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.
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 classmate of 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.[2]
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.
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
January 06, 2023
santha, kumari, malayalam, film, actress, santhakumari, malayalam, actress, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, s. For the Malayalam film actress see Santhakumari Malayalam actress This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Santha Kumari news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 KumariShanthakumari 1949 BornVellala Subbamma17 May 1920Proddatur Kadapa District Andhra Pradesh IndiaDied16 January 2006 aged 85 OccupationActressYears active1936 1979SpouseP Pullayya Contents 1 Early years 2 Film career 3 Awards and recognition 4 Filmography 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly years EditVellaala 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 classmate of 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 EditP 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 2 Awards and recognition EditFor her contributions to Telugu Cinema Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1998 Filmography EditThis is partial filmography of Santha Kumari Kindly help expanding it Year Film Language Credits Character1936 Sasirekha Parinayam Telugu Actress Sasirekha1937 Sarangadhara Telugu Actress and playback singer Chitrangi1938 Bhakta Jayadeva Telugu Actress1939 Balaji Telugu Actress and playback singer Consort of Venkateswara1941 Dharmapatni Telugu Actress and playback singerParvati Kalyanam Telugu Actress1943 Krishna Prema Telugu Actress and playback singer Radha1945 Mayalokam Telugu Actress and playback singer1948 Bhaktha Jana Tamil Actress1949 Gunasundari Katha Telugu Actress Rupasundari1950 Shavukaru Telugu Actress and playback singer Santhi1952 Dharmadevata Telugu Actress Kathyayini1952 Daasi Telugu Actress Parvathamma1953 Velaikari Magal Tamil Actress Parvathamma1953 Ponni Tamil Actress1955 Ardhangi Telugu Actress and playback singer1955 Pennin Perumai Tamil Actress1957 Sarangadhara Telugu Actress Queen Rathnangi1958 Sarangadhara Tamil Actress Queen Rathnangi1958 Bommai Kalyanam Tamil Actress Thangam1958 Bommala Pelli Telugu Actress1959 Jayabheri Telugu Actress Annapoorna1959 Kalaivanan Tamil Actress Annapoorna1960 Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam Telugu Actress Vakula1960 Vidivelli Tamil Actress Chandru s Mother1962 Siri Sampadalu Telugu Actress1962 Policekaran Magal Tamil Actress1964 Ramudu Bheemudu Telugu Actress1965 Preminchi Choodu Telugu Actress1967 Prana Mithrulu Telugu Actress Jagadamba1970 Akka Chellelu Telugu Actress Mother of Judge Ramachandra Rao1970 Talla Pellamma Telugu Actress1971 Prem Nagar Telugu Actress1971 Pavitra Hrudayalu Telugu Actress1972 Koduku Kodalu Telugu Actress1972 Vasantha Maligai Tamil Actress Anand and Vijay s mother1975 Piriyavidai Tamil Actress and singer1976 Secretary Telugu Actress1979 Muttaiduva Telugu ActressSee also EditRaghupathi Venkaiah AwardReferences Edit M L Narasimham 26 December 2010 Mayabazaar 1936 The Hindu Find Tamil Actress P Santha Kumari Videos P Santha Kumari Movies P Santha Kumari Pictures and Filmography Jointscene comExternal links EditSantha 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Santha Kumari amp oldid 1125391074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
