Sumathi is an Indian actress from
Madurai
Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
,
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
. She started her career at the age of two. She starred in many
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 ...
,
Tamil,
Telugu,
Kannada
Kannada () is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka in southwestern India, and spoken by a minority of the population in all neighbouring states. It has 44 million native speakers, and is additionally a ...
, and
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
language films.
Personal life
Sumathi was born in
Madurai
Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...
a city in
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
India. Her father and mother were originally from Madurai. Her father managed several businesses such as photo studio and printing press. Her mother, was a housewife taking care of Sumathi and her seven brothers and three sisters. Her elder brother
Master Prabhakar was the first one in the family to enter the film industry.
In 1966, Sumathi moved in with her Aunt along with Prabhakar to pursue her dreams. Sumathi entered the film industry when a director was looking for a young baby to play a role in a
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 along with veteran actor
Bharath Gopi.
Sumathi is married and settled in America with their daughter and son.
Career
She started her film career in Tamil movies as a child actress (Baby Sumathi) by playing the role of daughter of
Gopi in the late 60's. She appeared in many children's movies. She played dual roles and in some movies acted as a boy. Soon she moved to Telugu and Malayalam films, where she starred in many films.
As Baby Sumathi grew up, she took to modeling and started endorsing many products. She has won many Nandi and
Filmfare awards
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
as a child. She acted many films with her third elder brother Master Prabhakar and second younger brother Kumar. As soon as her brothers entered the film industry, most of her family members were interested to go on the same line. Sumathi's cousin was a well known actress who was successful in various Tamil films. Sumathi's other cousins were cinematography and assistant directors. Sumathi also
dubbed for many actresses in the past in many languages.
In her acting career, she was often stereotyped as the
girl next door. She acted with many stars such as
M. G. Ramachandran,
Sivaji Ganesan
Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...
,
Gemini Ganesan,
Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan (''née'' Bhaduri; born 9 April 1948) is an Indian actress and politician.
She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of Hindi cinema. She is serving as member of the parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party ...
,
Manorama,
Nagesh,
Rajinikanth,
Jayalalithaa,
Ambika, and
Bhagyaraj to name a few. Her debut film, as heroine, was Bhagyaraj's directorial debut; ''
Suvarillatha Chithirangal'' (1978) in Tamil. She gave up her acting career at the peak after her marriage in 1989 to move to America.
Awards
Child Artist awards in Malayalam
Baby Sumathi is a three-time winner
Kerala State Film Award
The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a cinema of kerala, motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs (Kerala), Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and sin ...
for Best Child Artist (female).
Kerala State Film Awards
*1969 Best Female Child Artist (female) Baby Sumathi - ''Nadhi''
*1972 Best Female Child Artist (female) Baby Sumathi
*1977 Best Female Child Artist(female) Baby Sumathi - ''Shankupushpam''
Filmography
Malayalam
*''Nadhi'' (1969) as Babymol
*''Kuttavali'' (1970) as Young Santhi
*''Kochaniyathi'' (1971) as Young Indu
*'' Anubhavangal Paalichakal'' (1971) as Kumari
*'' Thettu'' (1971) as Minimol
*'' Muthassi (film)'' (1971) as Rekha
*''Panitheeratha Veedu'' (1972)
*'' Prathikaram'' (1972) as Leela
*''Professor'' (1972) as Rema
*''Sree Guruvayoorappan'' (1972)
