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{{short description|Indian actress and dancer}}
{{Short description|Indian dancer and actress (born 1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Shobana
| name              = Shobana
| image              = Shobana perfomence (cropped).jpg
| image              = Shobhana (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Shobana performing at the [[Kerala High Court]] in 2009
| caption            = Shobana in 2011
| birth_name        = Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai
| birth_name        = Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1970|3|21|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/pg/ShobanaTheDanseuseActress/about/ |title=FB About |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IC1>{{cite news |url=https://www.india.com/showbiz/malayalam-actress-shobana-to-get-hitched-at-the-age-of-47-2239493/ |title=Malayalam actress Shobana to get hitched at the age of 47? |date=15 June 2017 |publisher=India.com |first=Maggie |last=Davis |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Happy Birthday Shobana: Five movies of the actress from 'Manichithrathazhu' to 'Makalkku' that you should watch right away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/happy-birthday-shobana-five-movies-of-the-actress-from-agnisakshi-to-makalkku-that-you-should-watch-right-away/photostory/74736006.cms |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=21 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1970|03|21|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]], India
| birth_place        = [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date        =  
| death_date        =  
Line 14: Line 14:
| children          = 1
| children          = 1
| years active      = 1980–present
| years active      = 1980–present
| awards            = [[Padma Shri]] (2006)
| awards            = {{ubl | [[Padma Shri]] (2006) | [[Kalaimamani]] (2011) | [[Padma Bhushan]] (2025)}}
| relatives          = [[List of South Indian film families#Travancore family|Travancore family]]
| relatives          = {{ubl | [[Travancore sisters]] (aunts) | [[Vineeth]] (cousin) | [[Parvathy Jayaram|Parvathy]] (cousin)}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.actressshobana.com}}
| family            = [[List of South Indian film families#Travancore family|Travancore family]]
| website            = {{url|actressshobana.com}}
}}
}}


'''Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai''' (born 21 March 1970), better known [[Mononymous person|mononymously]] as '''Shobana''', is an Indian film actress and [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer. She acts predominantly in [[Malayalam]] films along with [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] films with few [[Hindi]], [[Kannada]] and English films. She has won two [[National Film Awards]], one [[Kerala State Film Awards]], [[Kalaimamani]] in 2011 and numerous other awards.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/i-am-an-introvert-says-shobana/article27544308.ece|title=I am an introvert, says Shobana|date=29 December 2005|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="in.com">{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816014525/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-4.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2012 |title=In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna' |work=IBNLive |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19900508&id=72JPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5032,1884381 |title=New Straits Times – Google News Archive Search |work=google.com |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>
'''Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai''' (born 21 March 1970<ref name=IC1>{{cite news |url=https://www.india.com/showbiz/malayalam-actress-shobana-to-get-hitched-at-the-age-of-47-2239493/ |title=Malayalam actress Shobana to get hitched at the age of 47? |date=15 June 2017 |publisher=India.com |first=Maggie |last=Davis |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Happy Birthday Shobana: Five movies of the actress from 'Manichithrathazhu' to 'Makalkku' that you should watch right away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/happy-birthday-shobana-five-movies-of-the-actress-from-agnisakshi-to-makalkku-that-you-should-watch-right-away/photostory/74736006.cms |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=21 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>), known professionally as '''Shobana''', is an Indian actress and [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer who has appeared primarily in [[Malayalam]] cinema, along with notable work in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]] and [[Kannada language|Kannada]] films. She is a recipient of two [[National Film Awards]], one [[Kerala State Film Awards]] and two [[Filmfare Awards South]]. In 2011, she was honored with the [[Kalaimamani]] by [[Tamil Nadu Government|Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news |title=I am an introvert, says Shobana |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/i-am-an-introvert-says-shobana/article27544308.ece |work=The