Suryakantham (actress)

Indian actress

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Suryakantham

Suryakantham in the 1954 film Chakrapani

Born|

Suryakantham

(1924-10-28)28 October 1924

Kakinada, East Godavari District, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)[citation needed]

Died| 18 December 1994(1994-12-18) (aged 70)
Alma mater| Padmavathi Mahila University, A. P.
Occupation| Film actor
Spouse| Peddibhotla Chalapathi Rao

Suryakantham (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was an Indian actress in Tollywood. She was popular for playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law in most of her movies.

## Early life[edit]

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.[citation needed] 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[edit]

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[edit]

### Awards[edit]

* Mahanati Savitri Memorial Award
* Honorary Doctorate Padmavati Mahila University

### Titles[edit]

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

## Filmography[edit]

This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2014)

|

Year  | Film  | Language  | Character

|
|
|

1946  | Narada Naradi | Telugu |
1949  | Dharmangada | Telugu  |
1950  | Samsaram | Telugu  | Venkamma
1952  | Daasi | Telugu  | Dr. Sarala
Kalyanam Panni Paar | Tamil |
Pelli Chesi Choodu | Telugu  | Chukkalamma
Prema | Telugu  | Chimlli
1953  | Velaikari Magal | Tamil  |
Ammalakkalu | Telugu  | Seshamma
Paredesi | Telugu  |
Poongothai | Tamil  |
Bratuku Teruvu | Telugu  | Kotamma
1954  | Chakrapani | Telugu  | Manorama
Chandraharam | Telugu  |
1955  | Donga Ramudu | Telugu  |
Kanyasulkam | Telugu  | Meenakshi
1956  | Chiranjeevulu | Telugu  | Akhilandamma
Charana Daasi | Telugu  | Seshamma
Ilavelpu | Telugu  |
Penki Pellam | Telugu  |
1957  | Bhagya Rekha | Telugu  |
Dongallo Dora | Telugu  |
Mayabazar | Telugu  | Hidimbi
Todi Kodallu | Telugu  | Anasuya
1958  | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Telugu  | Rajaratnam
Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu | Telugu  |
Mangalya Balam | Telugu  |
1959  | Jayabheri | Telugu  | Ratnalu
Krishna Leelalu | Telugu  |
1960  | Santinivasam | Telugu  |
1961  | Velugu Needalu | Telugu  | Kanaka Durgamma[1]
Bharya Bhartalu | Telugu  |
Pelli Kani Pillalu | Telugu  |
Iddaru Mitrulu | Telugu  |
Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham | Telugu  |
Sabash Raja | Telugu  |
Vagdanam | Telugu  | Baalamani
1962  | Atma Bandhuvu | Telugu  | Widowed daughter
Bhishma | Telugu  |
Gundamma Katha | Telugu  | Gundamma
Kula Gotralu | Telugu  |
Manchi Manasulu | Telugu  |
Mohini Rugmangada | Telugu  |
Rakhta Sambandham | Telugu  |
Siri Sampadalu | Telugu  |
1963  | Chaduvukunna Ammayilu | Telugu  | Vardhanam
Lava Kusa | Telugu  |
Mooga Manasulu | Telugu  |
Nartanasala | Telugu  |
Paruvu Pratishta | Telugu  |
Eedu Jodu | Telugu  | Rangamma
Punarjanma | Telugu  |
Tirupatamma Katha | Telugu  |
1964  | Doctor Chakravarthy | Telugu  |
Murali Krishna | Telugu  |
Ramudu Bhimudu | Telugu  |
1965  | Aatma Gowravam | Telugu  | Santhana Lakshmi
1966  | Kanne Manasulu | Telugu  |
Navaratri | Telugu  |
Zamindar | Telugu  |
Paduka Pattabhishekam[2] | Telugu  | Manthara |
Aastiparulu | Telugu  | Kaasulamma  |
1967  | Ummadi kutumbam | Telugu |
Gruhalakshmi | Telugu  |
Poola Rangadu | Telugu  |
1968  | Ninne Pelladita | Telugu  |
Govula Gopanna | Telugu  | Mahalakshmi
Vintha Kapuram[3] | Telugu  | Rambanamma
Tikka Sankarayya | Telugu  | Kanthamma
1969  | Sri Rama Katha[4] | Telugu  | Charusheela, wife of Pragalbhacharyulu
Aatmiyulu | Telugu  | Mahankali
Muhurtha Balam[5] | Telugu  | Shantamma
