Sukumari
Encyclopedia
Sukumari is an India
n film actress who has primarily acted in Malayalam
and Tamil
films. She has been acting since she was 10 years old and has acted in various roles. The total number of her films is presumed to be about two-thousand. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri
by the Government of India
for her contributions towards the arts. And she recently won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
for her role in Namma Gramam (2010).
, Travancore
in 1940. Sukumari is a first cousin of the Travancore Sisters
, Lalitha, Padmini
and Ragini
(their mothers are sisters). She learned dance with the sisters and mastered dance forms like Keralanadanam, Kathakali
and Bharathanatyam. She went for an all-India tour with the sisters. Sukumari was noticed by a director when she went to the sets of a film with Padmini, and she debuted in the lead role in the Tamil
film Orarivu. She was married to director A. Bhimsingh
until he died when she was barely 30. She has acted in various Malayalam films of the black and white age, like Chettathi, Kusruthikkuttan, Kunjali Marakkar, Thacholi Othenan, Yakshi and Karinizhal. She later became popular acting in various films of Priyadarshan
like Poochakkoru Mookkuthi
, Oodarathuammava Aalariyam, Boeing Boeing
and Vandanam
. She was also noticed in various films directed by Balachandra Menon
like Manicheppu Thurannappol and Karyan Nissaram. In later years she played a major role in Nizhalkkuthu (2002) directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
. She has played many notable mother roles. She has acted in films in Malayalam, Tamil
, Kannada, Telugu
and Hindi
, and used her own voice in all languages without using dubbing artists. She is still actively involved in films, TV serials and stage dramas.
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards
Asianet Film Awards
Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Other awards
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film actress who has primarily acted in Malayalam
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
and Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
films. She has been acting since she was 10 years old and has acted in various roles. The total number of her films is presumed to be about two-thousand. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
for her contributions towards the arts. And she recently won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
The National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress winners:...
for her role in Namma Gramam (2010).
Career
She was born in ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
in 1940. Sukumari is a first cousin of the Travancore Sisters
Travancore sisters
Travancore Sisters refers to the trio of Padmini, Lalitha and Ragini who were actors, dancers and performers in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films....
, Lalitha, Padmini
Padmini (actress)
Padmini was an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer who has acted in over 250 Indian films. She has acted in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language films...
and Ragini
Ragini (actress)
Ragini was a South Indian danseuse and actress. She was the youngest of the famed Travancore Sisters: Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini. With sister Padmini, she started her acting career in the mid 1950s and has acted in movies of different Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu...
(their mothers are sisters). She learned dance with the sisters and mastered dance forms like Keralanadanam, Kathakali
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
and Bharathanatyam. She went for an all-India tour with the sisters. Sukumari was noticed by a director when she went to the sets of a film with Padmini, and she debuted in the lead role in the Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film Orarivu. She was married to director A. Bhimsingh
A. Bhimsingh
A. Bhimsingh or Bhim Singh was a film maker, producer, editor and writer . He was born on October 15, 1924. His film career started as an assistant editor with the film making duo Krishnan-Panju, in the late 1940s. His directorial debut was with Ammaiyappan , he directed several movies thereafter....
until he died when she was barely 30. She has acted in various Malayalam films of the black and white age, like Chettathi, Kusruthikkuttan, Kunjali Marakkar, Thacholi Othenan, Yakshi and Karinizhal. She later became popular acting in various films of Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...
like Poochakkoru Mookkuthi
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi is a 1984 screwball comedy Malayalam film written and directed by Priyadarshan, with the story adapted from Charles Dickens's play The Strange Gentleman. The film features an ensemble cast featuring Mohanlal, Shankar, Menaka, M G Soman, Nedumudi Venu, C.I...
, Oodarathuammava Aalariyam, Boeing Boeing
Boeing Boeing (1985 film)
Boeing Boeing is a 1985 Malayalam film directed by Priyadarshan, a film adaptation based on the 1960 French play Boeing-Boeing. The story follows Shyam who tries dating more than one air hostess with the help of his friend Anilkumar...
and Vandanam
Vandanam
Vandanam is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Priyadarshan. The film stars Mohanlal, Mukesh, Girija Shettar, Nedumudi Venu, M.G. Soman, Jagadish, Sukumari, Ganesh Kumar, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Cochin Haneefa. This was the follow-up film of Priyadarshan and producer P. K. R...
. She was also noticed in various films directed by Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon is an Indian film actor, director, script writer, lyricist, and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He made some popular films in the 1980s and 1990s...
like Manicheppu Thurannappol and Karyan Nissaram. In later years she played a major role in Nizhalkkuthu (2002) directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...
. She has played many notable mother roles. She has acted in films in Malayalam, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Kannada, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, and used her own voice in all languages without using dubbing artists. She is still actively involved in films, TV serials and stage dramas.
Awards
Civilian Awards- Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
- 2003
National Film Awards
- Best Supporting ActressNational Film Award for Best Supporting ActressThe National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress winners:...
- 2011 - Namma Graamam
Kerala State Film Awards
- Second Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Second Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- 1974 - Various films - Second Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Second Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- 1979 - Various films - Second Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Second Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- 1983 - Koodevide, Kariyam Nissaram - Second Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Second Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- 1985 - Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil (directed by PadmarajanPadmarajanP. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...
)
Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...
- 2005: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South)Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South)The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South ceremonies.Here is the list of the award winners.-See also:* Filmfare Awards South* Tamil cinema* Cinema of Andhra Pradesh...
Asianet Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
The Asianet Film Awards is the most prominent award ceremony for Malayalam films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence in the Malayalam...
- 2005: Lifetime Achievement Award
Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
- 1979: Ezhu Nirangal (directed by I. V. SasiI. V. SasiIrruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...
) - 1982: Chiriyo Chiri
- 1985: Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil
Other awards
- 2011: Bahadoor Award
- 2011: Chalachitra Pratibha by Kerala Film Critics Association
- 2002: Special honour at Gurupooja, Soorya Festival for lifetime achievement
- Chalachithra Ratnam by Kerala Film Critics Association
- Abhinaya Bharathi by Kalakairali, ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...