Hindu |date=29 December 2005 |access-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162728/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/i-am-an-introvert-says-shobana/article27544308.ece |archive-date=24 January 2021}}</ref> Over the years, she established herself as one of the greatest South Indian actresses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vogue.in/magazine-story/south-indian-film-industry-rajnikanth-chiranjeevi-mammootty-shobana/ |title=Beyond Bollywood: The biggest icons of the south film industry |work=Vogue |date=21 October 2019 |accessdate=27 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/shobhana-a-never-fading-grace-that-blessed-malayalam-cinema/articleshow/63397486.cms |title=Shobhana, a never fading grace that blessed Malayalam cinema |work=The Times of India |date=21 March 2018 |accessdate=29 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|title=Thinking actress|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/31/stories/2005033101210100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109235148/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/31/stories/2005033101210100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2012|access-date=13 July 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 March 2005|author=K. Jeshi}}</ref>


Shobana established herself as a leading actress in 1980s and 1990s. She won the [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] twice, for her performances in the Malayalam film ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1993) and the English film ''[[Mitr, My Friend]]'' (2001). Subsequent to the year 1999, Shobana turned extremely selective about her films.<ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/06/stories/2005040600820300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131017210657/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/06/stories/2005040600820300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2013 |title=Metro Plus Bangalore / Personality : Thinking actress |access-date=31 March 2015|work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 April 2005 }}</ref><ref name="snehamayfrancis">{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/celebrity/shobana-s-mystical-twist-to-an-epic-1.151094 |title=Shobana's mystical twist to an epic |first1=Sneha May |last1=Francis |date=31 December 2008|work=Gulf News|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Asha |title=Shobana: I don't feel bad if I don't act in a film, as long as people are making great films |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/shobana-i-dont-feel-bad-if-i-dont-act-in-a-film-as-long-as-people-are-making-great-films/articleshow/63949715.cms |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=28 April 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jayaram |first1=Deepika |title=Shobana extends her support for #MeToo movement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/shobana-extends-her-support-for-metoo-movement/articleshow/66508632.cms |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=5 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mahadevan |first1=Sangeeta |title=SHOBANA - IN FINE FORM |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/march97/south.htm |website=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990203082708/http://www.filmfare.com/site/march97/south.htm |access-date=30 November 2020|archive-date=3 February 1999 }}</ref>
In a career spanning over four decades, Shobana has starred in 230 films across several languages.<ref name="in.com">{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816014525/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-4.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2012 |title=In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna' |publisher=CNN-IBN |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Padmanabhan |first=S. |date=7 February 2020 |title=Shobana returns to cinema after seven years with Malayalam movie 'Varane Avashyamunde' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/shobana-returns-to-cinema-after-seven-years-with-malayalam-movie-varane-avashyamunde/article30761344.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=20 February 2024 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She has earned two [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] for her performances in the Malayalam film ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1993) and the English film ''[[Mitr, My Friend]]'' (2001). The former also won her the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress]].<ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/06/stories/2005040600820300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131017210657/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/06/stories/2005040600820300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2013 |title=Metro Plus Bangalore / Personality : Thinking actress |access-date=31 March 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 April 2005}}</ref><ref name="snehamayfrancis">{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/celebrity/shobana-s-mystical-twist-to-an-epic-1.151094 |title=Shobana's mystical twist to an epic |first1=Sneha May |last1=Francis |date=31 December 2008 |work=Gulf News |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> Additionally, she received two [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam]] for her performance in ''[[Innale]]'' (1990) and ''[[Thenmavin Kombath]]'' (1994).