Santha Kumari
Encyclopedia
Vellaala Subbamma (better known as Santhakumari ) (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
.
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
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.
, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award
in 1998.
P. Pullaiah
P. Pullaiah or P. Pullayya B.A. is a Telugu film director and producer. He was recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He married veteran actress P. Santha Kumari in 1937...
.
Early years
Vellaala Subbamma was born in ProddaturProddatur
Proddatur is the second largest town in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is renowned for its gold and cotton business...
town, (Kadapa District
Kadapa district
YSR Kadapa District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. On 8 July 2010, the government of Andhra Pradesh renamed the district in honor of Y. S...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
) 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
D. K. Pattammal
Damal Krishnaswamy Pattammal was a prominent Carnatic musician and a playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. She along with her contemporaries M. S. Subbulakshmi and M. L. Vasanthakumari were popularly referred to as the Female trinity of Carnatic Music...
. She joined a drama troupe and was an AIR
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
artiste by the age of sixteen. She came to Madras (now Chennai)
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
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
Santhakumari debuted in Telugu CinemaTelugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
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
Sarangadhara
-1930 film:Sarangadhara is a 1930 silent film directed by Y. V. Rao under the General Pictures Corporation.-1935 Tamil film:Sarangadhara is a 1935 Tamil film directed by V. S. K. Padham under the Lotus Pictures, filmed at Wadia Movietone Studios in Bombay. Starred by Kothamangalam Cheenu and T....
(1937), during which time the director of the movie P. Pullaiah
P. Pullaiah
P. Pullaiah or P. Pullayya B.A. is a Telugu film director and producer. He was recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He married veteran actress P. Santha Kumari in 1937...
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
Jayabheri
Jayabheri is a 1959 Telugu musical hit film directed by P. Pullaiah and starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi in lead roles. The film is based on the 1947 production by V. Shantaram, titled Lokshahir Ram Joshi in Marathi and Matwala Shayar Ram Joshi in Hindi.-The plot:The story setting...
(1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam
Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam
Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam is a 1960 Magnum opus Telugu Musical film produced and directed by P. Pullaiah and starring N. T. Rama Rao. The story is based on the story of Lord Venkateswara .-The Story:Evil forces dominates the world...
(1960), and Preminchi Choodu
Preminchi Choodu
Preminchi Choodu is a 1965 Telugu comedy film directed and produced by P. Pullaiah. The film is a remake of the Tamil comedy "Kaadalikka Neramillai," directed by C. V. Sridhar....
(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
Ramudu Bheemudu
Ramudu Bheemudu is a 1964 Telugu film directed by Tapi Chanakya. It was the first movie of D. Rama Naidu as a producer. N.T. Rama Rao played the dual role as "Ramudu" and "Bheemudu". It was remade into Tamil as Enga Veettu Pillai With M. G...
(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
P. Pullaiah
P. Pullaiah or P. Pullayya B.A. is a Telugu film director and producer. He was recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contributions to Telugu cinema. He married veteran actress P. Santha Kumari in 1937...
and Santhakumari acted as wife and husband in only film called Muttaiduva in 1979.
Awards and recognition
For her contributions to Telugu CinemaTelugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award
Raghupathi Venkaiah Award
The Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu Award is an annual award introduced to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Telugu film industry....
in 1998.