| Sujatha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 December 1952[1] Sri Lanka |
| Died | 6 April 2011 (aged 58) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1968–2006 |
Sujatha (Malayalam: സുജാത; 10 December 1952[1] – 6 April 2011)[2] was a popular South Indian actress who has performed in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi language films, and was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. Sujatha was introduced to the Tamil film industry by veteran director K. Balachander as a protagonist in Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974).[3] She has acted with leading actors Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shobhan Babu and Krishna.[4] She paired with Kamal Haasan in most of her films.[2]
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Sujatha was born on 10 December 1952 in Galle, Srilanka[2] where she spent her childhood. She would actively participate in school plays, and later moved to Kerala when she was about 14. She acted in Ernakulam Junction, a Malayalam film and soon drew the attention of K. Balachander.
Sujatha has acted in over 300 films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, with almost 200 in Tamil. She shot to fame instantly with her portrayal of the haughty, free-thinking urban working woman shouldering the family’s responsibilities. She was later paired with actors Sivaji Ganesan, Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan and Vijaykumar. Despite displaying her acting prowess through fiery characters in films like Aval Oru Thodarkadhai and Vidhi, Sujatha was equally known for her performances in family dramas like Mayangugiraal Oru Maadhu, Sentamizh Paattu and Aval Varuvaala. She seldom resorted to glamorous roles and graduated to playing older women in the late 1980s.
Sujatha's entry into the industry was through a powerful role, at a time when hero-centric films were the norm, made many take notice. She made her debut in the Malayalam film Thapasvini. She had a dream debut in Tamil with Aval Oru Thodar Kathai directed by K. Balachander. She again colloborated with K. Balachander in the highly acclaimed Avargal (1977) along with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. In the film, she played the wife of the former and the lover of the latter. Her portrayal of a married woman Anu, who is caught between the torture she is subjected to by her sadistic husband and the unforgettable memories of her past romance, is till date, considered one of the best performances by a female lead.
During the eighties she started playing character roles, often portraying mother roles. Her performances as a senior actor in films like Kodi Parakuthu, Uzhaippali, Baba in all which she played the mother of Rajinikanth, Villain and Varalaru in which she played Ajith Kumar's mother, also saw her trademark restraint and dignity in performance. Vathiyar (2006) was her last film.[1]
"My father thought of her as a director's delight. She would understand what exactly the director wanted, internalise the character and perform accordingly", says Pushpa Kandasamy, film producer and daughter of K. Balachander.
She died of cardiac arrest on 6 April 2011 after undergoing treatment for a heart ailment at her residence in Chennai. She is survived by her husband Jayakar, her son Sajith and her daughter Divya.[7]
| Year | Film | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Vathiyar | Arjun's mother | Tamil |
| 2006 | Varalaru (film) | Ajith Kumar's mother in law | Tamil |
| 2006 | Sri Ramadasu | Pokala Damakka | Telugu |
| 2004 | Attagasam | Ajith Kumar's mother | Tamil |
| 2004 | Arul | Vikram's mother | Tamil |
| 2004 | Jalolsavam | Bhanumathi | Malayalam |
| 2003 | Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu | Raghavayya's wife | Telugu |
| 2002 | Baba | Rajini's mother | Tamil |
| 2002 | Tappu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Telugu | |
| 2001 | Villain | Head of disabled home | Tamil |
| 1999 | Sneham Kosam | Lakshmi | Telugu |
| 1998 | Paataali | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Natpukaaga | Lakshmi | Tamil |
| 1998 | Aval Varuvala | Simran's mother-in-law | Tamil |
| 1996 | Poovarasan | Karthik's mother | Tamil |
| 1996 | Pelli | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Karna | Arjun's mother | Tamil |
| 1994 | Amaithipadai | Sivakami | Tamil |
| 1993 | Uzhavan | Prabhu's mother | Tamil |
| 1993 | Senthamizh Paattu | Prabhu's mother | Tamil |
| 1993 | Uzhaippaali | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Ahankari | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Madhavaiah Gari Manavadu | Telugu | |
| 1992 | Soori Gadu | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Chanti | Mother of Chanti | Telugu |
| 1990 | Sutradhaarulu | Telugu | |
| 1989 | Kodi Parakuthu | Rajini's mother | Tamil |
| 1989 | Maaveeran | Rajini's mother | Tamil |
| 1985 | Mangamma Sabatham | Kamal's mother | Tamil |
| 1984 | Agnigundam | Telugu | |
| 1984 | Anubandham | Telugu | |
| 1984 | Justice Chakravarthy | Telugu | |
| 1983 | Thudikkum Karangal | Tamil | |
| 1983 | Abhilasha | Telugu | |
| 1983 | MLA Yedukondalu | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Thyagi | Tamil | |
| 1982 | Sitadevi | Telugu | |
| 1982 | Thai Mookambhikai | Telugu | |
| 1981 | Ek Hi Bhool | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Kadal Meengal | Kamal's wife | Tamil |
| 1981 | Mahapurushudu | Lakshmi | Telugu |
| 1980 | Prema Tarangalu | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Circus Ramudu | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Anbukku Naan Adimai | Tamil | |
| 1980 | Edantastulameda | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Nool Veli | Tamil | |
| 1979 | Poonthalir | Tamil | |
| 1979 | Gorintaku | Swapna | |
| 1979 | Guppedu Manasu | Telugu Telugu debut | |
| 1977 | Andaman Kathali | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Avargal | Anu | Tamil |
| 1977 | Uyarndhavargal | Tamil | |
| 1976 | Annakili | Annam | Tamil |
| 1976 | Lalitha | Tamil | |
| 1976 | Udayam Kizhakkuthanne | Malayalam | |
| 1976 | Idhaya Malar | Tamil | |
| 1976 | Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu | Tamil | |
| 1975 | Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu | Muthuraman's wife | Tamil |
| 1975 | Vazhunthu Kattukiren | Tamil | |
| 1974 | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai | Kavitha | Tamil |
| 1971 | Ernakulam Junction | Malayalam | |
| 1968 | Thapasvini | Malayalam |
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