Subbalakshmi (21 April 1936 – 30 November 2023) was an Indian Carnatic musician, composer, and actress who worked in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

Kannada Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...

, and

Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

. She was noted for her performance in '' Kalyanaraman'' (2002), ''

Pandippada ''Pandippada'' () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-Tamil bilingual action comedy film written and directed by Rafi Mecartin. The film stars Dileep in the lead role while Navya Nair, Prakash Raj, Rajan P. Dev, Harisree Ashokan, Salim Kumar, Cochin Ha ...

'' (2005), and ''

Nandanam Nandanam is a neighborhood in Chennai, India. It is located on the northern banks of Adyar River, on the other side of Kotturpuram, and is bound by Saidapet, T. Nagar and Teynampet. In addition to a number of institutions and companies, Nanda ...

'' (2002).

Life and career

Subbalakshmi was married to Kalyanakrishnan. The couple had two daughters and one son, including actress

Thara Kalyan Thara Kalyan is an Indian classical dancer and actress in mainstream Malayalam Television and Cinema. She is also a professional dancer in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi.She is an 'A top' Mohiniyattam artist of Doordarshan. She is ...

. Before entering film, Subbalakshmi was a musician and dance instructor at Jawahar Balabhavan and worked at

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

beginning in 1951. She is noted for being the first female composer of All India Radio from

south India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

. She performed many concerts, was also a dubbing artist, and acted in some telefilms and albums. Subbalakshmi died on 30 November 2023, at the age of 87 due to age related ailments.

Partial filmography

As actress

; Malayalam films *'' Aarohanam'' (1980) (

) Debut *''

'' (2002) as Veshamani Ammal as Lead *'' Kalyanaraman'' (2002) as Karthyayyani *'' Thilakkam'' (2003) as Ammu's grandmother *'' Gramaphone'' (2003) as Gregory's wife *'' Saudhamini'' (2003) as Kunjulakshmiyamma *'' C.I.D. Moosa'' (2003) as Meena's grandmother *'' Maanikyan'' (2005) as Ammomma *''

Rappakal ''Rappakal'' is a 2005 Indian Malayalam film directed by Kamal. Mammootty, Nayanthara and Sharada appears in lead roles. Plot This is a heartfelt story of a male help/valet and his motherly affection to the elderly woman, whom he looks after. ...

'' (2005) as Valiya Varma's Wife *''

'' (2005) as Meena's Grandmother *''

Classmates A classmate is a student who is a member of the same class, in any of its meanings (a course, a lesson, a graduating year). Classmate(s) may also refer to: * ''Classmates'' (1914 film), a 1914 silent film produced by the Biograph Company * ''Cl ...

'' (2006) as Special appearance in the song (old lady) *''Note Book'' (2006) *'' Kalabham'' (2006) as Alamelu Ammal *'' Ravanan'' (2006) as Muthassi *'' Romeoo'' (2007) as Bhama's grandmother *''

Ali Bhai ''Ali Bhai'' () is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language action film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by T. A. Shahid, and produced by Antony Perumbavoor through the company Aashirvad Cinemas. It stars Mohanlal as Anwar Ali alias Ali Bhai, an un ...

'' (2007) as Old lady in the colony *''

Chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cocoa beans that can be a liquid, solid, or paste, either by itself or to flavoring, flavor other foods. Cocoa beans are the processed seeds of the cacao tree (''Theobroma cacao''); unprocesse ...

'' (2007) as Dance Teacher *'' Mulla'' (2008) as Old lady *'' Meghatheertham'' (2009) as Artist *'' Chattambinaadu'' (2009) as Old lady in village *'' Seetha Kalyanam'' (2009) as Abhirami's grandmother *'' Yugapurushan'' (2010) as Antharjanam *'' Marykkundoru Kunjaadu'' (2010) as Bus Passenger *'' Neelambari'' (2010) as Paatti *'' Note Out'' (2011) as Maya's grandmother * '' Lakshmi Vilasam Renuka Makan Raghuram'' (2012) as Old woman *'' Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty'' (2012) as TV Audient *''Load Shedding'' (2013) as Ravi's mother *'' Oru Yathrayil'' (2013) – as Paatti *'' Sound Thoma'' (2013) as Seller *''Swaasam'' (2013) as Meera's grandmother *''

Koothara ''Koothara'' () is a 2014 Malayalam-language coming of age mystery thriller film directed by Srinath Rajendran and written by Vini Vishwa Lal. It stars Bharath, Sunny Wayne and Tovino Thomas in lead roles. with Mohanlal in an extended cameo as ...

