# V. N. Sundaram

V.N. Sundaram (1918 - 2009 ) was an indian singer who sang mostly in Tamil-language films

## Early life

Born in 1918 in Visalur - a village in Kumbakonam Taluk of Thanjavur district, he was named AlasyaSundaram.
As a boy he listened to Nadaswaram music during temple festivals and had the ability to repeat the Ragas by voice.
He joined Nataraja Gana Saba, a boys' stage troupe, as an actor at the age of 12. But he had to leave the place within 6 months. He was a strict vegetarian. But in the troupe Veg and Non-veg food were cooked. He could not tolerate this and left the troupe.
He then joined the Madurai Bala Vinodha Sangeetha Sabha, another boys' stage drama troupe. He was trained by Yadhartham Ponnusamy Pillai and was given Raja part in his 3rd stage play. That play, Paduka Pattabhishekam was a hit. In order to limit space in the poster, his name was written as V. N. Sundaram. Then onwards he was known by that name.

## Actor in films

His first film was Markandeya released in 1935. He was featured in the title role. Papanasam Sivan composed the song paraat paraa in the raga Vachaspathi and Sundaram sang that song. It was a hit. Later M. S. Subbulakshmi sang the song and made it popular.
Pattinathar (1936) film featured M. M. Dandapani Desikar in the title role. Sundaram acted as Pattinathar's son, Marudhavanan. Sundaram acted in the title roles in Chandrahasan (1936) Sundaramoorthi Nayanar (1937), Kannappa Nayanar (1938) and Sankarachariyar (1939) His other films are Appoothi Adigal (1941), Rajasooyam (1942) and finally Dhana Amaravati (1947). After the latter half of the 1940s, films with social themes became the trend. Sundaram, who acted mainly in Puranic films did not get any acting chances. So he shifted on to the music field as a playback singer.

## Playback singer

His first song as playback singer was Sinnanjiru kiliye Kannamma written by Bharathiyar. Music was scored by C. R. Subbaraman. It was a duet and M. L. Vasanthakumari was his co-singer. From then on he has sung many remarkable songs till 1962.

## Filmography
### As actor and singer

| Year | Film | Song | Co-Singer |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Anbudan Vidai Tharuveer | |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Paraatparaa Paramesvaraa | Rajapalayam Kuzhandaivel Bhagavathar |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Kailaasa Vaasaa, Sambho | |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Adhaaram Yaarum Illai Aiyaa | |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Viswanaadhaa Enai Aandarulvaai | |
| 1935 | Markandeya | O Siva Paramporule | |
| 1935 | Markandeya | Saranam Saranam | |
| 1936 | Chandrahasan | Maayane Enai Yaar | |
| 1936 | Chandrahasan | Theevinaiyum Idhuvo Deivame | |
| 1936 | Chandrahasan | Maha Parama Dayala Moorthiye | |
| 1936 | Chandrahasan | Paadhamalarai Paninden | |
| 1936 | Chandrahasan | Poomaadho Radhi Deviyo | |
| 1937 | Sundaramoorthi Nayanar | Thillai Vaazh Andhanar Tham | |
| 1937 | Sundaramoorthi Nayanar | Mugathai Kaattiye | |
| 1937 | Sundaramoorthi Nayanar | Idhu Vasantha Kaalam Penne | |
| 1938 | Kannappa Nayanar | Saambavari Thunai Puri | |
| 1938 | Kannappa Nayanar | Vasantha Jothi Azhage | |
| 1938 | Kannappa Nayanar | Unnai Marandiduveno | |
| 1938 | Kannappa Nayanar | Deva Nin Thiruvadi | |
| 1947 | Dhana Amaravathi | Endisaiyum Vanangi Ethum | |