*''Achanum Bappayum'' (1972) as Young Amina
*''Maram'' (1973)
*''Padmavyooham'' (1973) as Leenamol
*'' Panitheeratha Veedu'' (1973) as Roshini
* '' Veendum Prabhatham'' (1973) as Young Ravi
*''Azhakulla Celina'' (1973) as Sajan
*''Kaamini'' (1974) as Young Seema
*''Moham'' (1974)
*''Nagaram Sagaram'' (1974)
*''Chandrakandam'' (1974) as Young Vinayan, Bindu (double role)
*''Poonthenaruvi'' (1974) as Young Valsamma
*''Jeevikkan Marannu Poya Sthree'' (1974)
*''Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu'' (1974) as Gopi's daughter
*'' Sethubandanam'' (1974) as in dual role as Kavitha / Saritha
*''Swamy Ayyappan'' (1975) Young Girl
*'' Chattambikkalyaani'' (1975) as Young Kalyani
*''Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre'' (1975) as
*''Soorya Vamsham'' (1975)
*''Chief Guest'' (1975)
*''Thiruvonam'' (1975) as Manju
*''Pravaham'' (1975) as Young Ragini
*''Hiridhayam Oru Kshethram'' (1976) as Sumam
* Abhimaanam (1976) as Latha
* Anubhavam (1976) as Young Mary
*''Chennay Valarthiya Kutty'' (1976) as Young Omana
*''Thulavarsham'' (1976) as Young Ammini
*''Chottanikkara Amma'' (1976)
*''Shankupushpam'' (1977) as Mini
*''Sathyavan Savithri'' (1977)
*''Hridayame Sakshi'' (1977)
*''Sree Murukan'' (1977)
*''Aradhana'' (1977)
*''Sneha Yamuna'' (1977)
*''Amme Anupame'' (1977)
*''Aa Nimisham'' (1977)
*''Veedu Oru Swargam'' (1977)
*''Aasheervatham'' (1977)
*''Aval Oru Devalayam'' (1977)
*''Neethipeedham'' (1977)
*'' Vidarunna Mottukal'' (1977) Kanchana
*''Samudram'' (1977) as Bindu
*'' Rathi Nirvedam'' (1978) as Shanthi
*''Kaithappo'' (1978)
*''Avalude Raavukal'' (1978)
*''Ashtamudikkayal'' (1978)
*''Avalkku Maranamilla'' (1978)
*''Aaru Manikkoor'' (1978)
*''Mudra Mothiram'' (1978) as Amina
*''Sarapanjaram'' (1979) as Young Baby
*''Choola'' (1979)
*''Radha Enna Pennkutti'' (1979)
*''Raathrikal Ninakku Vendi'' (1979)
*''Lajjavathi'' (1979) as Sandhya
*''Lovely'' (1979)
*''Pathivritha'' (1979)
*''Indhradhanussu'' (1979)
*''Maani Koya Kurup'' (1979)
*''Kanthavalayam'' (1980)
*''Vazhiyile Yathrakkar'' (1981)
*''Enne Njan Thedunnu'' (1983) as Janaki
*''Aval Kathirunnu Avanum'' (1986)
Tamil
*'' Iru Kodugal'' (1969)
*'' Vaa Raja Vaa'' (1969)
*'' Thirudan'' (1969) as Guest Role
*'' Avare En Deivam'' (1969)
*'' Enga Mama'' (1970) as Anni Pesant
* '' Thirumalai Thenkumari'' (1970)
* '' Penn Deivam'' (1970)
* '' Engirundho Vandhaal'' (1970)
* '' Engal Mama'' (1970) as Annie Pesant
* '' Thangaikkaaga'' (1971) as Young Radha
* '' Annai Velankanni'' (1971)
* '' Justice Viswanathan'' (1971)
*''Velli Vizha'' (1972)
* ''Appa Tatta!'' (1972)
*''Naan Yen Pirandhen'' (1972)
*'' Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil'' (1972) as Meena
*''Komatha En Kulamatha'' (1973) as Punithavathi
*''Karaikkal Ammaiyar'' (1973) as Valli
*''Swamy Ayyappan'' (1975) as Young Girl
*''Avandhan Manidhan'' (1975) as Selvi
*'' Vattathukkul Chaduram'' (1978)
*'' Ennai Pol Oruvan'' (1978) as Shanthi
*'' Suvarilladha Chiththirangal'' (1979) as Saroja
*'' Sigappukkal Mookkuthi'' (1979) as Janaki
*''Saranam Ayyappa'' (1980)
*''Pennin Vazhkai'' (1981)
*''Ponnazhagi'' (1981)
*'' Azhagu'' (1984)
*'' Naan Sigappu Manithan'' (1985)
*''Amman Kaatiya Vazhi'' (1991)
Telugu
*'' Balaraju Katha'' (1970)
*'' Manchivadu'' (1973) as Rani
*''Pasi Hrudayalu'' (1973)
*''Bangaru Kalalu'' (1974)
*''Urvashi'' (1974) as Suguna & Aruna
*''Rakta Sambandhalu'' (1975)
*''Swarganiki Nichchenalu'' (1977)
*''Sangeeta'' (1981)
Kannada
* '' Mannina Magalu'' (1974)
Hindi
*'' Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1970, film, as Baby Sumathi)
*'' Swarg Narak'' (1978, film, as Baby Sumathi)
References
External links
*
Baby Sumathi at MSI
Kaathal Vaibhogame
Balaraju Kadha - Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram
Balaraju Katha Movie
{{authority control
Tamil actresses
Year of birth missing (living people)
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Living people
Actresses from Madurai
Actresses in Tamil cinema
20th-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Indian film actresses
Actresses in Kannada cinema
Actresses in Telugu cinema