Santhakumari (Malayalam actress)

Santhakumari
Santhakumari
Born	Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1976–present
Spouse	Velayudhan (deceased)
Parents	Narayanan; Karthyayani;

Last updated June 25, 2025

Santhakumari is an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in more than 250 films, dramas, television serials and short films.

Biography

Santhakumari was born to Narayanan and Karthyayani, as eighth child among ten children, at Kochi, Kerala.^[2]^{[ unreliable source? ]} She had her primary education from Thevara C.C.P.L.M High school, Ernakulam. She was married to Late Velayudhan and have two daughters. She was presented with a house named "Snehaveedu" in 2012 by Malayalam Movie Artists Assoaciation (AMMA).^[3] She received Kerala State film Award for Best Actress in 1977 for Chuvanna Vithukal.

Awards

1977 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress – Chuvanna Vithukal
2009 World Malayalee Council India region & Kairali Channel Award
2011 Kerala Film Critics Association Awards – Chalachithra Prathibha Award

Filmography

1970s

Year	Title	Role
1977	Chuvanna Vithukal	Bharathi
1978	Bandhanam	Devakiyamma
	Pathinalaam Raavu	Umma
	Raappadikalude Gaadha
	Kadathanattu Maakkam
	Samayamaayilla Polum
	Manimuzhakkam
	Randu Penkuttikal
1979	Kannukal	Devaki
	Peruvazhiyambalam	Prabhakaran Pillai's wife
	Ottapettavar
	Devalokam

