Kalaivanar N S Krishnan's childhood days

The four predominantly Tamil speaking taluks Agastheeswaram, Thovalai, Kalkulam and Vilvancode were parts of the princely states of Travancore. The present Kanyakumari district includes these four taluks, of which Agastheeswaram and Thovalai together are known as Nanjilnadu. Nanjilnadu was described as a "fertile piece of land". It was called "Land of plough" appropriately as it has the largest rice growing area in the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin state, in which it was till the linguistic states were formed in 1956.

Ozhukinaseri, an otherwise insignificant small village in Nanjilnadu is transformed and gained entry into the pages of history being the birth place of the "Immortal Legend" N.S.Krishnan. He was born on 29th November 1908 to Sudalaiyandi Pillai and Isakki Ammal

Nagercoil - Birth place of kalaivanar N S krishnan

The early life of N.S.Krishnan was not a bed of roses. His father was an employee of Mail Cart office. His mother ran a mess to alleviate the situation in any small way she could. All the hard work, determination and hope had very little effect in raising the standard of their lives. With the meager income, nine members had to be fed. He had two elder sisters namely Chellammal, Panchali and three younger sisters namely Mahalakshmi, Subammal and Minnammal and one younger brother named Engodi alias Thiraviam.

N.S.Krishnan was sent to a local school where the medium of instruction was Malayalam. He studied upto fifth standard. Poverty denied him the prestige of further studies. He joined as a shop assistant for Rs.5 per month as his salary. One day the shop owner rebuked him for lack of discipline, on coming late. The brash young boy retorted in anger asking the salary to be given after deducting the amount for indiscipline. The furious shop-owner, his ego hurt, gave him Rs.4 and sent him away. Insubordination was not the cause for Krishnan’s temper, but the lack of the humane approach that he expected from him. This predominant trait permeates his entire life in all his thoughts, adionsm dramas and his roles in cinema. This was his mantra from which all other melodies sprung.

After being dismissed, he decided to go to his sister Chellamal’s house in Ettayapuram. There, he learned ‘Mrudangam' which balanced his spirit, but not for long . His restless soul wanted to go back to Nagercoil.

Returning after a brief stay, he joined as a shop-assistant in a retail shop selling soda and other soft-drinks. This helped to keep him active physically, but not mentally. A make shift drama auditorium nearby, distributed notices whenever a play was going to be staged. Krishnan was not just diverted or distracted - but, a longing stirred his soul, a pang of remorse engulfed him as he could not afford to even think of buying a ticket for the drama. The young boy did not realize that this was his passion, his life his breath. Soon, he found an answer to his craving. In the pretext of selling soda and soft drinks, he entered the auditorium. He keenly started noticing the goings – on, on the stage and gradually lost himself in the drama.

On the days when there were no dramas to entertain and enthuse him, he fulfilled his emptiness by enacting dramas on the verdandah of their house, his mothers’ sari being the curtain. He gathered his playmates and became the proud producer of historical and mythological plays. The seed was being sown for his destiny in the future.

Realising his son's involvement with the stage, Sudalaimuthu Pillai promptly enrolled him with the original Boy's Company in 1924, which was then camping at Nagercoil. Thus started the life of a creative artist.