Philomina

Philomina (1926 – 2 January 2006) was an Indian actress, who worked in the Malayalam film industry. She acted in more than 750 films in her career. She played mostly character and comedy roles, besides that of mother and grandmother. She started acting on the stage. This experience stood her in good stead when she was offered her first film role. The character of Anappara Achamma in the 1991 film Godfather, portrayed by her is acknowledged to be one of the most powerful roles ever in Malayalam cinema.

Early life Philomina entered the film industry with eight years of experience in professional drama, she worked with the drama troupe of P. J. Antony. She used to say it was her initial experience with an actor like Antony that helped shape her film career.

Her parents were perturbed when she had to travel to Chennai for the first shoot. It was Moidu Padiyathu who convinced her parents. Her first movie, Kuttikkuppayam (1964), produced by T. E. Vasudevan and directed by M. Krishnan Nair was a big hit. Philomina played the role of Prem Nazir's mother, a Muslim character.

Personal life

She was born to Devassia and Mariam in 1926 at Mullurkara in Thrissur. She had her primary education from Valapad GVHS School.

Her father died when she was 12. She used to sing at church choir. When her father died she started singing for dramas to make a living. Later she started acting in dramas and then moved to movies.

She married Antony, a theater artist, in 1956, but lost her husband when her only son Joseph was three years old.

Film career Philomina won her first State award, for the best supporting actress, in 1970 for her roles in films Thurakkathavaathil and Olavum Theeravum. In 1987, she received the award for the second time for Thaniyavarthanam.

Somewhere during this time, there was a short break in her career. She came back in the films of Bharathan and Padmarajan. Her roles in films like Chatta, Innale, Njan Gandharvan, Venkalam, Churam, Vietnam Colony, Kudumbapuranam, Godfather, Uppukandam Brothers, Thalayana Manthram and Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal would also be remembered for long time.

It was Sathyan Anthikkad who first cast Philomina in a comic role. The film Madanmaar Londonil, gave this talented actress a new image. Her roles in films like Malayogam, Kireedam, Uncle Bun, Manathe Kottaram, Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka and In Harihar Nagar.

In a career spanning over four decades Philomina starred in 750 films and numerous television serials. She was last seen in Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum.

Later life Philomina was living in a small, well done-up apartment in Kochi till she moved to her son's place in Chennai a couple of years before her death. She was a chronic diabetic and suffered stroke in 2005. She was getting insulin shots for her diabetic condition. She was bed-ridden for over a month before she died at her son- Joseph's residence in Chennai due to diabetes related problems on 2 January 2006, aged 79.

Awards Kerala State Film Awards: Second Best Actress – 1970 – Thurakkatha Vathil, Olavum Theeravum Second Best Actress – 1987 – Thaniyavarthanam Kerala Film Critics Award:

Best Second Actress - 1991 - Godfather

Filmography 1960s Year Title Role Notes 1964 Kuttikkuppayam Kunjipathumma Kalyana Photo Chechamma Ore Bhoomi Ore Raktham Aadyakiranangal Annamma 1965 Thankakudam Kunjaathumma Chemmeen Subaidha Raziya Kattupookkal Thaiyamma 1966 Kalithozhan Venu's mother Pattuthoovaala Maali Anarkali Anarkali's mother Kalyanarathriyil Madhaviyamma Thilothama Vasundhara Manikyakottaram 1967 Iruttinte Athmavu Meenakshiyamma

