Tamil Writer Kalki Novels and Biography

R. Krishnamorthy better known by his pen name Kalki is a famous and popular Tamil author. He is well known for his versatility in Tamil ranging for being a lyricist, screenplay writer, writing short stories , editor of magazines, journals, writing novels etc . He was also a freedom fighter and was arrested by the British government for involving in several movements. He married Rukmani in 1924.

Early Life of Kalki:

Kalki was born on September 8th 1899 at Puthamangalam in Thanjore district of Tamilnadu. He was born to the couple of Ramaswamy Aiyar and Thaiyal Nayagi. His real name was R.Krishnamoorthy. He went to Aiyaasamy Aiyar Primary school and continued in his secondary education in Trichy.

Kalki left his schooling to get involve in freedom movements. He participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation movement in 1921. He spent one year in prison for involving in anti-British protests. He met Rajaji and Sadasivam in prison.

Kalki as a journalist and author:

In 1922 he became in a sub-editor in Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaranar’s magazine ‘Navasakthi’. In 1927 he published a short story 'Saradhaiyin Thanthiram'. In 1928 he left Navasakthi and later joined Rajaj’s journal ‘Vimochanam’. He faced another term in prison for a period of six months. He became an editor in ‘Anantha Vikatan’ in 1931, which was owned and published by S.S.Vasan. He wrote several novels and stories in ‘Ananatha Vikatan’.

He wrote his first novel 'Kalvanin Kaadhali' in 1937. He started his own magazine by the name ‘Kalki ‘in 1941. He face arrest for the third time in the same year. He published his first historical novel ‘Parthiban Kanavu' in 1941. Alai Osai , his famous novel was published in 1948. His popular historical novel 'Ponniyin Selvan' was published in his own magazine 'Kalki' as a serial form 1951 to 1954.

Kalki's Novels:

Historical novels:

Parthiban Kanavu (1941–1943)
Sivagamiyin Sapatham (1944–1946)
Ponniyin Selvan (1951–1954)
Solaimalai Ilavarasi (1947)

Other novels:

Kalvanin Kaadhali (1937)
Thiyaga Bhoomi (1938 - 1939)
Magudapathi (1942)
Sivagamiyin Sabadham (1944)
Abalayin kaneer (1947)
Alai Osai (1948)
Devagiyin Kanavan (1950)
Mohini Theevu (1950)
Poiman Karadu (1951)
Punnaivanathu Puli (1952)
Amara Thara (1954)

Kalki as a lyricist and screenplay writer:

He wrote the screenplay for the Tamil movie Thyaga Boomi. The film did very well eventhough it was banned for screening by the British Government at that time. He wrote the lyrics in the Tamil movie Meera in 1945.

Kalki Krishnamurthy passed away on December 5, 1954. He received the ‘Sahithiya Academy Award’ in 1956 for his novel Alai Osai.