Santha Devi

Damayanthi (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi,[1] was an Indian Malayalam film and stage actress. In a career spanning about sixty years, she acted in more than 1000 plays and about 480 films.[2]

Santha Devi
Born	Damayanthi 1927 Kozhikode
Died	(2010-11-20)20 November 2010 Kozhikode
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1954–2010
Spouse(s)	Balakrishnan (divorced) Kozhikode Abdul Kader

Biography

Santha Devi was born in Kozhikode in a then well known tharavadu called Thottathil in 1927 as the daughter of Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma as the seventh daughter of their 10 children. She did her studies from Sabha school and then B.E.M school.

She made her debut as an actress through a 1954 drama Smarakam written by Vasu Pradeep and directed by Kundanari Appu Nair. She made her cinema debut in Minnaminungu (1957) directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including Moodupadam, Kuttikkuppayam, Kunjalimaraykkar, Iruttinte Athmavu, Sthalathe pradhana payyans and Adwaitham. Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie where she enacted the role of a forlorn grandmother with no one to look after her. Besides movies, she was also active in television serials. Her most memorable roles are from Manasi and Minnukettu.

Santha Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a private hospital in Kozhikode.[3]

Family

She had five brothers and four sisters. All of her brothers were in Air Force and Military services. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard, but the relationship did not last long. He left Santha Devi after the couple had a son.[4] Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer. She has two sons, Suresh Babu and the late Sathyajith.[5]

Awards

She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Yamanam (1992) directed by Bharath Gopi.[6] She has received the Kerala State award for best Stage actress in 1968 for her role in Kudukkukal. In 1968, she received award from Thrissur Fine Arts Society and in 1973 she received best actress award again. In 1978, her acting in Ithu bhoomiyanu and Inquilabinte makkal fetched her Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Acamedy's award for best actress. She won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays in 1983 for Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam.[2]

In 1992 she got Film critics award again. Santha Devi was awarded Premji award and later in 2005 the lifetime achievement award from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. She won the attimabbe prize also from Karnataka

Filmography (partial)

1. Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother
2. Nalla Pattukare (2010)
3. Nandhuni (2010)
4. Kerala Cafe (2009)
5. Malayali (2009)
6. Koodaram (2009)
7. Mayabazar(2008)
8. Thalappavu (2008)
9. Crazy Gopalan (2008) ... Janakiyamma
10. Vilapagalkkappuram (2008)
11. Uthrada Ravu
12. Prajapathi (2006)
13. Nottam (2006) ... Jankiyamma
14. Anandabadram (2005)
15. Ullam (2005)
16. Maratha Nadu (2004)
17. Akale (2004) ... Typewriting teacher
18. Freedom (2004)
19. Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) .... Maimuna's mother
20. Janakeeyam (2003)....Lakshmiyamma
21. Anyar (2003)
22. Mizhirandilum (2003)
23. Ammakkilikkoodu (2003)
24. Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003)
25. Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002)
26. Neythukaran (2001)
27. Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001)
28. Ninneyum Thedi (2001)
29. Rapid Action Force (2000)... Vasanthakumari's muthassi
30. Priyankari (2000)...
31. Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998)
32. Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998)
33. Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998)
34. Sisiram (1998)
35. Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) ... Valsan's mother
36. Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997)
37. Mahathma (1996)
38. Harbour (1996)
39. Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996)
40. Madamma (1996)
41. Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995)
42. No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995)
43. Chandha (1995)
44. Sasinas (1995)
45. Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995)
46. Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995)
47. Mazhayethum Munbe (1995)
48. Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994)
49. Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994)
50. Tharavadu (1994)
51. Pingami (1994)
52. Ghazal (1994)
53. Bharanakoodam (1994) .... Manju's maid
54. Chukkan (1994)..... Gayathri's Mother
55. Naaraayam (1993)
56. Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993)
57. Ghoshayathra (1993).....Itheyiumma
58. Agneyam (1993)
59. Magrib (1993)
60. Yamanam (1992)
61. Kamaladalam (1992)
62. Dhanam (1991)
63. Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991)
64. Adwaitham (1991)
65. Parallel College (1991)
66. Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991)
67. No 20 Madras Mail (1990)
68. Kakkathollayiram (1990)
69. Brahmarakshassu (1990)
70. Sasneham (1990)
71. Aye Auto (1990)
72. Carnivel (1989)
73. Naduvazhikal (1989)
74. V. I. P. (1989)....Karthyayani
75. Chanakyan(1989)
76. Padippura (1989)
77. Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) .... Itti
78. Kanakambarangal (1988) ... Sreedevi's mother
79. Dhinarathrangal (1988)
80. Oohakachavadam (1988)
81. Rithubetham (1987)
82. Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987)
83. Nadodikkaattu (1987) ... Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance)
84. PC 369 (1987) ... Mandara
85. Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986)
86. Abhayam Thedi (1986)
87. Vellam (1985)
88. Dheivatheyorthu (1985)
89. Anubandham (1985)
90. Srikrishna Parundu (1984)
91. Maniyara (1983)
92. Mylanji (1982 )
93. Adhikaram (1980)
94. Angadi (1980)
95. Chakara (1980)....Subhadra
96. Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980)
97. Neelathamara (1979)
98. Thakara (1979)
99. Thenthulli (1979)
100. Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978)
101. Chuvanna Vithukal (1978)
102. Padasaram (1978) .... Kochukaali
103. Aparadhi (1977).... Madhaviyamma
104. Yatheem (1977)
105. Njavalppazhangal (1976)
106. Athithi (1975)
107. Utharayanam (1975)
108. Nirmala (1975 film) (1975)
109. Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974)
110. Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973)
111. Darshanam (1973)
112. Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972)
113. Kuttyedathi(1971) .... Meenakshi
114. Ummachu (1971)
115. Velutha Kathreena (1968)
116. Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968)
117. Anaachadanam (1968)
118. Aval (1967)
119. Kottayam Kolacase (1967)
120. Mulkireedam (1967)
121. Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) ... Parukkuttiamma
122. Ashwamedam (1967).... Lakshmi
123. Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
124. Nagarame Nandi (1967)
125. Kunjali Marakkar (1967)
126. Mayor Nair (1966)
127. Murappennu(1965)....Madhaviyamma
128. Devalayam (1964)
129. Kuttikuppayam (1964)
130. Moodupadam (1963)
131. Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
132. Minnaminigu(1957)
133. Sandehi (1954)

Television serials (partial)

• Manasi (DD Malayalam)
• Minnukettu (Surya TV)
• Manassariyathe (Surya TV)
• Kayamkulam Kochunni (Surya TV)
• Ali Manthrikan
• Vadhu - telefilm
• Vidhyarambham - telefilm
• Puthiyaplakkuppayam - telefilm

Dramas (partial)

• Kudukkukal
• Smaarakam
• Deepasthambham Mahaascharyam
• Inquilaaabinte Makkal
• Ithu Bhoomiyaannu

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. "നടി കോഴിക്കോട് ശാന്താദേവി അന്തരിച്ചു". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
3. "Veteran Malayalam actress Shanta Devi dies". .bombaynews.net. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Interview : Natural actor". The Hindu. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2010.

External links

• Santha Devi on IMDb
• Shanthadevi at MSI