1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Ambalapravu Kamalam Sthree Dakshayani Priya Palunku Pathram Olavum Theeravum Nabisa's mother Aranazhika Neram Saramma Abhayam Sr. Briggitte Vazhve Mayam Parukutty Thurakkatha Vathil Beevathumma 1971 Thapaswini Ummachu Navavadhu Bharathi Thettu Eali Aabhijathyam Kunjannamma Anubhavangal Paalichakal Parvathi's Mother Sindooracheppu Pithachu Inqulab Zindabbad Narayani Kuttyedathi Narayani Muthassi Madhavikutty Makane Ninakku Vendi Achamma Marunnattil Oru Malayali Kariachan's wife 1972 Devi Pulliman Oru Kanyasthriyude Katha Sathi Sakthi Preethi Postmane Kananilla Manthrakodi Grandmother Omana Eliyamma Koshi Snehadeepame Mizhi Thurakku Savithri Antharjanam Theerthayathra Neighbour's mother Aaradimanninte Janmi Vishalakshi Amma Iniyoru Janmam Tharu Kunjithalla Lakshyam Umma Achanum Bappayum Fathima Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile 1973 Police Ariyaruthe Witness Dharmayudham Narayani Raakuyil Kunjamma Achani Mariamma Panitheeratha Veedu Jose's mother Kaliyugam Janu's mother Udayam Ikkavamma Maram Ayisha Aaradhika Paaruammayi Bhadradeepam Rajani's Mother Ladies Hostel Annamma Kaapalika Eali Padmavyooham Raheal 1974 Mister Sundari Nagaram Sagaram Rahasyarathri Gouri Thacholi Marumakan Chandu Nanga Arakkallan Mukkalkkallan Valli College Girl Prof. Parukuttiyamma Chattakkari Aunty Poonthenaruvi Achaamma 1975 Sathyathinte Nizhalil Palazhi Madanam Pulivalu Aranya Kandam Thaamarathoni Ayodhya Chattambikkalyaani Pathumma Beegam Thiruvonam Servant 1976 Themmadi Velappan Aliyar's umma 1977 Sneha Yamuna Mohavum Mukthiyum Varadakshina Sneham Chathurvedam Madhavi Nirakudam Naniyamma Yatheem Amina Sankhupushpam Naaniyamma Hridayame Sakshi Narayanan's mother 1978 Seemanthini Lisa Deviyamma Jayikkaanaay Janichavan Kalyani's aunt Ithaanente Vazhi Beevi Umma Ee Manohara Theeram Amminiyamma Kudumbam Namukku Sreekovil Lakshmiyamma Padmatheertham Amina Vayanadan Thamban Annamma's mother 1979 Kallu Karthyayani Aval Niraparadhi Mani Koya Kurup Sugathinu Pinnale Parvathi Pambaram Thankamma Kazhukan Pimp Vasu's wife Puthiya Velicham Althara Amma

1980s Year Title Role Notes 1980 Oormakale Vida Tharu Naayattu Pathumma Pavizha Mutthu Kaaliyamma 1981 Anyar Chaatta Velu's mother Abhinayam Bharghavi 1983 Sandhya Mayangum Neram Achankunju's mother Aa Raathri Abdu's mother Mandanmar Londonil Narayani Sandhya Vandanam Paru Amma Naseema Naseema's mother Pallamkuzhi Saradha Mansoru Maha Samudram Renuka's mother 1984 Pyasa Shaitan Manasariyathe Sankaran's mother Ivide Ingane Raju's mother Mangalam Nerunnu Meenakshiyamma Unaroo Mamma Ethirppukal Bharathiyamma NH 47 Sudhakaran's mother 1985 Manya Mahajanangale Ayisha Njan Piranna Nattil Naaniyamma Janakeeya Kodathi Gopi's mother Ambada Njaane! Devayani's grandmother Ee Lokam Evide Kure Manushyar Rosi Vellarikka Pattanam Sofiya's aunt Kathodu Kathoram Old woman 1986 Chekkeranoru Chilla Paru Ice Cream Mother Rareeram Sister Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil Gourikutti's mother 1987 Yagagni Thaniyavarthanam Balan's grandmother 1988 Sangham Rappayi's wife Dhinarathrangal Aravindan's mother Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal Old beggar lady Kudumbapuranam Kunjamma Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu Bhaskaran's mother Oru Muthassi Katha Unnili Muthassi Pattanapravesham Prabhakaran Thampi's mother 1989 Jaithra Yathra Sister Mahayanam Janamma Artham House Owner Innale Rahelamma Mazhavilkavadi Velayudhankutty's grandmother Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam Inmate of the old age home Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal Matriarch of Kavumpattu Pradeshika Varthakal Naniyammma Kireedam Muthassi Ulsavapittennu Muthassi

