Mallika Sukumaran


Mohamallika Pillai, better known as Mallika Sukumaran, is an Indian actress and businesswoman, known for her works in Malayalam cinema. She debuted in 1974 with the Malayalam film Utharayanam by G. Aravindan. Since then, she has appeared in over 60 films. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her role in the 1974 film Swapnadanam.
Mallika's first appearance in television was in a tele-serial by K. K. Rajeev called Peythozhiyathe. She won the Second Best Actress Award in the Kaveri Film Critics Television Awards for her role in the serial American Dreams. She is well known for playing both comedic and character roles. She made her debut in Tamil cinema with the 2008 film Vaazhthugal. Mallika has also acted in some advertisements and participated in some talk shows and game shows. She ran a restaurant in Doha. She currently appears in the Malayalam sitcom Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum.

Early life and family

She was born as Mohamallika Pillai to Kainikkara Madhavan Pillai and Shobha as youngest among four children. Her father was a Gandhian and political activist, and was the younger brother of Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai and Kainikkara Kumara Pillai. She has an elder brother, M. Velayudhan Pillai and two elder sisters, Premachandrika and Ragalathika. She had her primary education from Government Higher Secondary School for Girls, Cotton Hill. She pursued a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram.

Film career

Mallika made her acting debut in 1974 with the Malayalam film Utharayanam directed by G. Aravindan and written by Thikkodiyan. She played the role of Radha. In the same year, she won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her role of Rosy Cherian in Swapnadanam. Later on, she was known for her antagonistic and comedic roles. In 1975, she acted in the film Boy Friend and later in Pichathikutappan, directed by P. Venu. When she married the Malayalam actor Sukumaran, she left her acting career. She sang the song "Ormayundo" in P. P. Govindan's 1977 film Saritha, along with P. Jayachandran.
After a break, she returned to acting with the television serial Peythozhiyathe directed by K. K. Rajeev. Her future daughter-in-law Poornima Indrajith was also part of the cast, it was during its sets that her son Indrajith Sukumaran and Poornima met. Valayam, Snehadooram, Sthree Oru Santhwanam, Harichandhanam, American Dreams, Indhumukhi Chandhramathi and Porutham are some of her popular tele-serials. She also got a film-TV critics award for her role in the serial American Dreams.
Her first movie in her comeback is the Rajasenan movie Meghasandesham. Suresh Gopi was the hero of this movie. Her role in Ranjith's Ammakkilikkoodu was widely appreciated. Recently she has judged the popular reality show Amma Ammmayiyamma, telecasting on Kairali TV. She has acted in some advertisements also.
Her debut Tamil film was Vaazhthugal directed by Seeman. In 2016, she won the lifetime achievement award, Chalachithra Prathibha Award, by the Kerala Film Critics Association Award.

Personal life

After romancing for 10 years, she married then struggling actor Jagathy Sreekumar in 1976, eloping with him to Madras without the consent of her family. Mallika's family was against her decision. However, the couple legally separated in 1979. On 17 October 1978, she married Malayalam actor Sukumaran. After her second marriage, she retired from acting. Her sons Prithviraj Sukumaran and Indrajith Sukumaran are leading actors in Malayalam cinema. Actress and television anchor Poornima Indrajith is her daughter-in-law.
In 2012, she opened a beauty and skin clinic in Doha, along with her friend. She holds a residence permit in Doha. In 2013, she launched Spice Boat, a multicuisine restaurant at West Bay, Doha. She is the CEO and the Executive Chairperson of the restaurant. By 2016, the restaurant opened six more outlets around Doha. She has a villa in Doha. She has a house in her hometown of Thiruvananthapuram where she grew up. Her sons are settled in Kochi.

Filmography

Films

2020s

; Albums as an actress
  • 2020 : Ammakkorummma as Herself
  • 2022 : Thanal Thedi as Amma
;As assistant directorMadanolsavamKanyakumari
  • 2 Sreekumaran Thampi's movies
;As production controller
  • Irakal
  • Padayani

Playback singing

Saritha - OrmayundoMy Great Grandfather - Grandpa

As dubbing artist

Television

• All the programs are television serials, unless otherwise mentioned.
YearTitleChannelNotes
2001PeythoriyatheSurya TVas Mrinalini
2001PoruthamSurya TV
2001-2004ValayamDD Malayalamas Kanaka
2001ThaaliSurya TV
2002SnehatheeramDD Malayalam
2002InnaleAsianet
2002SnehaAsianetProducer
2002American DreamsAsianetas Sara
2002-2003SnehadooramAsianet
MaayaKairali TV
2004Sthree Oru SanthwanamAsianetas Sethulakshmi
2004Akkare AkkareSurya TV
2004-2005Life is BeautifulAsianet
2005Athira X CAmrita TVas Principal Telefilm
2005-2006Summer in AmericaKairali TVas Reetha
2005-2006Indhumukhi ChandramathiSurya TV
2006Sathi LeelavathiAmrita TVas Maria
2007Veendum Chila Veettu VisheshangalAsianetas Malathy
2008KoottukudumbamKairali TVas Shailaja
2008-2009Enkilum Ente GopalakrishnaAsianetas Gomathiyamma
2009RahasyamAsianet
2010-2012HarichandanamAsianetas Draupathi
2012-2013Amma AmmayiyammaKairali TVJudge
2013Amma Ammayiyamma 2Kairali TVJudge
2014KudumbapuranamJaihind TV
2015-2016Indumukhi Chandramathi 2Surya TV
2017Comedy stars season 2AsianetJudge
2017Salt N PepperKaumudy TVCelebrity presenter
2019Thakarppan ComedyMazhavil ManoramaJudge
2019 – 2020KabaniZee Keralamas Kottaramuttam Parvathyamma
2020KoodathayiFlowers TVas Achamma Mathew
2020–2021Life is beautiful season 2Asianetas Vinodhini
2021Parayam NedamAmrita TVas Participant
2021Ente MaathavuSurya TVas Molly
2022–presentOru Chiri Iru Chiri Bumper ChiriMazhavil ManoramaJudge
2022MY G Flowers Oru KodiFlowers TVas Participant
2022Red CarpetAmrita TVas Mentor
2022–2023Surabhiyum SuhasiniyumFlowers TVas Suhasini
2023Comedy MastersAmrita TVas Judge
2023Aniyathipraavu (TV series)Surya TVHerself; Guest appearance
2023Entamma SuperaaMazhavil ManoramaGrand finale jury
2024-2025Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum 2Flowers TVas Suhasini