1980s

Year	Title	Role
1980	Ishtamaanu Pakshe	Rajagopalan's wife
	Chora Chuvanna Chora	Kamalakshiyamma
	Kadalkattu	Stella
	Kochu Kochu Thettukal	Nurse, Latha's sister
	Lorry	Ammu
	Aniyatha Valakal	Bhargaviyamma
	Paalaattu Kunjikkannan	Chirutheyi
1981	Avathaaram
	Arikkari Ammu
	Hamsa Geetham
	Thaalam Manasinte Thaalam
	Veliyattam	Lakshmiyamma
	Thakilu Kottampuram	Mridula's mother
	Swarangal Swapnagal	Rani
	Sphodanam	Muthalali's wife
	Munnettam	Gouriyamma
	Sanchari	Soudamini
	Oothikachiya Ponnu	Kalyaniyamma
	Arayannam	Madhu's mother
	Ahimsa	Vasu's mother
	Kathayariyathe	Lady at the railway station
	Aarathi	Nurse
	Thenum Vayambum	Mary Thomas
	Vida Parayum Munpe	Janaki
	Greeshma Jwala	Gaurikuttyamma
1982	Vidhichathum Kothichathum
	Layam
	Kazhumaram
	Oru Kunju Janikkunnu
	Kanmanikkorumma	Kalyani
	Enthino Pookunna Pookkal	Madhavi
	Ithiri Neram Othiri Kaaryam	Vimala's mother
	Ee Nadu	Dakshyayani
	Saravarsham	Lakshmi Amma
	Snehapoorvam Meera	Achamma
	Post Mortem	Lakshmi
	Innalenkil Nale	Radha
	Ithu Njangalude Katha	Johny's mother
1983	Oru Mukham Pala Mukham	Rajamma
	Visa	Kuttyalikka' mother
	Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla	Bhargavi
	Ashtapadi	Warassiar
	Thalaam Thettiya Thaarattu	Saradha
	Oomana Thinkal	Nani
	Shesham Kazhchayil	Lathika's mother
	Naseema	Ravi's mother
	Aattakkalaasham	Naniyamma
	Rugma	Januvamma
	Maniyara	Devootee at Ajmeer
	Onnu Chirikku	Rohini's mother
	Engine Nee Marakkum	Kunji
	Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal	Thresya
	Rathilayam	Rathi's mother
	Iniyenkilum	Geetha's mother
	Theeram Thedunna Thira	Sudhakaran's mother
	Aa Rathri	Nun
	Ahankaaram	Radhika's mother
	Onnu Chirikku	Rohini's mother
	Kattathe Kilikkoodu	Meenakshi
	Aaroodham	Naniyamma
	Deeparadhana	Dakshayini
	Surumayitta Kannukal	Amina
	Vaashi
	Kathi
	Swapna Lokam
	Sandhya Mayangum Neram
	Kinginikkombu
	Guru Dakshina	Hostel warden
	Ahangaaram	Radhika's mother
1984	Anthichuvappu
	Vetta
	Oru Thettinte Katha
	Enta Nandhinikutty
	Unaroo	Pathrose's mother
	Karimbu	Alex's mother
	Nishedhi	Mrs. Rajasekharan
	Idavelakku Shesham	Naniyamma
	Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram	Devakiyamma
	Vanitha Police	Bhavani
	Poochakkoru Mookkuthi	Kalyani
	Manasariyathe	Mammoootty's mother
	Thirakal	Rekha's mother
	Itha Innu Muthal	Santhamma
	Kurishuyudham	Annamma Nurse
	Mynaakam	Janakiyamma
	Ethirppukal	Mariya
	Onnum Mindatha Bharya	Parvathy
	Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol	Janaki
	Sreekrishna Parunthu	Servant
1985	Omanikkan Ormavaikkan
	Paara
	Thozhil Allengil Jail
	Kaiyum Thlayum Purathidaruthe	Saradha
	Snehicha Kuttathinu	Kausalya
	Idanilangal	Subhadra's mother
	Oru Naal Innoru Naal	Sridevi's mother
	Madhuvidhu Theerum Mumbe	Maria
	Mounam Nombaram	Ammu
	Vilichu Vilikettu	Rema's mother
	Sammelanam	Basheer's mother
	Rangam	Appunni's mother
1986	Arrest
	Meenamasathile Sooryan
	Bhagavan
	Thidambu
	Sakhavu
	Urukku Manushyan
	Sukhamo Devi
	Ambili Ammavan
	Railway Cross	Ratheesh's adopted mother
	Ice Cream	Ponnamma
	Chilambu	Paramu's mother
	Ilanjippookkal	Sumithra's mother
	Kochuthemmaadi	Naniyamma
	Vartha	Ammukutty
	Ithramathram	Chithra's mother
	Surabhi Yaamangal	Murali's mother
	Veendum	Sukumari
	Gandhinagar 2nd Street	Madhavan's mother
	Ente Entethu Mathrem	Kalyaniyamma
	Ambadi Thannilorunni	Susheela
	Abhayam Thedi	Parukutty
	Aavanazhi	Radhas' mother
1987	Theekattu	Jayadevan's mother
	Ithrayum Kaalam	Antharjanam
	Rithubhedam	Vinodiniyamma
	Aankiliyude Tharattu	Sarada
	Sreedharante Onnam Thirumurivu	Sadasivan's wife
	Thoovanathumbikal	Radha's mother
	Kalam Mari Katha Mari	Razzak's mother
	Adimakal Udamakal	Sarada
	Archanappookkal	Raji's mother
	Yaagangni	Murdered lady
	Nirabhedangal	Jayadevan's mother
	Naalkavala	Leela
	P.C. 369
	Nadodikkattu
	Ivare Sookshikkuka
1988	Janmashathru
	Padamudra
	Innaleyude Baakki	Nun
	Charavalayam	Asha
	Abkari	Drunkard's mother
	Kudumbapuranam	Indu's mother
	Ormayilennum	Janakiyamma
	Onninu Purake Mattonnu	Ambujam.
1989	Kireedam	Devi's mother
	Aval Oru Sindhu
	Rathibhavam
	Oh My Rosy
	Eenam Maranna Kaattu
	Kaliyuga Seetha
	Mudra	Bharathiyamma
	Ashokante Ashwathykuttikku	Nabeesumma
	Varnatheru	Urmila's mother
	Muthukudayum Choodi	Gayathri's mother
	Season	Porinchu's mother
	Adikkurippu	Basheer's mother
	Utharam	Nurse
	Puthiya Karukkal	Leelamma
	Crime Branch	Lakshmiyamma
	Oru Sayahnathinte Swapnam

