Santha Devi Explained

Santha Devi
Birth Name:Damayanthi
Birth Place:Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Death Place:Kozhikode
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1954–2010
Spouse:Balakrishnan (divorced)
Kozhikode Abdul Kader

Damayanthi (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi,[1] was an Indian Malayalam film and stage actress. In a career spanning about sixty years, she acted in more than 1000 plays and about 480 films.

Biography

Santha Devi was born in Kozhikode in a then well known tharavadu called Thottathil in 1927 as the daughter of Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma as the seventh daughter of their 10 children. She did her studies from Sabha school and then B.E.M school.

She made her debut as an actress through a 1954 drama Smarakam written by Vasu Pradeep and directed by Kundanari Appu Nair. She made her cinema debut in Minnaminungu (1957) directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including Moodupadam, Kuttikkuppayam, Kunjalimaraykkar, Iruttinte Athmavu, Sthalathe pradhana payyans and Adwaitham. Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie where she enacted the role of a forlorn grandmother with no one to look after her. Besides movies, she was also active in television serials. Her most memorable roles are from Manasi and Minnukettu.

Santha Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a private hospital in Kozhikode.[2]

Family

She had five brothers and four sisters. All of her brothers were in Air Force and Military services. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard, but the relationship did not last long. He left Santha Devi after the couple had a son.[3] Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer. She has two sons, Suresh Babu and the late Sathyajith.[4]

Awards and honours

Santha Devi is a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1978) and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship (2003).[5] [6] She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Yamanam (1992) directed by Bharath Gopi.[7] She has received the Kerala State award for best Stage actress in 1968 for her role in Kudukkukal. In 1968, she received award from Thrissur Fine Arts Society and in 1973 she received best actress award again. In 1978, her acting in Ithu bhoomiyanu and Inquilabinte makkal fetched her Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Acamedy's award for best actress. She won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays in 1983 for Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam.[8]

In 1992 she got Film critics award again. Santha Devi was awarded Premji award and later in 2005 the lifetime achievement award from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. She won the attimabbe prize also from Karnataka

Filmography (partial)