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Asha |title=Shobana: I don't feel bad if I don't act in a film, as long as people are making great films |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/shobana-i-dont-feel-bad-if-i-dont-act-in-a-film-as-long-as-people-are-making-great-films/articleshow/63949715.cms |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=28 April 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jayaram |first1=Deepika |title=Shobana extends her support for #MeToo movement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/shobana-extends-her-support-for-metoo-movement/articleshow/66508632.cms |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=5 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mahadevan |first1=Sangeeta |title=SHOBANA - IN FINE FORM |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/march97/south.htm |website=Filmfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990203082708/http://www.filmfare.com/site/march97/south.htm |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-date=3 February 1999}}</ref>


Shobana was trained under the Bharata Natyam dancers [[Chitra Visweswaran]] and [[Padma Subrahmanyam]]. She emerged as an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties and currently runs a dance school, ''Kalarpana'', in [[Chennai]].<ref name="hindu.com"/> In 2006, the Government of India honoured her with the [[Padma Shri]] for her contributions towards the arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards |publisher=[[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]] |url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Chandrakumar&award=All |access-date=23 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=6005874&cid=2408 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215141026/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=6005874&cid=2408 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2013 |title=Welcome to Sify.com |work=sify.com |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>
As a Bharatanatyam dancer, Shobana received her training under [[Chitra Visweswaran]] and [[Padma Subrahmanyam]].<ref name="Hindu_May2014">{{Cite news |last=Mahesh |first=Chitra |date=1 May 2014 |title=Life on her own terms |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/life-on-her-own-terms/article5966113.ece |access-date=9 August 2020 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She emerged as an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties and currently runs a dance school, ''Kalarpana'', in [[Chennai]].<ref name="hindu.com"/> In 2006, the Government of India honoured her with the [[Padma Shri]] for her contributions towards the arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards |publisher=[[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]] |url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Chandrakumar&award=All |access-date=23 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=6005874&cid=2408 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215141026/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=6005874&cid=2408 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2013 |title=Welcome to Sify.com |work=sify.com |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> In 2013, she received [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]], also known as ''Kalarathna'', for her contributions to the performing arts.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Governor's Call to Protect Artistes |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2014/Mar/28/governors-call-to-protect-artistes-591699.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> She received [[honorary doctorate]]s from [[Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation]] in 2018,<ref name="shobana">{{Cite web |title=Shobana - about |url=https://actressshobana.com/about-us/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |website=actressshobana.com}}</ref> Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute in 2019<ref name="doctorate">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/honorary-doctorate-conferred-on-cm/article29753091.ece |title=Honorary doctorate conferred on CM |date=21 October 2019 |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref> and [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]] in 2022.<ref name='ssus'>{{cite news |last1=Ragin |first1=S |title=Governor approved varsity syndicate's recommendation to grant D Litt to three people |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kalady-sanskrit-university-row-1.6321047 |access-date=29 April 2022 |work=Mathrubhumi |date=1 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Shobana was awarded [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian award, in 2025.