Sachu

Last updated

Sachu
Born
Saraswathi

Pudhupadi, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu
Other namesKumari Sachu
OccupationActress
Years active1953 – Present
Parent(s)Father: Sundaresan Iyer
Mother: Jayalakshmi
RelativesMaadi Lakshmi (actress)

Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known as Kumari Sachu is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedienne who has nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her film début in 1953 in the film Rani at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. Since 1995, she has started acting in television serials. [1] In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honored Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award. [2]

Contents

Early life

Sachu was born into a large family in Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Hailing from an orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, it was not smooth sailing for the young actress, but her talent acted as the decisive factor. Permission was granted by her lawyer-father. As she teamed up with her sister for Bharatanatyam recitals, her film career forged ahead. Sachu has a sister named Maadi Lakshmi. She was an actress.

Film career

In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by director A. S. A. Sami (of Velaikkari fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number. [3] Sami cast her in the Bhanumathi-starrer Rani, and for a scene, she had to cry. But Sachu just did not know how to cry! A quiet pinch did the trick. Then followed the Arignar Anna-scripted Sorga Vaasal. As the younger Paro in Devadasu , her performance was endearing. The chubby-faced Sachu went on to fill the vacuum left by Baby Saroja.

Sachu performed with élan with the legends, be it Bhanumathi, Padmini, Anjali Devi, or Savithri. The evergreen Maya Bazaar was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). Playing the junior version of S. Varalakshmi in "Shyamala" thrilled her no end since it starred the legendary Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. She then took a small break during which she spent the interim perfecting her dance, giving recitals and playing sister roles. Her first film as heroine in Veera Thirumagan with Anandan, screened in 1961.

She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act as Nagesh's pair in the film Kadhalikka Neramillai , [4] This film starred Muthuraman, Nagesh, Kanchana, Rajasree and T. S. Balaiah. After the success of this film, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors like Suruli Rajan, "Thengai" Srinivasan, Cho Ramaswamy, Thangavelu, M. R. Vasu and M. R. Radha in many films from 1964 to 1989. She, Manorama and Jayalalithaa came together to act in 2 classic comedy films - Galata Kalyanam and Bommalattam. Her other notable films include Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan and Meenava Nanban.

The 1970s saw her taking to the stage, and her first play was PVR's Neerottam, where she played the famous Charu. She played a dual role in ARS' Deviyar Iruvar.

Since then, Sachu has been lending her talents out and has successfully starred in over 500 films playing varied roles, and has starred alongside veteran actors such as Sivaji Ganesan, M. G. Ramachandran, Muthuraman, S. A. Ashokan, Nagesh, Suruli Rajan, Thengai Srinivasan, Thangavelu and M. R. Radha.

The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongside Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as Vijay, Surya, Karthik, Sakthi Vasu and many others.

Television career

She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials such as Manbumigu Maamiyar, Costly Mappilay, Ananda Bhavan, "veediyal Pudithu" Oorarinda Rahasiyam" "Mr Brain" "Pitchai Apartments"(Kalakendra Humour and Drama)Dinesh Ganesh and Veetukku Veedu Looty, where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema.

She also acted as Vijayakumar's elder sister in the serial Nandini , which aired on Sun TV.

Awards and nominations

A proud moment in Sachu's life was when she received the Kalaimamani award from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented by M. S. Subbulakshmi. Also in 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.

Partial filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manorama (Tamil actress)</span> Indian actress

Gopishantha, better known by her stage name Manorama, also called Aachi, was an Indian actress, playback singer and comedian who had appeared in more than 1000 films and 5000 stage performances and several television series predomninantely in the Tamil language until 2015. She was a recipient of the Kalaimamani award. In 2002, Government of India awarded Manorama the Padma Shri for her contribution to the arts. She received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film Pudhiya Padhai (1989) and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagesh</span> Indian actor and comedian (1933–2009)

Nagesh (born Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran; was an Indian actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian in Tamil films during the 1960s. Nagesh was born in Dharapuram. He acted in over 1,000 films from 1958 to 2008, performing in a variety of roles as comedian, lead roles, supporting actor and antagonist. He has also acted in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada films. Nagesh's style of comedy was largely inspired by Hollywood actor Jerry Lewis. Similarities between Nagesh and Lewis earned Nagesh the sobriquet the "Jerry Lewis of India". He was also nicknamed as the King of Comedy due to his impeccable comedy timing and body language. He featured regularly in the film projects of M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan even at a time when there was a massive rift between the two leading actors in Tamil cinema at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. Vincent</span>

Aloysius Vincent was an Indian cinematographer and director known for his works in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. From the mid-1960s on, he directed some 30 movies including the landmark Malayalam films Bhargavi Nilayam, and Murappennu.

Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy, was an Indian actor, comedian, character actor, editor, political satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedian in the 1960s and 70s, and had acted with all the top stars in that period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheela</span> Indian actress (born 1945)

Sheela Ravichandran is an Indian actress and director who appears predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Paired with Prem Nazir, they hold the Guinness World Record for acting in the largest number of films (130) together as heroine and hero. Sheela is a four-time winner of Kerala State Film Award. She came back to acting in 2003 through Manassinakkare after a long period of 22 years. In 2005, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Akale. In 2019, Sheela was honoured with the J C Daniel Award, the Kerala government's highest honour for outstanding contribution to Malayalam cinema. She was also one of the highest paid actresses, reportedly paid more than her male counterparts, of her time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaali (poet)</span> Indian poet, lyricist, writer and actor (1931–2013)

Tiruchirapalli Srinivasan Rangarajan, professionally credited by his pseudonym Vaali was an Indian poet who has the record for writing the most number of songs in Tamil cinema. He is also recognised for a five-decade long association in the Tamil film industry and has written over 15,000 songs. He acted in a number of films, including Sathya, Hey Ram, Paarthale Paravasam and Poikkal Kudhirai. He was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in 2007.

