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

(1924-10-28)28 October 1924
Died18 December 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 70)
Alma materPadmavathi Mahila University, A. P.
OccupationFilm 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

This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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 Velaikari Magal Tamil
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
1964 Velugu Needalu Telugu Kanaka Durgamma[1]
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
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
1970 Kodalu Diddina Kapuram 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 Gangamma
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

  1. Narasimham, M.L. (13 May 2015). "Velugu Needalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
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