Thanjavur Paramasiva Kailasam was a playwright and prominent writer of Kannada literature. His contribution to Kannada theatrical comedy earned him the title Prahasana Prapitamaha, "the father of humorous plays" and later he was also called "Kannadakke Obbane Kailasam" meaning "One and Only Kailasam for Kannada".Kailasam was born in a Tamil family in southern Karnataka, India. His father, T. Paramasiva Iyer, was employed as munsif in the Mysore state service and progressed to become the Chief Justice of the Mysore High Court. His father's brother was the Madras High Court judge, Sir T. Sadasiva Iyer. Kailasam had a good education and was supported by the Maharaja of Mysore to study geology in London. Kailasam repeated several classes to have an excuse to extend his stay in England. He spent six years in school there, participating in theatre w