# Suryakantham (actress)

Suryakantham (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was an Indian actress in Tollywood. She was popular for her portrayal of cruel and cunning women with a comedic touch.

## Early life

Suryakantham was born and brought up in a Telugu family residing at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. She was the 14th child to her parents, ten of whose children had died. She learnt dance and singing at the age of six.
She married Peddibhotla Chalapati Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.

## Career

Suryakantham started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studios, for which she had been paid Rs 75 in remuneration. She got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradi, but eventually quit her job at Gemini Studios.
Later, she got a character artist role in the movie Gruhapravesam. She was offered the heroine's role in Soudamini, but did not accept it. She later was in a car accident, in which she received injuries to her face. She later played the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram.
Another "heroine" role was offered to her from a Bollywood film producer. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds, and that the same was given to her, Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying "I can't live on the unhappiness of other artists." She subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Kodarikam, which brought her a new level of success. The directors B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantham. They produced the movie Gundamma Katha, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao, with Suryakantham playing the lead role of Gundamma. The film was commercially successful.

## Awards and titles
### Awards

* Mahanati Savitri Memorial Award
* Honorary Doctorate Padmavati Mahila University

### Titles

* Gayyali atta
* Sahaja Nata Kala Siromani
* Haasya Nata Siromani
* Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
* Rangasthala Siromani
* Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1946 | Narada Naradi | |
| 1949 | Dharmangada | |
| 1950 | Samsaram | Venkamma |
| 1952 | Daasi | Dr. Sarala |
| 1952 | Pelli Chesi Choodu | Chukkalamma |
| 1952 | Prema | Chimlli |
| 1953 | Ammalakkalu | Seshamma |
| 1953 | Paredesi | |
| 1953 | Bratuku Teruvu | Kotamma |
| 1954 | Chakrapani | Manorama |
| 1954 | Chandraharam | |
| 1955 | Donga Ramudu | |
| 1955 | Kanyasulkam | Meenakshi |
| 1956 | Chiranjeevulu | Akhilandamma |
| 1956 | Charana Daasi | Seshamma |
| 1956 | Ilavelpu | |
| 1956 | Penki Pellam | |
| 1957 | Bhagya Rekha | |
| 1957 | Dongallo Dora | |
| 1957 | Mayabazar | Hidimbi |
| 1957 | Todi Kodallu | Anasuya |
| 1958 | Bommala Pelli | |
| 1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Rajaratnam |
| 1958 | Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu | |
| 1958 | Mangalya Balam | |
| 1959 | Jayabheri | Ratnalu |
| 1959 | Krishna Leelalu | |
| 1960 | Santinivasam | |
| 1961 | Velugu Needalu | Kanaka Durgamma |
| 1961 | Bharya Bhartalu | |
| 1961 | Pelli Kani Pillalu | |
| 1961 | Iddaru Mitrulu | |
| 1961 | Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham | |
| 1961 | Sabash Raja | |
| 1961 | Vagdanam | Baalamani |
| 1962 | Atma Bandhuvu | Widowed daughter |
| 1962 | Bhishma | |
| 1962 | Gundamma Katha | Gundamma |
| 1962 | Kula Gotralu | |
| 1962 | Manchi Manasulu | |