1990s

Year	Title	Role
1990	Thazhvaram
	Aaraam Waardil Aabhyanthara Kalaham
	Kalikkalam	Rosi
	Oliyampukal	Tribal lady
	His Highness Abdullah	Saraswathi
	Thoovalsparsham	Nun
1991	Daiva Sahayam Lucky Center
	Khandakavyam
	Raid
	Nagarathil Samsara Vishayam
	Orutharam Randutharam Moonnutharam	Devayani
	Kakkathollayiram	Jameela
	Parallel College	Bhargavi
	Veendum Oru Aadyarathri
	Uncle Bun	Sister 1
	Venal Kinavukal	Lakshmi
1992	Savidham
	Rajashilpi
	Soorya Manasam
	Kizhakkan Pathrose	Drama artist
	Aayushkalam	Sujatha's mother
	Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo	Jinachandran's mother
	Ayalathe Adheham	Rajiv's mother
	Vietnam Colony	Colony woman
	Pappayude Swantham Appoos	Servant
	Sargam	Thankamani's mother
	Kamaladalam	Malavika's mother
	Sooryachakram	Lakshmi
1993	Journalist
	Ponnuchami
	Customs Diary
	Ithu Manjukaalam	Savithri
	Aagneyam	Mammali's mother
	Golanthara Vartha	Headmistress
	Thirasheelakku Pinnil - Neelachithrangalkkethire
	Narayam	Sethulakshmi
	Koushalam	Gopi's mother
	Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans	Saraswathy
	Chenkol	Devi's mother
1994	Pavithram	Madhavan's mother
	Nandini Oppol	Maya's mother
	Pingami	Sreedevi's mother
	Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji	Joji's mother
	Sagaram Sakshi	Narayanan's wife
	Parinayam	Madhavan's mother
	Bharya	Babukuttan's mother
	Chakoram	Madhavi
	Bheeshmacharya
	Sraadham
1995	Chantha
	Mazhayethum Munpe
	No. 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North	Servant
	Shilpi	Rahul's mother
	Sundharimare Sookshikkuka	Rema's mother
	Ezharakoottam	Jaanuvamma
	Prayikkara Pappan	Gouri mother
	Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum	Indu's mother
	Aksharam	Kunjikrishna Pothuval's wife
1996	Thooval Kottaram	Paarukutty
	Kaanaakkinaavu	Aalikka's wife
	Excuse Me Ethu Collegila	Appukuttan's mother
	Azhakiya Ravanan	Sharath's mother
	Kaliveedu	Treesa
	Harbour	Beevathumma
1997	Maanikyakkoodaaram
	Kalyaana Unnikal	Krishnanunni's mother
	Poonilamazha	Ammu
1998	Aanappara Achamma
	Meenathil Thalikettu	Malathi's mother
	Mangalya Pallakku	Seethalakshmi's mother
1999	Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal	Bhavana's mother
	Janani	Eliyamma
	Ustaad	Devakiyamma
	Auto Brothers	Aarifa
	Crime File	Sr. Fisto

2000s

Year	Title	Role
2000	Nishasurabhikal	Reetha
2000	Valliettan	Kuttikrishnan Nair's wife
2001	Spiderman
	Raajapattam
	Chenchaayam	Malu's mother
	Dupe Dupe Dupe	Balu's mother
	Nakshathragal Parayathirunnathu	Devamma
2002	Swararaagaganga
	Thamaasha Veeran
	Njaan Raajaavu	Thomas's mother
	Sthree Vesham	Swamini Amma
	Jagathy Jagadeesh in Town	Nurse Santhadevi
	Akhila	Sharada
2003	Thilakkam	Savithri
	Natturajavu	Rubber tapping worker
	Ammakilikkoodu	Inmate of the old age home
	Manassinakkare	Aliyamma
	Janakeeyam	Ravi's mother
2004	Sasneham Sumithra	Lady at temple
	Rasikan	Ramabhadran's mother
	Sathyam	Raju's mother
	Thaalamelam	Nun
2005	The Tiger	tea shop vendor
	Hai	Sekharan's mother
	Otta Nanayam	Beggar
	Bharathchandran I.P.S.	Muslim lady
2006	Mahasamudram	Santha
	Ponmudipuzhayorathu
	Mukhamariyaathe	Velu's wife
	Chakkara Muthu	Servant
	Palunku	Lalitha
	Smart City	Santhamma
2007	Komban	Radha's mother
	Nivedyam	Amminiyamma
	Soorya Kireedam	Januvamma
	Sketch	Nadhiya's umma
	Kangaroo	Janamma
2008	Kanal Kannaadi
	Innathe Chintha Vishayam	Amina
	Kanichukulangarayil CBI	Bank customer
	Gopalapuranam	Bhavaniyamma
2009	Meghatheertham
	Bhagyadevatha	Nabeezumma
	Venalmaram	Kamalakshi

