P. Shanthakumari


Vellaala Subbamma was an Indian musical artist and film actress. She was married to the Telugu film director and producer P. Pullaiah.

Early years

Vellaala Subbamma was born in Proddatur town, to Sreenivasa Rao and Pedda Narasamma. Her father was an actor and her mother was a classical music singer. Santhakumari learned classical music and violin under the guidance of Professor P. Sambamurthy and was a classmate of D. K. Pattammal. She joined a drama troupe and was an AIR artiste by the age of sixteen. She came to Madras to pursue a career in music. She found employment in Vidyodaya School for a remuneration of Rs 2 per month. She sang along with music director S. Rajeswara Rao for AIR.

Film career

Santhakumari debuted in Telugu Cinema with Mayabazar in 1936. In the following year she was a member of the cast of Sarangadhara, a film that was directed by P. Pullaiah, whom she met and married in the same year.
The couple used the name of PadmaSree Pictures, named after their daughter Padma, for some of their movies and had success with films such as Jayabheri, Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam, and Preminchi Choodu. Santhakumari acted in most of the movies that were made by her husband, including Shavukaru, Ardhangi, Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam, Shanti Nivasam, and Ramudu Bheemudu.
In 1947, the couple started the Ragini Pictures banner with Bheemavarapu Narasimha Rao and Bhakta Jana. They made 22 films on both PadmaSree and Ragini banners put together.
She played many lead and supporting roles, with around 250 appearances in total.

Awards and recognition

For her contributions to Telugu Cinema, Santha Kumari was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1998.

Filmography

This is partial filmography of Santha Kumari. Kindly help expanding it.
YearFilmLanguageCreditsCharacter-
1936Sasirekha ParinayamTeluguActressSasirekha-
1937SarangadharaTeluguActress and playback singerChitrangi-
1938Bhakta JayadevaTeluguActress-
1939BalajiTeluguActress and playback singerConsort of Venkateswara-
1941DharmapatniTeluguActress and playback singer-
Parvati KalyanamTeluguActress-
1943Krishna PremaTeluguActress and playback singerRadha-
1945MayalokamTeluguActress and playback singer-
1948Bhaktha JanaTamilActress-
1949Gunasundari KathaTeluguActressRupasundari-
1950ShavukaruTeluguActress and playback singerSanthi-
1952DharmadevataTeluguActressKathyayini-
1953PonniTamilActress-
1955ArdhangiTeluguActress and playback singer-
1955Pennin PerumaiTamilActress-
1957SarangadharaTeluguActressQueen Rathnangi-
1958SarangadharaTamilActressQueen Rathnangi-
1958Bommai KalyanamTamilActressThangam-
1958Bommala PelliTeluguActress-
1959JayabheriTeluguActressAnnapoorna-
1959KalaivananTamilActressAnnapoorna-
1960Sri Venkateswara MahatmyamTeluguActressVakula-
1960VidivelliTamilActressChandru's Mother-
1962Siri SampadaluTeluguActress-
1962Policekaran MagalTamilActress-
1964Ramudu BheemuduTeluguActress-
1965Preminchi ChooduTeluguActress-
1967Prana MithruluTeluguActressJagadamba-
1970Akka ChelleluTeluguActressMother of Judge Ramachandra Rao-
1970Talla PellammaTeluguActress-
1971Prem NagarTeluguActress-
1971Pavitra HrudayaluTeluguActress-
1972Koduku KodaluTeluguActress-
1972Vasantha MaligaiTamilActressAnand and Vijay's mother-
1975PiriyavidaiTamilActress and singer
1976SecretaryTeluguActress-
1979MuttaiduvaTeluguActress-