<ref name="IE_padmaShri">{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/balakrishna-ajith-shekhar-kapur-shobana-honoured-with-padman-bhushan-arijit-singh-ricky-kej-conferred-with-padma-shri-9799275/|title=Balakrishna, Ajith, Shekhar Kapur, Shobana honoured with Padman Bhushan, Arijit Singh, Ricky Kej conferred with Padma Shri |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=25 January 2025 |date=25 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2014, the Kerala State Government honoured her with the Kala Ratna Award. In 2019, she was bestowed an [[honorary doctorate]] from [[Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute]].<ref name="doctorate">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/honorary-doctorate-conferred-on-cm/article29753091.ece |title=Honorary doctorate conferred on CM |date=21 October 2019 |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Early life==
She is the niece of the [[Travancore sisters]] – [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] and [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]], all of whom were Indian classical dancers and actresses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shobana.in/about.html/ |title=About |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908050716/http://www.shobana.in/about.html |archive-date=8 September 2011}}</ref> The actress [[Sukumari]] was her paternal aunt. Malayalam actress [[Ambika Sukumaran]] is her relative. Malayalam actors [[Vineeth]] is her cousin and [[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]] is her nephew.<ref name="mangalam.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.mangalam.com/mangalam-varika/138375 |title=ജീവിതത്തിന്‌ ഇപ്പോള്‍ എന്തൊരു രുചി...! |work=mangalam.com |access-date=31 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110192952/http://www.mangalam.com/mangalam-varika/138375 |archive-date=10 November 2014 }}</ref>
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai was born on March 21, 1970, into a [[Nair|Nair family]] in Kerala to Chandrakumar Pillai and Anandam Chandrakumar Pillai. She is the niece of the renowned [[Travancore sisters]]—[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]] and [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]]—who were celebrated for their expertise in classical Indian dance. Actor [[Vineeth]] and actress [[Parvathy Jayaram|Parvathy Kurup]] are her cousins.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.shobana.in/about.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908050716/http://www.shobana.in/about.html |archive-date=8 September 2011}}</ref>
 
In 2011, Shobana adopted a girl and named her Anantha Narayani.<ref>{{cite news |title=Women's Day 2016: Popular celebrities who broke all stereotypes and adopted children |url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/womens-day-2016-popular-celebrities-who-broke-all-stereotypes-and-adopted-children_1863275.html |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=Zee News |date=7 March 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shobhana adopts a baby girl |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/shobhana-adopts-a-baby-girl-imagegallery-malayalam-kfzrbujfibhsi.html |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=Sify |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Mahesh|first=Chitra|date=1 May 2014|title=Life on her own terms|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/life-on-her-own-terms/article5966113.ece|access-date=9 August 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Maggie |title=Is actress Shobana really getting married or is this just a rumour? |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/is-actress-shobana-really-getting-married-or-is-this-just-a-rumour-2242724/ |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=India News |date=16 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
===Film career===
===Film career===
[[File:Shobhana (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Shobhana performing Bharathanatyam.]]
Shobana made her debut as a child artist. In 1980, she won the Best Child Artiste Award for her role in the Tamil movie, ''[[Mangala Nayagi]]'', a remake of the Hindi film [[Saajan Bina Suhagan|''Saajan'' ''Bina Suhagan'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2022 |title=The ultimate quiz on actress Shobana |url=https://www.ottplay.com/quiz/the-ultimate-quiz-on-actress-shobana/91fb8ca47b703 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905073007/https://www.ottplay.com/quiz/the-ultimate-quiz-on-actress-shobana/91fb8ca47b703 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=[[OTTPlay]]}}</ref>
Shobana made her debut as a child artist in the Bollywood film ''Amar Prem'' (1972).
[[File:The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Shri Award – 2006 to Ms. Shobana Chandrakumar, a well-known Classical dancer, Choreographer teacher and actress, in New Delhi on March 20, 2006 (cropped).jpg|thumb|The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Shri Award – 2006 to Shobana in New Delhi on 20 March 2006.]]
