Santha Kumari

For the Malayalam film actress, see Santhakumari (Malayalam actress).

Santha Kumari (born Vellaala Subbamma; 17 May 1920 – 16 January 2006) was an Indian musical artist and actress. She was married to the Telugu film director and producer P. Pullayya.

Santha Kumari
Shanthakumari (1949)
Born	Vellala Subbamma 17 May 1920 Proddatur, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died	16 January 2006 (aged 85)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936-1979
Spouse	P. Pullayya

Early years

Vellaala Subbamma was born in Proddatur town, (Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh) to Sreenivasa Rao and Pedda Narasamma. Her father was an actor and her mother was a classical music singer. Santhakumari learned classical music and violin under the guidance of Professor P. Sambamurthy and was a junior to D. K. Pattammal. She joined a drama troupe and was an AIR artiste by the age of sixteen. She came to Madras (now Chennai) to pursue a career in music. She found employment in Vidyodaya School for a remuneration of Rs 2 per month. She sang along with music director S. Rajeswara Rao for AIR.

Film career

P. V. Das, producer and director of Mayabazaar (also known as Sasirekhaa Parinayam) was scouting for a young girl to play Sasirekha. He saw Subbamma at a music concert. At the time, she was teaching music at Vidyodaya School, Madras. Das liked her mellifluous voice and innocence, essential qualities to portray Sasirekha's character. Her parents were against her joining films. They wanted to see her as classical singer. Subbamma was adamant and resorted to hunger strike. On the fourth day they relented. Das changed her name as Santhakumari. The film released in 1936.^[1]

In the following year she was a member of the cast of Sarangadhara, a film that was directed by P. Pullayya, whom she met and married in the same year.

The couple used the name of PadmaSree Pictures, named after their daughter Padma, for some of their movies and had success with films such as Jayabheri (1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), and Preminchi Choodu (1965). Santhakumari acted in most of the movies that were made by her husband, including Shavukaru (1950), Ardhangi (1955), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), Santhi Nivasam (1960), and Ramudu Bheemudu (1964).

In 1947, the couple started the Ragini Pictures banner with Bheemavarapu Narasimha Rao and Bhakta Jana. They made 22 films on both PadmaSree and Ragini banners put together.

She played many lead and supporting roles, with around 250 appearances in total.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and recognition

For her contributions to Telugu Cinema, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1998.

Filmography

This is partial filmography of Santha Kumari. Kindly help expanding it.

Year	Film	Credits	Character	Language
1936	Sasirekha Parinayam	Actress	Sasirekha	Telugu
1937	Sarangadhara	Actress and playback singer	Chitrangi	Telugu
1938	Bhakta Jayadeva	Actress		Telugu
1939	Balaji	Actress and playback singer	Consort of Venkateswara	Telugu
1941	Dharmapatni	Actress and playback singer		Telugu
	Parvati Kalyanam	Actress		Telugu
1943	Krishna Prema	Actress and playback singer	Radha	Telugu
1945	Mayalokam	Actress and playback singer		Telugu
1948	Bhaktha Jana	Actress		Tamil
1949	Gunasundari Katha	Actress	Rupasundari	Telugu
1950	Shavukaru	Actress and playback singer	Santhi	Telugu
1952	Dharmadevata	Actress	Kathyayini	Telugu
1952	Daasi	Actress	Parvathamma	Telugu
1953	Velaikari Magal	Actress	Parvathamma	Tamil
1953	Ponni	Actress		Tamil
1955	Ardhangi	Actress and playback singer		Telugu
1955	Pennin Perumai	Actress		Tamil
1957	Sarangadhara	Actress	Queen Rathnangi	Telugu
1958	Sarangadhara	Actress	Queen Rathnangi	Tamil
1958	Bommai Kalyanam	Actress	Thangam	Tamil
1958	Bommala Pelli	Actress		Telugu
1959	Jayabheri	Actress	Annapoorna	Telugu
1959	Kalaivanan	Actress	Annapoorna	Tamil
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam	Actress	Vakula	Telugu
1960	Vidivelli	Actress	Chandru's Mother	Tamil
1962	Siri Sampadalu	Actress		Telugu
1962	Policekaran Magal	Actress		Tamil
1964	Ramudu Bheemudu	Actress		Telugu
1965	Preminchi Choodu	Actress		Telugu
1967	Prana Mithrulu	Actress	Jagadamba	Telugu
1970	Akka Chellelu	Actress	Mother of Judge Ramachandra Rao	Telugu
1970	Talla Pellamma	Actress		Telugu
1971	Prem Nagar	Actress		Telugu
1971	Pavitra Hrudayalu	Actress		Telugu
1972	Koduku Kodalu	Actress		Telugu
1972	Vasantha Maligai	Actress	Anand and Vijay's mother	Tamil
1975	Piriyavidai	Actress and singer		Tamil
1976	Secretary	Actress		Telugu
1976	Andharu Bagundali[2]	Actress	Janakamma	Telugu
1977	Gadusu Pillodu[3]	Actress	Mother of Sudarshanam	Telugu
1979	Muttaiduva	Actress		Telugu

See also

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

References

1. M. L., Narasimham (26 December 2010). "Mayabazaar (1936)". The Hindu.
2. "Andharu Bagundali (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
3. "Gadusu Pillodu (1977)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

External links

• Santha Kumari at IMDb
• Santha Kumari Profile - Telugu Cinema
• M. L. Narasimham (20 October 2000). "Unforgettable screen mother". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
• Kannil Therivadhu on YouTube - A song scene from Piriyavidai (1975) with Santhakumari acting and singing