Born on 14 January 1908, Kamalambal trained under Kannusamy Nattuvanar. She is said to have had her arangetram when she was eight years old at her residence. She was known for her performances in the temples of Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and Seithur.

Kamalambal with her student Akila Balan (on right) and Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy (on left) conducting a master class at Shree Bharatalaya, Madras.

Musicologist and dance historian B.M. Sundaram in his book on temple-dancers, 'Marabu thandha Manikkangal' says that Kamalambal used to regularly perform in the Kuravanji dance drama staged annually at the Brihadeeswara temple, Thanjavur.

Says dance guru Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy who was commissioned by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to document some of the rare pieces performed by Kamalambal, "She was a very beautiful artiste with an expressive face and she was a good musician. She was featured in 'Bharatanjali', the T.V serial I had produced in 1981 for Doordarshan. It was also a privilege to have Smt Kamalambal conduct master classes for my students at Shree Bharatalaya in 1992."

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Here are the messages we received at KutcheriBuzz:

I am from Malaysia and I was one of the first foreign students of Madam Kamalambal. When she was conducting lessons under Ponnaiyah Pillai Bharatha Natya Vidyala, I took Bharatanatyam lessons for few months in 1960. Later I joined the Pitchiya Pillai Bharatha Natya Vidyala. I've been running a dance school in Malaysia (Tanjai Kamalaa Indira Dance School) since 1966. The last I met her in Thanjavur was in 1996 during the anniversary of Bavu Pillai Bharatha Natya Vidyala and I got the blessings from her. I send my heart felt condolences to the family of Madam Kamalambal, the great Guru. Indira Manikam, Malaysia