Buddhimantudu | Telugu  |
Bhale Rangadu | Telugu  |
1970  | Balaraju Katha | Telugu  |
Vidhi Vilasam[6] | Telugu  | Thirupathi's wife Parapathi
Thaali Bottu | Telugu  |
1971  | Dasara Bullodu | Telugu  | ANR's Adopted Mother
Srimantudu | Telugu  |
Atthalu Kodallu[7] | Telugu  | Sundaramma
Manasu Mangalyam | Telugu  |
1972  | Illu Illalu | Telugu  | Raja Babu's Mother in law – Surammatta
Anta Mana Manchike [8] | Telugu  | Leela Rao
Iddaru Ammayilu | Telugu  | Sundaramma
Kalam Marindi | Telugu  |
Koduku Kodalu | Telugu  |
Vichitra Bandham | Telugu  | Kantam
1973  | Andala Ramudu | Telugu  | Samalamma
Ganga Manga | Telugu  | Durgamma
Meena[9] | Telugu  | Meena's caretaker and Krishnaveni's aunt
1975  | Mutyala Muggu | Telugu  | Contractor's wife
Pooja | Telugu  |
1976  | Padi Pantalu[10] | Telugu  | Kanthamma, wife of Seshayya
Secretary | Telugu  |
Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club | Telugu  |
1977  | Ardhangi | Telugu  |
Andame Anandam | Telugu  |
Yamagola | Telugu  | Seetamma
1978  | Goranta Deepam | Telugu  |
1979  | Oka Challani Rathri[11] | Telugu  | Kamakshi
Karthika Deepam | Telugu  |
1980  | Buchchi Babu | Telugu  |
Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam[12] | Telugu  | Bhadramma
Gayyali Gangamma | Telugu  | Gangamma
1981  | Prema Mandiram | Telugu  |
1982  | Pelleedu Pillalu | Telugu  |
Kalavari Samsaram | Telugu  |
Bangaru Bhoomi[13] | Telugu  | Suramma
1983  | Pelli Choopulu | Telugu  |
Mundadugu | Telugu  |
Konte Kodallu | Telugu  | Varalamma
Lanke Bindelu[14] | Telugu  |
1985  | America Alludu | Telugu  |
Surya Chandra | Telugu  |
Pattabhishekam | Telugu  |
Rakta Sindhuram | Telugu  |
Bullet | Telugu  |
Palnati Simham[15] | Telugu  | Parvathamma
Surya Chandra | Telugu  |
1986  | Ugra Narasimham | Telugu  |
Chanakya Sapadham[16] | Telugu  | Durgamma
1987  | Gundammagari Krishnulu | Telugu  |
1988  | Yamudiki Mogudu | Telugu  | Kali's grandmother
1989  | Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagrata | Telugu  | Sundaramma
Hai Hai Nayaka | Telugu  | Suryakanthamma
1990  | Idem Pellam Baboi | Telugu  |
1993  | Ratha Sarathi | Telugu  | Gundamma
One by Two | Telugu  | Srikanth's grandmother
Govinda Govinda | Telugu  |
1994  | Anna | Telugu  |
S. P. Parasuram | Telugu  | Lakshmikantham  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ Narasimham, M.L. (13 May 2015). "Velugu Needalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
2. ^ Paduka Pattabhishekam Telugu Full Movie | Kanta Rao | Krishna Kumari | Old Telugu Full Length Movies, retrieved 10 January 2024
3. ^ "Vintha Kapuram Movie Cast".
4. ^ "Sri Rama Katha (1969)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
5. ^ "Muhurtha Balam Cast and Crew".
6. ^ "Vidhi Vilasam (1970)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
7. ^ "Athalu Kodallu (1971)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
8. ^ Anta Mana Manchike (1972) - IMDb, retrieved 28 July 2021
9. ^ "Meena (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
10. ^ "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
11. ^ "Oka Challani Rathri (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
12. ^ "Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam (1980)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
13. ^ "Bangaru Bhoomi (1982)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
14. ^ "Lanke Bindelu (1983)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
15. ^ "Palnati Simham (1985)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
16. ^ "Chanakya Sapadam (1986)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 20 January 2024.

## External links[edit]

* Suryakantham at IMDb