### As Playback singer

| Year | Film | Language | Song | Music Director | Co-Singer |
| 1947 | Thaai Nadu | Tamil | Engal Indhiya Bharathiye | R. Narayana Iyer | A. P. Komala |
| 1950 | Chandrika | Malayalam | Hello My Dear Ting Ting | V. Dakshinamoorthy & G. Govindarajulu Naidu | |
| 1951 | Manamagal | Tamil | Chinnanchiru Kiliye Kannammaa | C. R. Subburaman | M. L. Vasanthakumari |
| 1951 | Manamagal | Tamil | Paaviyinum Padu Paavi | C. R. Subburaman | M. L. Vasanthakumari |
| 1951 | Rajambal | Tamil | Idhaya Thaamarai Malara Seivadhum | M. S. Gnanamani | P. Leela |
| 1953 | Inspector | Tamil | Varuvaai Manamohanaa | G. Ramanathan | M. L. Vasanthakumari |
| 1953 | Poongothai | Tamil | Neelavaan Nedungkundram .. Yen Padaitthaai | P. Adinarayana Rao | |
| 1954 | Avakasi | Malayalam | Thulli Thulli Odi Vaa | Br Lakshmanan | N. L. Ganasaraswathi |
| 1954 | Avakasi | Malayalam | Kaliyodamithil | Br Lakshmanan | Kamukara Purushothaman & N. Lalitha |
| 1954 | Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari | Tamil | Kaviyin Kanavil Vaazhum Kaviyame | T. G. Lingappa | |
| 1954 | Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari | Tamil | Azhage Penn Vadivamaana | T. G. Lingappa | Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi |
| 1954 | Koondukkili | Tamil | Raatthirikku Boovaavukku Laatteri | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan & K. V. Mahadevan |
| 1954 | Koondukkili | Tamil | Vaanga Ellorume Ondraagave | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan, Radha Jayalakshmi & K. Rani |
| 1954 | Koondukkili | Tamil | Kaayaadha Kaanagatthe | K. V. Mahadevan | T. M. Soundararajan |
| 1954 | Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhan | Tamil | Odam Polae Namadhu | C. N. Pandurangan & M. S. Viswanathan | A. L. Raghavan, T. Sathyavathi & Subbulakshmi |
| 1954 | Rajee En Kanmani | Tamil | Ulagam Idhuthaano | S. Hanumantha Rao | |
| 1954 | Thookku Thookki | Tamil | Kuranginilirundhu Pirandhavan | G. Ramanathan | P. Leela, A. P. Komala & T. M. Soundararajan |
| 1954 | Thookku Thookki | Tamil | Pyari Nimbal Mele | G. Ramanathan | M. S. Rajeswari |
| 1955 | CID | Malayalam | Kaalamellaamullaasam | Br Lakshmanan | P. Leela & N. L. Ganasaraswathi |
| 1955 | CID | Tamil | Inai Illaadha Suga Vaazhvil | Br Lakshmanan | A. M. Rajah, P. Leela & Sarojini |
| 1955 | Mahakavi Kalidhas | Tamil | Raajendhraa Em Rasiganiye | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | |
| 1955 | Mahakavi Kalidhas | Tamil | Kulla Nariyo Kokkarikkudhe | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | |
| 1955 | Mahakavi Kalidhas | Tamil | Singaara Vaagini Manamogini | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | |
| 1955 | Mahakavi Kalidhas | Tamil | Vaaraai Vaaraai Vaaraai | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | R. Balasaraswathi Devi |
| 1955 | Mahakavi Kalidhas | Tamil | Omkaara Roobini | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | R. Balasaraswathi Devi |
| 1955 | Nallavan | Tamil | Bharathiye Nam Bharadha | M. S. Gnanamani | |
| 1955 | Nam Kuzhandai | Tamil | Deivathaal Agaadhenin | M. D. Parthasarathy | |
| 1955 | Porter Kandan | Tamil | Aadhiyaai Ulagukkellaam | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1955 | Valliyin Selvan | Tamil | Kannaa Endradhum | P. S. Anantharaman | |
| 1956 | Charana Daasi | Telugu | Tharumaarulaadeveme Vayyaari | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1956 | Marma Veeran | Tamil | Munnaale Pogaame | Vedha | T. M. Soundararajan |
| 1956 | Mathar Kula Manickam | Tamil | Enakke Thaaramaadi | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1956 | Naane Raja | Tamil | Sindhu Paadum Thendral Vandhu | T. R. Ramanathan | P. Leela |
