Sukanya

R. Sukanya (born 25 November 1972) is an Indian actress who mainly worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films. She is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and has worked as a composer, lyricist and voice actress.

Career

Sukanya made her debut in the Tamil movie Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991). She gained fame through films like Chinna Gounder (1992), Senthamizh Paattu (1992), Walter Vetrivel (1993), Mahanadhi (1994) and Indian (1996).

Some of Sukanya's Malayalam movies include Apaaratha (1992), Sagaram Sakshi (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Chandralekha (1997), Rakthasakshikal Sindabad (1998), Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan (2000), Udayon (2005), Innathe Chintha Vishayam (2008), Last Bench (2012), and Aamayum Muyalum (2014).

Sukanya's contribution to Telugu cinema consists of Peddarikam (1992) Amma Koduku (1994), Captain (1994), Sri (2005), Munna (2007), Adhinayakudu (2012) and Srimanthudu (2015).

She has also appeared on television shows such as Jannal: Ammavukku Rendula Ragu (2000–2001), Anandham (2003–2009), Swami Ayyappan (2006–2007) and Adhiparasakthi (2010). Known for her love towards hair and makeup, she can be seen on the sets of the TV show Anandham, doing her co-star's hairstyles. As a voice actress, she is known as the voice of Nandita Das in Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). She has also composed two devotional albums, namely Azhagu (2005) and Thirupathi Thirukudai Thiruvizha (2012).

Personal life and family

Sukanya was born in Madras on 25 November 1972 to Ramesh, a film producer as the younger of two children. Both Sukanya as well as her older sister Geetha Sridhar have trained in Bharatanatyam at the Kalakshetra Foundation. Geetha runs the UK-based dance company Natyashri as part of which Sukanya has given dance performances.

Sukanya married R. Sridhar, a software engineer based in New Jersey on April 17, 2002. The two later separated and Sukanya filed for divorce on March 3, 2004, alleging domestic abuse. While Sridhar filed a Special Leave Petition on the divorce proceedings, arguing that he was not subject to Indian laws as he was a United States citizen, the plea was dismissed and the couple were granted a divorce in 2012.

Sukanya has described herself in interviews as a deeply religious person. She composed and sang a Tamil song Jai Shri Ram and released the album during the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Filmography Tamil Year Title Role Notes 1991 Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu Krishnaveni Debut film MGR Nagaril Shobana 1992 Chinna Gounder Deivanai Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best ActressCinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil Kottai Vaasal Vasanthi Thirumathi Palanisamy Amsaveni Thambi Pondatti Sumathi Senthamizh Paattu Durgadevi Ilavarasan Poongothai Solaiyamma Solaiyamma 1993 Chinna Mapillai Janaki Walter Vetrivel Sumathi Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil Udan Pirappu Bhavani Aadhityan Rasathi Sakkarai Devan Sarasu Karuppu Vellai Swarna Thalattu Dr. Revathi Chinna Jameen Sathya 1994 Seeman Bakkiyam Vandicholai Chinraasu Parvathi Mahanadhi Yamuna Raja Pandi Rani Bhuvana Hero Seetha 1995 Mr. Madras Meera 1996 Mahaprabhu Mahalakshmi Puthiya Parasakthi Parasakthi Indian Amirthavalli Parivattam Mahalakshmi Senathipathi Meenakshi Gnanapazham Aarthi 1997 Aahaa Geetha Gopura Deepam Meena Thambi Durai Shenbagam 2000 Good Luck Devi Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Surya's mother 2001 Krishna Krishna Bama 2002 Sri Bannari Amman Dancer Special appearance 2004 Adi Thadi Mrs.Surya Campus Priya 2006 Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Nirmala 2007 Thottal Poo Malarum Periya Naayagi 2008 Aayudham Seivom Leelavathi Ellam Avan Seyal LK's sister 2009 Azhagar Malai Dancer Guest appearance 2014 Chandra Queen Sarala Devi Ennamo Nadakkudhu Gayathri 2016 Jambulingam 3D Sadhana 2017 Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva Shiva's mother Inayathalam Chandrika 2019 Thirumanam Manonmani 2023 Thee Ivan Lakshmi

Malayalam Year Film Role Notes 1992 Apaaratha Surya 1994 Sagaram Sakshi Nirmala 1996 Thooval Kottaram Sujatha Choreography also Kaanaakkinaavu Sathi 1997 Chandralekha Chandra/Chandrika Varma 1998 Rakthasakshikal Sindabad Sivakami Ammal Manjukalavum Kazhinju Shobha Amma Ammaayiyamma Prabhavati 1999 Swastham Grihabharanam Ashwathi Prem Poojari Herself Guest appearance 2000 Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan Shalini 2004 Kanninum Kannadikkum Herself Guest appearance 2005 Udayon Susiemol 2006 Notebook Sridevi's mother 2008 Innathe Chintha Vishayam Treesa Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam 2012 Last Bench Rosili The Hitlist Cameo 2013 Manikya Thamburattiyum Christmas Carolum Step-mother 2014 My Life Partner Dr. Leela Iyer Aamayum Muyalum Bhandaravathi 2026 Varavu Sister Daisy

Telugu Year Film Role Notes 1992 Peddarikam Janaki Amma Koduku Rajakumari 1994 Captain Uma Partially reshot in Tamil Khaidi No. 1 Seetha 2004 Samba Pasupathi's wife 2005 Sri Sriram's mother 2007 Munna Kakha's second wife 2012 Adhinayakudu Ramakrishna Prasad's wife 2015 Srimanthudu Harsha Vardhan's mother

Kannada Year Film Role Notes 1992 Guru Brahma Uma, Suma Dual role 2013 Chandra Queen Sarala Devi

Singer

As dubbing artist 2002 – Kannathil Muthamittal (for Nandita Das) – Tamil film

Television