# Sukanya (actress)

Sukanya (born 25 November 1972) is an Indian actress who mainly worked in Tamil films and Malayalam films, in addition to Kannada and Telugu films. She is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, and has worked as a composer, lyricist and voice actress.

## Career

Sukanya made her debut in the Tamil movie Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991). She gained fame through films like Chinna Gounder (1992), Senthamizh Paattu (1992), Walter Vetrivel (1993), Mahanadhi (1994) and Indian (1996).
Some of Sukanya's Malayalam movies include Apaaratha (1992), Sagaram Sakshi (1994), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Chandralekha (1997), Rakthasakshikal Sindabad (1998), Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan (2000), Udayon (2005), Innathe Chintha Vishayam (2008), Last Bench (2012), and Aamayum Muyalum (2014).
Sukanya's contribution to Telugu cinema consists of Peddarikam (1992) Amma Koduku (1994), Captain (1994), Sri (2005), Munna (2007), Adhinayakudu (2012) and Srimanthudu (2015).
She has also appeared on television shows such as Jannal: Ammavukku Rendula Ragu (2000-2001), Anandham (2003-2009), Swami Ayyappan (2006-2007) and Adhiparasakthi (2010). Known for her love towards hair and makeup, she can be seen on the sets of the TV show Anandham, doing her co-star's hairstyles. As a voice actress, she is known as the voice of Nandita Das in Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). She has also composed two devotional albums, namely Azhagu (2005) and Thirupathi Thirukudai Thiruvizha (2012).

## Personal life

Sukanya has been reticent to discuss her personal life. She was born in Madras into a Hindu Brahmin family originally from Kizhkudi, Avudaiyarkoil taluk of Pudukkottai district. She married R. Sridhar, a software engineer based in New Jersey in 2003, but filed for divorce less than a year later, alleging domestic abuse.

## Filmography
### Tamil

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu | Krishnaveni | Debut film |
| 1991 | MGR Nagaril | Shobana | |
| 1992 | Chinna Gounder | Deivanai | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
| 1992 | Kottai Vaasal | Vasanthi | |
| 1992 | Thirumathi Palanisamy | Amsaveni | |
| 1992 | Thambi Pondatti | Sumathi | |
| 1992 | Senthamizh Paattu | Durga Devi | |
| 1992 | Ilavarasan | Poongothai | |
| 1992 | Solaiyamma | Solaiyamma | |
| 1993 | Chinna Mapillai | Janaki | |
| 1993 | Walter Vetrivel | Sumathi | Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
| 1993 | Udan Pirappu | Bhavani | |
| 1993 | Aadhityan | Rasathi | |
| 1993 | Sakkarai Devan | Sarasu | |
| 1993 | Karuppu Vellai | Swarna | |
| 1993 | Thalattu | Dr. Revathi | |
| 1993 | Chinna Jameen | Sathya | |
| 1994 | Captain | Uma | |
| 1994 | Seeman | Bakkiyam | |
| 1994 | Vandicholai Chinraasu | Parvathi | |
| 1994 | Mahanadhi | Yamuna | |
| 1994 | Raja Pandi | Queen Bhuvana | |
| 1994 | Hero | Seetha | |
| 1995 | Mr. Madras | Meera | |
| 1996 | Mahaprabhu | Mahalakshmi | |
| 1996 | Puthiya Parasakthi | Parasakthi | |
| 1996 | Indian | Amirthavalli | |
| 1996 | Parivattam | - | |
| 1996 | Senathipathi | Meenakshi | |
| 1996 | Gnanapazham | Aarthi | |
| 1997 | Aahaa | Geetha | |
| 1997 | Gopura Deepam | Meena | |
| 1997 | Thambi Durai | Shenbagam | |
| 2000 | Good Luck | Devi | |
| 2000 | Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven | Surya's mother | |
| 2001 | Krishna Krishna | Bama | |
| 2002 | Sri Bannari Amman | Dancer | Special appearance |
| 2004 | Adi Thadi | Mrs.Surya | |
| 2004 | Campus | Priya | |
| 2006 | Sillunu Oru Kaadhal | Nirmala | |
| 2007 | Thottal Poo Malarum | Periya Naayagi | |
| 2008 | Aayudham Seivom | Leelavathi | |
| 2008 | Ellam Avan Seyal | LK's sister | |
| 2009 | Azhagar Malai | Dancer | Guest appearance |
| 2014 | Chandra | Queen Sarala Devi | |
| 2014 | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | Gayathri | |
| 2016 | Jambulingam 3D | Sadhana | |
| 2017 | Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva | Shiva's mother | |
| 2017 | Inayathalam | Chandrika | |
| 2019 | Thirumanam | Manonmani | |
| 2023 | Thee Ivan | | |

