# Adoor Bhavani

Adoor Bhavani (1927 – 25 October 2009) was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema, best known for her appearance in the National Award-winning film Chemmeen (1965), directed by Ramu Kariat. She had acted in about 450 films, including Mudiyanaya Puthran, Thulabharam, Kallichellamma, and Anubhavangal Paalichakal. Her last film was K. Madhu-directed Sethurama Iyer CBI. She was also a stage actress and was associated with popular theatre group KPAC.
Bhavani was born in Adoor in Travancore. Her sister, Adoor Pankajam, was also a Malayalam film actress. Adoor Bhavani died on 25 October 2009.

## Awards and recognitions

In 1969, Bhavani won the Kerala state film award for the second best actress for the film Kallichellamma. She received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Drama in 1982. She was awarded the Chalachithra Saparya Lifetime Achievement award by Mathrubhumi-Medimix in 2002. In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Bhavani and Pankajam for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.

## Filmography
### 1950s

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1953 | Sheriyo Thetto | | |
| 1957 | Padatha Painkili | Paaru | |

### 1960s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1961 | Mudiyanaya Puthran | Rajan's mother |
| 1962 | Bhagyajathakam | Bhargaviyamma |
| 1962 | Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi | Ealiyamma |
| 1963 | Ninamaninja Kalpadukal | Rahel |
| 1965 | Shyamala Chechi | Parvathiyamma |
| 1965 | Kalyana Photo | Parvuamma |
| 1965 | Chemmeen | Chakki |
| 1965 | Odayil Ninnu | Pappu's mother |
| 1968 | Thulabharam | |
| 1969 | Kadalpalam | Khadeeja |
| 1969 | Virunnukari | Kalyani |
| 1969 | Kallichellamma | Valliyakka |
| 1969 | Adimakal | Karthiyayini |
| 1969 | Koottukudumbam | Karthyayanipilla |
| 1969 | Nadi | Kunjeli |

### 1970s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1970 | Nilakkatha Chalanangal | |
| 1970 | Sthri | Kalyaniyamma |
| 1970 | Thara | Pankajam |
| 1970 | Vivaham Swargathil | |
| 1970 | Kakkathamburatti | Kushinikaali |
| 1970 | Pearl View | Annie |
| 1970 | Kurukshethram | |
| 1971 | Vilakku Vangiya Veena | Bharathi |
| 1971 | Vithukal | Amma |
| 1971 | Bobanum Moliyum | Kuttiyamma |
| 1971 | Karakanakadal | Maria |
| 1971 | Puthenveedu | |
| 1972 | Mayiladumkunnu | Kochu Mariya |
| 1972 | Sambhavami Yuge Yuge | Kalyani Amma |
| 1972 | Swayamvaram | Janaki |
| 1972 | Maaya | Kalyani |
| 1972 | Chembarathi | Santha's mother |
| 1972 | Akkarapacha | Naaniyamma |
| 1973 | Mazhakaaru | Malathi's mother |
| 1973 | Panitheeratha Veedu | |
| 1973 | Yamini | Govindan's mother |
| 1973 | Divyadharsanam | Ammukutty |
| 1973 | Udayam | Bhavaniyamma |
| 1973 | Manushyaputhran | Madhavi's mother |
| 1973 | Swapnam | |
| 1974 | Nellu | Pempi |
| 1976 | Yakshagaanam | Rajani's mother |
| 1976 | Neela Sari | |
| 1976 | Srishti | |
| 1977 | Poojakkedukkatha Pookkal | Narayanan's mother |
| 1977 | Kodiyettam | Santhamma's mother |
| 1977 | Sreemurukan | |
| 1977 | Harshabashpam | Naarayani |
| 1977 | Yudhakandam | Gouriyamma |
| 1978 | Iniyum Puzhayozhukum | Celin's Servant |
| 1978 | Vadakakku Oru Hridayam | Karthyayani |
| 1978 | Kaithappoo | |
| 1978 | Aarum Anyaralla | Devaki |
| 1978 | Ashtamudikkaayal | |
| 1978 | Rowdy Ramu | Vaasu's mother |
| 1978 | Kodiyettam | Santhamma's mother |
| 1979 | Kalliyankattu Neeli | Gouriyamma |
| 1979 | Choola | |
| 1979 | Mochanam | |
| 1979 | Kayalum Kayarum | Devaki |
| 1979 | Jeevitham Oru Gaanam | Mariyamma |
| 1979 | Pratheeksha | |
| 1979 | Ival Oru Naadody | |
| 1979 | Vaaleduthaven Vaalaal | |
| 1979 | Peruvazhiyambalam | Old lady |
| 1979 | Sarapancharam | |
| 1979 | Kannukal | Kalyani |
| 1979 | Sarpam | |

