# Suma Kanakala

Suma Kanakala (née Pallassana Paachuveettil; born on 22 March 1975) is an Indian television presenter, actress, and producer who predominantly works in Telugu television and cinema. She is widely recognized for hosting Star Mahila, a game show on ETV that holds the distinction of being India's longest-running TV game show, with a successful run of exactly 12 years.

## Early life

Suma was born on 22 March 1975 in Palakkad, Kerala, into a Malayali Nair family. She is the only child of Pranavi Narayanan Kutty Nair and Pallassana Paachuveettil Vimala, born ten years after her parents' marriage. When she was six months old, the family moved to Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), due to her father's employment with the Indian Railways.
Suma spent her formative years in the Lalaguda and Mettuguda areas of Secunderabad. She completed her education at St. Ann's High School in Lalaguda and Mettuguda and pursued her undergraduate studies at Railway Degree College in Lalaguda.

## Career

A presenter aged 16, she has hosted many Telugu film audio launches, film awards and functions. She is a Malayali from Kerala, but speaks Telugu fluently. She has acted in various serial and telefilms since 1995, her breakthrough came with the boom in satellite channels. Swayamvaram, Anveshitha, Geethanjali, and Ravoyi Chandamama were her major dramas. She didn't have any interest in working in films.
Suma's flagship show is Star Mahila on ETV, which attracted many female audiences. She created a record by this show becoming one of the longest running women game show in India. Suma started her own production house named K. Suma Rajeev Creations on 26 December 2012 and has produced a show named Lakku Kikku which was telecasted on Zee Telugu. She also worked in a show named Genes on ETV. Her Kevvu Keka on MAA TV with co-star Mano and produced by K. Suma Rajeev Creations. Suma also sang "Suya Suya" song from the 2017 Telugu film Winner. She is well known for her spontaneous and humorous remarks during her shows.

## Personal life

She married Tollywood actor, Rajeev Kanakala on 10 February 1999 in Hyderabad. They have two children, Roshan Karthik Kanakala and Manaswini Kanakala. In addition to her mother tongue of Malayalam, she is fluent in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and English.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Language |
| 1996 | Kalyana Praapthirasthu | | Telugu |
| 1997 | Newspaper Boy | Sita | Malayalam |
| 1997 | Ishtadanam | Anitha Varma | Malayalam |
| 1998 | Oro Viliyum Kathorthu | Subhadra | Malayalam |
| 1998 | Pavitra Prema | Swapna | Telugu |
| 2000 | Chala Bagundi | Vijayalakshmi | Telugu |
| 2001 | Pandanti Samsaram | | Telugu |
| 2001 | Kalisi Naduddam | Vijaya's friend | Telugu |
| 2002 | Raghava | | Telugu |
| 2002 | Joruga Husharuga | Kanchana's sister | Telugu |
| 2004 | Varsham | Venkat's sister | Telugu |
| 2004 | Swarabhishekam | News reporter | Telugu |
| 2005 | Premikulu | Herself | Telugu |
| 2007 | Dhee | Shankar Goud's henchman's wife | Telugu |
| 2013 | Baadshah | Herself | Telugu |
| 2019 | Oh! Baby | TV Anchor (only on television) | Telugu |
| 2022 | Jayamma Panchayathi | Jayamma | Telugu |

#### Playback singer

* Winner (2017) - "Suyaa Suyaa"

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Language | Notes |
| 1994–1995 | Amaravathi ki Kathayein | | DD National | Hindi | |
| 1997–1999 | Anveshitha | Clara | ETV | Telugu | |
| | Matti Manishi | | | Telugu | |
| | Veyi Padagalu | | | Telugu | |
| | Swayamvaram | | | Telugu | |
| | Geetanjali | | | Telugu | |
| 2007–2021 | Star Mahila | | ETV | Telugu | Two seasons |
| | Avakkayyara | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | |
| | Lady Boss | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | |
| | Pattukunte Pattu Cheera | Host | Teja TV | Telugu | |
| | Panchavataram | Host | TV9 | Telugu | |
| | Bhale Chance Le | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | |
| | Lakku Kikku | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | Also producer |
| | Gemini Puraskaaralu | Host | Gemini TV | Telugu | Television special |
| | Kevvu Keka | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | |
| 2012–2013 | CineMAA Awards | Host | MAA TV | Telugu | Television special |
| | Swarabhishekam | Host | ETV | Telugu | |
| | Soundarya Lahari | Host | ETV | Telugu | |
| | Pelli Choopulu | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| | Genes | Host | ETV | Telugu | Two seasons |
| | E Junction | Host | ETV Plus | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Bigg Boss 1 | Inspection officer | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| | Connexion | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| | Sell Me The Answer | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| | Wife Chethilo Life | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Pelli Choopulu | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Sixth Sense | Contestant | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2019 | F3 – Fun, Family & Frustration | Host | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Apsara Awards | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | Television special |
| | Big Celebrity Challenge | Host | Zee Telugu | Telugu | Season 3 |
| 2019 | 8th SIIMA 2019 | Host | Gemini TV | Telugu | Television special |
| 2020–2021 | House of Hungama | Designer Devi | Star Maa | Telugu | |
| 2019–2022 | Cash | Host | ETV | Telugu | Two seasons |
| 2020 | All Is Well | Host | | Telugu | |
| 2021 | Start Music | Host | Aha | Telugu | Season 3 |
| 2023–present | Suma Adda | Host | ETV | Telugu | |

## Awards

* Nandi Award for Best TV Anchor 2010 – Panchavataram
* Limca Fresh Face Award 2009
* Local TV Media Awards Best Anchor – Star Mahila (2010)
* Cinegoer Award Best Anchor – Star Mahila (2010)
* Got placed in Limca Book of World Records for successful completion of Star Mahila's 2000 episodes.
* Apsara Awards 2018: Entertainer of the year