<i>Thenkasi Pattanam</i> 2002 film directed by Rafi Mecartin

Thenkasi Pattanam is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Rafi Mecartin and produced by S. S. Durairaju. The film stars Sarath Kumar and Napoleon as the male leads while Samyuktha Varma, Devayani, and Aswathi Menon play the female leads. This film is the Tamil remake of the Malayalam movie Thenkasipattanam (2000). The music was composed by Suresh Peters, while the editing was done by Harihara Puthran. The film was released on 21 June 2002. It was one of the year's Tamil blockbusters.

Vasundhara Devi, known by her stage name Kanchana, is an Indian actress who worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films, in addition to Malayalam and Hindi films.

Sripriya is an Indian actress, film director and politician from Tamil Nadu. She has acted in over 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devika</span> Indian actress

Devika Devadoss was an Indian actress who worked in Tamil, Telugu with few Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi film industry. She was a popular lead actress in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinni Jayanth</span> Indian actor

Chinni Jayanth is an Indian film director, producer, comedian, actor and mimicry artist who has appeared in many main, character and supporting roles in Tamil films. He is also a popular television personality having hosted hit shows like Sagalai Vs Ragalai, Kalakka Povathu Yaar and Asathapovathu Yaaru on Sun TV in Chennai. He is also a recipient of the Kalaimamani award given by the Government of Tamil Nadu for excellence in the field of cinema. He received this award from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at a glittering function at Valluvar Kottam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jikki</span> Indian singer

Pillavalu Gajapathy Krishnaveni, more famously known as Jikki, was an Indian playback singer from Andhra Pradesh. She sang around 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and Sinhalese languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatafat Jayalaxmi</span> Indian actress

Jayalakshmi, whose popular screen name was Fatafat Jayalakshmi, was an Indian actress active mainly in Tamil and Telugu films. In Malayalam movies she was known as Supriya. She acted about 66 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada within a decade of her career.

Vijayalalitha or Vijaya Lalitha was an Indian actress who appeared in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films in the 1960s and 1970s. She is best known for her appearances in Rani Mera Naam (1972), Baazigar (1972) and Saakshi (1967). She is also the aunt of Vijayashanti, Telugu superstar actress turned politician.

Rajasree, also known as Rajasri or Rajashri, is an Indian actress active from 1956 to 1979. She is particularly famous for her portrayal as a princess in several folklore Telugu movies opposite N. T. Rama Rao and Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao and for acting alongside Ravichandran in the Tamil comedy films Neeyum Naanum, Kadhalikka Neram Illai and Delhi Mappilai. Notable among Rajasri's roles in non-folklore social films in Tamil are as Nimmi in the Tamil hit comedy film Kaadhalikka Neramillai, remade as Preminchi Choodu in Telugu, as movie star Bhama in Tamil film Bama Vijayam. She was credited as Gracy in the Malayalam movies she starred in her career since her debut film Bharya (1962), directed by Kunchako. Rajasree went on to do 200 films spread across the languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi from beginning of 1956 to 1979.

Shanthi Williams is an Indian film and television actress who has played supporting roles in various Tamil and Malayalam movies and serials.

Kanakadurga is an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She hails from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. She debuted in the Malayalam movie Nellu as Kurumatti. She has acted in a few Tamil, Kannada and Telugu movies as well. She married Malayalam cinematographer Hemachandran and her daughter Manasa has acted in few Malayalam movieslike Big B, Kaakki, Jubilee, Calcutta News, The Snake And Ladder etc.,Telugu movies like Nandanavanam 120 km, Shankar, Tamil serial Uthiripookkal and later married Tamil actor Vikranth. She is now acting in tele films and soap operas.

<i>Bommalattam</i> (1968 film) 1968 film by Muktha Srinivasan

Bommalattam is 1968 Indian Tamil-language comedy film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan and produced by V. Ramaswamy. The screenplay was written by Cho Ramaswamy from a story by Madurai Thirumaran. It stars Jaishankar, Jayalalithaa, Nagesh, Major Sundarrajan, Cho Ramaswamy and Manorama. V. S. Raghavan, Sachu and O. A. K. Thevar play key roles. The film was released on 31 May 1968.

Kumari Padmini, born as Padmini, was an actress who was active in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industry during the 1960s and 70s.

Alangudi Somu was an Indian Tamil film lyricist who wrote many popular songs in several films. He was active in the field from 1960 till late 1990s.

References

  1. ↑ "Simply Sachu". The Hindu . 7 October 2003. Archived from the original on 26 October 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kumari Sachu Honored". Behindwoods. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tamil Cinema News | Kollywood News | Tamil Film News - Maalaimalar".
  4. ↑ "Tamil Cinema News | Kollywood News | Tamil Film News - Maalaimalar".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.