'' (2014) as Koobrin's Valyammachi *''Cherukkanum Pennum'' (2014) as *'' Pranayakatha'' (2014) as Reetha's grandmother *''Avarude Veedu'' (2014) as Old lady *''Nakshathrangal'' (2014) as Madhaviyamma *''69'' (2014) as Grandmother *''Murukku'' (2014) as Lady *'' Chirakodinja Kinavukal'' (2015) as Old lady *'' Rudrasimhasanam'' (2015) as Grandmother *''Oru New Generation Pani'' (2015) as Rachana's paatti *''

Rani Padmini Padmini, also known as Padmavati or Rani Padmavati, was a 13th–14th century queen of the Kingdom of Mewar in India. Several medieval texts mention her, although these versions are disparate and many modern historians question the extent of t ...

'' (2015) as Rani's grandmother *''

Ivan Maryadaraman ''Ivan Maryadaraman'' () is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Suresh Divakar starring Dileep, Nikki Galrani, Nagineedu and Kailash with a supporting cast including Anand, Sudheer Sukumaran, Abu Salim, Santhosh Kee ...

'' (2015) as Old guest *''Aakashavani'' (2016) as Vani's grandmother *''1948 Kaalam Paranjathu'' (2019) as Antharjanam *'' Jack & Daniel'' (2019) as Muthassi *''Therottam'' (2019) *''

One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

'' (2021) as Ramya's grandmother * ''

Star A star is a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by Self-gravitation, self-gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night sk ...

'' (2021) as Devi Muthassi *''

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool typically constructed with airfoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight, designed to return to the thrower. The origin of the word is from Australian Aborigin ...

'' (2023) as Sandra *''Pachathappu'' as Meenakshiyamma *''Chakkarappazham'' *''Oru Vaathil Kotta'' *''Kaakan'' *''Mallanum Mathevanum'' ; Telugu films *'' Kalyana Ramudu'' (2003) as Karthyayyani *''

Ye Maaya Chesave ''Ye Maaya Chesave'' () is a 2010 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film stars Naga Chaitanya and Samantha in her debut as lead. It was produced by Manjula Ghattamaneni under the bann ...

'' (2010) as Jessie's Grandmother ; Hindi films *''Jagat Jogini Maa Khodiyar'' (2006) as Mamaniya's wife *''

Ekk Deewana Tha ''Ekk Deewana Tha'' () is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, featuring Prateik Babbar, Amy Jackson (her Hindi debut), and Manu Rishi in lead roles. The film is a remake of Menon's ...

'' (2012) as Jessie's Grandmother *''

Dil Bechara ''Dil Bechara'' () is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language Coming-of-age film, coming-of-age tragedy romance film directed by Mukesh Chhabra in his directorial debut, and produced by Fox Star Studios, with a script written by Shashank Khaitan and Suprot ...

'' (2020) as Manny's grandmother *'' The Kerala Story'' (2023) as Shalini's grandmother ; Tamil films *'' Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan'' (2007) as Viswanathan's sister *'' Raman Thediya Seethai'' (2008) as Gayathri's paatti *'' Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa'' (2010) as Jessie's grandmother *''Ore Oru Raja Mokkaraja'' (2015) as Paatti *'' Ammani'' (2016) as Ammani (Title role) *'' House Owner'' (2019) as Radha's grandmother *''

Beast Beast most often refers to: * Animal, a multicellular, eukaryotic organism in the biological kingdom Animalia * The Beast (Revelation), one of three beasts described in the Book of Revelation * Monster, a type of creature found in fiction, folklo ...

'' (2022) as hostage ; Kannada films *''

Honganasu ''Honganasu'' is a 2008 Indian Kannada-language romance film written and directed by Ratnaja of '' Nenapirali'' fame. The film stars Prem Kumar in lead role whereas debutant Anjali and Anuradha Mehta play the female leads. Ananth Nag plays ...