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/women/work-and-life/sobhana-cinema.html|title=സിനിമ എന്ന തേന്മാവിൻ കൊമ്പത്ത്...|website=ManoramaOnline}}</ref> As an adult, she was introduced to the film industry through the film ''[[April 18 (film)|April 18]]'', by director [[Balachandra Menon]]. Her realistic portrayal of a simple girl-next-door appealed to audiences instantly and she went on to work in numerous films.  In the same year, she entered the Tamil film industry and acted in ''[[Enakkul Oruvan (1984 film)|Enakkul Oruvan]]'', directed by [[S. P. Muthuraman|SP Muthuraman]].<ref name="snehamayfrancis"/> ''Enakkul Oruvan'' didn't do well at the box office and Shobana's commercial landing was stalled and she went back into Malayalam films. She did come back to act in occasional Tamil films opposite [[Sathyaraj|Satyaraj]] (''[[Mallu Vetti Minor]], Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai''), [[K. Bhagyaraj|Bhagyaraj]] (''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Ithu Namma Aalu]]'') and [[Vijayakanth]] (''[[Ponmana Selvan]]'', ''[[Enkitta Mothathe|En Kitta Mothathey]]'') in the early 90s – these roles were generally glamorous in which Shobana generally acted as the beautiful, posh and haughty city girl who is eventually charmed by the village boy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/in-her-own-groove/article4060229.ece |title=In her own groove |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2015|date=3 November 2012 }}</ref>
 
She also starred in the Telugu film ''Bhakta Dhruva Markendaya'' in 1982, an acclaimed all children film made in both Tamil and Telugu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya 1982 Telugu Movie Wiki, Cast Crew, Songs, Videos, Release Date |url=https://moviegq.com/movie/bhakta-dhruva-markandeya-1634 |access-date=7 November 2021 |website=MovieGQ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya on Moviebuff.com |url=https://www.moviebuff.com/bhakta-dhruva-markandeya |access-date=7 November 2021 |website=Moviebuff.com}}</ref> As an adult, she was introduced to the film industry through the Malayalam film ''[[April 18 (film)|April 18]]'' (1984), by director [[Balachandra Menon]]. In the same year, she debuted in the Tamil film industry with ''[[Enakkul Oruvan (1984 film)|Enakkul Oruvan]]'' (1984), directed by [[S. P. Muthuraman|SP Muthuraman]].<ref name="snehamayfrancis" /> She did come back to act in occasional Tamil films opposite [[Sathyaraj|Satyaraj]] (''[[Mallu Vetti Minor]], Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai''), [[K. Bhagyaraj|Bhagyaraj]] (''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Ithu Namma Aalu]]'') and [[Vijayakanth]] (''[[Ponmana Selvan]]'', ''[[Engitta Mothathay]]'') in the early 90s – these roles were generally glamorous in which Shobana generally acted as the beautiful, posh and haughty city girl who is eventually charmed by the village boy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/in-her-own-groove/article4060229.ece |title=In her own groove |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2015 |date=3 November 2012}}</ref>
 
Her other major films include [[Rudraveena (film)|''Rudraveena'']] (1988), ''[[Kanamarayathu]]'' (1984) ''[[Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove]]'', ''[[Yathra]]'' (1985), ''[[Anantaram]]'' (1987), ''[[Nadodikkattu]]'' (1987), ''[[Vellanakalude Nadu]]'' (1988), ''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]'' (1988), ''[[Siva (1989 Tamil film)|Siva]]'' (1989), ''[[Innale]]'' (1990), [[Kalikkalam]] (1990), ''[[Thalapathi]]'' (1991), [[Pappayude Swantham Appoos|''Pappayude'' ''Swantham'' ''Appoos'']] (1992), ''[[Meleparambil Aanveedu]]'' (1993), ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1993), ''[[Thenmavin Kombath]]'' (1994), ''[[Minnaram]]'' (1994), ''[[Mazhayethum Munpe]]'' (1995), [[Hitler (1996 film)|''Hitler'']] (1996), ''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agni Sakshi]]'' (1999), ''Dance like a Man'' (2003), ''[[Makalkku]]'' (2005), ''[[Thira (film)|Thira]]'' (2013) and ''[[Varane Avashyamund]]'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mohanlal & Shobana to share screen after 20 yrs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/mohanlal-shobana-to-share-screen-after-20-yrs/articleshow/109446887.cms |access-date=2025-03-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> From ''[[Avidathe Pole Ivideyum|Aviduthe Pole Ivideyum]]'' to ''[[Upaharam (1985 film)|Upaharam]]'', Shobana did sixteen movies in a single year, 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-10.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816014213/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-10.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2012 |title=In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna' |publisher=CNN-IBN |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> Shobana also acted in the Tamil period film ''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'' (2014).<ref name="in.com" />


