Sujatha

Early life Sujatha was born in a Malayalam-speaking family on 10 December 1952 in Galle, Sri Lanka. She spent most of her early days of childhood over there. She participated in school plays, and later moved to Tamil Nadu when she was about 15.

Career

Growing up in Sri Lanka and later shifting to Kerala, she did a Malayalam film Ernakulam Junction (1971) and that paved the way for future success.

She shot to fame with K. Balachander’s 1974 directorial Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. The film was a raging hit and narrated the story of women sacrificing their happiness for their families. She acted opposite the late Sivaji Ganesan, and in the mid 1970s played heroine to both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who were just starting their career at that time.

Sujatha also won Filmfare Awards South for films like Uravu Solla Oruvan (1975), Annakili (1976), Avargal (1977) and Guppedu Manasu (1979). She garnered critical acclaim for doing maximum heroine-centric films. She went on to win Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for films like Thunaivi (1982) and Paritchaikku Neramaachu (1982).

In Gorintaku (1979), she paired with Sobhan Babu and sacrifices her love in a love story that gets a twist. Thus began an affair with Telugu audiences who got to see her in many more appropriate roles. Sujatha acted in some impressive films like Yedanthasthula Meda (1980) Circus Ramudu (1980), Prema Tarangalu (1980), Sitadevi (1982) M. L. A. Yedukondalu (1983), Anubandham (1984), Agni Gundam (1984), Justice Chakravarthy (1984), Sutradharulu (1984), Chanti (1992), Surigadu (1992), Pelli (1997), Sneham Kosam (1999) and Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu (2003).

During the 1980s, she started playing character roles, often portraying mothers. She played the mother of Rajinikanth in the films Maaveeran (1986) Kodi Parakuthu (1989), Uzhaippali (1993) and Baba (2002). She played mother roles in Ajith Kumar films Aval Varuvala (1998), Villain (2002), Attahasam (2004) and Varalaru (2006).

Death While undergoing treatment for a heart ailment, Sujatha died of cardiac arrest in Chennai on 6 April 2011.

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 1982 – Special Best Actress for Thunaivi 1982 – Special Best Actress for Paritchaikku Neramaachu

Government of Tamil Nadu Kalaimamani

Notable filmography Malayalam Year Film Role Notes 1965 Ammu Sharadha Debut film Kattupookkal Kadathukaran Kadambari 1966 Rowdy 1970 Olavum Theeravum 1971 Avalalpam Vaikippoyi Thapaswini Ernakulam Junction Jaya 1972 Devi Manushya Bandhangal Mini Snehadeepame Mizhithurakku Gouri Mayiladumkunnu Leela Punarjanmam Janu Anweshanam Vasanthi Ananthashayanam Geetha Azhimukham Aaradimanninte Janmi Nirmala Akkarapacha Devaki Aadhyathe Katha Nalini Brahmachari Suvarna Maaya Omana 1973 Driksaakshi Sumathi Thekkan Kattu Annakkutty Ajnathavasam Geetha Ladies Hostel Reema Bhadradeepam Usha Chukku Clara Football Champion Thulasi Manassu Kaattuvithachavan Chuzhi Neena Achani Uma Interview Sreedevi Kaliyugam Jaanu Raakkuyil Usha Swarga Puthri Jolly 1974 Sapthaswarangal Rukmini Shapamoksham Chakravakam Devaki Chattakari Usha 1975 Malsaram Sammanam Geetha Chuvanna Sandhyakal Susheela Thiruvonam Sujatha Chumaduthaangi Mini Niramaala 1976 Aayiram Janmangal Udayam Kizhakku Thanne 1978 Bhrashtu 1980 Pappu Herself 1982 Oru Vilippadakale Ammu Preeyasakhi Radha 1983 Justice Raja Radha 1986 Ariyaatha Bandham 1992 Simhadhwani 2001 Chitrathoonukal 2004 Jalothsavam Bhanumathi 2005 Chandrolsavam Bhavani Mayookham Devaki