| 1956 | Ondre Kulam | Tamil | Mangkilai Mele Poonguyil Kooviyadhu | S. V. Venkatraman | N. L. Ganasaraswathi, K. Rani, M. S. Rajeswari & Kalyani |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Adari Padarndha | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Ponnalla Porul | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Kannaa Pinnaa Mannaa | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Vindhiyam Vadakkaaga | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Chandhiran Pole | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Drru Drru Ena Maadugal | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Thaadhi Thoodhu Theedhu | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1957 | Ambikapathy | Tamil | Soru Manakkum Cho Naadaam | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1957 | Ambikapathy | Tamil | Kottikkizhango Kizhango | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1957 | Ambikapathy | Tamil | Ennarum Nalathinaal | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1957 | Ambikapathy | Tamil | Annalum Nokinaan Avalum Nokkkinaal | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1957 | Bhaktha Markandeya | Tamil | Ulagamellaam | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1957 | Bhaktha Markandeya | Tamil | Daevaadhi Dhaevaa | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1957 | Mudhalali | Tamil | Enga Mudhalali Thanga | K. V. Mahadevan | S. V. Ponnusamy, A. G. Rathnamala & G. Kasthoori |
| 1957 | Thangamalai Ragasiyam | Tamil | Ariyaadha Pillai Pole Aaatthira Padalaamaa | T. G. Lingappa | Jikki |
| 1958 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Tamil | Alitthidum Avamadhippaiyai Naan Nasukkuven | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1958 | Chenchu Lakshmi | Tamil | Inngiruppano Anggiruppano Endra Aiyame | S. Rajeswara Rao | P. Susheela |
| 1958 | Maalaiyitta Mangai | Tamil | Ammaa Unnai Kondu Vanatthile | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1958 | Padhi Bhakti | Tamil | Rock Rock Rock n Roll | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | J. P. Chandrababu |
| 1958 | Padhi Bhakti | Telugu | Rock Rock Rock n Roll | T. Chalapathi Rao | J. P. Chandrababu |
| 1958 | Vanji Kottai Valipan | Tamil | Thaedi Thaedi Alaigirene | C. Ramachandra | Thiruchi Loganathan & P. Susheela |
| 1959 | Aval Yaar | Tamil | Vaaraaru Vaaraaru Vanthukitte | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | Maruvirukkum Koondhal | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | Aalikkum Kaigal | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Vetrivadivelane.... Manam Kanindharul | G. Ramanathan | S. Varalakshmi |
| 1960 | Engal Selvi | Tamil | Jaya Jaya Jaya Raamaa | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1960 | Kumara Raja | Tamil | Manamagalaaga Varum Mangai Evalo | T. R. Pappa | |
| 1960 | Kumara Raja | Tamil | Naan Vandhu Serndha Idam | T. R. Pappa | P. Leela |
| 1960 | Naan Kanda Sorgam | Tamil | Parama Kirupa Nandana | G. Aswathama | |
| 1961 | Ennai Paar | Tamil | Moothor Sol Vaarthai Thaan | T. G. Lingappa | |
| 1961 | Sabarimala Ayyappan | Malayalam | Aararivoo Nin Maaya | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | |
| 1962 | Mahaveera Bheeman | Tamil | Aayathor Nagaraitho | M. S. Gnanamani | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusa | Tamil | Vetri Murasu Olikka Seiyyum | K. V. Mahadevan & Ghantasala | K. Rani |
| 1964 | Ramadasu | Telugu | Ee Desama Nununduvaru | G. Aswathama | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & Madhavapeddi Satyam |
| 1964 | Rishyasingar | Tamil | Thalam Pugazhum Uyar | T. V. Raju | |

## Death

Sundaram died on 14 December 2009 at the age of 92.