Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known as Kumari Sachu is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedienne who nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her film début in 1952 in the film ''
Rani
''Rani'' () is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a ...
'' at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. She started acting in television serials in 1995.
Early life
Sachu was born into a large orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, it was not smooth sailing for the young actress, but her talent acted as the decisive factor. Permission was granted by her lawyer-father. As she teamed up with her sister, ''Maadi'' Lakshmi, for
Bharatanatyam
''Bharatanatyam'' is a Indian classical dance form that came from Tamil Nadu, India. It is a classical dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jainism.< ...
recitals, her film career forged ahead.
In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by director
A. S. A. Sami (of ''
Velaikkari'' fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number. Sami cast her in the
Bhanumathi-starrer ''Rani.'' Then followed the
Arignar Anna-scripted ''Sorga Vaasal''. As the younger Paro in ''
Devadasu'', her performance was endearing. The chubby-faced Sachu went on to fill the vacuum left by Baby Saroja.
Sachu performed with élan with the legends, be it
Bhanumathi,
Padmini,
Anjali Devi, or
Savithri. The evergreen ''Maya Bazaar'' was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). She then took a small break during which she spent the interim perfecting her dance, giving recitals and playing sister roles. Her first film as heroine in ''Veera Thirumagan'' with Anandan, released in 1961.
She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act as
Nagesh's pair in the film ''
Kadhalikka Neramillai'',
This film starred
Muthuraman,
Nagesh,
Kanchana,
Rajasree
Rajasree (Rajasree Thota Panchajanyam, Kusuma Kumari), also known as Rajasri or Rajashri, is an Indian actress active from 1956 to 1979. She is particularly famous for her portrayal as a princess in several folklore Telugu movies opposite N. ...
and
T. S. Balaiah. After the success of this film, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors like
Suruli Rajan, "Thengai" Srinivasan,
Cho Ramaswamy,
Thangavelu, M. R. Vasu and
M. R. Radha in many films from 1964 to 1989. She,
Manorama and
Jayalalithaa
Jayaram Jayalalithaa (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016), popularly known as Amma, was an Indian actress, politician, and philanthropist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for more than fourteen years between 1991 and 2016. She ...
came together to act in 2 classic comedy films - ''Galata Kalyanam'' and ''Bommalattam''. Her other notable films include ''Kalai Arasi'', ''Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan'' and ''Meenava Nanban''.
The 1970s saw her taking to the stage, and her first play was PVR's ''Neerottam'', where she played the famous Charu. She played a dual role in ARS' ''Deviyar Iruvar''.
Since then, Sachu has been lending her talents out and has successfully starred in over 500 films playing varied roles, and has starred alongside veteran actors such as
Sivaji Ganesan
Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...
,
M. G. Ramachandran,
Muthuraman,
S. A. Ashokan,
Nagesh,
Suruli Rajan,
Thengai Srinivasan,
Thangavelu and
M. R. Radha.
The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongside
Rajinikanth,
Kamal Haasan
Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
,
Chiranjeevi, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as
Vijay,
Surya
Surya ( ; , ) is the Sun#Dalal, Dalal, p. 399 as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchaya ...
,
Karthik,
Sakthi Vasu and many others.
Television career
She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials such as ''Manbumigu Maamiyar'', ''Costly Mappilay'', ''Ananda Bhavan'', "Chellamma" "veediyal Pudithu" Oorarinda Rahasiyam" "Mr Brain" "Pitchai Apartments" (Kalakendra Humour and Drama) "Podunalam ponnuswamy" (Kalakendra Humour and Drama) "Washingtonil Thirumanam" (Kalakendra Humour and Drama) ''Dinesh Ganesh'' and ''Veetukku Veedu Looty'', where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema.
She also acted as
Vijayakumar's elder sister in the serial ''
Nandini'', which aired on
Sun TV.
Awards and nominations
Sachu received the
Kalaimamani
The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the ''Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram'' (literature, music and theatre), a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government ...
award from Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa
Jayaram Jayalalithaa (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016), popularly known as Amma, was an Indian actress, politician, and philanthropist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for more than fourteen years between 1991 and 2016. She ...
in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented by
M. S. Subbulakshmi. In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.
Partial filmography
Tamil films
*
Rani
''Rani'' () is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a ...
(1952)
* Shyamala (1952)
*
Devadas (1953)
*
Avvaiyar (1953)
*Marumagal (1953)
*
Sorgavasal (1954)
*
Kaveri
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery) is a Rivers of India, major river flowing across Southern India. It is the third largest river in the region after Godavari River, Godavari and Krishna River, Krishna.
The catchment area of the Kaveri basin i ...
