Shoba: Difference between revisions

| caption            = Shobha from the film ''[[Moodu Pani]]'' (1980)<ref name="thehindu.com">https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/balu-mahendra-19392014/article5684322.ece/photo/3/</ref>

Shoba was born on 23 September 1962  to K. P. Menon and [[Prema Menon]].<ref name="english.manoramaonline.com">https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/05/09/actress-shobha-filmy-life-story-still-remain-endearing.html</ref> Her mother was an actress in the Malayalam film industry during the 1950s.{{citation needed|date = September 2015}}

In 1966, Shoba made her screen debut in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]] film ''Thattungal Thirakkappadum'' directed by actor [[J. P. Chandrababu]]. In the film she was credited as Baby Mahalakshmi where she played the role of Lakshmi opposite actress [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]], [[K. R. Vijaya]], [[R. S. Manohar]] and Chandrababu himself.<ref name="Southside">{{cite web |url=http://www.southside.in/24/The-ageony-and-ecstasy-of-being-Chandrababu/ |title=The agony and ecstasy of being – Chandrababu |publisher=Southside |year=2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619234218/http://www.southside.in/24/The-ageony-and-ecstasy-of-being-Chandrababu/ |archive-date=19 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="Randor Guy">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/10/02/stories/2009100250670400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106120522/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/10/02/stories/2009100250670400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2009 |title=A voice that mesmerised  |work= [[The Hindu]] | date=2 October 2009 |author=Randor Guy |author-link=Randor Guy |access-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref> The following year she made her debut in [[Malayalam cinema]] through ''[[Udhyogastha]]'' by [[P. Venu]] where she was named as Baby Shoba. Touted as the first "multi-starrer", with five top actors, in Malayalam cinema, the film had [[Sathyan (actor)|Sathyan]], [[Prem Nazir]], [[K. P. Ummer]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[Sharada (actress)|Sharada]], [[Sheela]] and [[Rajasree]] in the lead along with Shobha.<ref name="Special Correspondent">{{cite news |author=Special Correspondent |title=Film director P. Venu dead |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/26/stories/2011052661790400.htm | date=26 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808081738/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/26/stories/2011052661790400.htm |archive-date=8 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=dead |access-date=20 September 2015}}</ref> The film was a big hit and gained Shoba recognition as a child actor in [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]].<ref name="Oneindia.in">{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2011/p-venu-died-heart-attack-260511-aid0062.html |title=P Venu dies of heart attack in Chennai |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] | date=26 May 2011 |access-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref>

Shobha committed suicide at the age of 17.<ref name="S. R. Ashok Kumar">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704154904/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2003 |title=It's a heavy price to pay |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 May 2002 |author=S. R. Ashok Kumar  |access-date=11 January 2012 }}</ref><ref name="A story on suicides and actresses">{{cite news|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news/jan-07-01/04-01-07-actress.html |title=A story on suicides and actresses |publisher=Behindwoods.com | date=4 January 2007 |access-date=11 January 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Mid-Day">{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2002/apr/23474.htm |title=Why South Indian heroines are embracing death |publisher= [[Mid-Day]] | date=20 April 2002 |access-date=11 January 2012 }}</ref> She was married to [[Balu Mahendra]]. In an interview to [[Anu Haasan]] in [[Koffee with Anu]], [[Balu Mahendra]] has said that the tragedy of how Shoba was suddenly snatched away from his life by destiny, as quickly as she came, formed the plot for his next movie ''[[Moondram Pirai]]''. The 1983 Malayalam film ''[[Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback]]'' directed by [[K. G. George]] is loosely based on her life and death.<ref name=TOILekhayudeBased>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Balu-Mahendra-passes-away/articleshow/30334092.cms</ref>

;[[National Film Awards]]<ref name="It's a heavy price to pay">{{cite news|last1=S. R.|first1=Ashok Kumar|title=It's a heavy price to pay|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210201146/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2003|access-date=23 August 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 May 2002}}</ref>

;[[Kerala State Film Award]]<ref name="State Film Awards">{{cite web |title=State Film Awards |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |access-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>

| caption            = Shobha from the film ''[[Moodu Pani]]'' (1980)<ref name="thehindu.com">https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/balu-mahendra-19392014/article5684322.ece/photo/3/</ref>

Shoba was born on 23 September 1962  to K. P. Menon and [[Prema Menon]].<ref name="english.manoramaonline.com"/> Her mother was an actress in the Malayalam film industry during the 1950s.{{citation needed|date = September 2015}}

In 1966, Shoba made her screen debut in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]] film ''Thattungal Thirakkappadum'' directed by actor [[J. P. Chandrababu]]. In the film she was credited as Baby Mahalakshmi where she played the role of Lakshmi opposite actress [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]], [[K. R. Vijaya]], [[R. S. Manohar]] and Chandrababu himself.<ref name="Southside"/><ref name="Randor Guy"/> The following year she made her debut in [[Malayalam cinema]] through ''[[Udhyogastha]]'' by [[P. Venu]] where she was named as Baby Shoba. Touted as the first "multi-starrer", with five top actors, in Malayalam cinema, the film had [[Sathyan (actor)|Sathyan]], [[Prem Nazir]], [[K. P. Ummer]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[Sharada (actress)|Sharada]], [[Sheela]] and [[Rajasree]] in the lead along with Shobha.<ref name="Special Correspondent"/> The film was a big hit and gained Shoba recognition as a child actor in [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]].<ref name="Oneindia.in"/>

Shobha committed suicide at the age of 17.<ref name="S. R. Ashok Kumar"/><ref name="A story on suicides and actresses"/><ref name="Mid-Day"/> She was married to [[Balu Mahendra]]. In an interview to [[Anu Haasan]] in [[Koffee with Anu]], [[Balu Mahendra]] has said that the tragedy of how Shoba was suddenly snatched away from his life by destiny, as quickly as she came, formed the plot for his next movie ''[[Moondram Pirai]]''. The 1983 Malayalam film ''[[Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback]]'' directed by [[K. G. George]] is loosely based on her life and death.<ref name=TOILekhayudeBased>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Balu-Mahendra-passes-away/articleshow/30334092.cms</ref>

;[[National Film Awards]]<ref name="It's a heavy price to pay"/>

;[[Kerala State Film Award]]<ref name="State Film Awards"/>