Adoor Pankajam

Adoor Pankajam (1925 – 26 June 2010) was an Indian actress, in Malayalam movies. She hailed from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state. Mainly, she was a supporting actress and a comedian. Her sister Adoor Bhavani was also a Malayalam cinema actress.

Pankajam's most noted performance was in the national award winning film Chemmeen as "Nalla Pennu". She also did a pivotal role in India's first neo-realistic film Newspaper Boy (1955). In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.

She died at the age of 85 on 26 June 2010.

Personal life

Adoor Pankajam was born to Adoor Paarappurathu Kunjuraman Pillai and Kunjoonjamma in 1925 and was the second child of 8 children. Her sister Adoor Bhavani also became famous later through plays and movies.

She could only study till 4th standard due to financial difficulties. But still she continued her music studies under Pandalam Krishnapillai Bhagavathar till the age of 11. By this time, she had done musical kacheri in most of the temples around her village.

At 12, she started acting in Kannur Kerala Kalanilayam troupe against the will of her parents. She acted in their play Madhumadhurayam on over 300 stages. Her next play was Rakthabhandham by a theater in Chengannoor. In this play, she did a comic role which was widely accepted.

She met Devarajan Potti, the owner of Kollam Bharatha Kalachandrika while she was working with this troupe and later married him. Potti later started another troupe called Parthasarathy Theaters and during her tenure with this troupe, she got an invitation to act in movies.

She has a son named Ajayan, who is a cinema/TV serial actor.

Career

She started her acting career with the stage play Madhu Madhuryam by Kalanilayam Theaters. Her first movie was Premalekhanam, produced by Pappa Soman. But her first movie which got released was Vishappinte Vila, directed by Boban Kunchacko. Her last movie was the Dileep-starrer Kunjikoonan. She has acted in over 400 films during her career.

In 1976, she and her sister Adoor Bhavani started a Theater troupe called Adoor Jaya Theaters. But later the sisters got split up and Bhavani left the Theater. Pankajam went on with the theater with her husband Devarajan Potti and she kept the Theater active for over 18 years.

In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama. She has also received the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in the movie Sabarimala Ayyappan.

Filmography

1950s Year Title Role Notes 1952 Achan Pankajam Premalekha Devaki Vishappinte Vili Madhavi 1953 Ponkathir Janu Sheriyo Thetto Paru 1954 Balyasakhi Gouri Avakashi Sheelavathi Avan Varunnu Madhaviyamma 1955 CID Panki Kidappadam Rishakkaran's wife Harishchandra Kalakanta's wife Newspaper Boy Lakshmi Amma 1956 Avar Unarunnu Nani Manthravadi Mayavathi Koodappirappu 1957 Deva Sundari Padatha Painkili Theyi Minnunnathellam Ponnalla Kalyani 1958 Randidangazhi 1959 Chathurangam Nadodikal Janu

1960s Year Title Role Notes 1961 Sabarimala Ayyappan Parvathi Christmas Rathri Mariya Jnaanasundari Kathri Bhakta Kuchela Kamakshi 1962 Sreerama Pattabhishekam Mandara Bharya Rahel Kannum Karalum Parukuttiyamma Kaalpadukal Bhagyajathakam Servant Snehadeepam Kochu Narayani/Naani 1963 Susheela Nithyakanyaka Kadalamma Kaliyamma Kalayum Kaminiyum Panki Doctor Thankamma Sathyabhama Harini Snapaka Yohannan Rahael Chilamboli Parijatham 1964 Kalaju Kittiya Thankam Pankajam Bharthavu Seetha Anna Manavatti Kalyani Karutha Kai Maheswari Omanakuttan Pankajakshi Atom Bomb Kalyanikutty Aayisha Beeyathu Adyakiranagal Kunjeli 1965 Shakuntala Kattuppokkal Sharada Kattuthulasi Kamalamma Kochumon Maathu Odayil Ninnu Sara Devatha Pankajakshiyamma Inapravukal Mariya Kadathukaran Naaniyamma Muthalali Thommante Makkal Marykutty's mother 1966 Chemmeen Nalla Pennu Jail Shankari 1967 Ollathumathi Kavalam Chundan Mainatharuvi Kolacase Orotha 1968 Thirichadi Ammukutti Ragini Kodugalooramma Konkimaami Punnapra Vayalar PK Vilasiniyamma 1969 Kumara Sambhavam Vasumathi Jwala Panki Koottukudumbam Shankari Soosi Achamma Urangatha Sundari Madhavi

1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Pearl View Rathi Madhavan Ningalenne Communistakki Kamalamma Thara Hostel Warden Othenante Makan Uppatti Dathuputhran Achamma 1971 Agnimrigam Karthyayini Panchavan Kaadu Nangeli Karakanakadal Thoma's mother Bobanum Moliyum Lora Nee Evide 1972 Sree Guruvayoorappan Oru Sundariyude Kadha Paachiyakka Gandharavakshetram Lilly Postmane Kananilla Prathikaram Kamalam Aromalunni Nanipennu Adyathe Kadha 1973 Enippadikal Thottavadi Kamalamma Chayam Panitheeratha Veedu Rosi Yamini Dakshyayani Pavangal Pennungal Thenaruvi Kotha Ponnapuram Kotta Kochukumma Swargaputhri Mariyakutty Rakkuyil Madhavi 1974 Thumbolarcha Ponni Durga Yashodha Youvanam Rajan's girlfriend Devi Kanyakumari Kamalakshi Vandikkari 1975 Cheenavala Karthyayani Swarnamalsyam Priyamulla Sophia Dharma Kshethra Kurukshethra Manishada Sathyabhama Nathoon Neela Sari Neela Ponman Akkomma 1976 Yakshaganam Naaniyamma Mallanum Mathevanum Chennay Valarthiya Kutti Padmakshi 1977 Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana Kalyani Kannappanunni Kamakshi Kodiyettam Pankajakshi Choondakkari 1978 Vadakakkoru Hridayam Karthyayani Padakuthira Aaru Mankikkoor Kadathanattu Makkam Chakrayudam 1979 Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Kunjikkaliyamma Rajaveedhi

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Theekadal Karthyayani Ammayum Makalum Brahannala Paalattu Kunjikannan 1981 Vaadaka Veettile Athidhi Arikkari Ammu 1987 Anantaram Lakshmi Amma 1988 Oohakachavadam Kandathum Kettathum 1989 Aattinakkare Najangalude Kochu Doctor Nurse Swagatham Mrs. Pillai

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Lal Salam Aye Auto Pankachi 1991 Neelagiri Muthiyamma Maydinam Mariya Perumthachan Unnimya Valiyamma 1992 Kudumbasametham Aham Mariyamma 1993 Varam Tharum Vadivelan Devi Tamil film 1995 Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka Kusumavalli Alanchery Thambrakkal Kettilamma Arabikadaloram Hassan's mother Kathapurushan Thumbolikadappuram Kakkamma Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu Mariyamma Three Men Army Indira Devi's mother 1996 Mayooranritham Bhavaniyamma Harbour Plamena Ammachi 1997 Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu Karimeli 1998 Thattakam Meenakshi Thalla Kudumba Vaarthakal Meera's mother

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2001 Soothradharan Rameshan's grandmother Snehapoorvam Anna 2002 Kunjikoonan Adheena 2003 Margam 2004 Snehapoorvam 2006 Ammathottil

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2014 Tharangal Archive footage

Dramas Parithranayam Pamsula Homam Rangapooja Paashupathrasthram Madhumadhurayam Rakthabhandham Kalyanachitti

TV Serial Parinamam