Malayalam# Sandehi (1954)
  1. Minnaminigu(1957)
  2. Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
  3. Moodupadam (1963)
  4. Kuttikuppayam (1964)
  5. Devalayam (1964)
  6. Murappennu(1965) as Madhaviyamma
  7. Mayor Nair (1966)
  8. Kunjali Marakkar (1967)
  9. Nagarame Nandi (1967)
  10. Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
  11. Ashwamedam (1967) as Lakshmi
  12. Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) as Parukkuttiamma
  13. Mulkireedam (1967)
  14. Kottayam Kolacase (1967)
  15. Aval (1967)
  16. Anaachadanam (1968)
  17. Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968)
  18. Velutha Kathreena (1968)
  19. Ummachu (1971)
  20. Kuttyedathi(1971) as Meenakshi
  21. Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972)
  22. Darshanam (1973)
  23. Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973)
  24. Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974)
  25. Nirmala (1975 film) (1975)
  26. Utharayanam (1975)
  27. Athithi (1975)
  28. Njavalppazhangal (1976)
  29. Yatheem (1977)
  30. Aparadhi (1977) as Madhaviyamma
  31. Padasaram (1978) as Kochukaali
  32. Chuvanna Vithukal (1978)
  33. Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978)
  34. Thenthulli (1979)
  35. Thakara (1979)
  36. Neelathamara (1979)
  37. Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980)
  38. Chakara (1980) as Subhadra
  39. Angadi (1980)
  40. Ashwaradham (1980)
  41. Adhikaram (1980)
  42. Mylanji (1982)
  43. Surumayitta Kannukal (1983)
  44. Maniyara (1983)
  45. Srikrishna Parundu (1984)
  46. Anubandham (1985)
  47. Dheivatheyorthu (1985)
  48. Vellam (1985)
  49. Abhayam Thedi (1986)
  50. Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986)
  51. PC 369 (1987) as Mandara
  52. Nadodikkaattu (1987) as Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance)
  53. Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987)
  54. Rithubetham (1987)
  55. Oohakachavadam (1988)
  56. Dhinarathrangal (1988)
  57. Kanakambarangal (1988) as Sreedevi's mother
  58. Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) as Itti
  59. Padippura (1989)
  60. Chanakyan(1989)
  61. V. I. P. (1989) as Karthyayani
  62. Alicinte Anveshanam (1989)
  63. Naduvazhikal (1989)
  64. Carnivel (1989)
  65. Aye Auto (1990)
  66. Sasneham (1990)
  67. Brahmarakshassu (1990)
  68. Kakkathollayiram (1990)
  69. No 20 Madras Mail (1990)
  70. Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991)
  71. Parallel College (1991)
  72. Adwaitham (1991)
  73. Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991)
  74. Dhanam (1991)
  75. Kamaladalam (1992)
  76. Yamanam (1992)
  77. Magrib (1993)
  78. Agneyam (1993)
  79. Ghoshayathra (1993) as Itheyiumma
  80. Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993)
  81. Naaraayam (1993)
  82. Chukkan (1994) as Gayathri's Mother
  83. Bharanakoodam (1994) as Manju's maid
  84. Ghazal (1994)
  85. Pingami (1994)
  86. Tharavadu (1994)
  87. Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994)
  88. Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994)
  89. Mazhayethum Munbe (1995)
  90. Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995)
  91. Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995)
  92. Sasinas (1995)
  93. Chandha (1995)
  94. No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995)
  95. Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995)
  96. Madamma (1996)
  97. Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996)
  98. Harbour (1996)
  99. Mahathma (1996)
  100. Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997)
  101. Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Valsan's mother
  102. Sisiram (1998)
  103. Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998)
  104. Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998)
  105. Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998)
  106. Priyankari (2000)
  107. Rapid Action Force (2000) as Vasanthakumari's muthassi
  108. Ninneyum Thedi (2001)
  109. Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001)
  110. Neythukaran (2001)
  111. Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002)
  112. (2003)
  113. Ammakkilikkoodu (2003)
  114. Mizhirandilum (2003)
  115. Anyar (2003) as Ummumma
  116. Janakeeyam (2003) as Lakshmiyamma
  117. Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) as Maimuna's mother
  118. Freedom (2004)
  119. Akale (2004) as Typewriting teacher
  120. Maratha Nadu (2004)
  121. Ullam (2005)
  122. Anandabadram (2005)
  123. Nottam (2006) as Jankiyamma
  124. Mamma (2006) - Short film as Mrs. Philipose
  125. Prajapathi (2006)
  126. Vilapagalkkappuram (2008)
  127. Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Janakiyamma
  128. Thalappavu (2008)
  129. Mayabazar(2008)
  130. Koodaram (2009)
  131. Malayali (2009)
  132. Kerala Cafe (2009)
  133. Nandhuni (2010)
  134. Nalla Pattukare (2010)
  135. Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother
  136. Uthrada Ravu - Short film
  137. Kunjipennu (2010) - album
  138. Nurunguvettangal - Short film ... Sr. Margarita
  139. Tharangal (2014) - photo only
Hindi

Television serials (partial)

Dramas (partial)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Manorama Online | Movies | Nostalgia | . 26 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223011/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=12843695&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 . 2 December 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  2. News: Veteran Malayalam actress Shanta Devi dies. 20 November 2010. .bombaynews.net. 20 November 2010. 22 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101122034014/http://www.bombaynews.net/story/709953. dead.
  3. Web site: Mathrubhumi Eves - features, articles,ഒറ്റപ്പെടലിന്റെ വേദനയില്‍ ശാന്താദേവി . 2013-12-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100811014935/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-118715 . 11 August 2010 . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: ശാന്താദേവി വൃദ്ധസദനത്തിന്റെ തണലില്‍ - articles, features - Mathrubhumi Eves . 2013-12-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140119155843/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-121137 . 19 January 2014 . dmy-all .
  5. Web site: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Drama . Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. 26 February 2023.
  6. Web site: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship: Drama. Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. 25 February 2023.
  7. Web site: Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Interview : Natural actor . https://web.archive.org/web/20101123131718/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/06/08/stories/2007060852680300.htm . dead . 2010-11-23 . 2007-06-08 . . 2010-08-23.
  8. Web site: നടി കോഴിക്കോട് ശാന്താദേവി അന്തരിച്ചു. Malayala Manorama. 2010-11-21. 7 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120307181822/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8300195&programId=1073753765&channelId=-1073751706&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=11. dead.