Sujatha (actress)
Sujatha (10 December 1952[1] – 6 April 2011) was an Indian actress who performed and starred in a variety of unique characters in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films- in addition to few in Kannada and Hindi languages as well. The actress was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. After starring in numerous Malayalam films in her mother-tongue, Sujatha later got introduced to the Tamil film industry by veteran director K. Balachander and producer P.R. Govindarajan as a protagonist in her first Tamil film, Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974). It was a critically acclaimed film and launched the actress's first commecrical breakthrough in her acting career. Whereas, her first Telugu picture happened to be a Telugu/Tamil bilingual titled as Guppedu Manasu (1979) in Telugu and was simultaneously shot as Nool Veli in Tamil of the same year.[2][3] She died of a cardiac arrest on 6 April 2011 in Chennai (aged 58).
Sujatha | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) | |
| Born | 10 December 1952[1] |
| Died | 6 April 2011 (aged 58) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1968–2006 |
| Spouse | Jayakar |
| Children | Sajith, Divya |
| Parent(s) | Father : Sankaran Menon Mother : Saraswathi |
| Relatives | Gopi Menon (Young Brother) |
Early life
Sujatha was born in a Malayali-speaking family on 10 December 1952 in Galle, Sri Lanka where she spent most of her early days of childhood over there. She participated in school plays, and later moved to Tamil Nadu when she was about 15. She acted in Ernakulam Junction, a Malayalam movie.
Career
Sujatha made her debut in the Malayalam film Thapasvini. Her first Tamil film was Aval Oru Thodar Kathai directed by K. Balachander. She again collaborated with K. Balachander in Avargal (1977)- starring leading stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Sujatha acted in over 240 films in five languages namely Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She appeared in films like Aval Our Thodar Kadhai, Annakkili, Avargal as a tortured wife, Vidhi, Mayangugiraal Oru Maadhu, Sentamizh Paattu and Aval Varuvaala, and in Telugu such as her debut in Guppedu Manasu.
Character roles
During the 1980s, she started playing character roles, often portraying mothers. Her performances as a senior actor in films like Kodi Parakuthu, Uzhaippali, Baba in all which she played the mother of Rajinikanth; and Villain in which she played Ajith Kumar's wellwisher. Varalaru (2006) was her last film.[1][4]
Death
While undergoing treatment for a heart ailment, Sujatha died of cardiac arrest in Chennai on 6 April 2011.[4]
Awards and honours
- 1975 – Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award for Uravu Solla Oruvan[5]
- 1976 – Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award for Annakili[5]
- 1977 – Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award for Avargal[5]
- 1979 – Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for Guppedu Manasu[6]
- 1981 – Special Best Actress for Thunaivi
- 1982 – Special Best Actress for Paritchaikku Neramaachu
Notable filmography
1960s
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Ammu | Sharadha | Malayalam | Debut film |
| Kattupookkal | ||||
| Kadathukaran | Kadambari | |||
| 1966 | Rowdy | |||
1970s
1980s
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Yedanthasthula Meda | Telugu | ||
| Neer Nilam Neruppu | Tamil | |||
| Vishwaroopam | ||||
| Anbukku Naan Adimai | ||||
| Sandhya | Telugu | |||
| Pappu | Herself | Malayalam | ||
| Pasupu Parani | Telugu | |||
| Bebbuli | ||||
| Circus Ramudu | ||||
| Maadi Veettu Ezhai | Tamil | |||
| Sirimalle Navvindi | Telugu | |||
| Prema Tarangalu | Sujatha | |||
| Sujatha | ||||
| 1981 | Ragile Jwala | |||
| Guru Sishyulu | ||||
| Pranaya Geetham | ||||
| Maha Purushudu | Lakshmi | |||
| Kadal Meengal | Kamal's wife | Tamil | ||
| Ek Hi Bhool | Hindi | Bollywood debut | ||
| 1982 | Pandanti Jeevitham | Telugu | ||
| Vaa Kanna Vaa | Tamil | |||
| Oru Vilippadakale | Malayalam | |||
| Paritchaikku Neramaachu | Tamil | |||
| Preeyasakhi Radha | Malayalam | |||
| Theerpu | Tamil | |||
| Idho Varukiren | ||||
| Thaai Mookaambikai | ||||
| Garuda Sowkiyama | ||||
| Thunaivi | ||||
| Vamsa Gowravam | Lakshmi | Telugu | ||
| Bangaru Kanuka | ||||
| Sitadevi | ||||
| Yuvaraju (1982 film) | ||||
| Nayakkirin Magal | Tamil | |||
| Nanna Devaru | Kannada | |||
| Thyagi | Tamil | |||
| 1983 | Justice Raja | Radha | Malayalam | |
| Neethibathi | Tamil | |||
| Sandhippu | ||||
| Bahudoorapu Batasari | Telugu | |||
| MLA Yedukondalu | ||||
| Kodugal Illatha Kolam | Tamil | |||
| Sumangali | ||||
| Abhilasha | Telugu | |||
| Thudikkum Karangal | Tamil | |||
| 1984 | Vellai Pura Ondru | |||
