K.R. Ramasamy

K. R. Ramasamy also known as KRR, is an actor and singer of Tamil theatre and cinema. He was born on 14 April 1914 at Ammachathiram near Kumbakonam. Ramabadra Chettiar and Kuppammal's third child was Ramasamy. He stopped his education in 4th standard and started taking formal education training from Carnatic musician Kumbakonam Rajamanickiam Pillai. His father ran a small business selling flowers for worship near Ammachathiram Temple in Kumbakonam. It is very ironic that a person, the son of a temple flower merchant, became the first spokesperson for rationalist ideology in Tamil Cinema. Not only an actor but also a politician of Tamil cinema KRR, made himself an omen for Tamil cinema.

When he was seven years old, Kali N. Ratnam, a famous comedian of the time, put him in the Madurai Original Boys Drama Company. There he understood how much he was passionate about acting. After that, he joined the T.E.K.S. Drama Troupe at the age of 13. Subsequently, he joined N. S. Krishnan’s troupe and served in many plays. Some of the stage plays turned into films, and Ramasamy played a minor role in them. Stage play Menaka 1935 ( the first "social" Tamil film) was made into a film in which he played the part of the hero, and was his new version of a comical part. Ramasamy climbed the success ladder through back-to-back hit movies such as Poompaavai, Ore Iravu, and Velaikari.

The film Velaikari, was the turning point for both his career and Tamil cinema. Ramasamy joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam when it was launched. He contributed to the party and helped its growth through his public speeches and songs. Also, he was made an MLC(Member of the Legislative Council). He strove hard for the growth of both the DMK party and the cinema. He married his co-star in many plays, Kalyani. The DMK helped him with all expenditures of treatment. Despite the treatment, Ramasamy died on 5 August 1971.