1990s Year Title Role Notes 1990 Thalayana Manthram Paruammayi Sankarankuttikku Pennu Venam Chodyam Champion Thomas Purappadu Innale Rahelamma Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu Swamini Kalikkalam Janakiyamma Dr. Pasupathy Kunjulakshmi Gajakesariyogam Philipose's mother In Harihar Nagar Maya's grandmother Kouthuka Varthakal Rosemary's grandmother Malayogom Mary Orukkam Paramu's mother Sasneham Eenashu's mother Kshanakkathu Maid Pavakkoothu Nurse Vidhyarambam Madhavi 1991 Aakasha Kottayile Sultan Pappy's Sister Innathe Program Bhargavikutty Amma Mimics Parade Thandamma Ezhunnallathu House owner Kankettu Sridevi's grandmother Kalari Janaki Valiyamma Amina Tailors Khadeeja God Father Anappara Achamma Mookilla Rajyathu Insane Lady Sundhari Kakka Mariya Njan Gandharvan Bhama's grandmother Parallel College Rahelamma Pookkalam Varavayi Akkamma Souhrudam Kathrina Ulladakkam Hospital Attendant Uncle Bun Gloria Therathi Ennum Nanmakal Dr. Aniruddan's mother 1992 Vaalkkandi Vietnam Colony Suhra Bai Kasargod Khader Bhai Thandamma Ente Ponnu Thampuran Meerabhai Kunukkitta Kozhi Indu's grandmother My Dear Muthachan Kunjamma Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam Ravi's grandmother Ponnaram Thottathe Rajavu Nani Thalla Snehasagaram Josekutty's mother Neelakurukkan Kunjanamma Congratulations Miss Anitha Menon Kalyaniyamma 1993 Sthreedhanam Vanaja's grandmother Vardhakya Puranam Odanavattom Omana Kulapathy Vellachi Koushalam Mariya Bhaagyavaan Janu Pravachakan Baalu's grandmother Venkalam Grandmother O' Faby Mary Uppukandam Brothers Kunjanamma Chenkol Muthassi Archive footage from Kireedam 1994 Kadalkkaakka Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka Margerett Bharya Hari's grandmother Kadal Martha Manathe Kottaram Dilip's mother Vardhakya Puranam Othanaavattam Omana Chakoram Amminiyamma Kambolam Alphonsa Nandini Oppol Amminikutty Amma Moonnam Loka Pattalam Muthassi Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu Mariamma 1995 Avittam Thirunaal Aarogya Sriman Kousalya's mother Keerthanam Ammachi Thumboli Kadappuram Chanchamma Kalyanji Anandji Chettathi Samudhayam Annamma Kusruthikaatu Treesa's mother in law 1996 Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum Rajappan's mother Kavadam April 19 Jayaprakash's relative Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan Excuse Me Ehtu Collegilla Mariamma Kireedamillatha Rajakkanmaar Saramma Malayaalamaasam Chingam Onninu Aunty Vanarasena Narayani 1997 Manthra Mothiram Jose's mother Churam Thalla Vamsam Rahel Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu Jose's grandmother 1998 Achaammakkuttiyude Achaayan Anthony's mother Kusruthi Kuruppu Noorjahan's umma Amma Ammaayiyamma Narayani Amma 1999 Mimics Ghost James Bond Aliammachedathi American Ammayi Nani Amma Charlie Chaplin House owner aunty Bharya Veettil Paramasukham Bhargavi

2000s Year Film Role Notes 2000 Mister Butler Radhika's grandmother The Warrant Ee Mazha Then Mazha Rekha's grandmother Rapid Action Force Anamuttathe Aangalamar Dakshayiniyamma 2001 The Gift of God Onnam Ragam Jackson's mother Ladies and Gentlemen Bar owner Korappan The Great American Achayathi 2002 Grandmother 2003 Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum Muthu's Grandmother 2004 The Journey 2007 Raakilipattu Cameo 2008 Twenty:20 Cameo (Archive footage) 2009 2 Harihar Nagar Maya's grandmother Archive footage 2010 Again Kasargod Khader Bhai Thandamma Archive footage 2011 Uppukandam Brothers: Back in Action Kunjannamma Archive footage 2014 Tharangal Herself Photo only

TV Serial Sthree Janakaeeyam Janaki Shankupushpam Thamarakkuzhali Punnakka Vikasana Corporation Kudumba Visheyshangal

Drama Pooja Sagara Rajakumari - radio drama

As a singer Achamakuttiyude Achayan 1998 "Kunjiyammakku Anchu Makkalane" (Adukkala Rahasyam Angadi Paattu) 1997 "Muthani Munthiri" (Pookkalam Varavayi) 1991