### 1980s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1980 | Ammayum Makalum | |
| 1980 | Ambalavilakku | Gopi's mother |
| 1980 | Aniyatha Valakal | Lakshmi |
| 1980 | Saraswatheeyamam | Lakshmikutty |
| 1980 | Thaliritta Kinakkal | Karthyayaniyamma |
| 1981 | Palangal | Ramankutty's mother |
| 1981 | Veliyattam | Mariya |
| 1981 | Kadathu | |
| 1982 | Njanonnu Parayatte | Eli |
| 1982 | Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla | Maniyan's mother |
| 1982 | Vidhichathum Kothichathum | Santhamma |
| 1982 | Chiriyo Chiri | Neena's grandmother |
| 1982 | Shari Alla Sharada | |
| 1983 | Rugma | Rugma's grandmother |
| 1983 | Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback | Vishalakshi's mother |
| 1984 | April 18 | Naniyamma |
| 1984 | Uyarangalil | Johnie's mother |
| 1984 | Muthodu Muthu | |
| 1984 | Ningalil Oru Sthree | Parukuttiyamma |
| 1984 | Manithali | Chenachi Umma |
| 1984 | Ethirppukal | Bhargaviyamma |
| 1985 | Aviduthepole Ivideyum | Muthassi |
| 1985 | Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil | |
| 1985 | Kandu Kandarinju | Chellamma |
| 1985 | Adhyayam Onnu Muthal | Naniyamma |
| 1985 | Oru Nokku Kanan | Kathreena |
| 1986 | T. P. Balagopalan M.A. | Balagopalan's grandmother |
| 1986 | Sree Narayana Guru | |
| 1986 | Oppam Oppathinoppam | Karthyayani |
| 1986 | Snehamulla Simham | Paruvamma |
| 1986 | Nyayavidhi | Kochanna |
| 1986 | Nimishangal | Karthyayani |
| 1986 | Poomukhappadiyil Ninneyum Kaathu | Kunjelemma |
| 1987 | Nirabedhangal | Maya's grandmother |
| 1987 | Achuvettante Veedu | Mary |
| 1987 | Athinumappuram | |
| 1988 | Oru CBI Diary Kurippu | Mary |
| 1988 | Janmantharam | Aliyamma |
| 1988 | Aalilakkuruvikal | |
| 1988 | Sanghunadam | Thulasi's mother |
| 1989 | Jagratha | Mary |
| 1989 | Oru Sayanathinte Swapnam | Veronica |
| 1989 | Rugmini | Chinnuvakkan |

### 1990s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1990 | Purappadu | Eli |
| 1990 | Ammayude Swantham Kunju Mary | Naniyamma |
| 1990 | Ponnaranjanam | |
| 1991 | Koodikazhcha | Mathchan's mother |
| 1991 | Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu | Bhageerathi |
| 1991 | Akashakottayile Sulthan | Pappy's sister |
| 1991 | Chanchattam | Yamuna's Grandmother |
| 1991 | Kottayam Kunjachan | 'Maramkeri' Mariamma |
| 1991 | Souhridam | Karthyayaniyamma |
| 1991 | Arangu | Aparna's grandmother |
| 1991 | Keli | Paruvamma |
| 1992 | Ellarum Chollanu | Mani's mother |
| 1992 | Sathya Prathinja | Sreedharan's mother |
| 1992 | Ardram | Karithalla |
| 1992 | Kudumbasametham | Naniyamma |
| 1993 | Injakkadan Mathai and Sons | Shanthamma |
| 1993 | Oru Kadankatha Pole | |
| 1993 | Ponnuchami | |
| 1993 | Padaliputhram | |
| 1993 | Ithu Manjukalam | Pankiyamma |
| 1994 | Chanakya Soothrangal | Venu's mother |
| 1994 | Bhagyavan | Devaki |
| 1994 | Dadha | Tea vendor |
| 1995 | Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary | Deenamma/Annamma |
| 1995 | Punnaram | |
| 1995 | Minnaminuginum Minnukettu | Paruvamma |
| 1995 | Thumbolikadappuram | |
| 1995 | Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka | Thara's grandmother |
| 1995 | Thirumanassu | Ammini |
| 1995 | Thovalapookkal | Seetha paatti |
| 1995 | Mangala Soothram | Narayaniyamma |
| 1995 | Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava | Premachandran's grandmother |
| 1995 | Radholsavam | Seethamma's grandmother |
| 1996 | Hitler | Bhargavi |
| 1996 | British Market | Bhavani |
| 1996 | Kadhapurushan | Midwife |
| 1997 | Gajaraja Manthram | Hostel warden |
| 1997 | Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan | Midwife |
| 1998 | Oro Viliyum Kathorthu | Lakshmi |
| 1998 | Meenathil Thalikettu | Kaimal's grandmother |
| 1998 | Gloria Fernandez From USA | Thandamma |

### 2000s

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2000 | Ramayanakkili | |
| 2000 | Mark Antony | Kunjeli |
| 2000 | Kannaadikkadavathu | Thumbi's grandmother |
| 2004 | Sethurama Iyer CBI | Mary |

### 2010s

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Tharangal | | Archive footage |

## Dramas

* Veluthampi Dalawa
* Mooladhanam
* Ashwamedham
* Thulabharam
* Mudiyanaya Puthran
* Yudhakandam
* Parithranayam
* Pamsula
* Rangapooja
* Paashupathrasthram
* Penal Code
* Chakravarthini
* Paadam Onnu
* Anyayam