Komal Swaminathan (born 27 January 1935 in

Karaikudi Karaikudi is a Greater municipality in Sivagangai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 21st largest urban agglomeration of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area commonly referred to as " Chettinad" and has ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

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, died 1995) was a congressional activist in his early years, a Tamil theater personality, film director and journalist.

Early life

Swaminathan joined the school of

S. V. Sahasranamam Singanallur Venkataramana Iyer Sahasranamam (29 November 1913 – 19 February 1988), also known as S. V. S., was an Indian actor and director. Primarily a theatre actor, he also worked in over 200 films, mainly in Tamil cinema. Early lif ...

and learned the art of playwriting and stage techniques. In 1971, he formed Stage Friends.

Career

He was a dramatist on the Tamil stage, his ''Thanneer Thanneer'' in 1980 brought him to the limelight. He scripted, directed and staged this play with his drama troupe "Stage Friends", this play was staged more than 250 times. This play, ''

Thanneer Thanneer ''Thaneer Thaneer'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil language political drama film written and directed by K. Balachander, starring Saritha, Shunmugham, V. K. Veeraswami and Radha Ravi. The film, based on the 1980 play of the same name by Komal Swa ...

'' (Water Water) highlighted the acute water shortage in rural areas due to bureaucracy and the apathetic attitude of politicians and bureaucrats, and was later filmed under the same name by K. Balachander in 1981, which won National Award and international acclaim. Komal Swaminathan has staged nearly 33 plays. He also directed the film '' Oru Indhiya Kanavu'' (An Indian Dream) and received the National Film Award for Best Regional film in

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

. He was the editor of Subhamangala -a Literary, Socio-Cultural Tamil monthly magazine. He was the recipient of Kalaimaamani and a number of other awards. Komal Swaminathan died in 1995. He had a daughter, Lalitha Dharini.

Filmography

;Plays Komal has scripted and conducted the following plays with his own troupe * Sannathi Theru, 1971 * Nawaab Narkali, 1971 (later adapted as the movie ''Nawaab Narkali'') * Manthiri Kumari, 1972 * Pattinam Paripogirathu, 1972 * Vaazvin Vaasal, 1973 (later adapted as a TV serial) * Perumale Saatchi, 1974 (later adapted as the movie ''Kumara Vijayam'') * Jesus Varuvar, 1974 * Raja Parambarai, 1975 (later adapted as the movie '' Paalooti Valartha Kili'') * Yudha Kaandam, 1975 (later adapted as the movie ''Yudha Kaandam'' directed by him) * Anju Puli Oru Penn, 1976 * Koodu Illa Kolangal, 1977 (Komal had originally named it ''Ilakkanam Meeriya Kavithaigal'') * Aatchi Matram, 1977 * Sultan Ekathasi, 1978 * Swarga Boomi, 1979 (later adapted as the movie '' Anal Kaatru'' directed by him) * Chekku Maadugal,1980 (later adapted as the movie ''Saathikkoru Neethi'') * Thaneer Thaneer, 1980 (later adapted as the movie ''

Thaneer Thaneer ''Thaneer Thaneer'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil language political drama film written and directed by K. Balachander, starring Saritha, Shunmugham, V. K. Veeraswami and Radha Ravi. The film, based on the 1980 play of the same name by Komal Swami ...

'') * Oru Inthiya Kanavu, 1982 (later adapted as the movie '' Oru Indhiya Kanavu'' directed by him) * Asoka Vanam, 1983 (later adapted as a TV serial) * Naliravil Petrom, 1984 * Manithan Ennum Theevu, 1985 * Irutile Thedatheenga, 1985 (later adapted as a TV serial) * Karuppu Viyazakizamai, 1988 * Narkali, 1989 (later adapted as a TV play) * Grama Rajyam, 1989 * Anbukku Panjamillai, 1992 * Pudhiya Paadhai * Minnal Kolam * Thillai Naayakam * Doctorukku Marundhu * Kalyaana Super Market * Delhi Maamiyaar (later adapted as the movie ''Karpagam Vanthachu'') * Avan Paarthuppaan * Appaavi * Killiyoor Kanagam * En Veedu En Kanavan En Kuzhanthai (later adapted as a TV play) ;Screenwriter *''

Kallum Kaniyagum ''Kallum Kaniyagum'' () is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by K. Shankar and produced by T. M. Soundararajan and A. L. Raghavan. The film stars T. M. Soundararajan, Rajasree, A. L. Raghavan and M. N. Rajam. The film had musi ...

'' (1968) *'' Nawab Naarkali'' (1972) *'' Paalazhi Madhanam'' (1975; Malayalam) *'' Kumaara Vijayam'' (1976) *''

'' (1981) *'' Kodai Mazhai'' (1986) ;Director *'' Oru Indhiya Kanavu'' (1983) *'' Anal Kaatru'' (1983) *'' Yudha Kaandam'' (1983)

References

External links

*http://tfmpage.com/forum/26339.5890.23.51.04.html A Tribute to Komal Swaminathan by 'Cinema Virumbi * {{DEFAULTSORT:Swaminathan, Komal Indian folklorists Tamil-language writers Journalists from Tamil Nadu 1935 births 1995 deaths Indian male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Tamil dramatists and playwrights Tamil screenwriters Tamil film directors People from Thanjavur district Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian screenwriters