Philomina (1926 – 2 January 2006) was an Indian actress, who worked in the

Malayalam film industry Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, '' Elippathayam ...

. She acted in more than 750 films in her career. She played mostly character and comedy roles, besides that of mother and grandmother. She started acting on the stage. This experience stood her in good stead when she was offered her first film role. The character of Anappara Achamma in the 1991 film '' Godfather'', portrayed by her is acknowledged to be one of the most powerful roles ever in Malayalam cinema.

Early life

Philomina entered the film industry with eight years of experience in professional drama, she worked with the drama troupe of

P. J. Antony P. J. Antony (1 January 1925 – 14 March 1979) was an Indian stage and film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' Nirmalyam'' in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to rece ...

. She used to say it was her initial experience with an actor like Antony that helped shape her film career. Her parents were perturbed when she had to travel to

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

for the first shoot. It was Moidu Padiyathu who convinced her parents. Her first movie, '' Kuttikkuppayam'' (1964), produced by T. E. Vasudevan and directed by M. Krishnan Nair was a big hit. Philomina played the role of

Prem Nazir Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 7 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the history of India ...

's mother, a Muslim character.

Personal life

She was born to Devassia and Mariam in 1926 at

Mullurkara Mullurkara is a village in Thalapilly Taluk of Thrissur district in the state of Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, ...

Thrissur Thrissur (), formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi and Kozhikode, and t ...

. She had her primary education from Valapad GVHS School. Her father died when she was 12. She used to sing at church choir. When her father died she started singing for dramas to make a living. Later she started acting in dramas and then moved to movies. She married Antony, a theater artist, in 1956, but lost her husband when her only son Joseph was three years old.

Film career

Philomina won her first State award, for the best supporting actress, in 1970 for her roles in films ''Thurakkathavaathil'' and ''Olavum Theeravum''. In 1987, she received the award for the second time for '' Thaniyavarthanam''. Somewhere during this time, there was a short break in her career. She came back in the films of

Bharathan Bharathan (14 November 1946 – 30 July 1998) was an Indian film maker, artist, and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan and K. G. George, in the ...

and Padmarajan. Her roles in films like ''Chatta'', ''

Innale ''Innale'' () is a 1990 Malayalam-language psychological drama film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film was produced by A. B. R Productions. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Shobhana, and Srividya in lead roles. The film featur ...

'', '' Njan Gandharvan'', '' Venkalam'', ''Churam'', '' Vietnam Colony'', '' Kudumbapuranam'', '' Godfather'', '' Uppukandam Brothers'', '' Thalayana Manthram'' and '' Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal'' would also be remembered for long time. It was Sathyan Anthikkad who first cast Philomina in a comic role. The film '' Madanmaar Londonil'', gave this talented actress a new image. Her roles in films like '' Malayogam'', '' Kireedam'', '' Uncle Bun'', '' Manathe Kottaram'', '' Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka'' and '' In Harihar Nagar''. In a career spanning over four decades Philomina starred in 750 films and numerous television serials. She was last seen in '' Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum''.

Later life

Philomina was living in a small, well done-up apartment in

Kochi Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of ...

till she moved to her son's place in

a couple of years before her death. She was a chronic diabetic and suffered

stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...

in 2005. She was getting

insulin Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism ...

shots for her

diabetic Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...

condition. She was bed-ridden for over a month before she died at her son- Joseph's residence in Chennai due to diabetes related problems on 2 January 2006, aged 79.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Ch ...

: * Second Best Actress – 1970 – '' Thurakkatha Vathil,

Olavum Theeravum ''Olavum Theeravum'' () is a 1970 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by P. N. Menon, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and produced by P. A. Backer. It stars Madhu and Ushanandini, with Jose Prakash, Philomina, and Nilambur Balan in ...

'' * Second Best Actress – 1987 – '' Thaniyavarthanam''

Kerala Film Critics Award The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were insti ...

: * Best Second Actress - 1991 - ''Godfather''

Partial filmography

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

TV Serial

*Sthree *Janakaeeyam Janaki *Shankupushpam *Thamarakkuzhali *Punnakka Vikasana Corporation *Kudumba Visheyshangal

Drama

* Pooja * Sagara Rajakumari - radio drama

As a singer

* Achamakuttiyude Achayan 1998 * "Kunjiyammakku Anchu Makkalane" (Adukkala Rahasyam Angadi Paattu) 1997 * "Muthani Munthiri" (Pookkalam Varavayi) 1991

References

External links

Philomina at MSI
* {{authority control 1926 births 2006 deaths Actresses from Kerala Indian film actresses Kerala State Film Award winners Actresses in Malayalam cinema People from Thrissur district 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Actresses in Malayalam television Actresses from Thrissur