# C. I. D. Sakunthala

Arunachalam Sakunthala (1 November 1939 – 17 September 2024), also known as C. I. D. Sakunthala, was an Indian actress. She filled roles as a heroine, item number dancer, and villainess in over 600 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. The first film in which she performed as an actress was CID Shankar, following which she was referred to as "C. I. D. Sakunthala". After that, Sakunthala became more popular. It was a Tamil thriller which was released on 1 May 1970, directed by R Sundaram. In the movie 'Thavaputhalvan', she played a ruthless villainous role revengeful on Sivaji Ganesan that film praised by the fans.

## Early life

Sakunthala's native is Arisipalayam, Salem. Her parents named her after an old Tamil movie Sakuntalai. Her father Arunachalam was employed at Thiruverumbur. She learned to dance and danced at a show hosted by Lalitha - Padmini - Ragini in Chennai. Thereafter, she gradually entered the cinema industry. She acted in a play “Suriyan Merkkeyium Uthikkum”. She had danced in item numbers in films, acted as a vamp, played the villain's side-kick and donned the role of the heroine's friend in a few films. After playing small roles, she made a name for herself in the industry. She acted as the heroine in a few films too.

## Film career

Her role in Sivaji Ganesan's Padikkadha Methai, Kai Koduttha Dheivam, Thirudan, Thavapudhalavan, Vasantha Maligai, Neethi, Bharatha Vilas, Rajaraja Cholan, Ponnunjal, Engal Thanga Raja, Thaai, Anbai Thedi, Vaira Nenjam, Gruhapravesam, Rojavin Raja, Avan Oru Sarithiram, Andaman Kadhali, Justice Gopinath, Naan Vazhavaippen and Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum was widely talked about her character.
Her notable films such as Dharisanam, En Annan, Kalyana Oorvalam, Idhaya Veenai, Kattila Thottila, Thedi Vantha Lakshmi, Thirumalai Thenkumari, Karunthel Kannayiram, Athirshtakaran, Roshakkari including films were successful. She has acted in films of great actors like and MGR.
After stopping acting in films, Sakuntala was working in the television series.

## Personal life and death

Sakunthala had a large family, including four brothers and two sisters.
Sakunthala died in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 17 September 2024, at the age of 84.

## Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

### 1960s

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1960 | Kaithi Kannayiram | Dancer | |
| 1960 | Padikkadha Methai | Tharani | |
| 1961 | Vijayanagarada Veeraputhra | | Kannada |
| 1963 | Naan Vanangum Deivam | | |
| 1964 | Kai Koduttha Dheivam | Dancer | |
| 1965 | Kuppivala | | Malayalam |
| 1965 | Karthigai Deepam | | |
| 1967 | Cochin Express | | Malayalam |
| 1967 | Ninaivil Nindraval | | |
| 1967 | Chikkadu Dorakadu | | Telugu |
| 1968 | Oli Vilakku | | |
| 1969 | Buddhimanthudu | | Telugu |
| 1969 | Thirudan | Dancer | |

