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Santha Kumari (born Vellaala Subbamma; 17 May 1920 – 16 January 2006) was an Indian musical artist and actress. She was married to the Telugu film director and producer P. Pullayya.

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Santha Kumari
Shanthakumari (1949)
Born	Vellala Subbamma 17 May 1920 Proddatur, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died	16 January 2006 (aged 85)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936-1979
Spouse	P. Pullayya

Early years

Vellaala Subbamma was born in Proddatur town, (Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh) to Sreenivasa Rao and Pedda Narasamma. Her father was an actor and her mother was a classical music singer. Santhakumari learned classical music and violin under the guidance of Professor P. Sambamurthy and was a classmate of D. K. Pattammal. She joined a drama troupe and was an AIR artiste by the age of sixteen. She came to Madras (now Chennai) to pursue a career in music. She found employment in Vidyodaya School for a remuneration of Rs 2 per month. She sang along with music director S. Rajeswara Rao for AIR.

Film career

P. V. Das, producer and director of Mayabazaar (also known as Sasirekhaa Parinayam) was scouting for a young girl to play Sasirekha. He saw Subbamma at a music concert. At the time, she was teaching music at Vidyodaya School, Madras. Das liked her mellifluous voice and innocence, essential qualities to portray Sasirekha's character. Her parents were against her joining films. They wanted to see her as classical singer. Subbamma was adamant and resorted to hunger strike. On the fourth day they relented. Das changed her name as Santhakumari. The film released in 1936.[1]

In the following year she was a member of the cast of Sarangadhara, a film that was directed by P. Pullayya, whom she met and married in the same year.

The couple used the name of PadmaSree Pictures, named after their daughter Padma, for some of their movies and had success with films such as Jayabheri (1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), and Preminchi Choodu (1965). Santhakumari acted in most of the movies that were made by her husband, including Shavukaru (1950), Ardhangi (1955), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), Santhi Nivasam (1960), and Ramudu Bheemudu (1964).

In 1947, the couple started the Ragini Pictures banner with Bheemavarapu Narasimha Rao and Bhakta Jana. They made 22 films on both PadmaSree and Ragini banners put together.

She played many lead and supporting roles, with around 250 appearances in total.[2]

Awards and recognition

For her contributions to Telugu Cinema, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1998.

Filmography

This is partial filmography of Santha Kumari. Kindly help expanding it.

Year	Film	Language	Credits	Character
1936	Sasirekha Parinayam	Telugu	Actress	Sasirekha
1937	Sarangadhara	Telugu	Actress and playback singer	Chitrangi
1938	Bhakta Jayadeva	Telugu	Actress
1939	Balaji	Telugu	Actress and playback singer	Consort of Venkateswara
1941	Dharmapatni	Telugu	Actress and playback singer
	Parvati Kalyanam	Telugu	Actress
1943	Krishna Prema	Telugu	Actress and playback singer	Radha
1945	Mayalokam	Telugu	Actress and playback singer
1948	Bhaktha Jana	Tamil	Actress
1949	Gunasundari Katha	Telugu	Actress	Rupasundari
1950	Shavukaru	Telugu	Actress and playback singer	Santhi
1952	Dharmadevata	Telugu	Actress	Kathyayini
1952	Daasi	Telugu	Actress	Parvathamma
1953	Velaikari Magal	Tamil	Actress	Parvathamma
1953	Ponni	Tamil	Actress
1955	Ardhangi	Telugu	Actress and playback singer
1955	Pennin Perumai	Tamil	Actress
1957	Sarangadhara	Telugu	Actress	Queen Rathnangi
1958	Sarangadhara	Tamil	Actress	Queen Rathnangi
1958	Bommai Kalyanam	Tamil	Actress	Thangam
1958	Bommala Pelli	Telugu	Actress
1959	Jayabheri	Telugu	Actress	Annapoorna
1959	Kalaivanan	Tamil	Actress	Annapoorna
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam	Telugu	Actress	Vakula
1960	Vidivelli	Tamil	Actress	Chandru's Mother
1962	Siri Sampadalu	Telugu	Actress
1962	Policekaran Magal	Tamil	Actress
1964	Ramudu Bheemudu	Telugu	Actress
1965	Preminchi Choodu	Telugu	Actress
1967	Prana Mithrulu	Telugu	Actress	Jagadamba
1970	Akka Chellelu	Telugu	Actress	Mother of Judge Ramachandra Rao
1970	Talla Pellamma	Telugu	Actress
1971	Prem Nagar	Telugu	Actress
1971	Pavitra Hrudayalu	Telugu	Actress
1972	Koduku Kodalu	Telugu	Actress
1972	Vasantha Maligai	Tamil	Actress	Anand and Vijay's mother
1975	Piriyavidai	Tamil	Actress and singer
1976	Secretary	Telugu	Actress
1979	Muttaiduva	Telugu	Actress

See also

• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

References

External links

• Santha Kumari at IMDb
• Santha Kumari Profile - Telugu Cinema
• M. L. Narasimham (20 October 2000). "Unforgettable screen mother". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.
• Kannil Therivadhu on YouTube - A song scene from Piriyavidai (1975) with Santhakumari acting and singing

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