'' (2008) (

) ; Sanskrit films *''Madhurasmitham'' ; English film *''In the Name of God''

As voice artist

* Jack & Daniel (2019) – Old lady passenger in the road * Ozhimuri (2012) * Rock n' Roll (2007) – Chandramouli's mother (

Vanitha Krishnachandran Vanitha Krishnachandran is an Indian film and television actress. She acted during the 1980s in nearly 170 films in Tamil and Malayalam films. She is currently more active with several Tamil and Malayalam television serials. Personal life Van ...

) – Song bit

As playback singer

* "Entadukke Vannadukkum" - '' Marykkundoru Kunjaadu'' (2010) * "Title song"- Ozhimuri (2012) * "Kanne Kannare" - '' Rudra Simhasanam'' (2015) * "Mazhai Ingillaye" - '' Ammani'' (2016) * "Super Sundaran" - '' Jimmy Ee Veedinte Aishwaryam'' (2019) * ''Peythoriyathe''

Television serials

Appeared in more than 65 TV Serials ; Malayalam serials * ''Valayam'' (

DD Malayalam DD Malayalam is an Indian Malayalam-language free to air television channel operated by Doordarshan, India's national broadcaster. Originally known as DD4, the channel was rebranded as DD Malayalam after 1995. It serves as one of the 11 regi ...

) * ''Gandharvayamam'' (

) * ''Ramettan'' (

) * ''Kudumbasametham Manikutty'' ( Jaihind TV) * ''Kathanar Kadamattathu Kathanar'' ( Jaihind TV) * ''Kudumbapuranam'' ( Jaihind TV) * ''Bhagyalakshmi'' (

Surya TV Surya TV is an Indian Malayalam language Indian general entertainment pay television channel owned by Sun TV Network. which is headquartered at Kochi. Surya TV HD became the third Malayalam language high-definition channel. Current broadcas ...

) * ''Velankani Mathavu '' (

) * ''Sreeguruvaayoorappan'' (

) *''Kuttichathan'' (

) * ''Dream City'' (

) * ''Snehakkoodu'' (

) * ''Ishtam'' (

) * ''Amme Mahamaye'' (

) * ''Sahayathrika'' (

) * ''Thenum Vayambum'' (

) * '' Ente Maathavu'' (

) * ''Kunjikkoonan'' (

Asianet Asianet may refer to: JioStar channels * JioStar, is an Indian media conglomerate wholly owned by Disney India. ** Asianet, a Malayalam language general entertainment channel ** Asianet Plus, a Malayalam language general entertainment channel ** As ...

) * '' Swami Ayyapan'' (

) *''Sreemahabhagavatham'' (

) *''Devi Mahathmyam'' (

) * ''Amma'' (

) * ''

Kadamattathu Kathanar Kadamattathu Kathanar was a '' kathanar'' (priest) who, according to legends, possessed magical powers. He was an ordained deacon of Kadamattom Church in the 9th century, originally affiliated to the Syriac Orthodox Church in India, in Kada ...

'' (

) * '' Seetha Kalyanam'' (

) * ''Njangal Santhushtarannu'' (

Plus) * ''Manasu Parayunna Karyangal'' (

Mazhavil Manorama Mazhavil Manorama is an Indian Malayalam language general entertainment Free-to-air television channel owned by Malayala Manorama. The channel’s headquarters is at Aroor, Alappuzha in Kerala, India. History The channel has been on air sin ...

) * ''Aayirathil Oruval'' (

) * ''Oru Penninte Katha'' (

) * '' Aniyathi'' (

) * ''Sooryakaladi'' (

Amrita TV Amrita TV is an Indian Malayalam-language free-to-air Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal an ...

) * ''Mahaguru'' (

Kaumudy TV ''Kerala Kaumudi'' is a Malayalam language daily newspaper published from Kerala, India, headquartered in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It was founded in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman as a periodical. His son K. Sukumaran later served as ...

) * ' (

Kairali TV Kairali TV is an Indian Malayalam-language general entertainment free-to-air television channel owned by PTC Network via holding company G-Next Media Pvt Ltd . It is headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram. It was launched on 17 August 2000. Hist ...