(1955) - Sandhosham Kollame song dance-as child
*Kodeeswaran (1955)- child Artist
*
Maya Bazaar (1957)
*
Raja Desingu (1960)
*
Veera Thirumagan (1962)
*
Annai (1962) as Sarasu
*
Kalai Arasi (1963)
*
Kaadhalikka Neramillai (1964)
*
Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966)
*
Thenmazhai (1966)
*
Bama Vijayam (1967)
*
Ninaivil Nindraval
*
Ooty Varai Uravu (1967)
*
Delhi Mapillai (1968) as Meghala
*
Galatta Kalyanam (1968) as Kaanthã
*
Bommalattam
Bommalattam is a type of puppetry using inanimate objects from Tamil Nadu. While the origin of the art is uncertain, it has existed as an art form for years. It uses various doll marionettes, manipulated by rods and strings by puppeteers behind ...
(1968) as geetha
* Kallum Kaniyagum(1968)
* Jeevanamsam(1968)
*
Poova Thalaiya (1969)
*Kulavilakku(1969)
*Nirai kudam (1969)
*Engirundho Vandhal(1970)
*
Sorgam (1970)
*
Maanavan (1970) as Ramu's wife
*Mattukkara velan(1970) as kaveri
* Penn Deivam(1970)
*
Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa (1971) as Nurse Sarasa, Mani's lover & Dr. Swamynathan's daughter
* Thenum paalum (1971)
* Then kinnam (1971)
* Sumathi En sundari(1971)
*Kumari kottam (1971)
*
Annai Velankanni (1972) as Candle Seller Woman
*
Pillaiyo Pillai (1972)
*
Dhikku Theriyatha Kaattil (1972)
*
Paruva Kaalam (1974)
*
Anbu Thangai
''Anbu Thangai'' () is a 1974 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language film directed by S. P. Muthuraman, starring R. Muthuraman and J. Jayalalithaa, Jayalalithaa. The film is a remake of the Telugu language, Telugu film ''Chelleli Kapuram''. Kamal ...
(1974)
*Thai piranthal(1974)
* Vairam (1974)
*Athaiya Maamiya(1974)
*Urumaikural(1974)
*
Avanthan Manithan (1975)
*
Cinema Paithiyam (1975)
*
Dheepam (1977)
* Unnai suttrum ulagam(1977)
* Ival oru seethai(1978)
*Anbalippu( 1978)
*
Dharma Yuddham (1979)
* Oru vidukadhai oru Thodarkathai (1979)
*Kandhar Alangaram(1979)
*
Ellam Un Kairasi (1980)
*
Sujatha (1980)
* Geetha oru shenbagapoo(1980)
*
Oorukku Oru Pillai (1982)
*
Solla Thudikuthu Manasu (1988)
*
Manasukkul Mathappu (1988) as Nurse Mary
*
Naangal (1992)
*
Avatharam (1995)
*
Tata Birla (1996)
*
Priyanka (1994)
*
Oomai Vizhigal (1986)
*
Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (1999)
*
Endrendrum Kadhal (1999)
*
Priyasakhi (2005)
*
Jerry (2006)
*
Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum (2006)
*
Shankar Dada Zindabad (2007) (Telugu film)
*
Sadhu Miranda (2008)
*
Ainthaam Padai (2009)
*
Aatanayagan (2010)
*
Gowravargal (2010)
*
Thillu Mullu (2013)
*
Naiyaandi (2013)
*
Irumbu Kuthirai (2014)
*
Gethu (2016)
* Avan Aval (2016)
*
Kodi
Kodi may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* KODI, a radio station in Cody, Wyoming, USA
* Kodi (film), ''Kodi'' (film), India, 2016
* Kodi, a dog in the 2004 film ''Balto III: Wings of Change''
Other uses
* Kodi (software), an open sour ...
(2016)
*
Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru (2016)
*
Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings (2016)
*
Utharavu Maharaja (2018)
*
Perazhagi ISO (2019)
*
Ayogya (2019)
*
Jackpot (2019)
*
Dharala Prabhu (2020) as Kundhavai, Prabhu's grandmother
* Boom Boom Kaalai (2021)
*
Veetla Vishesham (2022)
*
The Legend (2022)
*
Naai Sekar Returns (2022)
*
Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food (2023), Subbulakshmi Patti
*
Pon Ondru Kanden (2024)
*
Konjam Kadhal Konjam Modhal (2025)
Malayalam films
* Inapravugal (1965)
* Subhaidha (1965)
* Kalyanayathrayil (1966)
* Dial 2244 (1968)
* Vilakkapetta Bandhangal (1969)
* Balapareekshanam (1978)
* Pathinalam Ravu (1978)
* Dwanthayudham (1981)
Hindi films
*
Rani
''Rani'' () is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a ...
(1952)
*
Bahut Din Huye (1954)
Telugu films
*
Devadasu (1953)
*
Maya Bazaar (1957)
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Living people
Tamil comedians
Tamil actresses
Actresses from Chennai
Year of birth missing (living people)
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses in Telugu cinema
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
Indian film actresses