Damayanthi (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi, was an Indian

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

film and stage actress. In a career spanning about sixty years, she acted in more than 1000 plays and about 480 films.

Biography

Santha Devi was born in

Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature. It is the nineteenth large ...

in a then well known tharavadu called Thottathil in 1927 as the daughter of Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma as the seventh daughter of their 10 children. She did her studies from Sabha school and then B.E.M school. She made her debut as an actress through a 1954 drama ''Smarakam'' written by Vasu Pradeep and directed by Kundanari Appu Nair. She made her cinema debut in ''Minnaminungu'' (1957) directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including ''Moodupadam'', ''Kuttikkuppayam'', ''Kunjalimaraykkar'', ''Iruttinte Athmavu'', ''Sthalathe pradhana payyans'' and ''Adwaitham''. Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie where she enacted the role of a forlorn grandmother with no one to look after her. Besides movies, she was also active in television serials. Her most memorable roles are from Manasi and Minnukettu. Santha Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a private hospital in

Family

She had five brothers and four sisters. All of her brothers were in Air Force and Military services. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard, but the relationship did not last long. He left Santha Devi after the couple had a son. Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer. She has two sons, Suresh Babu and the late Sathyajith.

Awards and honours

Santha Devi is a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1978) and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship (2003). She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in '' Yamanam'' (1992) directed by Bharath Gopi. She has received the Kerala State award for best Stage actress in 1968 for her role in ''Kudukkukal''. In 1968, she received award from Thrissur Fine Arts Society and in 1973 she received best actress award again. In 1978, her acting in ''Ithu bhoomiyanu'' and ''Inquilabinte makkal'' fetched her Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Acamedy's award for best actress. She won the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays in 1983 for ''Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam''. In 1992 she got Film critics award again. Santha Devi was awarded Premji award and later in 2005 the lifetime achievement award from

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi is located in Thrissur city, of Kerala, in India. The academy presents awards for various fields like music, dance, theatre and traditional art forms. Some of the major awards include: * Kerala Sangeetha Nata ...

. She won the attimabbe prize also from Karnataka

Filmography (partial)

; Malayalam# Sandehi (1954) # Minnaminigu(1957) # Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963) # Moodupadam (1963) # Kuttikuppayam (1964) # Devalayam (1964) # Murappennu(1965) as Madhaviyamma # Mayor Nair (1966) # Kunjali Marakkar (1967) # Nagarame Nandi (1967) # Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967) # Ashwamedam (1967) as Lakshmi # Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) as Parukkuttiamma # Mulkireedam (1967) # Kottayam Kolacase (1967) #

Aval ''Aval'' ( in Tamil) may refer to these Indian films: * Aval (1967 film), ''Aval'' (1967 film) * Aval (1972 film), ''Aval'' (1972 film) * Aval (2017 film), ''Aval'' (2017 film) See also

* Aval (TV series), ''Aval'' (TV series), a 2011 Indian ...

(1967) # Anaachadanam (1968) # Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968) # Velutha Kathreena (1968) # Ummachu (1971) # Kuttyedathi(1971) as Meenakshi # Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972) # Darshanam (1973) # Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973) # Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974) # Nirmala (1975 film) (1975) # Utharayanam (1975) # Athithi (1975) # Njavalppazhangal (1976) # Yatheem (1977) # Aparadhi (1977) as Madhaviyamma # Padasaram (1978) as Kochukaali # Chuvanna Vithukal (1978) # Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978) # Thenthulli (1979) # Thakara (1979) # Neelathamara (1979) # Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980) # Chakara (1980) as Subhadra # Angadi (1980) # Ashwaradham (1980) # Adhikaram (1980) # Mylanji (1982 ) # Surumayitta Kannukal (1983) # Maniyara (1983) # Srikrishna Parundu (1984) # Anubandham (1985) # Dheivatheyorthu (1985) # Vellam (1985) # Abhayam Thedi (1986) # Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986) # PC 369 (1987) as Mandara # Nadodikkaattu (1987) as Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance) # Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987) # Rithubetham (1987) # Oohakachavadam (1988) # Dhinarathrangal (1988) # Kanakambarangal (1988) as Sreedevi's mother # Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) as Itti # Padippura (1989) # Chanakyan(1989) # V. I. P. (1989) as Karthyayani # Alicinte Anveshanam (1989) # Naduvazhikal (1989) # Carnivel (1989) # Aye Auto (1990) # Sasneham (1990) # Brahmarakshassu (1990) # Kakkathollayiram (1990) # No 20 Madras Mail (1990) # Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991) # Parallel College (1991) # Adwaitham (1991) # Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991) # Dhanam (1991) # Kamaladalam (1992) # Yamanam (1992) # Magrib (1993) # Agneyam (1993) #

