Srividya
Encyclopedia
Srividya was a leading India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed. Srividya's personal life was full of tragedies. She fought against all odds with dedication in her work until she died of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

.

Early life

Srividya was born on 24 July 1953 at Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 to Tamil film comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...

 Krishnamurthy and Carnatic classical
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

 singer M. L. Vasanthakumari
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...

. She had a brother, Sankararaman. Her mother tongue is Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

. Her father had to stop acting in the year when she was born because of a disease which affected his facial muscles. Her family fell into financial crisis. Her mother worked long hours to meet the family's financial needs. Srividya once reportedly said that her mother didn't even have time to breastfeed her. Srividya debuted in acting at a very early age. When her parent's marriage faced problems due to financial difficulties, Srividya's youth was blighted. She got a marriage proposal from a scientist based in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, but the marriage did not materialize due to financial problems faced by her family.

Acting career

Srividya launched her career as a child artist in the 1966 Tamil film Thiruvarutchelvar (1966) alongside legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...

. Later she entered Malayalam films with a dance scene in Kumara Sambhavam (1969), directed by P.Subramanyan and in Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

 film Tata Manavadu
Tata Manavadu
Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...

 (1972) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao
Dasari Narayana Rao
Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao B.A. is a politician, film director, and film producer. Narayana Rao directed about 150 films, produced 53 films and worked in more than 250 films as a dialogue writer and as a lyricist.Beside graduating with a BA degree, he used to take part in scores of drama competitions...

. However, her first major role was that of a college student falling in love with her professor in the 1971 Tamil film Nootrukku Nooru
Nootrukku Nooru (1971 film)
Nootrukku Nooru is a 1971 Tamil-language film directed and written by K. Balachander. The protagonist who is a college professor is accused by three girls for sexual nuisance, just before the protagonist’s marriage...

, directed by K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...

. Her first film as heroine was Delhi to Madras (1972) in which she was paired opposite Jaishankar
Jaishankar
Jaishankar is a yester-year actor of the Tamil Film Industry. He is fondly referred to as Thennagathu James Bond . His penchant for dashing roles earned him the sobriquet of James Bond of South India, thanks to his roles in films like Vallavan Oruvan, CID Shankar and so on...

. In mid-1970s, she became busy in the Tamil film industry. She acted in films such as Velli Vizha
Velli Vizha
Velli Vizha is a 1972 Tamil film starring Gemini Ganesan in the lead role of a protagonist....

, Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren is a 1973 Tamil language film scripted and directed by K. Balachander starring Sivakumar, Jayachitra, Srividya Subha and Jayasudha in the lead roles. The film has Kamal Haasan as a playboy and Jayasudha as a young girl married to an older man...

and Apoorva Raagangal
Apoorva Raagangal
Apoorva Raagangal is a 1975 Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. This film was controversial upon release as it examines relationships between people with wide age gaps, which challenged Indian social mores. The film went on to win the National Film Awards in 1976...

, all directed by K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...

. She was Rajinikanth's first heroine in Apoorva Raagangal
Apoorva Raagangal
Apoorva Raagangal is a 1975 Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. This film was controversial upon release as it examines relationships between people with wide age gaps, which challenged Indian social mores. The film went on to win the National Film Awards in 1976...

(1975). She played a heroine in the film Chattambikkavala opposite Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...

. She gained public attention in Chenda, directed by A. Vincent
A. Vincent
Aloysius Vincent born June 14, 1928 in Calicut, Kerala, India is an Indian cinematographer of Hindi movies and director of Malayalam movies. Since the mid 1960s he has directed some 30 movies...

. Actress Lakshmi
Lakshmi (actress)
Lakshmi Narayan is an Indian National Film Award winning actress who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Lakshmi has acted in more than 300 films in all south Indian languages apart from few in Bollywood. She has won a Filmfare Best Actress Award and eight Filmfare Awards South.-Early...

 is her very close friend.

Playback singing

Srividya was a good singer as well. She first sang for films in the Tamil film Amaran and then for Malayalam film Ayalathe Sundari. She later sang in several films, such as Oru Painkilikkadha and Nakshathra tharattu. She was an expert classical vocalist as well. She used to sing in functions such as the Soorya Festival.

Personal life

Srividya acted in Apoorva Raagangal opposite Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...

 which virtually changed her life. In the film she acted as the wife of Rajinikanth and as the lover of Kamal Haasan. She fell in love with Kamal Haasan during the making of the film. They had the support of their families, but they broke up. Later she fell in love with George Thomas, an assistant director in her Malayalam film  Teekkanal. She married him on 9 January 1978 despite opposition from her family. As George wished, she was baptised before the marriage. She wanted to stay as a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...

, but had to return to acting, when George forced her to, citing financial issues. She soon realised that she made a wrong decision in marrying him. Her family life became miserable and the marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 ended in divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...

. It was followed by a prolonged legal battle to settle financial issues between the two. The case went up to the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...

, where she won the final decision. After the divorce, she left Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

 and settled in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

.

Death

In 2003, she underwent a biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...

 test following physical problems and was tested positive for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

. She underwent treatment for three years. In October 2006, she underwent chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....