Tamil Year Film Role Notes 1974 Aval Oru Thodar Kathai Kavitha 1975 Uravukku Kai Koduppom Thennangkeetru Vasumathi Aan Pillai Singam Rajam's servant Uravu Solla Oruvan Sumathi Vaazhnthu Kaattugiren Geetha Aayirathil Oruthi Srikanth's lover Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu Kalpana 1976 Perum Pugazhum Janaki Sabatham Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu Radha Idhaya Malar Radha Muthana Muthallava Nee Oru Maharani Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal Ungalil Oruthi Madhavi Lalitha Lalitha Annakili Annam 1977 Uyarndhavargal Aarthi Andaman Kadhali Maragatham Dheepam Radha Avargal Anu Sonnathai Seiven Balaparitchai Enna Thavam Saithen Pala Parikshai Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi Aasai Manaivi Nandha En Nila Annan Oru Koyil Janaki 1978 Mariamman Thiruvizha Kaipidithaval Shri Kanchi Kamakshi Sundari Iraivan Kodutha Varam 1979 Kandhar Alangaram Raja Rajeshwari Gnana Kuzhandhai Thilagavathi Sri Rama Jayam Poonthalir Maya Nool Veli Vidya Adukku Malli 1980 Neer Nilam Neruppu Anbukku Naan Adimai Lakshmi Maadi Veettu Ezhai Lakshmi Vishwaroopam Savithri 1981 Kadal Meengal Kamal's wife 1982 Vaa Kanna Vaa Papa Paritchaikku Neramaachu Vedha Theerpu Radha Idho Varukiren Thaai Mookaambikai Annapoorani "Poorani" Garuda Saukiyama Lakshmi Thunaivi Nayakkirin Magal Thyagi Kamala 1983 Neethibathi Janaki Thudikkum Karangal Balu's wife Sandhippu Lakshmi Kodugal Illatha Kolam Sumangali Thulasi Vedarathnam 1984 Thiruppam Vidhi Shakunthala Vellai Pura Ondru Veetuku Oru Kannagi Suja Alaya Deepam Unnai Naan Santhithen Janaki Kudumbam Vijaya 1985 Uthami Gayathri Sivappu Nila Nermai Parvathi Karpoora Deepam Naam Mangamma Sapatham Mangamma Perumai 1986 Meendum Pallavi Uyire Unakkaga Abhirami Mahashakthi Mariamma Mariamma Devotee Revathi Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu Padmavathi Kanne Kaniyamuthe Maaveeran Raja's mother Vidinja Kalyanam Janaki Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu Mannukkul Vairam 1987 Chellakutti Mupperum Deviyar Saraswati 1989 Pen Puthi Mun Puthi Dharmam Vellum Saradha Kodi Parakuthu Rajini's mother 1990 Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu 1992 Senthamizh Paattu Kalaivani Abhirami Abhirami 1993 Koyil Kaalai Maragadhammal Uzhaippali Janaki Uzhavan Subbammal 1994 Amaithipadai Sivakami Rajakumaran Rajakumaran's mother Watchman Vadivel Sarassu Kanmanai Rajalakshmi Thozhar Pandian Senthamizh Selvan Janaki 1995 Karnaa Lakshmi 1996 Poovarasan Ukrapandi's wife Sivasakthi Siva's mother 1998 Aval Varuvala Janaki Natpukaaga Lakshmi 1999 Ninaivirukkum Varai Janakiraman's mother Azhagarsamy Thayama Paattali Lakshmi 2000 Sandhitha Velai Aadalarasu's mother 2002 Nettru Varai Nee Yaaro Meenakshi Baba Baba's mother Villain Lalitha Subramaniam 2004 Arul Sornam Maanasthan Pattamaniyar's wife Attahasam Guru and Jeeva's mother 2006 Vathiyar Durai's mother Varalaru Shiva Shankar's Mother-in-law

Telugu Year Film Role Notes 1979 Guppedu Manasu Vidya Tollywood debut and bilingual film Gorintaku Swapna 1980 Yedanthasthula Meda Janaki Sandhya Sandhya Pasupu Parani Bebbuli Lalitha Circus Ramudu Ankamma Sirimalle Navvindi Prema Tarangalu Sujatha Sujatha Sujatha 1981 Ragile Jwala Lakshmi Guru Sishyulu Shanti Pranaya Geetham Maha Purushudu Lakshmi Pandanti Jeevitham 1982 Vamsa Gowravam Lakshmi Bangaru Kanuka Shanti Sitadevi Yuvaraju Dr. Karuna 1983 Bahudoorapu Batasari Prabha M. L. A. Yedukondalu Abhilasha 1984 Justice Chakravarthy Anubandham Sujatha Bhola Shankarudu Agni Gundam 1985 Intiko Rudramma Durga 1989 Srirama Chandrudu Rajakeeya Chadarangam Savitri 1990 Sutradhaarulu Devamma 1992 Chanti Kanthamma Madhavayya Gari Manavadu Madhavi Surigadu Ahankari Jayanthi 1993 Aadarsam Savitri Kondapalli Raja Raja's mother Nippu Ravva Mahalakshmi 1994 Maa Voori Maaraju M. Dharmaraju M.A. Nannagaru 1995 Vajram Big Boss Simha Garjana Vetagadu 1996 Pelli 1998 Subbaraju Gari Kutumbam Auto Driver Jagan's mother 1999 Sneham Kosam Lakshmi 2001 Vyjayanthi Repallelo Radha Prematho Raa Chandu's grandmother Evadra Rowdy Janaki 2002 Seema Simham Lakshmi Tappu Chesi Pappu Koodu Zamindar Bhupati's wife Nee Sneham Amrutha's grandmother 2003 Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu Raghavayya's wife Villain Siva's and Vishnu's mother 2006 Sri Ramadasu Pokala Damakka 2007 Chandrahas

Hindi Year Film Role Notes 1981 Ek Hi Bhool Bollywood debut

Kannada

Voice artist For Jaya Prada - Ninaithale Inikkum