) *'' Sudhamani Superaa'' (

Zee Keralam Zee Keralam also known as Z Keralam is an Indian Malayalam language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The channel was launched on 26 November 2018 and it is ZEE's fifth channel in the sou ...

) *''

Patharamattu ''Patharamattu'' () is an Indian Malayalam-language soap opera. The show premiered on 15 May 2023 on Asianet and is available on-demand through JioHotstar in India. It stars Neena Kurup, Lakshmi Keerthana, Vishnu V Nair, Bindu Ramakrishnan, ...

'' (Promo appearance) (

) ; Tamil serials * '' Perazhagi'' (

Colors Tamil Colors Tamil is an Indian Tamil language general entertainment pay television channel owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India on 19 February 2018. The channel's headquarters is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It primarily te ...

) * '' Bharatidasan Colony'' (

Star Vijay Star Vijay is an Indian Tamil language general entertainment pay television channel owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India. The channel telecasts programmes such as serials, reality shows & Tamil films. History T ...

)

Television, radio and online shows

* Comedy Thillana (

) * Ammamrude Samsthana Sammelanam (

Flowers Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

) * Panam Tharum Padam (

) * Annies Kitchen (

) * Bhavad Navarathri (

) * Humorous Talk Show Asianet Plus * Katha Ithuvare (

) * Sreekandan Nair Show (

) * Varthaprabhatham (

Asianet News Asianet News is an Indian Malayalam-language free-to-air news channel, operated by the Asianet News Network, a subsidiary of Asianxt Digital Technologies. The channel is based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Asianet News is currently one of th ...

) * Ladies Hour (

) * Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (

) *

Laughing Villa ''Laughing Villa'' is an Indian Malayalam celebrity comedy chat show which premiered on Surya TV from 30 July 2016 to 17 November 2019. The first season of the show was hosted by south-Indian film actors Navya Nair and Maniyanpilla Raju. The ...

Season 2 (

) as Muthassi * Dr.Lakshmi Nairum Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku (

) * Celebrity's Kitchen (

) * D2 (

) *

Onnum Onnum Moonu ''Onnum Onnum Moonu'' is an Indian celebrity talk show hosted by singer '' Rimy Tomy'' on Mazhavil Manorama. The first season of the show began airing on 7 the April 2013 and has completed four seasons. ''Onnum Onnum Moonu'' is all based on ...

(

) * Sangeethika (

) * Malayali Darbar (

) * Annorikkal (

Manorama News Manorama News is an Indian Malayalam language Free-to-air Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the sign ...

) * Tharattu (

) * JB Junction (

) * Prabhatha Kairali (

) * Asianet TV Awards (

) * Comedy Stars (

) * Comedy Super Nite 2 (

) * Chembai Festival (

) * Red FM Malayalam Music Awards 2018 (

) * Golden Years of Doordarshan (

) * Samdooram (

) * Salt and Pepper (

) * Red Carpet (

) * Ammayum Makalum (

) * Star Comedy Magic (

) * Comedy Nights * Ladies Band * Ormmayile Vishu * Comedy Sthreekal * Ormayile Ponnonam * Zee Malayalam News * Behindwoods Ice * Amma Bharatham * Lakshmi Ramakrishnan Channel * Sowbhagya Venkitesh YouTube Channel * Thara Kalyan YouTube Channel * Dr. Vazhamuttam Chandrababu YouTube Channel * Shinelal Kalagramam YouTube Channel * Waves of Kerala

Appeared in more than 65 advertisements * Lays * Horlicks * Grandmas * Popy * Tanishq Kolam * Atham Pathu Ruchi * Kalyan Jewellers * Nerolac Paints * Moon Beauty Parlour * Swagath Kalyana Mandapam * Ammaveedu * Surf Excel Quick Wash * Vanitha * Mandharakkavu * Colgate

Albums

*ThulasimanamFeatures

References

External links

*
Subbalakshmi at MSI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Subbalakshmi 1936 births 2023 deaths Actresses from Chennai Actresses in Malayalam cinema Indian film actresses Malayalam playback singers Indian women playback singers Indian television actresses Actresses in Malayalam television Singers from Chennai 21st-century Indian actresses Female models from Kerala Tamil television actresses Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema Actresses in Kannada cinema Actresses in Hindi cinema Indian voice actresses Actresses in Tamil television