### Malayalam

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Apaaratha | Surya | |
| 1994 | Sagaram Sakshi | Nirmala | |
| 1996 | Thooval Kottaram | Sujatha | Choreography also |
| 1996 | Kaanaakkinaavu | Sathi | |
| 1997 | Chandralekha | Chandra/Chandrika Varma | |
| 1998 | Rakthasakshikal Sindabad | Sivakami Ammal | |
| 1998 | Manjukalavum Kazhinju | Shobha | |
| 1998 | Amma Ammaayiyamma | Prabhavati | |
| 1999 | Swastham Grihabharanam | Ashwathi | |
| 1999 | Prem Poojari | Herself | Guest appearance |
| 2000 | Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan | Shalini | |
| 2004 | Kanninum Kannadikkum | Herself | Guest appearance |
| 2005 | Udayon | Susiemol | |
| 2006 | Notebook | Sridevi's mother | |
| 2008 | Innathe Chintha Vishayam | Treesa | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam |
| 2012 | Last Bench | Rosili | |
| 2012 | The Hitlist | Cameo | |
| 2013 | Manikya Thamburattiyum Christmas Carolum | Step-mother | |
| 2014 | My Life Partner | Dr. Leela Iyer | |
| 2014 | Aamayum Muyalum | Bhandaravathi | |

### Telugu

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1992 | Peddarikam | Janaki |
| 1992 | Amma Koduku | Rajakumari |
| 1994 | Captain | Uma |
| 1994 | Khaidi No. 1 | Seetha |
| 2004 | Samba | Pasupathi's wife |
| 2005 | Sri | Sriram's mother |
| 2007 | Munna | Kakha's second wife |
| 2012 | Adhinayakudu | Ramakrishna Prasad's wife |
| 2015 | Srimanthudu | Harsha Vardhan's mother |

### Kannada

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Guru Brahma | Uma, Suma | Dual role |
| 2013 | Chandra | Queen Sarala Devi | |

### Singer

| Year | Film / Album | Song | Notes |
| 2001 | Krishna Krishna | "Thalli Vechu" | |
| 2005 | Azhagu | | Only lyrics and music |
| 2012 | Thirupati Thirukkural Thiruvizha | "Ashtalakshmi" | |
| 2024 | DNA | | Lyrics |

### As dubbing artist

* 2002 - Kannathil Muthamittal (for Nandita Das) - Tamil film

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Language | Notes |
| 1996 | Judgement | Director | | Tamil | Telefilm |
| 1999-2000 | Jannal Marabu Kavithaigal | Saroja | Sun TV | Tamil | |
| 2000-2001 | Jannal: Ammavukku Rendula Ragu | Mythili | Sun TV | Tamil | |
| 2000-2001 | Aaya | Vadivamma | DD Podhigai | Tamil | |
| 2003-2009 | Anandham | Shanthi | Sun TV Zee Tamizh | Tamil | (Re-telecast) 2014 - 2015 |
| 2004-2005 | Kadamattathu Kathanar | Neeli | Asianet Asianet Plus | Malayalam | (Re-telecast) 2016 - 2017 |
| 2005 | Kadalinakkare | Sukanya | Asianet | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Devi | | Surya TV | Malayalam | |
| 2006-2007 | Swami Ayyappan | Panthalam Maharani | Asianet Asianet Plus | Malayalam | (Re-telecast) 2016 - 2017 |
| 2008 | 2 Crore Apple Star | Judge | Jeevan TV | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Adhiparasakthi | Adiparashakthi | Raj TV | Tamil | (Re-telecast) 2017 |
| 2011-2012 | Appanum Aathalum | | Kalaignar TV | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Super Kudumbam | Judge | Sun TV | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Uravugal Sangamam | Singer | Raj TV | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Odi Vilayadu Papa | Judge | Kalaingar TV | Tami | |
| 2019 | Comedy Stars season 2 | Judge | Asianet | Malayalam | |
| 2024-Present | Shakthi IPS | Nurse Dharani | DD Podhigai | Tamil | |