Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known as Kumari Sachu (born 7 January 1948) is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedienne who has nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her film début in 1953 in the film ''

Rani ''Rani'' in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, sometimes spelled ''Ranee'', is a Hindu/Sanskrit feminine given name. The term is the female form of the term for princely rulers in South and Southeast Asia and applies equally to the wife of ...

'' at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. Since 1995, she has started acting in television serials. In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honored Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.

Early life

Sachu was born into a large family in

Mylapore Mylapore, also spelt Mayilapur, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is also called Tirumayilai. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the cel ...

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 ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...

. Hailing from an orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, it was not smooth sailing for the young actress, but her talent acted as the decisive factor. Permission was granted by her lawyer-father. As she teamed up with her sister for

Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of ...

recitals, her film career forged ahead. Sachu has a sister named ''Maadi'' Lakshmi. She was an actress.

Film career

In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by director A. S. A. Sami (of ''

Velaikkari ''Velaikari'' () is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. S. A. Sami and produced by M. Somasundaram under Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai, while incorporating plot deta ...

'' fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number. Sami cast her in the Bhanumathi-starrer ''Rani'', and for a scene, she had to cry. But Sachu just did not know how to cry! A quiet pinch did the trick. Then followed the Arignar Anna-scripted ''Sorga Vaasal''. As the younger Paro in '' Devadasu'', her performance was endearing. The chubby-faced Sachu went on to fill the vacuum left by Baby Saroja. Sachu performed with élan with the legends, be it Bhanumathi, Padmini,

Anjali Devi Anjali Devi (; 24 August 1927 – 13 January 2014) was an Indian actress, model and producer in Telugu and Tamil films. She was well known for her role as the Devi Sita in '' Lava Kusa'' as well as for the titular roles in movies like Chen ...

, or Savithri. The evergreen ''Maya Bazaar'' was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). Playing the junior version of S. Varalakshmi in "Shyamala" thrilled her no end since it starred the legendary Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. She then took a small break during which she spent the interim perfecting her dance, giving recitals and playing sister roles. Her first film as heroine in ''Veera Thirumagan'' with Anandan, screened in 1961. She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act as

Nagesh Nagesh (born Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran; (27 September 1933 – 31 January 2009) was an Indian actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian in Tamil films during the 1960s. Nagesh was born in Dharapuram. He acted in over 1,000 Cine ...

's pair in the film '' Kadhalikka Neramillai'', This film starred Muthuraman,

, Kanchana, Rajasree and T. S. Balaiah. After the success of this film, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors like

Suruli Rajan Suruli Rajan was a Tamil film comedian/character artiste. He was a recipient of Tamil Nadu State Government's Best Comedian Award for the year 1981–82. Biography Suruli Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, near Theni. His father ''Ponna ...

, "Thengai" Srinivasan, Cho Ramaswamy, Thangavelu, M. R. Vasu and M. R. Radha in many films from 1964 to 1989. She, Manorama and

Jayalalithaa Jayaram Jayalalithaa (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016) was an Indian politician and actress who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for more than fourteen years over six terms between 1991 and 2016. From 9 February 1989 to 5 December ...

came together to act in 2 classic comedy films - ''Galata Kalyanam'' and ''Bommalattam''. Her other notable films include ''Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan'' and ''Meenava Nanban''. The 1970s saw her taking to the stage, and her first play was PVR's ''Neerottam'', where she played the famous Charu. She played a dual role in ARS' ''Deviyar Iruvar''. Since then, Sachu has been lending her talents out and has successfully starred in over 500 films playing varied roles, and has starred alongside veteran actors such as

Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001) was an Indian actor and producer. He was active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Gan ...

, M. G. Ramachandran, Muthuraman,

S. A. Ashokan S. A. Ashokan, born as Antony and often spelled Asokan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema and theatre. He was popular mainly for playing negative roles but was also a successful character actor. Early life Ashokan was b ...

Thengai Srinivasan Thengai Srinivasan (21 October 1937 – 9 November 1987) was an Indian actor who appeared in Tamil-language films and plays from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was given the prefix ''Thengai'' (coconut) after his role as a coconut-seller in t ...

, Thangavelu and M. R. Radha. The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongside

Rajinikanth Shivaji Rao Gaikwad (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 160 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannad ...

Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also appeared in some Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali f ...

Chiranjeevi Chiranjeevi (born Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad; 22 August 1955) is an Indian actor, film producer and former politician, who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. Chiranjeevi starred in over 150 feature films in Telugu, as well as some film ...

, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as Vijay,

Surya Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a ...

, Karthik, Sakthi Vasu and many others.

Television career

She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials such as ''Manbumigu Maamiyar'', ''Costly Mappilay'', ''Ananda Bhavan'', ''Dinesh Ganesh'' and ''Veetukku Veedu Looty'', where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema. She also acted as Vijayakumar's elder sister in the serial '' Nandini'', which aired on Sun TV.

Awards and nominations

A proud moment in Sachu's life was when she received the

Kalaimamani The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the ''Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram'' (literature, music and theatre), a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government o ...

award from Chief Minister

in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented by M. S. Subbulakshmi. Also in 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.

Partial filmography

— Debut film (1952) * Shyamala (1952) * Devadasu (1953) * Avvaiyar (1953) * Sorgavasal (1954) *

Bahut Din Huye ''Bahut Din Huwe'' () is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film directed by S. S. Vasan, produced by Gemini Studios and starring Madhubala. It is a remake of the Telugu film '' Bala Nagamma'' (1942). ''Bahut Din Huwe'' received lukewarm reviews fro ...

(1954) *

Kaveri The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicized name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu di ...

