Rajappa at Ulagapuram, a village near Tindivanam in the then South Arcot District (Madras Presidency) on 15 September 1916.

With his fine voice, singing talents and ability to play the harmonium, he soon established a place for himself in stage dramas.

[1] He wrote the dialogues for Saalivaahanan (1945)[2] and as a popular lyricist with the hit song Arul Thaarum Deva Mathaave in Citadel's Gnana Soundari (1948).

Many of the films dubbed from Hindi and Telugu were successful at the box office in Tamil mainly due to his dialogues and lyrics.

Lata Mangeshkar who sang the original Hindi songs rendered the Tamil versions written by Kambadasan.

[citation needed] Kambadasan was admitted to Royapettah hospital due to failing health condition related to alcoholism, and he died on 23 May 1973.