, but cancer had already spread throughout her body. On 19 October 2006 at 7:55 pm she passed away.http://www.weblokam.com/cinema/profiles/0610/20/1061020040_5.htm

Partial filmography

  • London (2005)
  • Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam (2003)
  • Mullavalliyum Thenmavum (2003)
  • Malayalimamanu Vanakkam (2002)
  • Kandukondain Kandukondain
    Kandukondain Kandukondain
    Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...

     (2000)
  • Ingane Oru Nilapakshi (2000)
  • Agni Sakshi (1999)
  • Arundhati (1999)
  • Sangamam
    Sangamam
    Sangamam is a Tamil musical romance film directed by Suresh Krishna. Actor Rahman, the co-brother of A.R. Rahman was the hero of the film. Vindhya made her debut playing the daughter of the rich classical father played by Vijayakumar. The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman...

     (1999)
  • Kannethirey Thondrinal (1998)
  • Sidhartha (1998)
  • Chinnabbayi (1997)
  • Kaadhalukku Mariyaadai (1997)
  • Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu
    Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu
    Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu is a 1997 Malayalam romance film, made in India, written and directed by Kamal, starring Jayaram, Manju Warrier, Balachandra Menon, Biju Menon, and Vinaya Prasad...

     (1997)
  • Manasam (1997)
  • Poonilamazha (1997)
  • Aniyathi Pravu
    Aniyathi Pravu
    Aniathipravu is a 1997 Malayalam musical-romance film directed by Fazil and produced by Appachan. It stars Shalini and Kunchacko Boban in the lead roles. The film is a love story, about Sudhish Kumar and Mini who fall in love despite being from two different religious communities...

     (1997)
  • Dharma Chakram
    Dharma Chakram
    Dharma Chakram is a 1996 Tollywood film directed by Suresh Krishna and produced by D. Ramanaidu on Suresh Productions. This film starred Venkatesh in the lead role, Ramya Krishnan as his love interest, and Girish Karnad as the father and the antagonist....

     (1996)
  • The Prince (1996)
  • Dilliwala Rajakumaran
    Dilliwala Rajakumaran
    Dilliwala Rajakumaran is a 1996 Malayalam film by Rajasenan starring Jayaram and Manju Warrier.-Plot:Appu and Maya were childhood sweethearts, and their parents had agreed to their marriage. Appu is treated by Maya's father as his own son and this makes her uncle jealous o him...

     (1996)
  • Ek Anari Do Khiladi (1996)
  • Kadhal Desam
    Kadhal Desam
    Kadhal Desam is a 1996 Tamil film. The film stars Abbas, Vineeth, Tabu, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vadivelu, Chinni Jayanth and Srividya and is directed by Kathir and produced by K. T. Kunjumon. The The music is by Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman. Abbas debuted his acting career through this...

     (1996)
  • Nammavar (1995)
  • Gandeevam (1994)
  • Pavam Ia Ivachan (1994)
  • Pavithram
    Pavithram
    Pavithram is a Malayalam film released in 1994 directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar. The film won Mohanlal the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1994.-Plot:The movie begins with an older man's dream...

     (1994)
  • Mugguru Monagallu
    Mugguru Monagallu
    Mugguru Monagallu is a Tollywood film which released on January 7, 1994 and was produced by Chiranjeevi's brother Nagendra Babu. This film stars Chiranjeevi , Nagma, Roja, and Ramya Krishna. K. Raghavendra Rao directed this action flick....

     (1994)
  • O' Faby (1993)
  • Uzhaippaali (1993)
  • Balarama Krishnulu (1992)
  • Daivathinte Vikrithikal
    Daivathinte Vikrithikal
    Daivathinte Vikrithikal is a 1992 Malayalam feature film co-written and directed by Lenin Rajendran based on M. Mukundan's award-winning novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Alphonso, a man who chooses to suffer a slow, torturous life in his little village, Mahe, in preference to...

     (1992)
  • Neelagiri
    Neelagiri (film)
    Neelagiri is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Madhoo, M. G. Soman, and Srividya. The music is composed by M. M. Keeravani, credited as Maragathamani.-Cast:* Mammootty as Sivan* Madhoo as Anitha* M. G...

     (1991)
  • Thalapathi
    Thalapathi
    Thalapathi is a 1991 Indian Tamil film written and directed by Mani Ratnam, and produced by G. Venkateswaran under the banner of G. V. Films. The film stars Rajnikanth, Mammootty and Shobana in the lead roles with Arvind Swamy, Srividya, Amrish Puri, Bhanupriya, Nagesh, and Charuhasan essaying...

     (1991)
  • Advaitham
    Advaitham
    Advaitham is 1992 Malayalam political-crime film directed by Priyadarshan and written by T.Damodaran. It stars Mohanlal, Jayaram, Revathi, Innocent, and M. G. Soman in lead roles. The music was composed by Johnson...

     (1991)
  • Ente Sooryaputhrikku
    Ente Sooryaputhrikku
    Ente Sooryaputhrikku is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by Fazil and starring Amala, Suresh Gopi and Srividya. The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Karpoora Mullai.-Plot:...

