2400:BD00:4580:9507:D988:77DD:C0BC:C532 at 01:15, 3 February 2021

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{{For|the Malayalam film actress|Santhakumari (Malayalam actress)}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2012}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = P. Shanthakumari
| image = P.Shanthakumari.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Shanthakumari (1949)
| birth_name = Vellala Subbamma
| birth_date = 17 May 1920
| birth_place = [[Proddatur]], [[Kadapa District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| death_date = 16 January 2006 (aged 85)
| death_place =
| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 1936-1979
| spouse = [[P. Pullaiah]]
| domesticpartner =
| website =
}}

'''Vellaala Subbamma''' (better known as '''Santhakumari''') (17 May 1920 – 16 January 2006) was an Indian musical artist and film actress. She was married to the Telugu film director and producer [[P. Pullaiah]].

==Early years==
Vellaala Subbamma was born in [[Proddatur]] town, ([[Kadapa District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]) to Sreenivasa Rao and Pedda Narasamma. Her father was an actor and her mother was a classical music singer. Santhakumari learned classical music and violin under the guidance of Professor P. Sambamurthy and was a classmate of [[D. K. Pattammal]]. She joined a drama troupe and was an [[All India Radio|AIR]] artiste by the age of sixteen. She came to [[Chennai|Madras (now Chennai)]] to pursue a career in music. She found employment in Vidyodaya School for a remuneration of Rs 2 per month. She sang along with music director S. Rajeswara Rao for AIR.

==Film career==
Santhakumari debuted in [[Telugu Cinema]] with ''Mayabazar'' (also known as ''Sasirekhaa Parinayam'') in 1936. In the following year she was a member of the cast of ''[[Sarangadhara]]'', a film that was directed by P. Pullaiah, whom she met and married in the same year.

The couple used the name of PadmaSree Pictures, named after their daughter Padma, for some of their movies and had success with films such as ''[[Jayabheri]]'' (1959), ''[[Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam]]'' (1960), and ''[[Preminchi Choodu]]'' (1965). Santhakumari acted in most of the movies that were made by her husband, including ''[[Shavukaru]]'' (1950), ''Ardhangi'' (1955), ''Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam'' (1960), ''Shanti Nivasam'' (1960), and ''[[Ramudu Bheemudu]]'' (1964).

In 1947, the couple started the Ragini Pictures banner with Bheemavarapu Narasimha Rao and Bhakta Jana. They made 22 films on both PadmaSree and Ragini banners put together.

She played many lead and supporting roles, with around 250 appearances in total.<ref>[http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Kollywood/P._Santha_Kumari/7102 Find Tamil Actress P. Santha Kumari Videos, P. Santha Kumari Movies, P. Santha Kumari Pictures and Filmography | Jointscene.com]</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
For her contributions to Telugu Cinema, Santha Kumari was awarded the [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]] in 1998.

==Filmography==
This is partial filmography of Santha Kumari. Kindly help expanding it.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Credits !! Character
|-
| 1936 || ''Sasirekha Parinayam'' || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] || Actress || Sasirekha
|-
| 1937 || ''[[Sarangadhara (1937 film)|Sarangadhara]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer || Chitrangi
|-
| 1938 || ''Bhakta Jayadeva'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1939 || ''Balaji'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer || Consort of Venkateswara
|-
| 1941 || ''[[Dharmapatni]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer ||
|-
| || ''Parvati Kalyanam'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Krishna Prema]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer || Radha
|-
| 1945 || ''[[Mayalokam]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer ||
|-
| 1948 || ''[[Bhaktha Jana]]'' || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || Actress ||
|-
| 1949 || ''[[Gunasundari Katha]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Rupasundari
|-
| 1950 || ''[[Shavukaru]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer || Santhi
|-
| 1952 || ''Dharmadevata'' || Telugu || Actress || Kathyayini
|-
| 1952 || ''[[Daasi (1952 film)|Daasi]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Parvathamma
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Velaikari Magal]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Parvathamma
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Ponni (1953 film)|Ponni]]'' || Tamil || Actress ||
|-
| 1955 || ''[[Ardhangi]]'' || Telugu || Actress and playback singer ||
|-
| 1955 || ''[[Pennin Perumai]]'' || Tamil || Actress ||
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Sarangadhara (1957 film)|Sarangadhara]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Queen Rathnangi
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Sarangadhara (1958 film)|Sarangadhara]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Queen Rathnangi
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Bommai Kalyanam]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Thangam
|-
| 1958 || ''Bommala Pelli'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Jayabheri]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Annapoorna
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Jayabheri|Kalaivanan]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Annapoorna
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Vakula
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Vidivelli]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Chandru's Mother
|-
| 1962 || ''Siri Sampadalu'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Policekaran Magal]]'' || Tamil || Actress ||
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Ramudu Bheemudu]]'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Preminchi Choodu]]'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1967 || ''Prana Mithrulu'' || Telugu || Actress || Jagadamba
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Akka Chellelu]]'' || Telugu || Actress || Mother of Judge Ramachandra Rao
|-
| 1970 || ''Talla Pellamma'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Prem Nagar (1971 film)|Prem Nagar]]'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1971|| ''[[Pavitra Hrudayalu]]'' || Telugu || Actress||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Koduku Kodalu]]'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Vasantha Maligai]]'' || Tamil || Actress || Anand and Vijay's mother
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Piriyavidai]]'' || Tamil || Actress and singer ||
|-
| 1976 || ''Secretary'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Muttaiduva'' || Telugu || Actress ||
|}

==See also==
* [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0654909}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070427123247/http://www.telugucinema.com/tc/stars/santhakumari_jan1705.php Shanta Kumari Profile - Telugu Cinema]
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/10/20/stories/09200226.htm|title=Unforgettable screen mother|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=20 October 2000|author=M. L. Narasimham|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160421145235/http://www.thehindu.com/2000/10/20/stories/09200226.htm|archive-date=21 April 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
* {{youtube|CNec_Spca_c|Kannil Therivadhu}} - A song scene from Piriyavidai (1975) with Shanthakumari acting and singing

{{Raghupathi Venkaiah Award Recipients}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumari, Shanta}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Indian female film singers]]
[[Category:Indian women film producers]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Telugu playback singers]]
[[Category:People from Kadapa district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Singers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Actresses from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Businesswomen from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Andhra Pradesh]]

P. Shanthakumari - Revision history

2400:BD00:4580:9507:D988:77DD:C0BC:C532 at 01:15, 3 February 2021