Suryakantham

Sahaja Nata Kala Shiromani

Suryakantham (Telugu: సూర్యకాంతం) (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was a popular Indian actress in Tollywood. She was known for her nasty mother-in-law roles.

Early Life

Suryakantham was born at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. She was the 14th child to her parents, while ten children had died. She learnt dance and singing at a tender age of six.

She married Peddibhotla Chalapathi Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.

Career

Suryakantham started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studio. Thanks to the efforts of Leela Kumari, she got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradhi. But small roles did not satisfy the artiste insider her. She dreamt of going to Bombay (Mumbai) for better opportunities. When Gemini Studio makers failed to provide her roles other than a dancer, she quit her job. But her financial position would not permit her pursue her dream.

Later, she got a good character artist role in the movie Grihapravesam. Though, she got an opportunity to do the heroine’s role in Soudhamini, she did not do it. The heroine chance slipped away from her, when she met with a car accident (in which Suryakantham was hurt in the face). But she consolidated her position by playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law inSamsaram. There was no looking back thereafter. The audience began to abuse her Suryakantham (of course her character).

Once again, the most-wanted “heroine” role tapped her door from Bollywood. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds; and the same was given to her; Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying “I can’t live on the unhappiness of other artists.” Such was the integrity of Suryakantham, as an artist. Kodarikam lifted her to lofty heights. Ace directors of the era, B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantham. They had even produced a movie Gundamma Katha, starring N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao. The entire story would revolve around Suryakantham’s role of Gundamma. Audience all over state wondered at the title. But when the movie released, it became a big hit.She has done great roles in Telugu industry as a mother-in-law character

Awards and Titles

Awards

• Mahanati Savithri Memorial Award

Titles

• Gayyali atta
• Sahaja Nata Kala Shiromani
• Haasya Nata Siromani
• Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
• Rangasthala Siromani
• Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)

Suryakantham Profile

Born	October 28, 1924 East Godavari dist, A.P, India
Died	December 18, 1994 (aged 70)
Occupation	Actress

Suryakantham Movies List

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 Theruvu	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
1957	Bhagya Rekha	Telugu
1957	Dongallo Dora	Telugu
1957	Maya Bazaar	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	Shantinivasam	Telugu
1961	Bharya Bharthalu	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 Gothralu	Telugu
1962	Manchi Manasulu	Telugu
1962	Mohini Rugmangada	Telugu
1962	Raktha Sambandham	Telugu
1962	Siri Sampadalu	Telugu
1963	Chaduvukunna Ammayilu	Telugu	Vardhanam
1963	Lava Kusha	Telugu
1963	Mooga Manasulu	Telugu
1963	Narthanasala	Telugu
1963	Paruvu Prathishta	Telugu
1963	Punarjanma	Telugu
1963	Tirupathamma Katha	Telugu
1964	Dr. Chakravarthy	Telugu
1964	Murali Krishna	Telugu
1964	Velugu Needalu	Telugu	Kanaka Durgamma
1965	Aatma Gowravam	Telugu	Santhana Lakshmi
1966	Kanne Manasulu	Telugu
1966	Navarathri	Telugu
1966	Zamindar	Telugu
1967	Grihalakshmi	Telugu
1967	Poola Rangadu	Telugu
1968	Ninne Pelladita	Telugu
1969	Aatmiyulu	Telugu	Mahankali
1969	Buddhimanthudu	Telugu
1970	Balaraju Katha	Telugu
1971	Dasara Bullodu	Telugu
1971	Shrimanthudu	Telugu
1972	Iddaru Ammayilu	Telugu	Sundaramma
1972	Kalam Marindi	Telugu
1972	Koduku Kodalu	Telugu
1972	Vichitra Bandham	Telugu	Kantham
1973	Andala Ramudu	Telugu	Samalamma
1973	Ganga Manga	Telugu
1975	Muthyala Muggu	Telugu
1975	Pooja	Telugu
1976	Secretary	Telugu
1976	Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club	Telugu
1977	Andame Anandam	Telugu
1977	Yamagola	Telugu	Seetamma
1978	Gorantha Deepam	Telugu
1979	Karthika Deepam	Telugu
1981	Prema Mandiram	Telugu
1982	Pelleedu Pillalu	Telugu
1983	Pelli Choopulu	Telugu
1983	Shri Ranganeethulu	Telugu
1987	Gundammagari Krishnulu	Telugu
1988	Yamudiki Mogudu	Telugu	Kali’s grandmother
1989	Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagratha	Telugu
1989	Hai Hai Nayaka	Telugu	Suryakanthamma
1993	One by Two	Telugu	Srikanth’s Grand ma
1993	Govindha Govindha	Telugu
1994	S.P.Parasuram	Telugu