S. C. Krishnan

He was born into a Saurashtra family[2] as the fourth son of a jeweller Chellam Achary in Sivaganga that was part of Ramnad district at that time. He joined T. K. S. Brothers drama troupe in 1937 and started acting as a child artiste. He has also acted in dramas staged by N. S. Krishnan and K. R. Ramaswamy. He acted in C. N. Annadurai's Velaikari and Or Iravu dramas that were later made into films.

S. C. Krishnan was then a teenage member of actor K.R.Ramaswamy’s Krishnan Drama Sabha drama troupe. The name of the troupe derived from popular comedian N. S. Krishnan. But, when reaching 20, he was disappointed that he didn’t receive adequate opportunities for acting in movies. As such, he had suddenly quit this drama troupe and joined Modern Theatres studio as a paid actor.[3]

He joined Modern Theatres in 1949 as an artist on monthly pay and featured in many of their films. But later on he began singing for films and has sung many memorable songs. He first sang for the film Kalyani produced by Modern Theatres. The solo Kalapadam Kalapadam became a hit. He is well talented in classical Carnatic music but unfortunately producers and music directors made him to lend voice mostly for comedians. However, there is one song Thathuva Kalaiyudan in Amudhavalli that he sang along with T. R. Mahalingam. The sequence was a music competition and it gave him an opportunity to show his talent in classical music.

Aayi Mahamaayi Angkaara Dheviye from the film Rajarajan is the only song he sang for M. G. Ramachandran. Likewise he has sung only one song for Sivaji Ganesan, that is from the film Raja Rani beginning Leelaa, laalee, adhu polee.

He worked as a music director in Chennai Television (Doordarshan) Kendra for some time.

He was bestowed with Kalaimamani award in 1981 by the Tamil Nadu State government.

He had a wife (Pushpavalli), a son (S.C.K.Selladurai) and two daughters (Manonmani, Uma rani). He was a good friend of actor and singer T. R. Mahalingam. While he was working for the TV station he was affected by paralysis. He suffered for about 4 years and died in 1983.

• Sahadevan Vijayakumar. "S. C. Krishnan — Playback Singer" (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 16 May 2017.
• G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014.
• G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition November 2016.

• Kalapadam Kalapadam on YouTube - His first solo song.