Srividya

For the Hindu system of worship dedicated to theGoddess,seeShri Vidya.

Srividya
Born	(1953-07-24)24 July 1953 Madras(nowChennai),Tamil Nadu,India
Died	19 October 2006(2006-10-19)(aged 53) Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala,India
Other names	Sreevidya
Years active	1966–2006
Works	Full list
Spouse	George Thomas ​ ​ (m.1978;div.1980)​
Parents	Vikatam R. Krishnamurthy M. L. Vasanthakumari

Srividya(24 July 1953 – 19 October 2006) Srividya was 'The Most Beautiful and Multi Talented actress of South Indian Cinema'. Srividya was called as The 'Mukhashree'(Face of Malayalam) of Malayalam cinema because of her Goddess like facial features and appearance. Her Beauty resembled the Beauty of Indian GoddessesMahalakshmiandSaraswatiso that she appeared as Goddesses in many Malayalam movies. Srividya has the most beautiful eyes in the history of Indian Cinema because of that Srividya was named as 'Kan azhagi' (Eye Beauty) of South Indian Cinema, she spoke through her expressive wide eyes more than words. Srividya was the most beautiful, versatile and busy actress of Malayalam cinema at 70's, 80's. Srividya was The Real Female Superstar of Malayalam cinema at her times. Srividya was the Real lover of PAN Indian StarKamal haasan.Kamal haasan expressed his soulful love for Srividya even after her death in a TV Interview 'Coffee with DD'. Kamal Haasan said, "(ஸ்ரீவித்யா, என் காதலி, சந்தேகமே கிடையாது, இருவருக்கும் இடையே அந்த காதல் கடைசிவரை அப்படியே இருந்து மறுக்கமுடியாமல், கல்யாணம் லா அவசியமில்லை)" which became Trending love among youngsters and melted everyone's heart. Srividya was the actress who doesn't have haters and she is still fondly called as vidyama (Vidya Amma) by her fans. Srividya became a character artist at a young age because of her wide curvy figure. But She proved her acting talents and became one of the most famous character artists at 80's and 90's of South Indian Cinema. She portrayed mother characters beautifully like no one at that times. She even praised as 'The Most Beautiful Mother actress' at 80's and 90's in south Indian Cinema.she was best known for her work predominantly inMalayalamandTamilfilms, along with fewTelugu,KannadaandHindifilms. In a career spanning for 40 years, she had acted in more than 800 films. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated onMalayalam films.In addition to acting, Srividya occasionally worked as aplayback singeras well as carnatic singer. She was also a well trainedBharathanatyamdancer. She was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. She used her own voice fordubbingalmost in all movies in all languages. She died in 2006 after battling metastatic breast cancer.

Early life

Srividya was born on 24 July 1953 inMadras,Tamil Naduinto aTamilfamily. Tamil film comedian Krishnamurthy andCarnatic classicalsingerM. L. Vasanthakumariwere 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 parents faced problems due to financial difficulties, Srividya's youth was blighted. She got a marriage proposal from a scientist based in theU.S.,but the marriage did not materialize as Srividya did not show interest in marriage

Acting career

Srividya started her career as a child artist in the 1967 Tamil filmThiruvarutchelvaralongside legendary actorSivaji Ganesan.Later she enteredMalayalamfilms with a dance scene inKumara Sambhavam(1969), directed by P. Subramaniam and inTelugufilmTata Manavadu(1972) directed byDasari Narayana Rao.However, her first major role was that of a college student falling in love with her professor in the 1971 Tamil filmNootrukku Nooru,directed byK. Balachander.Her first film as heroine wasDelhi to Madras(1972) in which she was paired oppositeJaishankar.In the mid-1970s, she became busy in the Tamil film industry. She acted in films such asVelli Vizha,Sollathaan NinaikkirenandApoorva Raagangal,all directed by K. Balachander. She wasRajinikanth's first heroine inApoorva Raagangal(1975).

