Madurai Saurashtra Sundari Bai (2 March 1923 – 12 March 2006) was an Indian actress, singer and dancer who worked mainly in

Tamil cinema Tamil cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Tamil language, the main spoken language in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is nicknamed Kollywood, a portmanteau of the names Kodambakkam, a Ch ...

from the 1940s to the 1970s. Sundari Bai was the wife of writer and director

Kothamangalam Subbu Kothamangalam Subbu (born S. M. Subramanian, 10 November 1910 – 15 February 1974) was an Indian poet, lyricist, author, actor and film director based in Tamil Nadu. He wrote the cult classic Tamil novel ''Thillana Mohanambal'' and was awarded ...

. Her most notable films include '' Aadmi'' (1939), '' Madanakamarajan'' (1941), '' Nandanar'' (1942), '' Dasi Aparanji'' (1944), '' Kannamma En Kadhali'' (1945), ''

Miss Malini ''Miss Malini'' is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language satirical film written and directed by Kothamangalam Subbu and produced by K. Ramnoth, based on a story by R. K. Narayan. Subbu also starred in the film alongside Pushpavalli and M. S. Su ...

'' (1947), '' Chandralekha'' (1948), '' Avvaiyyar'' (1953), '' Vanjikottai Valiban'' (1958), '' Deivapiravi'' (1960), '' Padikkadha Medhai'' (1960) and '' Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal'' (1976).

Biography

Sundari Bai 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 ...

in 1923, and belonged to the Saurashtra community. A family friend persuaded her parents to send her to Bombay (now

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

). In the 1930s, she appeared in an advertisement film. When film producer S. S. Vasan bought Krishnaswami Subrahmanyam's MPPC Studio and renamed it

Gemini Studios Gemini Studios was an Indian film studio based in Madras, Tamil Nadu. It was launched when S. S. Vasan, a businessman of many ventures (including the ownership of Ananda Vikatan) bought Motion Picture Producers' Combines from Krishnaswamy Su ...

in 1940, Sundari Bai joined Gemini as staff artiste. She appeared in a major role in Gemini's first Tamil production '' Madanakamarajan'' (1941). She played a slum girl in '' Nandanar'' (1942), while her role as a maid in '' Dasi Aparanji'' (1944) elevated her fame. She later fell in love with

, another member of the Gemini staff who was a writer, actor, and director, and married him. In 1945, Sundari Bai played the lead in '' Kannamma En Kadhali'', a

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

film written by Subbu. In 1947, Gemini produced the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful ''

'', written and directed by Subbu, who also played the male lead. Sundari Bai acted and sang two songs in this film that became hits. She later went on to act in various films including '' Chandralekha'', '' Samsaram'', '' Moondru Pillaigal'', '' Avvaiyar'', '' Valliyin Selvan'', '' Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi'', '' Vanjikottai Valiban'', '' Deivapiravi'', '' Naan Kanda Sorgam'', '' Padikkadha Medhai'', '' Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar'' and '' Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal''.

Filmography

* '' Madanakamarajan'' (1941) * '' Nandanar'' (1942) * '' Dasi Aparanji'' (1944) * '' Kannamma En Kadhali'' (1945) * ''

'' (1947) * '' Chandralekha'' (1948) * '' Moondru Pillaigal'' (1952) * '' Mr. Sampat'' (1952) * '' Avvaiyyar'' (1953) * '' Valliyin Selvan'' (1955) * '' Bommai Kalyanam'' (1958) * '' Vanjikottai Valiban'' (1958) * '' Paththarai Maathu Thangam'' (1959) * '' Deivapiravi'' (1960) * '' Padikkadha Medhai'' (1960) * '' Palum Pazhamum'' (1961) * '' Manithan Maravillai'' (1962) * '' Annai Illam'' (1963) * '' Thulasi Maadam'' (1963) * '' Aandavan Kattalai'' (1964) * '' Motor Sundaram Pillai'' (1966) * '' Selvam'' (1966) * '' Pesum Dheivam'' (1967) * '' Ooty Varai Uravu'' (1967) * '' Galatta Kalyanam'' (1968) * '' En Thambi'' (1968) * '' Jeevanaamsam'' (1968) * '' Kanavan'' (1968) * '' Thirudan'' (1969) * ''Kanmalar'' (1970) * '' Irulum Oliyum'' (1971) * ''

Thangaikkaaga ''Thangaikkaaga'' () is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film directed by D. Yoganand. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, and Lakshmi. It was released on 6 February 1971. Plot Ramu and his sister Radha lead a normal life unt ...

'' (1971) * '' Thenum Paalum'' (1971) * '' Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa'' (1971) * '' Pillaiyo Pillai'' (1972) * '' Arangetram'' (1973) * '' Ninaithadhai Mudippavan'' (1975) * '' Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal'' (1976) * '' Nizhal Nijamagiradhu'' (1978)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bai, Sundari 1923 births 2006 deaths Indian film actresses Actresses in Tamil cinema 20th-century Indian actresses Actresses from Madurai Indian female dancers Dancers from Tamil Nadu Singers from Tamil Nadu Musicians from Madurai Indian women playback singers 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian dancers 20th-century Indian women singers Women artists from Tamil Nadu