Santha Devi

Damayanthi (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi, was an Indian Malayalam film and stage actress. In a career spanning about sixty years, she acted in more than 1000 plays and about 480 films.

Biography

Santha Devi was born in Kozhikode in a then well known tharavadu called Thottathil in 1927 as the daughter of Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma as the seventh daughter of their 10 children. She did her studies from Sabha school and then B.E.M school.

She made her debut as an actress through a 1954 drama ''Smarakam'' written by Vasu Pradeep and directed by Kundanari Appu Nair. She made her cinema debut in ''Minnaminungu'' (1957) directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including ''Moodupadam'', ''Kuttikkuppayam'', ''Kunjalimaraykkar'', ''Iruttinte Athmavu'', ''Sthalathe pradhana payyans'' and ''Adwaitham''. Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie where she enacted the role of a forlorn grandmother with no one to look after her. Besides movies, she was also active in television serials. Her most memorable roles are from Manasi and Minnukettu.

Santha Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a private hospital in Kozhikode.

Family

She had five brothers and four sisters. All of her brothers were in Air Force and Military services. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard, but the relationship did not last long. He left Santha Devi after the couple had a son. Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer. She has two sons, Suresh Babu and the late Sathyajith.

Awards

She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in ''Yamanam'' (1992) directed by Bharath Gopi. She has received the Kerala State award for best Stage actress in 1968 for her role in ''Kudukkukal''. In 1968, she received award from Thrissur Fine Arts Society and in 1973 she received best actress award again. In 1978, her acting in ''Ithu bhoomiyanu'' and ''Inquilabinte makkal'' fetched her Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Acamedy's award for best actress. She won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays in 1983 for ''Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam''.

In 1992 she got Film critics award again. Santha Devi was awarded Premji award and later in 2005 the lifetime achievement award from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. She won the attimabbe prize also from Karnataka

Filmography (partial)

; Malayalam
# Tharangal (2014) - photo only
# Nurunguvettangal - Short film ... Sr. Margarita
# Kunjipennu (2010) - album
# Uthrada Ravu - Short film
# Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother
# Nalla Pattukare (2010)
# Nandhuni (2010)
# Kerala Cafe (2009)
# Malayali (2009)
# Koodaram (2009)
# Mayabazar(2008)
# Thalappavu (2008)
# Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Janakiyamma
# Vilapagalkkappuram (2008)
# Prajapathi (2006)
# Mamma (2006) - Short film as Mrs. Philipose
# Nottam (2006) as Jankiyamma
# Anandabadram (2005)
# Ullam (2005)
# Maratha Nadu (2004)
# Akale (2004) as Typewriting teacher
# Freedom (2004)
# Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) as Maimuna's mother
# Janakeeyam (2003) as Lakshmiyamma
# Anyar (2003) as Ummumma
# Mizhirandilum (2003)
# Ammakkilikkoodu (2003)
# Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003)
# Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002)
# Neythukaran (2001)
# Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001)
# Ninneyum Thedi (2001)
# Rapid Action Force (2000) as Vasanthakumari's muthassi
# Priyankari (2000)
# Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998)
# Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998)
#Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998)
#Sisiram (1998)
# Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Valsan's mother
# Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997)
# Mahathma (1996)
# Harbour (1996)
# Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996)
# Madamma (1996)
# Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995)
# No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995)
# Chandha (1995)
# Sasinas (1995)
# Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995)
# Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995)
# Mazhayethum Munbe (1995)
# Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994)
# Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994)
# Tharavadu (1994)
# Pingami (1994)
# Ghazal (1994)
# Bharanakoodam (1994) as Manju's maid
# Chukkan (1994) as Gayathri's Mother
# Naaraayam (1993)
# Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993)
# Ghoshayathra (1993) as Itheyiumma
# Agneyam (1993)
# Magrib (1993)
# Yamanam (1992)
# Kamaladalam (1992)
# Dhanam (1991)
# Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991)
# Adwaitham (1991)
# Parallel College (1991)
# Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991)
# No 20 Madras Mail (1990)
# Kakkathollayiram (1990)
# Brahmarakshassu (1990)
# Sasneham (1990)
# Aye Auto (1990)
# Carnivel (1989)
# Naduvazhikal (1989)
# V. I. P. (1989) as Karthyayani
# Chanakyan(1989)
# Padippura (1989)
# Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) as Itti
# Kanakambarangal (1988) as Sreedevi's mother
# Dhinarathrangal (1988)
# Oohakachavadam (1988)
# Rithubetham (1987)
# Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987)
# Nadodikkaattu (1987) as Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance)
# PC 369 (1987) as Mandara
# Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986)
# Abhayam Thedi (1986)
# Vellam (1985)
# Dheivatheyorthu (1985)
# Anubandham (1985)
# Srikrishna Parundu (1984)
# Maniyara (1983)
# Surumayitta Kannukal (1983)
# Mylanji (1982 )
# Adhikaram (1980)
# Ashwaradham (1980)
# Angadi (1980)
# Chakara (1980) as Subhadra
# Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980)
# Neelathamara (1979)
# Thakara (1979)
# Thenthulli (1979)
# Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978)
# Chuvanna Vithukal (1978)
# Padasaram (1978) as Kochukaali
# Aparadhi (1977) as Madhaviyamma
# Yatheem (1977)
# Njavalppazhangal (1976)
# Athithi (1975)
# Utharayanam (1975)
# Nirmala (1975 film) (1975)
# Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974)
# Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973)
# Darshanam (1973)
# Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972)
# Kuttyedathi(1971) as Meenakshi
# Ummachu (1971)
# Velutha Kathreena (1968)
# Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968)
# Anaachadanam (1968)
# Aval (1967)
# Kottayam Kolacase (1967)
# Mulkireedam (1967)
# Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) as Parukkuttiamma
# Ashwamedam (1967) as Lakshmi
# Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967)
# Nagarame Nandi (1967)
# Kunjali Marakkar (1967)
# Mayor Nair (1966)
# Murappennu(1965) as Madhaviyamma
# Devalayam (1964)
# Kuttikuppayam (1964)
# Moodupadam (1963)
# Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963)
# Minnaminigu(1957)
# Sandehi (1954)
; Hindi
* Triyathri (1990)

Television serials (partial)

*Manasi (DD Malayalam)
*Pennurimai (DD Malayalam)
* Minnukettu ( Surya TV)
*Manassariyathe ( Surya TV)
*Kayamkulam Kochunni ( Surya TV)
*Ali Manthrikan
*Ennapadam
*Sakunam ( DD Malayalam)
*Vadhu - telefilm
*Vidhyarambham - telefilm
*Puthiyaplakkuppayam - telefilm
*Kannukal- telefilm
*Kunchathumma - telefilm

Dramas (partial)

* Kudukkukal
* Smaarakam
* Deepasthambham Mahaascharyam
* Inquilaaabinte Makkal
* Ithu Bhoomiyaannu
* Pediswapnam

References

External links

*

Shanthadevi at MSI

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Santha
Indian film actresses
Actresses from Kozhikode
1927 births
2010 deaths
Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners
Indian stage actresses
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Actresses in Malayalam theatre
Indian television actresses
Actresses in Malayalam television