Suryakantham (actress)


Suryakantham was an Indian actress in Telugu cinema. She was popular for her portrayal of cruel and cunning women with a comedic touch.

Early life

Suryakantham was born and brought up in a Telugu family residing at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. She was the 14th child to her parents, ten of whose children had died. She learnt dance and singing at the age of six.
She married Peddibhotla Chalapati Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.

Career

Suryakantham started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studios, for which she had been paid Rs 75 in remuneration. She got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradi, but eventually quit her job at Gemini Studios.
Later, she got a character artist role in the movie Gruhapravesam. She was offered the heroine's role in Soudamini, but did not accept it. She later was in a car accident, in which she received injuries to her face. She later played the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram.
Another "heroine" role was offered to her from a Bollywood film producer. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds, and that the same was given to her, Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying "I can't live on the unhappiness of other artists." She subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Kodarikam, which brought her a new level of success. The directors B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantham. They produced the movie Gundamma Katha, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao, with Suryakantham playing the lead role of Gundamma. The film was commercially successful.

Awards and titles

Awards

Titles

  • Gayyali Athayya
  • Sahaja Nata Kala Siromani
  • Haasya Nata Siromani
  • Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
  • Rangasthala Siromani
  • Arungalai Maamani

Filmography

YearFilmRole
1946Narada Naradi
1949Dharmangada
1950SamsaramVenkamma
1952DaasiDr. Sarala
1952Pelli Chesi ChooduChukkalamma
1952PremaChimlli
1953AmmalakkaluSeshamma
1953Paredesi
1953Bratuku TeruvuKotamma
1954ChakrapaniManorama
1954Chandraharam
1955Donga Ramudu
1955KanyasulkamMeenakshi
1956ChiranjeevuluAkhilandamma
1956Charana DaasiSeshamma
1956Ilavelpu
1956Penki Pellam
1957Bhagya Rekha
1957Dongallo Dora
1957MayabazarHidimbi
1957Todi KodalluAnasuya
1958Bommala Pelli
1958Appu Chesi Pappu KooduRajaratnam
1958Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu
1958Mangalya Balam
1959JayabheriRatnalu
1959Krishna Leelalu
1960Santinivasam
1961Velugu NeedaluKanaka Durgamma
1961Bharya Bhartalu
1961Pelli Kani Pillalu
1961Iddaru Mitrulu
1961Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham
1961Sabash Raja
1961VagdanamBaalamani
1962Atma BandhuvuWidowed daughter
1962Bhishma
1962Gundamma KathaGundamma
1962Kula Gotralu
1962Manchi Manasulu
1962Mohini Rugmangada
1962Rakhta Sambandham
1962Siri Sampadalu
1963Chaduvukunna AmmayiluVardhanam
1963Lava Kusa
1963Mooga Manasulu
1963Nartanasala
1963Paruvu Pratishta
1963Eedu JoduRangamma
1963Punarjanma
1963Tirupatamma Katha
1964Doctor Chakravarthy
1964Murali Krishna
1964Ramudu Bhimudu
1965Aatma GowravamSanthana Lakshmi
1966Kanne Manasulu
1966Navaratri
1966Zamindar
1966Paduka PattabhishekamManthara
1966AastiparuluKaasulamma
1967Ummadi kutumbam
1967Gruhalakshmi
1967Poola Rangadu
1968Ninne Pelladita
1968Govula GopannaMahalakshmi
1968Vintha KapuramRambanamma
1968Tikka SankarayyaKanthamma
1969Sri Rama KathaCharusheela, wife of Pragalbhacharyulu
1969AatmiyuluMahankali
1969Muhurtha BalamShantamma
1969Buddhimantudu
1969Bhale Rangadu
1970Balaraju Katha
1970Vidhi VilasamThirupathi's wife Parapathi
1970Thaali Bottu
1971Dasara BulloduANR's Adopted Mother
1971Srimantudu
1971Atthalu KodalluSundaramma
1971Manasu Mangalyam
1972Illu IllaluRaja Babu's Mother in law – Surammatta
1972Anta Mana ManchikeLeela Rao
1972Iddaru AmmayiluSundaramma
1972Kalam Marindi
1972Koduku Kodalu
1972Vichitra BandhamKantam
1973Andala RamuduSamalamma
1973Ganga MangaDurgamma
1973MeenaMeena's caretaker and Krishnaveni's aunt
1975Mutyala MugguContractor's wife
1975Pooja
1976Padi PantaluKanthamma, wife of Seshayya
1976Secretary
1976Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club
1977Ardhangi
1977Andame Anandam
1977YamagolaSeetamma
1978Goranta Deepam
1979Oka Challani RathriKamakshi
1979Karthika Deepam
1980Buchchi Babu
1980Konte Mogudu Penki PellamBhadramma
1980Gayyali GangammaGangamma
1981Prema Mandiram
1982Pelleedu Pillalu
1982Kalavari Samsaram
1982Bangaru BhoomiSuramma
1983Pelli Choopulu
1983Mundadugu
1983Prema Pichollu
1983Konte KodalluVaralamma
1983Lanke Bindelu
1984Dandayatra
1985America Alludu
1985Surya Chandra
1985Pattabhishekam
1985Kanchu Kavacham
1985Rakta Sindhuram
1985Bullet
1985Palnati SimhamParvathamma
1985Surya Chandra
1986Ravana BrahmaAnnapoornamma
1986Ugra Narasimham
1986Chanakya SapadhamDurgamma
1987Gundamma Gari Krishnulu
1988Yamudiki MoguduKali's grandmother
1988O Bharya KathaKanthamma
1989Bandhuvulostunnaru JagrataSundaramma
1989Hai Hai NayakaSuryakanthamma
1990Idem Pellam Baboi
1993Ratha SarathiGundamma
1993One by TwoBalaji's grandmother
1993Govinda Govinda
1994Anna
1994S. P. ParasuramLakshmikantham