Srividya

Srividya, also known as Sreevidya, was an Indian film actress best known for her work predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films with few Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films for 40 years.She acted in more than 800 films in her film career. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. In addition to acting, she occasionally worked as a playback singer as well. She was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions.She used her own voice for dubbing in all her movies in all languages. Srividya's personal life was full of tragedies. In 2006, she died of spine cancer, aged 53.

Early life
Srividya was born on 24 July 1953 in Madras, Tamil Nadu into a Tamil family. Tamil film comedian Krishnamurthy and Carnatic classical singer M. L. Vasanthakumari were her parents. She had a brother, Sankararaman. 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., 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. Later she entered Malayalam films with a dance scene in Kumara Sambhavam (1969), directed by P.Subramanyan and in Telugu film Tata Manavadu (1972) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. However, her first major role was that of a college student falling in love with her professor in the 1971 Tamil film Nootrukku Nooru, directed by K. Balachander. Her first film as heroine was Delhi to Madras (1972) in which she was paired opposite Jaishankar. In mid-1970s, she became busy in the Tamil film industry. She acted in films such as Velli Vizha, Sollathaan Ninaikkiren and Apoorva Raagangal, all directed by K. Balachander. She was Rajinikanth's first heroine in Apoorva Raagangal (1975).

She started acting in Malayalam in 1969. Her first movie was Chattambikkavala directed by N.Sankaran Nair, in which she acted as the heroine opposite to Sathyan. She gained public attention in Chenda, directed by A. Vincent. Among the south Indian language movies she acted in, the maximum number of movies was in Malayalam (1969 to 2003).

Her role as Amba from the mythological story (adapted film) from the Mahabarath, Amba Ambika Ambalika 1976, has been appreciated.

Playback singing
Srividya was a playback 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, Njangalude Kochu Doctor, Rathilayam and Nakshathratharattu.

She was an expert classical vocalist as well. She used to sing in functions such as the Soorya Festival. She was mainly trained by her mother, who was one among the female trinity in Carnatic music, along with M. S. Subbulakshmi and D. K. Pattammal.

Personal life
Srividya acted in Apoorva Raagangal opposite Kamal Haasan which virtually changed her life. In the film she acted as 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. Their relationship was the inspiration of a Malayalam film Thirakkatha as well, released in 2008.

Later she fell in love with George Thomas, an assistant director in her Malayalam film Teekkanal. She married him on 9 January 1976 despite opposition from her family. As George wished, she was baptised before the marriage. She wanted to stay as a housewife, 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 life became miserable and the marriage ended in divorce in 1980. After her divorce she continued acting in movies (mainly Malayalam). During this period she fell in love with film director Bharathan who made many films with her as the female lead. But they couldn't continue the relationship and eventually Bharathan married KPAC Lalitha. The divorce with George Thomas was followed by a prolonged legal battle to settle financial issues between the two. The case went up to the Supreme Court of India, where she won the final decision. After the divorce, she left Chennai and settled in Thiruvananthapuram.

Death
In 2003, she underwent a biopsy test following physical problems and was tested positive for spine cancer. She underwent treatment for three years. Two  months before her death on 17 August 2006, Ms. Srividya had executed a will and entrusted Ganesh Kumar, cine actor and MLA, to register a charitable society to ‘start a music and dance school for efficient students who could not get ample opportunities due to lack of money or to give away scholarship to such students to continue their studies and to extend financial assistance to deserving ailing artistes.’

"I am bequeathing all my properties except some payments mentioned elsewhere in this bill. An appropriate body with eminent persons, registered under Charitable Societies Act should be formed and the realised value of all my assets should be transferred as a nucleus fund," she said in the will entrusting Mr. Ganesh Kumar to register the society.

She had also left five lakh rupees each to her brother’s children and one lakh rupees each to her servants in the will, executed on 17 August 2006. In October 2006, she underwent chemotherapy, but cancer had already spread throughout her body. She died on 19 October 2006.

Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
 1979 - Best Actress - Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha,Jeevitham Oru Gaanam
 1983 - Best Actress - Rachana
 1986 -   Second Best Actress    - Irakal
 1987 -  Second Best Actress  - Ennennum Kannettante
 1992 - Best Actress - Daivathinte vikrithikal

Kerala State Television Awards
 2004 - Best Actress : Avicharithum

Filmfare Awards South
 1975: Special Award – South - Apoorva Raagangal - Tamil
 1979: Best Actress – Malayalam - Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha
 1980: Best Actress – Malayalam - Puzha

 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
 1977 - Special Prize - Madhurageetham
 1992 - MGR Award

 Cinema Express Awards
 1991 - Best Character Actress - Thalapathi (Tamil)

 Government Honours
 1977 - Kalaimamani - from the government of Tamil Nadu for the contribution to the Tamil cinema 

The Kerala Film Critics Association
Chalachitra Prathibha Puraskaram –  (2006)

Filmography

Malayalam

Tamil

Telugu

Hindi

Kannada

TV serials

References

External links
 

Category:1953 births
Category:2006 deaths
Category:Tamil actresses
Category:20th-century Indian actresses
Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema
Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Category:Actresses from Chennai
Category:Deaths from cancer in India
Category:Deaths from breast cancer
Category:Kerala State Film Award winners
Category:Filmfare Awards South winners
Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
Category:21st-century Indian actresses
Category:Actresses in Malayalam television
Category:Indian television actresses
Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema
Category:Indian film actresses
Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema
Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema
Category:Kerala State Television Award winners

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