Sujatha, Indian actress died she was , 58.

Sujatha 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 died she was , 58. Sujatha was introduced to the Tamil film industry by veteran director K. Balachander as a protagonist in Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974). She has acted with leading actors Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shobhan Babu and Krishna. She paired with Kamal Haasan in most of her films.^[3]

(10 December 1952 – 6 April 2011)

Early life

Sujatha was born on 10 December 1952 in Galle, Srilanka 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.

Career

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.

 Delightful entry

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.

 Character roles

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, Villain and Varalaru in which she played Rajinikanth's mother, also saw her trademark restraint and dignity in performance. Vathiyar(2006) was her last film.^[4]

Awards and honours

• Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamil Nadu
• Nandi Award for Pelli in 1998.

“

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.

Death

She died of a cardiac arrest on 6 April 2011 after undergoing treatment for a heart ailment at her resiidence in Chennai. She is survived by husband Jayakar, son Sajith and daughter Divya.^[5]

Selected filmography

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	Arul's mother	Tamil
2004	Jalolsavam	Bhanumathi	Malayalam
2003	Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu	Raghavayya's wife	Telugu
2002	Baba	Baba'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
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	Telugu debut
1979	Guppedu Manasu		Telugu
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		Tamil
1975	Vazhunthu Kattukiren		Tamil
1974	Aval Oru Thodar Kathai	Kavitha	Tamil
1971	Ernakulam Junction		Malayalam
1968	Thapasvini		Malayalam

 

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