2010s

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	Njaan Sanchaari	Devassy's wife
	Thaskara Lahala	Mani's mother
	Kadha Thudarunnu	Lasar's wife
	Kadaksham	Servant
	Holidays	Bus passenger
	Fiddle	Dakshayini
2011	Dhaanam
	Swargam Nine Kilometer
	Ninnishtam Ennishtam 2	Shalini's House Servant
	Sundara Kalyanam	Shajahan's umma
	Scene No.001	Manikantan's mother
	Happy Durbar	Nelson's mother
2012	Thappana	Patient
	Masters	Milan's grandmother
	Thanichalla Njan	Antharjanam
	Parudeesa	Johny's mother
	Oru Kudumba Chithram	Mallika's care taker
	Madirasi	Janakiyamma
	Ee Adutha Kaalathu	Vishnu's mother
2013	Radio
	Ezhamathe Varavu	Tribal Woman
	Romans	Papi's wife
	Housefull	Leelamani
	ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi	Colony lady
	Pothumaappu	Sathar's mother
	Olipporu	Teacher
	Cleopatra	Bhavani
	Weeping Boy	Sahadevan's mother
2014	Avarude Veedu
	Maramkothi
	Pranayakadha	Elamma
	Ponnarayan	Raghavan's mother
	Iniyum Ethra Dooram	Muthassi
	1983	Mariyamma
	Thomsonvilla	School Principal/Nun
	God's Own Country	Vakkachan's mother
	To Noora with Love	Sreeparvathi's grandmother
	Nerariyathe		Short film
	Seconds	Firoz's grandmother
2015	Iruvazhi Thiriyunnidam
	Moonam Naal
	Namukkore Aakaasham
	Iruvazhi Thiriyunnidam
	Saradhi	Rajani's mother in law
	Nadi	Saraswathiyamma
	White Boys
	1000 – Oru Note Paranja Katha	Janakiyamma
	Alif	Abu's mother
	Rudra Simhasanam	Servant
	Life of Josutty	Geevarghese's mother
2016	Ottakolam	Kamakshi Amma
	Paulettante Veedu	Santhakumari
	Subhayathra	Short film
	Aruthe
	Plus or Minus	Kalyaniyamma
	Wonderful Journey	Kuriakose's mother
	Kaadhaantharam	Sarasamma
	Noolpaalam	Muthassi
	Leela	Chengalam Omana
	Inspector Dawood Ibrahim	Midwife
	Thoppil Joppan	Roslin's grandmother
2017	Devayanam
	The Crab	Servant
	Pareeth Pandari	Officer
	Mannam Kattayum Kariyilayum	Raghu's mother
2018	Khaleefa
	Planner	Ponnamaa
	Parole	Villager
	Mattanchery
	Kenalum Kinarum
	Shirkh	Aayisha
	Nonsense	T.P. Annamma
	Eliyammachiyude Aadyathre Christmas	Kunjannamma
	Madhurameeyathra
2019	Vallikettu	Santhamma
	Panthu	Sudheesh's mother
	Neeyum Njanum	Tajitha
	Mr. & Ms. Rowdy	Valyammechi
	Daivam Saakshi	Sethu's mother
	Soothrakkaran
	Vishudha Pusthakam	Umaiba
	Muthassikkoru Muthu
	Safe	Old lady in court
	Vikruthi	Bystander
	Makkanna

2020s

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2021	Illam	Bhavani
	Chavara Pithavinte Chavarulukal	Sudhaamma
	Sara's	Servant
	Kaaval	Leelamma
	Pappantem Simontem Piller
2022	Kumari	Kunjamma Pillai
	Nipah
	He... A Terrorist		Short film
	Aquarium	Chettathi
2023	2018: Everyone is a Hero	Village lady
2025	The Protector		^[4]

Television career

Serials

2023 Balanum Ramayum (Mazhavil Manorama)
2021 Kudumbasangamam ( sitcom )
2021 Priyankari (Flowers TV)
2020 Chackoyum Maryyum (Mazhavil Manorama)
2019 Arayannangalude Veedu (Flowers TV)
2014 Kuttikale oru Kali Parayam (Kochu TV)
2017 Ammuvinte Amma (Mazhavil Manorama)
2017 Chinthavishtayaya Seetha (Asianet)
2016 Jagratha (Amrita TV)
2014 Bhagyadevatha (TV series) (Mazhavil Manorama)
2013 Pattu Saree (Mazhavil Manorama)
2012 Chattambi Kalyani (Jaihind TV)
2011 Guru (Jaihind TV)
2013 Abhinetri (Surya TV)
2009 Vallarpadathamma(Shalom)
2009 Nilavillakku (Surya TV)
2011 Pattukalude-Pattu (Surya TV)
2010 Indraneelam (Surya TV)
2006 Priyam (Kairali TV)
2008 Gajarajan Guruvayur Keshavan (Surya TV)
2009 Manassariyathe (Surya TV)
2008 Magalude Amma (Surya TV)
2004 Kayamkulam Kochunni (Surya TV)
2001 Swantham Malootty(Surya TV)
2006 Manasi (Doordarshan)
2008 Vishudha Thomasleeha (Asianet)
2007–2009 Alilathali (Asianet)
2008 Kanal Kireedam (Asianet)
2004 Omanathingalpakshi (Asianet)
2001:Sthree(Asianet)
2000 Samayam
Agnisakshi
Melappadam
Sindoorakuruvi
Kashithumbi

