Kumari Kamala in 'Paavai Vilakku': 'Is there a time I don't think of you?' ('Naan Unnai Ninaikkatha Neramundo')
I first learned about Kumari Kamala through my parents. Both had a great fondness for Kumari Kamala. They would always speak admiringly of her dancing skills. I first learned from my father that she was initially married to the famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman, and that R.K.L was the brother of R.K. Narayan, one of my father's favorite famous writers. My father had a collection of R.K.N.'s English novels, along with a collection of novels by Graham Greene, the writer who introduced R.K.N. to the West.
They also recalled Kumari Kamala's excellent performance to Bharathiyar's Indian independence-themed songs in the film 'Naam Iruvar'. My mother even sang one of them, 'Aaduvome Pallu Paaduvome'.
The first film of Kumari Kamala's that I watched was 'Paavai Vilakku'. I saw it as a late-night second show when it was re-released in the seventies at Regal as an old Tamil film. Having read Akilan's novel 'Paavai Vilakku' before watching, I enjoyed the long film with great enthusiasm. Kumari Kamala appeared on screen as the character Sengamalam from the novel. It was a role perfectly suited for her.
The song 'Naan Unnai Ninaikkatha Neramundo' from the film 'Paavai Vilakku' is one of my favorite songs. This is also my most favorite dance sequence of Kumari Kamala's in a film. The lyrics were penned by poet A. Maruthakasi, and the music was composed by K.V. Mahadevan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxTM8X0OprM
A special documentary video compilation about Kumari Kamala is 'Fragrant Petals: Kamala's Natyam'.
Dancer Rama Bharadwaj, one of Kumari Kamala's students, briefly but engagingly describes Kumari Kamala's dance contributions in the forties, fifties, and sixties. This video was produced by another dancer, Anita Ratnam.