Her other major films include [[Rudraveena (film)|''Rudraveena'']] (1988), ''[[Meleparambil Aanveedu]]'', ''[[Kanamarayathu]]'', ''[[Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove]]'' , ''[[Yathra]]'', ''[[Rangam]]'' (1985), ''[[Anantaram]]'', ''[[Vrutham]]'' (1987), ''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]'' (1988), ''[[Siva (1989 Tamil film)|Siva]]'' (1989), ''[[Innale]]'' (1990), ''[[Thalapathi]]'' (1991), [[Pappayude Swantham Appoos]](1992),''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' (1993), ''[[Thenmavin Kombath]]'' (1994), [[Mazhayethum Munpe]](1995)''Dance like a Man'' (2003), and ''[[Makalkku]]'' (2005). From ''[[Avidathe Pole Ivideyum|Aviduthe Pole Ivideyum]]'' to ''[[Upaharam (1985 film)|Upaharam]]'', Shobana did sixteen movies in a single year, 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-10.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816014213/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/7156-10.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2012 |title=In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna' |work=IBNLive |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> Shobana also acted in the Tamil period film ''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]''.<ref name="in.com"/>
In ''Rudraveena'' (1988), alongside [[Chiranjeevi]] and [[Gemini Ganesan]], she played  classical dancer Lalitha Sivajyothi, who belongs to a lower caste and is denied entry into the temple. In ''Abhinandana'' (1988), she paired with Karthik, and essayed his love interest, who aspires to become a classical dancer. In ''Kokila'' (1990), she paired with Naresh, and In ''Alludugaru'' (1990) she starred opposite Mohan Babu and was a remake of Malayalam film ''Chithram. 1 April Vidudhala'' and ''Rowdy Gari Pellam'' were other Telugu films in 1991.<ref name="TOI+Mar2020">{{Cite news |title=Happy Birthday Shobana: 6 films of the veteran actress one must watch |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/happy-birthday-shobana-6-films-of-the-veteran-actress-one-must-watch/photostory/74736028.cms |work=The Times of India |date=21 March 2020 |access-date=20 February 2024 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


Shobana won her first [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] in 1994 for her performance in [[Fazil (director)|AM Fazil]]'s ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''. Her portrayal of Ganga Nakulan and alter-ego Nagavalli in the film was described by critics as "spell binding".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/sequel-fails-to-impress/article5359956.ece |title=Sequel fails to impress |author=S.R. Praveen |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2015|date=17 November 2013 }}</ref> She received her second [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] in 2001 for her role in the Indian English language film ''[[Mitr, My Friend]]'', directed by [[Revathi]].  Consequent to the 1993 National Award, Shobana turned extremely selective about her films.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/03/stories/2003020300240200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030701131237/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/03/stories/2003020300240200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2003 |title=Shobhana changing track |access-date=31 March 2015|work=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 February 2003 }}</ref>
Shobana won her first [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] in [[41st National Film Awards|1993]] for her performance in [[Fazil (director)|AM Fazil]]'s ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''. Her portrayal of Ganga Nakulan and alter-ego Nagavalli in the film was described by critics as "spell binding".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/sequel-fails-to-impress/article5359956.ece |title=Sequel fails to impress |author=S.R. Praveen |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=31 March 2015 |date=17 November 2013}}</ref>
 
Following her National Award win in 1993, Shobana became highly selective about her films.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/03/stories/2003020300240200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030701131237/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/03/stories/2003020300240200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2003 |title=Shobhana changing track |access-date=31 March 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 February 2003}}</ref>


===Classical dance career===
===Classical dance career===
[[File:The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Shri Award – 2006 to Ms. Shobana Chandrakumar, a well-known Classical dancer, Choreographer teacher and actress, in New Delhi on March 20, 2006.jpg|thumb|Then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shobana in New Delhi on 20 March 2006.]]
[[File:Shobana Chandrakumar.jpg|thumb|Shobana during a live classical dance performance]]
Shobana is an accomplished [[Bharatanatyam|Bharata Natyam]] dancer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=15440435&programId=3982928&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Manorama Online – Movies – News |work=manoramaonline.com |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> She did her dance training at the Chidambaram academy in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]] under [[Chitra Visweswaran]]. Shobana danced  ''[[Abhinaya]]'', a pivotal element in [[Bharatanatyam|Bharata Natyam]]. She was one among the judges in ''Jodi No. 1'', a reality show for dance aired on [[Star Vijay|Vijay TV]].