(1955) - Sandhosham Kollame song dance-as child * Maya Bazaar (1957) * Raja Desingu (1960) *

Veera Thirumagan ''Veera Thirumagan'' is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language historical action film, produced by AVM Productions and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. This was the directorial debut for Tirulokchandar. It stars C. L. Anandan, Sachu, E. V. Saroja and S ...

(1962) * Kalai Arasi (1963) * Kaadhalikka Neramillai (1964) * Inapravugal (1965) - Malayalam film * Subhaidha (1965) - Malayalam film * Kalyanayathrayil (1966) - Malayalam film *

Thenmazhai ''Thenmazhai'' () is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan and produced by V. Ramasamy. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, with Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, Cho, Sachu and Manorama in su ...

(1966) *

Bama Vijayam ''Bama Vijayam'' may refer to: * ''Bama Vijayam'' (1934 film) * ''Bama Vijayam'' (1967 film) See also * ''Bhama Vijayam ''Bhama Vijayam'' () is a 1967 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film, produced by Somasekhar and Radha Krishna, and ...

(1967) * Ninaivil Nindraval * Ooty Varai Uravu (1967) * Delhi Mapillai (1968) as Meghala * Galatta Kalyanam (1968) as Kaanthã * Bommalattam (1968) as geetha * Dial 2244 (1968) - Malayalam film * Vilakkapetta Bandhangal (1969) - Malayalam film * Sorgam (1970) * Maanavan (1970) as Ramu's wife * Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa (1971) as Nurse Sarasa, Mani's lover & Dr. Swamynathan's daughter * Annai Velankanni (1972) as Candle Seller Woman * Pillaiyo Pillai (1972) * Dhikku Theriyatha Kaattil (1972) * Paruva Kaalam (1974) * Anbu Thangai (1974) * Avanthan Manithan (1975) *

Cinema Paithiyam ''Cinema Paithiyam'' () is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan. The film stars Jaishankar and Jayachitra. It is a remake of the Hindi film ''Guddi'' (1971). The film was released on 31 January 1975. Jay ...

(1975) * Dheepam (1977) * Balapareekshanam (1978) - Malayalam film * Pathinalam Ravu (1978) - Malayalam film * Dharma Yuddham (1979) * Ellam Un Kairasi (1980) * Sujatha (1980) * Dwanthayudham (1981) - Malayalam film *

Oorukku Oru Pillai ''Oorukku Oru Pillai'' () is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by D. Yoganand and produced by K. S. Kutralingam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, M. N. Nambiar and V. K. Ramasamy. It was released on 5 February 1982. ...

(1982) * Solla Thudikuthu Manasu (1988) * Manasukkul Mathappu (1988) as Nurse Mary * Naangal (1992) * Avatharam (1995) *

Tata Birla ''Tata Birla'' () is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by C. Ranganathan. The film stars Parthiban, Rachana Banerjee and Goundamani. The film, produced by MSV Murali, had musical score by Vidyasagar and was released on 4 Octobe ...

(1996) * Priyanka (1994) * Oomai Vizhigal (1986) *

Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga ''Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga'' () is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Sundar C., starring Karthik and Rambha with Goundamani, Vivek, Vinu Chakravarthy, Anju among others in supporting roles. The film ...

(1999) * Endrendrum Kadhal (1999) * Priyasakhi (2005) * Jerry (2006) * Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum (2006) * Shankar Dada Zindabad (2007) (Telugu film) * Sadhu Miranda (2008) * Ainthaam Padai (2009) *

Aatanayagan ''Aattanayagann'' () is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by debutante Krishnaram, starring Sakthi, Remya Nambeeshan, and Adithya in lead roles while Ravi Kale, Santhanam, and Meera Vasudevan play supporting role ...

(2010) *

Gowravargal ''Gowravargal'' is a 2010 Tamil-language action film written and directed by Sanjay Ram and produced by Ma. Paramasivam. The film stars Sathyaraj, Vignesh, and Monica, while Ranjith and Kuyili play supporting roles. The music was composed by ...

(2010) * Thillu Mullu (2013) * Naiyaandi (2013) * Irumbu Kuthirai (2014) *

Gethu ''Gethu'' () is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Krish Thirukumaran. Produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin, the film features himself in the lead role along with Amy Jackson, Sathyaraj in a supporting role, and ...

(2016) * Avan Aval (2016) *

Kodi KODI (1400 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Cody, Wyoming, United States, the station is currently owned by the Big Horn Radio Network, a division of Legend Communications of Wyoming, LLC, and features prog ...

(2016) * Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru (2016) * Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings (2016) * Utharavu Maharaja (2018) *

Perazhagi ISO ''Perazhagi ISO'' () is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language science fiction film directed by C. Vijayan. It stars Shilpa Manjunath and Sachu in the lead roles, alongside a cast featuring predominantly newcomers. The film narrates the tale of a 60-year- ...

(2019) * Ayogya (2019) *

Jackpot Jackpot or Jackpot! may refer to: * A prize, such as a progressive jackpot * Gardena jackpots, a poker variant * Jackpot, Nevada, a community on the Nevada–Idaho state border Comics * Jackpot (comics), several comic book characters * ''Jack ...

(2019) * Dharala Prabhu (2020) as Kundhavai, Prabhu's grandmother * Boom Boom Kaalai (2021) * Veetla Vishesham (2022) * The Legend (2022) * Naai Sekar Returns (2022)

References

External links

* {{authority control Living people Tamil comedians Tamil actresses Actresses from Chennai 1948 births Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema Actresses in Malayalam cinema 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Indian film actresses