M K Kamalam is an yesteryear actress who debuted in the Malayalam film industry with the1938 flick Balan. This is the first talkie of Mollywood.
Born on 1923 in Kottayam, Kamalam acted in a play Allirani just at her seventh year. Her father also acted in this play. While she was working on her play Vichithravijayam she got an offer to work in a film. Five ladies were acting in the play and Kamalam was selected from them by S Nattani, T R Sundaram and
Alleppey Vincent
, who were the director, producer and actor respectively, of the film. She was 15 year old then.Kamalam gave her voice to three songs in Balan, and the number Jagadeeswara Jaya Jaya was somewhat popular. The singing of Kamalam was the first ever of its kind in Mollywood; Balan was the first film of Mollywood which had audio track. Kamalam’s venture into the movie was considered as a daring attempt, since it was not a general practice for women to act in plays or films.
After doing a film Kamalam concentrated on plays, since she had entered into a contract with the play company. Later she worked in Bhootharaayar, but this flick didn’t show itself on mainscreen owing to the demise of its producer. Kamalam was a trained singer and got training from
Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar
.
Sree Narayana Guru
, Magdalana Mariyam, Anarkali, Marakkanavatha Manushyan and Kochu Seetha are some of the plays in which Kamalam acted.
Kamalam quit her acting career in 1964, but later returned with the flick Sayahnam. She worked in this flick 10 years after quitting the industry. Kamalam had her final experience with stage with the play Jeevitham Avasanikkunnilla. Kamalam breathed her last in the year 2010 at the age of 86. She is blessed with three children.