Shobana is a [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=15440435&programId=3982928&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Manorama Online – Movies |work=manoramaonline.com |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> She started her own dance school, "Kalipinya" in 1989 and got it registered in 1992.<ref name="thehindu.com" />


She started her own dance school, "Kalipinya" in 1989 and got it registered in 1992.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>
She has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestro [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], [[Vikku Vinayakram]] and [[Mandolin Srinivas]]. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, in [[Kuala Lumpur]] before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://artindia.net/shobana/ |title=SHOBANA – exponent of Bharata Natyam – Indian classical performing arts |publisher=Artindia.net |access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> Shobana started performing in the [[Soorya Festival|Soorya Music & Dance festival]] organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy from the year 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thiraseela.com/main/specialStories.php?id=473 |title=Bharathanatyam concert by Padma shri Shobana |publisher=Thiraseela.com |access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>


She has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestro [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], [[Vikku Vinayakram]] and [[Mandolin Srinivas]]. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, in [[Kuala Lumpur]] before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artindia.net/shobana/ |title=SHOBANA – exponent of Bharata Natyam – Indian classical performing arts |publisher=Artindia.net |access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> Shobana started performing in the [[Soorya Festival|Soorya Music & Dance festival]] organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy from the year 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thiraseela.com/main/specialStories.php?id=473 |title=Bharathanatyam concert by Padma shri Shobana |publisher=Thiraseela.com |access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref> In 1999, Shobana along with [[Prabhu Deva]] and [[A. R. Rahman]] performed with a Tamil film dancing troupe at the "[[MJ & Friends|Michael Jackson and Friends]]" concert in [[Munich]], [[Germany]]. She was also a part of [[Mani Ratnam]]'s stage show, ''[[Netru, Indru, Naalai]]'' in 2000.
In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical dance [[Bharatanatyam]] in [[Chennai]] named ''Kalarpana''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.bizhat.com/actress/shobana.php |title=BizHat.com – Malayalam Film Actress Shobana k |access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>


In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical dance [[Bharatanatyam|Bharata Natyam]] in [[Chennai]] named ''Kalarpana''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.bizhat.com/actress/shobana.php |title=BizHat.com – Malayalam Film Actress Shobana k |access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life==
She remains unmarried and in 2011, adopted a daughter, becoming a single mother.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 March 2016 |title=Women's Day 2016: Popular celebrities who broke all stereotypes and adopted children |url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/womens-day-2016-popular-celebrities-who-broke-all-stereotypes-and-adopted-children_1863275.html |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=Zee News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shobhana adopts a baby girl |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/shobhana-adopts-a-baby-girl-imagegallery-malayalam-kfzrbujfibhsi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315000918/http://www.sify.com/movies/shobhana-adopts-a-baby-girl-imagegallery-malayalam-kfzrbujfibhsi.html |archive-date=15 March 2015 |access-date=2 February 2020 |work=Sify |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Maggie |date=16 June 2017 |title=Is actress Shobana really getting married or is this just a rumour? |url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/is-actress-shobana-really-getting-married-or-is-this-just-a-rumour-2242724/ |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=India News |language=en}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
[[File:Pragyan 2014 infotainment shobana.jpg|thumb|Shobana performing classical dance in 2014.]]
[[File:Shobana Chandrakumar.jpg|thumb|Shobana performing in a stage show.]]