### 1970s

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | En Annan | | |
| 1970 | CID Shankar | Vidhya | |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | | Telugu |
| 1970 | Thirumalai Thenkumari | Lalitha | |
| 1970 | Dharisanam | | |
| 1970 | Kalyana Oorvalam | | |
| 1971 | Justice Viswanathan | | |
| 1971 | Kankaatchi | | |
| 1971 | Veetukku Oru Pillai | Seetha/Reetta | |
| 1971 | Nenu Manishine | | Telugu |
| 1971 | Pudhiya Vazhkai | Kalpana | |
| 1971 | Punnagai | | |
| 1972 | Vasantha Maligai | Dancer | |
| 1972 | Agathiyar | Urvasi | |
| 1972 | Idhaya Veenai | Vasantha | |
| 1972 | Ashirvadham | | |
| 1972 | Karunthel Kannayiram | | |
| 1972 | Ganga | | |
| 1972 | Neethi | Record Rani Dancer | |
| 1972 | Thavapudhalavan | Vimala | |
| 1972 | Puguntha Veedu | | |
| 1973 | Ponnunjal | Sundari | |
| 1973 | Suryagandhi | Usha | |
| 1973 | Rajaraja Cholan | Dancer | |
| 1973 | Amman Arul | | |
| 1973 | Manjal Kungumam | | |
| 1973 | Deiva Kuzhanthaigal | | |
| 1973 | Petha Manam Pithu | | |
| 1973 | Thedi Vantha Lakshmi | | |
| 1973 | Kattila Thottila | | |
| 1973 | Engal Thanga Raja | Rani | |
| 1973 | Baghdad Perazhagi | | |
| 1973 | Bharatha Vilas | Kalaivani Gopal | |
| 1973 | Vaayadi | | |
| 1974 | Kai Niraya Kaasu | | |
| 1974 | Thaai | Gulopjon | |
| 1974 | Thai Piranthal | Lalitha | |
| 1974 | Roshakkari | | |
| 1974 | Panathukkaga | | |
| 1974 | Ungal Viruppam | | |
| 1974 | Anbai Thedi | | |
| 1974 | Thirudi | | |
| 1974 | Anbu Thangai | | |
| 1974 | Unnaithan Thambi | | |
| 1975 | Enga Pattan Sothu | | |
| 1975 | Thennangkeetru | | |
| 1975 | Cinema Paithiyam | | |
| 1975 | Aayirathil Oruthi | | |
| 1975 | Yarukku Maappillai Yaro | | |
| 1975 | Vaira Nenjam | Shoba | |
| 1975 | Sondhangal Vazhga | | |
| 1975 | Neela Ponman | Urmila | Malayalam |
| 1975 | Malsaram | | Malayalam |
| 1976 | Gruhapravesam | | |
| 1976 | Mittai Mummy | | |
| 1976 | Kalangalil Aval Vasantham | Radha | |
| 1976 | Varaprasadham | | |
| 1976 | Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna? | | |
| 1976 | Rojavin Raja | Nirmala | |
| 1976 | Thayilla Kuzhandhai | | |
| 1977 | Sri Krishna Leela | | |
| 1977 | Avan Oru Sarithiram | Dancer | |
| 1977 | Murugan Adimai | | |
| 1978 | Athirshtakaran | | |
| 1978 | Andaman Kadhali | | |
| 1978 | Mangudi Minor | Julie | |
| 1978 | Makkal Kural | | |
| 1978 | Siritanakke Savaal | | Kannada |
| 1978 | Justice Gopinath | Valli | |
| 1978 | Thacholi Ambu | | Malayalam |
| 1978 | Kadathanaattu Maakkam | | Malayalam |
| 1978 | Kaviraja Kalamegam | | |
| 1978 | Vayasu Ponnu | | |
| 1979 | Nallathoru Kudumbam | | |
| 1979 | Nadagame Ulagam | | |
| 1979 | Naan Vazhavaippen | | |
| 1979 | Mayandi | | |
| 1979 | Imayam | | |
| 1979 | Kuppathu Raja | | |
| 1979 | Aavesham | | Malayalam |

### 1980s

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Vandichakkaram | Thief | |
| 1980 | Kaksha | | Telugu |
| 1981 | Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum | | |
| 1982 | Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu | | Telugu |
| 1984 | Nalam Nalamariya Aaval | | |
| 1985 | Deivapiravi | | |
| 1987 | Uzhavan Magan | Guna's sister | |
| 1987 | Velaikkaran | | |
| 1989 | Poruthathu Pothum | | |

### 1990s

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1991 | Pudhiya Raagam | |
| 1996 | Vasantha Vaasal | Velu's mother-in-law |
| 1996 | Andha Naal | |
| 1996 | Nethaji | |
| 1998 | Ponmaanai Thedi | |

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 1999–2001 | Kudumbam | | Sun TV |
| 1999–2000 | Sontham | | Sun TV |
| 2000–2001 | Vazhkai | Mami | Sun TV |
| 2001–2004 | Agni Saatchi | | Star Vijay |
| 2004–2005 | Roja | Alamelu | Jaya TV |
| 2006–2010 | Kasthuri | | Sun TV |
| 2010 | Poovilangu(TV Series) | | Star Vijay |
| 2014–2015 | Kalyana Parisu | Vijay's Grandmother | Sun TV |
| 2015–2016 | Sabitha Engira Sabapathi | | Raj TV |
| 2019 | Tamil Selvi | Annabharathi | Sun TV |