| P. Santha Kumari | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vellala Subbamma 17 May 1920 Proddatur, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 16 January 2006 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1936-1979 |
| Spouse | P. Pullaiah |
Vellaala Subbamma (వెల్లాల సుబ్బమ్మ) (better known as Santhakumari (Telugu: శాంతాకుమారి) ) (17 May 1920 - 16 January 2006) is an Indian musical artist and film actress. Santhakumari is the wife of the famous yesteryear Telugu Director and Producer P. Pullaiah.
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Vellaala Subbamma was born in Proddatur town, (Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh) to Sree Sreenivasa Rao and Smt. 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
Santhakumari debuted in Telugu Cinema with Mayabazar a.k.a. Sashirekhaa Parinayam (1936) directed by P.V. Dasu (Pinapala Venkata Dasu). She acted as Sashirekha in the movie – the role played by Savitri in the 1957 version of the movie. She acted in Sarangadhara (1937), during which time the director of the movie P. Pullaiah fell in love with her. They married the same year.
The couple floated the banner PadmaSree Pictures after their daughter Padma, with Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1939) and made great hit movies like Jayabheri (1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), and Preminchi Choodu (1965). Santhakumari acted in most of the movies that were made by her husband. Her performance in Shavukaru (1950), Ardhangi (1955), Sree Venkateswara Mahatmyam (1960), Shanti Nivasam (1960), Ramudu Bheemudu (1964)are remembered even today.
In 1947, the Pullayya-Santhakumari couple started the Ragini Pictures banner along with Bheemavarapu Narasimha Rao (BNR) with Bhakta Jana (Tamil). They made 22 films on both PadmaSree and Ragini banners put together.
She played many roles - lead actress and then graduated into supporting roles. She also played a negative role in Gunasundari Katha (1949). She acted in about 250 films, until 1976 when she acted in movies such as Andaru Bagundali, Maa Inti Devatha, and Secretary. Pullaiah and Santhakumari acted as wife and husband in only film called Muttaiduva in 1979.[1]
For her contributions to Telugu Cinema, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1998.
This is partial filmography of Santha Kumari. Kindly help expanding it.
| Year | Film | Credits | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Sasirekha Parinayam | Actress | Sasirekha |
| 1937 | Sarangadhara | Actress and playback singer | Chitrangi |
| 1938 | Bhakta Jayadeva | Actress | |
| 1939 | Balaji | Actress and playback singer | Consort of Venkateshwara |
| 1941 | Dharmapatni | Actress and playback singer | |
| Parvati Kalyanam | Actress | ||
| 1943 | Krishna Prema | Actress and playback singer | Radha |
| 1945 | Mayalokam | Actress and playback singer | |
| 1949 | Gunasundari Katha | Actress | Rupasundari |
| 1950 | Shavukaru | Actress and playback singer | Santhi |
| 1952 | Dharmadevata | Actress | Kathyayini |
| 1955 | Ardhangi | Actress and playback singer | |
| 1957 | Sarangadhara | Actress | |
| 1959 | Jayabheri | Actress | Annapoorna |
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam | Actress | Vakula |
| Vidiveli | Actress | Chandru's Mother | |
| 1962 | Siri Sampadalu | Actress | |
| 1964 | Ramudu Bheemudu | Actress | |
| 1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Actress | |
| 1967 | Prana Mithrulu | Actress | Jagadamba |
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Actress | Mother of Judge Ramachandra Rao |
| Talla Pellamma | Actress | ||
| 1971 | Prem Nagar | Actress | |
| 1972 | Koduku Kodalu | Actress | |
| 1976 | Secretary | Actress | |
| 1979 | Muttaiduva | Actress |