     (1991)
  • Samrajyam
    Samrajyam
    Samrajyam is a 1990 Malayalam gangster film co-written and directed by Jomon. Mammootty played the role of Alexander, a drug dealer and underworld don. A sequel to this film, titled The Son of Alexander and starring Mammootty, is in pre-production and will be directed by Amal Neerad...

     (1990)
  • Kondaveeti Donga (1990)
  • Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989)
  • Indrudu Chandrudu
    Indrudu Chandrudu
    -Awards:* Kamal Haasan won Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu in 1989.-Features:*For the Tamil dubbing, Kamal Haasan, Srividya and Nagesh dubbed their own voice for their part.*This is the only film that both Kamal Haasan and Vijayashanti acted together....

     (1989)
  • Innale
    Innale
    Innale is a 1989 Malayalam film written and directed by P. Padmarajan with Shobhana, Jayaram, Srividya and Suresh Gopi in pivotal roles.- Synopsis :Gauri the sole survivor of a tragic bus accident loses her memory...

     (1989)
  • Mappillai
    Mappillai
    Mappillai is a Tamil film is directed by Rajasekar. Chiranjeevi is the producer of the movie and appears in a guest role. Its a remake of super hit telugu movie Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu, starring Chiranjeevi, Vijaya Shanthi, and Vanisri produced by Allu Aravind.-Plot:Aarumugam makes a blazing...

     (1989)
  • Vicky Dada (1989)
  • Jaalakam (1987)
  • Swathi Thirunal (1987)
  • Pranamam (1986)
  • Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku (1986)
  • Ennennum Kannettante
    Ennennum Kannettante
    Ennennum Kannettante is 1986 Malayalam romance film written and directed by Fazil, starring newcomers Sangeeth and Sonia in the lead roles. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film for the year 1986. Srividya won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress also for...

     (1986)
  • Irakal (1986)
  • Punnagai Mannan (1986)
  • Vivahitare Itihile (1986)
  • Ayanam (1985)
  • Azhiyatha Bandhangal (1985)
  • Janakeeya Kodathi (1985)
  • Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
    Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
    Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam is a 1985 Malayalam drama film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It stars Mammootty, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Karamana Janardanan Nair and Srividya in pivotal roles. It tells the story of a man who wants to sell his ancestral house and put his mother in an old age home...

     (1985)
  • Arante Mulla Kochu Mulla (1984)
  • Adaminte Vaariyellu
    Adaminte Vaariyellu
    Aadaminte Vaariyellu is a 1983 Malayalam film directed by K.G. George and starring Srividya, Suhasini, and Soorya. The film handles issues of women.-Plot:...

     (1983)
  • Bhookambam (1983)
  • Kattathe Kilikkoodu
    Kattathe Kilikkoodu
    Kattathe Kilikkoodu is a 1983 Malayalam film directed by Bharathan. The story is about an unhappy marriage that unravels in a bad way. It stars Bharath Gopi, Mohanlal, Srividya and Revathi.-Cast:* Bharath Gopi as Prof...

     (1983)
  • Pin Nilavu (1983)
  • Prathigna (1983)
  • Rachana (1983)
  • Ithiri Neram Othiri Karyam (1982)
  • Kelviyum Naaney Badhilum Naaney (1982)
  • Aakkramanam
    Aakkramanam
    Aakkramanam is an Indian film in the Malayalam language by Sreekumaran Thampi starring Madhu, Jayan, Balan K. Nair, Sathar, Sreevidya, and Jayabharathi.-Cast:* Madhu* Jayan* Balan K. Nair* Sathar* Sreevidya* Jayabharathi* Prameela...

     (1981)
  • Attimari (1981)
  • Kathayariyathe
    Kathayariyathe
    Kathayariyathe is a 1981 Malayalam language film. It was directed by Mohan....

     (1981)
  • Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
    Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
    Vilkkanundu Swapnangal is a 1980 Malayalam drama film directed by Azad, written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Sukumaran in the lead role. The film features Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.-Plot:To supported his...

     (1980)
  • Sakthi (1980)
  • Theekkadal (1980)
  • Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
    Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
    Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum is a 1979 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi. It stars Kamal Hassan as Allauddin and Rajinikanth as Kamaruddin. The film is based on Alladin's story from the Arabian Nights. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Allaudinaum Arputha Vilakkum and released on June 8,...

     (1979)
  • Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha (1979)
  • Jeevitham Oru Gaanam (1979)
  • Puthiya Velicham (1979)
  • Sri Krishna Leela (1977)
  • Hridayam Oru Kshethram(1976)
  • Arjun Pandit (1976)
  • Thoorpu Padamara (1976)
  • Apoorva Raagangal
    Apoorva Raagangal
    Apoorva Raagangal is a 1975 Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. This film was controversial upon release as it examines relationships between people with wide age gaps, which challenged Indian social mores. The film went on to win the National Film Awards in 1976...

     (1975)
  • Jaise Ko Taisa (1973)
  • Tata Manavadu
    Tata Manavadu
    Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...

     as Dancer (1972)


External links

  • http://www.dhool.com/sotd2/821.html
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