Kalamegam

Kalamegam
T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai in Kalamegam
Directed by	Ellis R. Dungan
Produced by	Sri Dhandayuthapani Films Salem Mohini Pictures
Written by	Bharathidasan
Starring	T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai S. P. L. Dhanalakshmi N. S. Krishnan T. A. Mathuram Kali N. Rathnam
Music by	R. N. Chinnaiah
Cinematography	V. Namachivayam
Edited by	R. S. Mani
Release date	17 May 1940
Language	Tamil

Kalamegam (Tamil: காளமேகம்) is a 1940 Tamil film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring Nadaswaram player T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai. This was the second film as script writer for the Tamil rationalist poet Bharathidasan. This was only film in which Pillai acted in his life.

Dungan was hired to direct a film based on the life of the 15th century Tamil poet Kalamega Pulavar. Nadaswaram Maestro T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai was cast in the title role as poet Kalamegam. The script was written by the rationalist poet Bharathidasan. To satisfy Rajarathnam Pillai's fans, scenes with Kalamegam playing the Nadaswaram were added to the film. S. P. L. Dhanalakshmi was cast as the heroine and the comedy parts was played by N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram and Kali N. Rathnam. According to the Kalamegam legend, he cursed a village to be destroyed in a sandstorm. Dungan filmed some of the sandstorm scenes on location and shot the remaining scenes using large sized miniatures constructed on the Elliot's beach in Madras. The completed film was 18,986 feet in length

Kalamegam is based on the life of 15th century Tamil poet .

The film was released on 17 May 1940 and was a box office failure. But the sandstorm scenes were well received by the audience.