She started acting in Malayalam in 1969. Her first movie wasChattambikkavaladirected byN. Sankaran Nair,in which she acted as the heroine opposite toSathyan.She gained public attention inChenda(1973), directed byA. Vincent.Among the south Indian language movies she acted in, the maximum number of movies was in Malayalam (1969 to 2003).

Her role asAmbamythological character from the mythological story (adapted film) from the Mahabharata,Amba Ambika Ambalika(1976), has been appreciated.

Playback singing

Srividya was a playback singer as well. She first sang for films in the Tamil filmAmaranand then forMalayalam filmAyalathe Sundari.She later sang in several films, such asOru Painkilikkadha,Njangalude Kochu Doctor, Rathilayam andNakshathratharattu.

She was an expert classical vocalist as well. She used to sing in functions such as theSoorya Festival.She was mainly trained by her mother, who was one among the female trinity in Carnatic music, along withM. S. SubbulakshmiandD. K. Pattammal.

Personal life

Srividya has acted in many films includingAnnai Velankanni,Unarchigaland Apoorva Raagangal withKamal Haasan.Srividya and Kamal Haasan fell in love and Kamal Haasan proposed to her. Srividya's mother stopped them from getting married. A few years later Kamal Haasan began courtingVani Ganapathyand they got married which was a great disappointment for Sri Vidya. During this period she fell in love with film directorBharathanwho made many films with her as the female lead. But they couldn't continue the relationship and eventually Bharathan marriedKPAC Lalitha. Later she fell in love with George Thomas, an assistant director in herMalayalam filmTeekkanal.She married him on 19 January 1978 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). She had to fight seek legal action against George Thomas as he had snatched all her properties, even her prizes, from her.Hence, 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 in the final verdict.After the case was closed, she left Chennai and settled in Thiruvananthapuram.

Death

In 2003, she underwent abiopsytest following physical problems and was diagnosed positive for metastatic breast cancer. She underwent treatment for three years. Two months before her death on 17 August 2006, Srividya had executed a will and entrustedK. B. 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 will. 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 underwentchemotherapy,but cancer had already spread throughout her body, and she died at 19:45 on 19 October 2006, aged 53.She was cremated with full state honours at Brahmana Samooham crematorium inKaramana,Thiruvananthapuram.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1979 –Best Actress–Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha,Jeevitham Oru Gaanam
• 1983 –Best Actress–Rachana
• 1985 -Second Best Actress-Irakal
• 1986 –Second Best Actress–Ennennum Kannettante
• 1992 –Best Actress–Daivathinte vikrithikal

Kerala State Television Awards

• 2004 –Best Actress:Avicharithum

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 1977 –Special Prize–Madhurageetham
• 1992 – MGR Award

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

• 1979 –Best Actress–Idavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha
• 2005 –Chalachitra Prathibha Award

Filmfare Awards South

• 1975:Special Award – South–Apoorva Raagangal(Tamil)
• 1979: Best Actress – Malayalam –Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha
• 1980:Best Actress – Malayalam–Puzha

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

Filmography

Main article:Srividya filmography

TV serials

Year	Film	Channel	Language	Notes
	Engae Aval		Tamil
	Lakshmi Vanthachi			Television film
	Ammayude Makan		Malayalam
1991	Penn	DD	Tamil	1st episode
	Oorarinda Rahasiyam
	Galatta Kudumbam
1996	Mohana Darsanam	DD	Malayalam
1998	Uravugal	Vijay TV	Tamil
1999	Ariyathe	Sheela	Malayalam	Television film
2001	Venalmazha	Surya TV
	Durga
2002–2003	Snehadooram	Asianet (TV channel)
2003–2004	Vasundhara Medicals
	Swapnam
2004–2005	Avicharitham	Asianet
2004	Sthreehrudayam	Surya TV
2005	Omanathingal Pakshi	Asianet
2006	Ammathamburatti
	Dial 100 Police Story			Archive footage
2021	Priyankari	Flowers TV
	Kanyadanam	Surya TV
2023	Ninnishtam Ennishtam

External links

• SrividyaatIMDb
• SrividyaatBollywood Hungama