Suryakantham - actress (Telugu)

Suryakantham in the 1954 film Chakrapani

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Friday 21, Aug 2026, 18:00.

Suryakantham

Born Suryakantham

28 October 1924

Kakinada, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Died 18 December 1994 (aged 70)

Alma mater Padmavathi Mahila University, A. P.

Occupation Film actor

Spouse Peddibhotla Chalapathi Rao

Introduction:

Suryakantham (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was an Indian actress in Telugu cinema. She was popular for her portrayal of cruel and cunning women with a comedic touch.

Early life:

Suryakantham was born and brought up in a Telugu family residing at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.  She was the 14th child to her parents, ten of whose children had died. She learnt dance and singing at the age of six.

She married Peddibhotla Chalapati Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.

Career:

Suryakantham started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studios, for which she had been paid Rs 75 in remuneration. She got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradi but eventually quit her job at Gemini Studios.

Later, she got a character artist role in the movie Gruhapravesam. She was offered the heroine's role in Soudamini, but did not accept it. She later was in a car accident, in which she received injuries to her face. She later played the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram.

Another "heroine" role was offered to her from a Bollywood film producer. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds, and that the same was given to her, Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying "I can't live on the unhappiness of other artists." She subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Kodarikam, which brought her a new level of success. The directors B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantham. They produced the movie Gundamma Katha, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao, with Suryakantham playing the lead role of Gundamma. The film was commercially successful.

Awards:

Mahanati Savitri Memorial Award

Honorary Doctorate Padmavati Mahila University

Titles

Gayyali Athayya

Sahaja Nata Kala Siromani

Haasya Nata Siromani

Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena

Rangasthala Siromani

Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)

Filmography:

Year Film Role

1946 Narada Naradi

1949 Dharmangada

1950 Samsaram Venkamma

1952 Daasi Dr. Sarala

Pelli Chesi Choodu Chukkalamma

Prema Chimlli

1953 Ammalakkalu Seshamma

Paredesi

Bratuku Teruvu Kotamma

1954 Chakrapani Manorama

Chandraharam

1955 Donga Ramudu

Kanyasulkam Meenakshi

1956 Chiranjeevulu Akhilandamma

Charana Daasi Seshamma

Ilavelpu

Penki Pellam

1957 Bhagya Rekha

Dongallo Dora

Mayabazar Hidimbi

Todi Kodallu Anasuya

1958 Bommala Pelli

Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu Rajaratnam

Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu

Mangalya Balam

1959 Jayabheri Ratnalu

Krishna Leelalu

1960 Santinivasam

1961 Velugu Needalu Kanaka Durgamma[1]

Bharya Bhartalu

Pelli Kani Pillalu

Iddaru Mitrulu

Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham

Sabash Raja

Vagdanam Baalamani

1962 Atma Bandhuvu Widowed daughter

Bhishma

Gundamma Katha Gundamma

Kula Gotralu

Manchi Manasulu

Mohini Rugmangada

Rakhta Sambandham

Siri Sampadalu

1963 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu Vardhanam

Lava Kusa

Mooga Manasulu

Nartanasala

Paruvu Pratishta

Eedu Jodu Rangamma

Punarjanma

Tirupatamma Katha

1964 Doctor Chakravarthy

Murali Krishna

Ramudu Bhimudu

1965 Aatma Gowravam Santhana Lakshmi

1966 Kanne Manasulu

Navaratri

Zamindar

Paduka Pattabhishekam[2] Manthara

Aastiparulu Kaasulamma

1967 Ummadi kutumbam

Gruhalakshmi

Poola Rangadu

1968 Ninne Pelladita

Govula Gopanna Mahalakshmi

Vintha Kapuram[3] Rambanamma

Tikka Sankarayya Kanthamma

1969 Sri Rama Katha[4] Charusheela, wife of Pragalbhacharyulu

Aatmiyulu Mahankali

Muhurtha Balam[5] Shantamma

Buddhimantudu

Bhale Rangadu

1970 Balaraju Katha

Vidhi Vilasam[6] Thirupathi's wife Parapathi

Thaali Bottu

1971 Dasara Bullodu ANR's Adopted Mother

Srimantudu

Atthalu Kodallu[7] Sundaramma

Manasu Mangalyam

1972 Illu Illalu Raja Babu's Mother in law – Surammatta

Anta Mana Manchike Leela Rao

Iddaru Ammayilu Sundaramma

Kalam Marindi

Koduku Kodalu

Vichitra Bandham Kantam

1973 Andala Ramudu Samalamma

Ganga Manga Durgamma

Meena[8] Meena's caretaker and Krishnaveni's aunt

1975 Mutyala Muggu Contractor's wife

Pooja

1976 Padi Pantalu[9] Kanthamma, wife of Seshayya

Secretary

Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club

1977 Ardhangi

Andame Anandam

Yamagola Seetamma

1978 Goranta Deepam

Chilipi Krishnudu

1979 Oka Challani Rathri[10] Kamakshi

Karthika Deepam

1980 Buchchi Babu

Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam[11] Bhadramma

Gayyali Gangamma Gangamma

1981 Prema Mandiram

1982 Pelleedu Pillalu

Kalavari Samsaram

Bangaru Bhoomi[12] Suramma

1983 Pelli Choopulu

Mundadugu

Maro Mayabazaar

Oorantha Sankaranthi

Sangharshana

Prema Pichollu

Konte Kodallu Varalamma

Lanke Bindelu[13]

1984 Dandayatra

1985 America Alludu

Surya Chandra

Pattabhishekam

Kanchu Kavacham

Rakta Sindhuram

Bullet

Palnati Simham[14] Parvathamma

1986 Ravana Brahma[15] Annapoornamma

Tandra Paparayudu

Manchi Manasulu

Ugra Narasimham

Chanakya Sapadham[16] Durgamma

1987 Gundamma Gari Krishnulu

Ummadi Mogudu

Aatma Bandhuvulu

1988 Yamudiki Mogudu Kali's grandmother

Garjinchina Ganga

O Bharya Katha Kanthamma

1989 Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagrata Sundaramma

Gaduggai

Rudranetra

Sahasame Naa Oopiri

Hai Hai Nayaka Suryakanthamma

1990 Idem Pellam Baboi

1993 Ratha Sarathi Gundamma

One by Two Balaji's grandmother

1994 Govinda Govinda

Anna

S. P. Parasuram Lakshmikantham

Tamil films

Year Film Role

1952 Kalyanam Panni Paar

1953 Velaikari Magal

Poongothai

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