| Veetuku Oru Kannagi | ||||
| Unnai Naan Santhithen | ||||
| Kudumbam | ||||
| Justice Chakravarthy | Telugu | |||
| Vidhi | Shakunthala | Tamil | ||
| Alaya Deepam | ||||
| Anubandham | Telugu | |||
| Thiruppam | Tamil | |||
| Bhola Shankarudu | Telugu | |||
| Agni Gundam | ||||
| 1985 | Nermai | Tamil | ||
| Naam | ||||
| Perumai | ||||
| Sivappu Nila | ||||
| Mangamma Sapatham | Kamal's mother | |||
| Karpoora Deepam | ||||
| Uthami | ||||
| 1986 | Vidinja Kalyanam | |||
| Revathi | ||||
| Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu | ||||
| Meendum Pallavi | ||||
| Kanne Kaniyamuthe | ||||
| Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu | ||||
| Mahashakthi Mariamma | Mariamma Devotee | |||
| Ariyaatha Bandham | Malayalam | Actress Amala's Malayalam debut | ||
| Mannukkul Vairam | Tamil | |||
| Maaveeran | Raja's mother | |||
| 1987 | Mupperum Deviyar | Saraswati | ||
| Challakutti | ||||
| 1989 | Dharmam Vellum | |||
| Pen Puthi Mun Puthi | ||||
| Srirama Chandrudu | Telugu | |||
| Rajakeeya Chadarangam | ||||
| Dharmam Vellum | Tamil | |||
| Kodi Parakuthu | Rajini's mother |
1990s
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Sutradhaarulu | Telugu | ||
| Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu | Tamil | |||
| 1992 | Chanti | Mother of Chanti | Telugu | |
| Simhadhwani | Malayalam | |||
| Soori Gadu | Telugu | |||
| Madhavayya Gari Manavadu | ||||
| Ahankari | Jayanthi | |||
| Abhirami | Abhirami | Tamil | ||
| Senthamizh Paattu | Kalaivani | |||
| 1993 | Nippu Ravva | Telugu | ||
| Aadarsham | ||||
| Kondapalli Raja | ||||
| Uzhaippali | Janaki | Tamil | ||
| Uzhavan | Subbammal | |||
| 1994 | Watchman Vadivel | Sarassu | ||
| Rajakumaran | Rajakumaran's mother | |||
| Maa Voori Maaraju | Telugu | |||
| M Dharmaraju M.A | ||||
| Nannagaru | ||||
| Thozhar Pandian | Tamil | |||
| Senthamizh Selvan | Janaki | |||
| Kanmanai | ||||
| Amaithipadai | Sivakami | |||
| 1995 | Karna | Arjun's mother | ||
| Simha Garjana | Telugu | |||
| Vetagadu | ||||
| Big Boss | Chiranjeevi mother | |||
| Vajram | ||||
| 1996 | Pelli | |||
| Sivasakthi | Siva's mother | Tamil | ||
| Poovarasan | Karthik's mother | |||
| 1998 | Aval Varuvala | Simran's mother-in-law | ||
| Subbaraju Gari Kutumbam | Telugu | |||
| Auto Driver | Jagan's mother | |||
| Natpukaaga | Lakshmi | Tamil | ||
| Thutta Mutta | Anusuya | Kannada | as Ramesh Aravind's mother | |
| 1999 | Paattali | Lakshmi | Tamil | as Ramya Krishnan's mother |
| Ninaivirukkum Varai | Jani's mother | |||
| Azhagarsamy | Thayama | |||
| Sneham Kosam | Lakshmi | Telugu |
2000s
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Sandhitha Velai | Aadalarasu's mother | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Chitrathoonukal | Malayalam | ||
| Vyjayanthi | Telugu | |||
| Prematho Raa | ||||
| 2002 | Nee Sneham | Aarthi Aggarwal's grandmother | ||
| Tappu Chesi Pappu Koodu | ||||
| Seema Simham | ||||
| Gemini | Tamil | |||
| Nettru Varai Nee Yaaro | Meenakshi | |||
| Baba | Rajini's mother | |||
| Villain | Head of disabled home | |||
| 2003 | Kiccha | Sharada (Kiccha's mother) | Kannada | |
| Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu | Raghavayya's wife | Telugu | ||
| Villain | ||||
| 2004 | Jalothsavam | Bhanumathi | Malayalam | |
| Arul | Vikram's mother | Tamil | ||
| Maanasthan | Sarathkumar's mother | |||
| Attagasam | Ajith Kumar's mother | |||
| 2005 | Chandrolsavam | Bhavani | Malayalam | |
| Mayookham | Devaki | |||
| 2006 | Sri Ramadasu | Pokala Damakka | Telugu | |
| Neelakanta | Kannada | |||
| Vathiyar | Arjun's mother | Tamil | ||
| Varalaru | Shiva Shankar's Mother-in-law |
Kannada films of Sujatha
1.) Nanna Devaru - 1982
2.) Akrosha - 1983
3.) Prema Sakshi - 1984
4.) Kanoonige Saval - 1984
5.) Rowdy Raja - 1984
6.) Super Boy(3D) - 1986
7.) Bidisada Bandha - 1989
8.) Thutta Mutta - 1998
9.) Kiccha - 2003
10.) Neelakanta - 2006
Voice artist
- Jayapradha - Ninaithale Inikkum, 47 Natkal
References
- "NDTVMovies.com : Bollywood News, Reviews, Celebrity News, Hollywood news, Entertainment News, Videos & Photos". movies.ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2011.
- "Sujatha Passes Away - Sujatha - Aval Oru Thodakathai - Tamil Movie News". behindwoods.com.
- "timeschennai.com - Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! - Informationen zum Thema timeschennai". ww1.timeschennai.com.
- Srinivasan, Meera (6 April 2011). "Actor Sujatha dead". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- Reed, Sir Stanley (1984). "The Times of India directory and year book including who's who".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Reed, Sir Stanley (1984). "The Times of India directory and year book including who's who".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)