Ghoshayathra ''Ghoshayaathra'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by G. S. Vijayan for Sreelakshmi Creations, starring Sai Kumar in the lead role, supported by Devan, Parvathy and Thilakan playing other important roles. The first titl ...

(1993) as Itheyiumma # Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993) # Naaraayam (1993) # Chukkan (1994) as Gayathri's Mother # Bharanakoodam (1994) as Manju's maid # Ghazal (1994) # Pingami (1994) # Tharavadu (1994) # Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994) # Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994) # Mazhayethum Munbe (1995) # Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995) # Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995) # Sasinas (1995) # Chandha (1995) # No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995) # Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995) # Madamma (1996) # Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996) # Harbour (1996) # Mahathma (1996) # Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997) # Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Valsan's mother #Sisiram (1998) #Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998) # Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998) # Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998) # Priyankari (2000) # Rapid Action Force (2000) as Vasanthakumari's muthassi # Ninneyum Thedi (2001) # Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001) # Neythukaran (2001) # Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002) # Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003) # Ammakkilikkoodu (2003) # Mizhirandilum (2003) # Anyar (2003) as Ummumma # Janakeeyam (2003) as Lakshmiyamma # Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) as Maimuna's mother #

Freedom Freedom is the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving oneself one's own laws". In one definition, something is "free" i ...

(2004) # Akale (2004) as Typewriting teacher # Maratha Nadu (2004) # Ullam (2005) # Anandabadram (2005) # Nottam (2006) as Jankiyamma # Mamma (2006) - Short film as Mrs. Philipose #

Prajapathi ''Prajapathi'' () is a 2006 Malayalam-language action drama film written and directed by Ranjith (director), Ranjith. It stars Mammootty, Siddique (actor), Siddique, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, and Thilakan. The music was by Tej Manoj. The fil ...

(2006) # Vilapagalkkappuram (2008) # Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Janakiyamma # Thalappavu (2008) # Mayabazar(2008) # Koodaram (2009) #

Malayali The Malayali people (; also spelt Malayalee and sometimes known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India, occupying its south ...

(2009) # Kerala Cafe (2009) # Nandhuni (2010) # Nalla Pattukare (2010) # Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother # Uthrada Ravu - Short film # Kunjipennu (2010) - album # Nurunguvettangal - Short film ... Sr. Margarita # Tharangal (2014) - photo only ; Hindi * Triyathri (1990)

Television serials (partial)

*Manasi (DD Malayalam) *Pennurimai (DD Malayalam) *Chitta (Surya TV) * Minnukettu ( Surya TV) *Manassariyathe ( Surya TV) *Kayamkulam Kochunni ( Surya TV) *Ali Manthrikan *Ennapadam *Sakunam ( DD Malayalam) *Vadhu - telefilm *Vidhyarambham - telefilm *Puthiyaplakkuppayam - telefilm *Kannukal- telefilm *Kunchathumma - telefilm

Dramas (partial)

* Kudukkukal * Smaarakam * Deepasthambham Mahaascharyam * Inquilaaabinte Makkal * Ithu Bhoomiyaannu * Pediswapnam

References

External links

*
Shanthadevi at MSI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Santha Indian film actresses Actresses from Kozhikode 1927 births 2010 deaths Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners Indian stage actresses 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Actresses in Malayalam cinema Actresses in Malayalam theatre Indian television actresses Actresses in Malayalam television Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award