Surabhi Kamalabai Explained

Surabhi Kamalabai (1913–1977) was an Indian actress who worked in Telugu theatre and Telugu cinema. She has the distinction of being the first Telugu actress in a talkie film with Bhakta Prahlada (1932), directed by H. M. Reddy. She played the role of Leelavathi, the wife of Hiranyakasipa.^[1] Since then she acted in about 30 films, including Savitri (1933), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Malliswari (1951), Illarikam (1959) and Velugu Needalu (1961).^[2]

She belongs to the well esteemed Surabhi drama company, in which drama is not only a livelihood but a profession and an art form. There were about 50 drama families during the 1920s to 1950s in Andhra Pradesh. They toured different places, stayed for some time and gave a series of programmes in the nearby towns.^[3]

Filmography

Bhakta Prahlada (1931) as Leelavathi (debut)
Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam (1932) as Goddess Seetha
Shakuntala (1932/I) as Shakuntala
Pruthvi Putra (1933)
Savithri (1933)
Shaher Ka Jadoo (1934) as Laila
Be Kharab Jan (1936)
Do Diwane (1936)
Draupadi Manasamrakshanam (1936)
Bhakta Jayadeva (1938)
Tukaram (1938)
Bhookailas (1940) as Vishnu Maya
Patni (1942)^[4]
Keelugurram (1949)
Malliswari (1951)
Patala Bhairavi (1951)
Mangala (1951)
Kathal (1952)
Manavati (1952)
Rohini (1953)
Devadasu (1953)
Vayyari Bhama (1953)
Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1958)
Mangalya Balam (1958)
Jayabheri (1959)
Illarikam (1959)
Vagdanam (1961) as Bujjamma
Velugu Needalu (1964)

Notes and References

News: Reliving the reel and the real. 19 January 2017. M. L.. Narasimham. The Hindu. 14 June 2019.
Web site: Surabhi Kamalabai. .
Web site: Movie memories. https://web.archive.org/web/20040501142217/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/03/29/stories/2004032901060300.htm. dead. 1 May 2004. 29 March 2004. The Hindu. 1 December 2016.
News: Patni (1942) - Hyderabad . The Hindu . 2011-10-30 . 2016-12-01. Narasimham . M. L. .