Service special postal envelope in his memory.[5]

A neighbourhood in Teynampet, Chennai is named M.K. Radha Nagar in his honour.[6]

References

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  1. ^ New York Times, movie review, Chandralekha
  2. ^ Rediff, V. Gangadhar, Through the looking glass
  3. ^ The Hindu, film review, Apoorva Sagodharargal – 1949
  4. ^ Guy, Randor (7 April 2016). "M.K. Radha, the toast of theatre and cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  5. ^ The Hindu, 22 July 2004, Release of postal envelope in memory of MK Radha
  6. ^ The Hindu, Clinic in MK Radha Nagar