Shoba

Early life Shoba was born on 23 September 1961, to K. P. Menon and Prema Menonan actress credited by the mononym Prema, in the Malayalam film industry, from 1954 to 1981.

Career In 1966, Shoba made her screen debut in Tamil thriller film Thattungal Thirakkappadum directed by actor J. P. Chandrababu. In the film she was credited as Baby Mahalakshmi where she played the role of Lakshmi opposite actress Savitri, K. R. Vijaya, R. S. Manohar and Chandrababu himself. The following year she made her debut in Malayalam cinema in P. Venu's Udhyogastha, where she was credited as Baby Shoba. The film has been touted as the first "multi-starrer" of Malayalam cinema, with such top actors as Sathyan, Prem Nazir, K. P. Ummer, Padmini, Sharada, Sheela and Rajasree; the huge hit, in a film targeted to all ages, brought Shoba wide attention as a child actor.

In 1978 she was cast as a heroine in Uthrada Rathri, a film directed by Balachandra Menon. She received the Kerala government's Best Actress award for the 1978 films Bandhanam and Ente Neelakaasham. The same year she earned the Best Actress award by Filmfare for the Kannada cinema film Aparichita. In 1979 she received the National Award for Best Actress for the Tamil film Pasi, which was produced by Lalitha, the eldest of the Travancore sisters. She also received the Filmfare Best Actress award for Pasi and received the Second Best Actress award from the Kerala government in 1977 for the film Ormakal Marikkumo.

Death Shobha is alleged to have committed suicide by hanging at the age of 17. She was married to Balu Mahendra when she was only 15 years old. The 1983 Malayalam film Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback directed by K. G. George is loosely based on her life and death.

Filmography

Malayalam films Year Title Role Notes 1965 Jeevithayaathra 1966 Karuna Penmakkal 1967 Ollathumathi Udhyogastha Pareeksha 1968 Kadal Adhyapika Aparadhini 1969 Kuruthikkalam Veettumrugam 1971 Avalalpam Vaikippoyi Yogamullaval Sindooracheppu Ammalu Makane Ninakku Vendi Young Sophia 1972 Taxi Car Baby Shobha Gandharavakshetram Young Lakshmi Aradimanninte Janmi Minikutty 1973 Udayam Young Geetha Bhadradeepam Lekha 1974 Ayalathe Sundari Shobha Night Duty Ammini 1975 Ayodhya Shanthi 1976 Chottanikkara Amma Amrithavaahini Rani 1977 Dweepu Ormakal Marikkumo Ammini/Parvathi Nurayum Pathayum Rajaparambara 1978 Pad–aram Shoba Randu Penkuttikal Vayanadan Thamban Uthrada Rathri Oolkatal Reena Ekakini Bandhanam Thankam 1979 Lillyppookkal Ishtapraaneshwari Rema Ente Neelakaasham Malathy 1980 Shalini Ente Koottukari Shalini Daaliya Pookkal Soorya Daaham Yovvanam Daham Manju Moodal Manju

Tamil films Year Title Role Notes 1965 Naanal Child artist 1966 Thattungal Thirakkappadum Child artist 1969 Iru Kodugal Shoba Child artist 1971 Punnagai 1974 Vairam Usha 1978 Achchani Nizhal Nijamagiradhu Thilagam Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam Gowri Mullum Malarum Valli 1979 Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi Latha Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai Kamala Typist Enippadigal Chella Kannu Chakkalathi Panchali Agal Vilakku Navaneetham Azhiyatha Kolangal Indumathi Pasi Kuppamma 1980 Veli Thandiya Velladu Ponnagaram Bhavani Released posthumously Samanthipoo Sakthi Released posthumously Moodu Pani Rekha Released posthumously 1981 Mayil Released posthumously Vaadagai Veedu Released posthumously Anbulla Athan Released posthumously

Kannada films Year Title Role Notes 1977 Kokila Kokila 1978 Aparichita Kusuma 1982 Amara Madhura Prema Released posthumously

Telugu films Year Title Role Notes 1977 Tharam Marindi Chenna 1978 Manavoori Pandavulu Sundari

Awards National Film Awards 1971 – Best Female Child Artist for Yogammullaval and Aval Alpam Vaikippoyi 1977 – Second Best Actress for Ormakal Marikkumo 1978 – Best Actress for Ente Neelakasham