Other shows

Nanmayude Nakshathrangal (Telefilm) (KAIRALI TV)
Mazhameghangal (Telefilm)
Monoottante Onam (Telefilm) (SURYA TV)
Snehathinte Mullukal (Telefilm) (DD MALAYALAM)
Cindrella (Telefilm)(DD MALAYALAM)
The Sacrificial Love (Telefilm) (Shalom TV)
Comedy Festival (Reality Show) (MAZHAVIL MANORAMA) – Supporting Artist
Oli Mangatha Tharakal (Interview) (SURYA TV)
Sreevishnumayaarchana (Album), Devasangeetham (Asianet PLUS)
Kusrithikanna (Album)
Ente Kanniyathra (Album)
Katha Ithuvare
Riya Electronic Chalk (Advertisement)
G- mobile (Advertisement)
Sarigama – Game show

Dramas

Prethalayam
Layabhangam
Jwalanam

References

↑ 'അമ്മ'വീടിന്റെ ശാന്തതയില്‍. mangalam.com (2013-06-12). Retrieved on 2017-07-06. Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Oli Mangatha Tharakal". suryatv. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
↑ Malayalam cinema, Kerala cinema, Malayalam cinema news, Malayalam cinema actress, upcoming Malayalam movies. Kerala.com (2012-08-20). Retrieved on 2017-07-06.
↑ Features, C. E. (29 April 2025). "Shine Tom Chacko-starrer The Protector gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 14 June 2025.

External links

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[1] 'അമ്മ'വീടിന്റെ ശാന്തതയില്‍. mangalam.com (2013-06-12). Retrieved on 2017-07-06. Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "Oli Mangatha Tharakal". suryatv. Retrieved 10 March 2014.

[3] Malayalam cinema, Kerala cinema, Malayalam cinema news, Malayalam cinema actress, upcoming Malayalam movies. Kerala.com (2012-08-20). Retrieved on 2017-07-06.

[4] Features, C. E. (29 April 2025). "Shine Tom Chacko-starrer The Protector gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 14 June 2025.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
1969–1970	Sheela (1969) Sharada (1970)
1971–1980	Sheela (1971) Jayabharathi (1972) Jayabharathi (1973) Lakshmi (1974) Rani Chandra (1975) Sheela (1976) Santhakumari (1977) Shoba (1978) Srividya (1979) Poornima Bhagyaraj (1980)
1981–1900	Jalaja (1981) Madhavi (1982) Srividya (1983) Seema (1984) Seema (1985) Shari (1986) Suhasini Maniratnam (1987) Anju (1988) Urvashi (1989) Urvashi (1990)
1991–2000	Urvashi (1991) Srividya (1992) Shobana (1993) Shanthi Krishna (1994) Urvashi (1995) Manju Warrier (1996) Jomol (1997) Sangita (1998) Samyuktha Varma (1999) Samyuktha Varma (2000)
2001–2010	Suhasini Maniratnam (2001) Navya Nair (2002) Meera Jasmine (2003) Kavya Madhavan and Geethu Mohandas (2004) Navya Nair (2005) Urvashi (2006) Meera Jasmine (2007) Priyanka Nair (2008) Shweta Menon (2009) Kavya Madhavan (2010)
2011–2020	Shweta Menon (2011) Rima Kallingal (2012) Ann Augustine (2013) Nazriya Nazim (2014) Parvathy (2015) Rajisha Vijayan (2016) Parvathy (2017) Nimisha Sajayan (2018) Kani Kusruti (2019) Anna Ben (2020)
2021–present	Revathi (2021) Vincy Aloshious (2022)