| 1962 | Mohini Rugmangada | |
| 1962 | Rakhta Sambandham | |
| 1962 | Siri Sampadalu | |
| 1963 | Chaduvukunna Ammayilu | Vardhanam |
| 1963 | Lava Kusa | |
| 1963 | Mooga Manasulu | |
| 1963 | Nartanasala | |
| 1963 | Paruvu Pratishta | |
| 1963 | Eedu Jodu | Rangamma |
| 1963 | Punarjanma | |
| 1963 | Tirupatamma Katha | |
| 1964 | Doctor Chakravarthy | |
| 1964 | Murali Krishna | |
| 1964 | Ramudu Bhimudu | |
| 1965 | Aatma Gowravam | Santhana Lakshmi |
| 1966 | Kanne Manasulu | |
| 1966 | Navaratri | |
| 1966 | Zamindar | |
| 1966 | Paduka Pattabhishekam | Manthara |
| 1966 | Aastiparulu | Kaasulamma |
| 1967 | Ummadi kutumbam | |
| 1967 | Gruhalakshmi | |
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | |
| 1968 | Ninne Pelladita | |
| 1968 | Govula Gopanna | Mahalakshmi |
| 1968 | Vintha Kapuram | Rambanamma |
| 1968 | Tikka Sankarayya | Kanthamma |
| 1969 | Sri Rama Katha | Charusheela, wife of Pragalbhacharyulu |
| 1969 | Aatmiyulu | Mahankali |
| 1969 | Muhurtha Balam | Shantamma |
| 1969 | Buddhimantudu | |
| 1969 | Bhale Rangadu | |
| 1970 | Balaraju Katha | |
| 1970 | Vidhi Vilasam | Thirupathi's wife Parapathi |
| 1970 | Thaali Bottu | |
| 1971 | Dasara Bullodu | ANR's Adopted Mother |
| 1971 | Srimantudu | |
| 1971 | Atthalu Kodallu | Sundaramma |
| 1971 | Manasu Mangalyam | |
| 1972 | Illu Illalu | Raja Babu's Mother in law – Surammatta |
| 1972 | Anta Mana Manchike | Leela Rao |
| 1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Sundaramma |
| 1972 | Kalam Marindi | |
| 1972 | Koduku Kodalu | |
| 1972 | Vichitra Bandham | Kantam |
| 1973 | Andala Ramudu | Samalamma |
| 1973 | Ganga Manga | Durgamma |
| 1973 | Meena | Meena's caretaker and Krishnaveni's aunt |
| 1975 | Mutyala Muggu | Contractor's wife |
| 1975 | Pooja | |
| 1976 | Padi Pantalu | Kanthamma, wife of Seshayya |
| 1976 | Secretary | |
| 1976 | Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club | |
| 1977 | Ardhangi | |
| 1977 | Andame Anandam | |
| 1977 | Yamagola | Seetamma |
| 1978 | Goranta Deepam | |
| 1979 | Oka Challani Rathri | Kamakshi |
| 1979 | Karthika Deepam | |
| 1980 | Buchchi Babu | |
| 1980 | Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam | Bhadramma |
| 1980 | Gayyali Gangamma | Gangamma |
| 1981 | Prema Mandiram | |
| 1982 | Pelleedu Pillalu | |
| 1982 | Kalavari Samsaram | |
| 1982 | Bangaru Bhoomi | Suramma |
| 1983 | Pelli Choopulu | |
| 1983 | Mundadugu | |
| 1983 | Prema Pichollu | |
| 1983 | Konte Kodallu | Varalamma |
| 1983 | Lanke Bindelu | |
| 1985 | America Alludu | |
| 1985 | Surya Chandra | |
| 1985 | Pattabhishekam | |
| 1985 | Kanchu Kavacham | |
| 1985 | Rakta Sindhuram | |
| 1985 | Bullet | |
| 1985 | Palnati Simham | Parvathamma |
| 1985 | Surya Chandra | |
| 1986 | Ravana Brahma | Annapoornamma |
| 1986 | Ugra Narasimham | |
| 1986 | Chanakya Sapadham | Durgamma |
| 1987 | Gundamma Gari Krishnulu | |
| 1988 | Yamudiki Mogudu | Kali's grandmother |
| 1988 | O Bharya Katha | Kanthamma |
| 1989 | Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagrata | Sundaramma |
| 1989 | Hai Hai Nayaka | Suryakanthamma |
| 1990 | Idem Pellam Baboi | |
| 1993 | Ratha Sarathi | Gundamma |
| 1993 | One by Two | Balaji's grandmother |
| 1993 | Govinda Govinda | |
| 1994 | Anna | |
| 1994 | S. P. Parasuram | Lakshmikantham |

### Tamil films

| Year | Film |
| 1952 | Kalyanam Panni Paar |
| 1953 | Velaikari Magal |
| 1953 | Poongothai |