Suryakantham (actress)
Suryakantham (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was an Indian actress in Tollywood. She was regarded as one of the finest actors of Indian Cinema and was popular for playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law in most of her movies.
Suryakantham | |
|---|---|
| Born | Suryakantham 28 October 1924 |
| Died | 18 December 1994 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Padmavathi Mahila University, A. P. |
| Occupation | Film actor |
| Spouse(s) | Peddibhotla Chalapathi Rao |
Early life
Suryakantham was born and brought up in a Telugu Brahmin family residing at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. She was the 14th child to her parents, ten of whose children had died. She learnt dance and singing at the age of six.
She married Peddibhotla Chalapati Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.
Career
Suryakantham started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studios, for which she had been paid Rs 75 in remuneration. She got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradi, but eventually quit her job at Gemini Studios.
Later, she got a character artist role in the movie Gruhapravesam. She was offered the heroine's role in Soudamini, but did not accept it. She later was in a car accident, in which she received injuries to her face. She later played the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram.
Another "heroine" role was offered to her from a Bollywood film producer. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds, and that the same was given to her, Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying "I can't live on the unhappiness of other artists." She subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Kodarikam, which brought her a new level of success. The directors B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantham. They produced the movie Gundamma Katha, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao, with Suryakantham playing the lead role of Gundamma. The film was commercially successful.
Awards and titles
Awards
- Mahanati Savitri Memorial Award
- Honorary Doctorate Padmavati Mahila University
Titles
- Gayyali atta
- Sahaja Nata Kala Siromani
- Haasya Nata Siromani
- Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
- Rangasthala Siromani
- Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)
Filmography
| Year | Film | Language | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Narada Naradi | Telugu | ||
| 1949 | Dharmangada | Telugu | ||
| 1950 | Samsaram | Telugu | Venkamma | |
| 1952 | Daasi | Telugu | ||
| 1952 | Kalyanam Panni Paar | Tamil | ||
| 1952 | Pelli Chesi Choodu | Telugu | ||
| 1952 | Prema | Telugu | ||
| 1953 | Ammalakkalu | Telugu | ||
| 1953 | Bratuku Teruvu | Telugu | Kotamma | |
| 1954 | Chakrapani | Telugu | Manorama | |
| 1954 | Chandraharam | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Donga Ramudu | Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Kanyasulkam | Telugu | Meenakshi | |
| 1956 | Chiranjeevulu | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Charana Daasi | Telugu | Seshamma | |
| 1956 | Ilavelpu | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Penki Pellam | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Bhagya Rekha | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Dongallo Dora | Telugu | ||
| 1957 | Mayabazar | Telugu | Hidimbi | |
| 1957 | Todi Kodallu | Telugu | Anasuya | |
| 1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Telugu | Rajaratnam | |
| 1958 | Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu | Telugu | ||
| 1958 | Mangalya Balam | Telugu | ||
| 1959 | Jayabheri | Telugu | Ratnalu | |
| 1959 | Krishna Leelalu | Telugu | ||
| 1960 | Santinivasam | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Bharya Bhartalu | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Pelli Kani Pillalu | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Iddaru Mitrulu | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Sabash Raja | Telugu | ||
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Telugu | Baalamani | |
| 1962 | Atma Bandhuvu | Telugu | Widowed daughter | |
| 1962 | Bhishma | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Gundamma Katha | Telugu | Gundamma | |
| 1962 | Kula Gotralu | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Manchi Manasulu | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Mohini Rugmangada | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Rakhta Sambandham | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Siri Sampadalu | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Chaduvukunna Ammayilu | Telugu | Vardhanam | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusa | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Mooga Manasulu | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Nartanasala | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Paruvu Pratishta | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Eedu Jodu | Telugu | Rangamma | |
| 1963 | Punarjanma | Telugu | ||
| 1963 | Tirupatamma Katha | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Doctor Chakravarthy | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Murali Krishna | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Ramudu Bhimudu | Telugu | ||
| 1964 | Velugu Needalu | Telugu | Kanaka Durgamma | |
| 1965 | Aatma Gowravam | Telugu | Santhana Lakshmi | |
| 1966 | Kanne Manasulu | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Navaratri | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Zamindar | Telugu | ||
| 1966 | Aastiparulu | Telugu | Kaasulamma | |
| 1967 | Gruhalakshmi | Telugu | ||
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Ninne Pelladita | Telugu | ||
| 1968 | Tikka Sankarayya | Telugu | Kanthamma | |
| 1969 | Aatmiyulu | Telugu | Mahankali | |
| 1969 | Buddhimantudu | Telugu | ||
| 1970 | Balaraju Katha | Telugu | ||
| 1971 | Dasara Bullodu | Telugu | ANR's Adopted Mother | |
| 1971 | Srimantudu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Illu Illalu | Telugu | Raja Babu's Mother in law – Surammatta | |
| 1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Telugu | Sundaramma | |
| 1972 | Kalam Marindi | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Koduku Kodalu | Telugu | ||
| 1972 | Vichitra Bandham | Telugu | Kantam | |
| 1973 | Andala Ramudu | Telugu | Samalamma | |
| 1973 | Ganga Manga | Telugu | ||
| 1975 | Mutyala Muggu | Telugu | Contractor's wife | |
| 1975 | Pooja | Telugu | ||
| 1976 | Secretary | Telugu | ||
| 1976 | Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club | Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Ardhangi | Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Andame Anandam | Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Yamagola | Telugu | Seetamma | |
| 1978 | Goranta Deepam | Telugu | ||
| 1979 | Karthika Deepam | Telugu | ||
| 1980 | Buchchi Babu | |||
| 1980 | Gayyali Gangamma | Telugu | ||
| 1981 | Prema Mandiram | Telugu | ||
| 1982 | Pelleedu Pillalu | Telugu | ||
| 1982 | Kalavari Samsaram | Telugu | ||
| 1983 | Pelli Choopulu | Telugu | ||
| 1983 | Konte Kodallu | Telugu | Varalamma | |
| 1983 | Sri Ranganeetulu | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | America Alludu | Telugu | ||
| 1987 | Gundammagari Krishnulu | Telugu | ||
| 1988 | Yamudiki Mogudu | Telugu | Kali's grandmother | |
| 1989 | Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagrata | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Hai Hai Nayaka | Telugu | Suryakanthamma | |
| 1993 | Ratha Sarathi | Telugu | Gunadamma | |
| 1993 | One by Two | Telugu | Srikanth's grandmother | |
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | Telugu | ||
| 1994 | Anna | Telugu | ||
| 1994 | S. P. Parasuram | Telugu | Lakshmikantham |
References
External links
- Suryakantham on IMDb