{{Pending films key}}
===Malayalam===
===Malayalam===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of Malayalam film credits
! Title
|-
! Role
! scope="col" | Year
! Sources
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes
|-
|-
|1984||''[[april 18 (film)|April 18]]''|| Shobana ||
| rowspan=4 | 1984||''[[april 18 (film)|April 18]]''|| Sobhana || Debut in lead role
|-
|-
| 1984 ||''[[Kanamarayathu]]'' ||  Sherly ||
|''[[Kanamarayathu]]'' ||  Sherly ||
|-
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove]]'' || Subhadra ||
|''[[Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove]]'' || Subhadra ||
|-
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Alakadalinakkare]]'' || Daisy ||
|''[[Alakadalinakkare]]'' || Daisy ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Avidathepole Ivideyum]]'' ||Sujatha ||
| rowspan=16 | 1985 || ''[[Avidathe Pole Ivideyum]]'' ||Sujatha ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Vasantha Sena]]'' ||Merlin ||
|''[[Vasantha Sena (1985 film)|Vasantha Sena]]'' ||Merlin ||
|-
|-
| 1985|| ''Thozhil Allengil Jail'' || ||
|''Thozhil Allengil Jail'' || Jalaja ||
|-
|-
| 1985|| ''[[Akkacheyude Kunjuvava]]''||Mridula ||
|''[[Akkacheyude Kunjuvava]]''||Mridula ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Meenamasathile Sooryan]]'' ||Revathi ||
|''[[Meenamasathile Sooryan]]'' ||Revathi ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''Azhiyatha Bandhangal''||Geetha ||
|''Azhiyatha Bandhangal''||Geetha ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Eeran Sandhya]]'' ||Prabha ||
|''[[Eeran Sandhya]]'' ||Prabha ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Thammil Thammil]]''  ||Kavitha ||
|''[[Thammil Thammil]]''  ||Kavitha ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Anubandham (1985 film)|Anubandham]]''  ||Vijayalakshmi ||
|''[[Anubandham (1985 film)|Anubandham]]''  ||Vijayalakshmi ||
|-
|-
| 1985|| ''[[Ee Thanalil Ithiri Nerum]]'' ||Soudamini ||
|''[[Ee Thanalil Ithiri Nerum]]'' ||Soudamini ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Ee Shabdam Innathe Shabdam]]''  ||Sharada ||
|''[[Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam]]''  ||Sharada ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''Ayanam'' || Alice ||
|''Ayanam'' || Alice ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Yathra]]'' || Thulasi ||
|''[[Yathra]]'' || Thulasi ||
|-
|-
|1985 || ''[[Rangam (film)|Rangam]]''  ||Chandrika ||
|''[[Rangam]]''  ||Chandrika ||
|-
|-
| 1985|| ''[[Oru Naal Innorunaal]]'' ||  Rajani ||
|''[[Oru Naal Innoru Naal]]'' ||  Rajani ||
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Upaharam (1985 film)|Upaharam]]'' || Maggie Fernandez ||
|''[[Upaharam (1985 film)|Upaharam]]'' || Maggie Fernandez ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Udayam Padinjaru]]'' ||  Renu ||
| rowspan=14 | 1986 || ''[[Udayam Padinjaru]]'' ||  Renu ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[T. P. Balagopalan M.A.]]''  ||  Anitha ||
|''[[T. P. Balagopalan M. A.]]''  ||  Anitha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Kunjattakilikal]]'' ||  Usha ||
|''[[Kunjattakilikal]]'' ||  Usha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Iniyum Kurukshethram]]'' ||  Lekha ||
|''[[Iniyum Kurukshethram]]'' ||  Lekha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Aayiram Kannukal]]''|| Anu ||
|''[[Aayiram Kannukal]]''|| Anu ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Ente Entethu Mathrem]]'' || Ambili ||
|''[[Ente Entethu Mathrem]]'' || Ambili ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Abhayam Thedi]]'' ||  Meera/Miranda ||
|''[[Abhayam Thedi]]'' ||  Meera/Miranda ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku]]'' || Indu ||
|''[[Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku]]'' || Indu ||
|-
|-
| 1986|| ''[[Aalorungi Arangorungi]]'' ||Geetha ||
|''[[Aalorungi Arangorungi]]'' ||Geetha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Nyayavidhi]]'' ||  Geetha ||
|''[[Nyayavidhi]]'' ||  Geetha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Ee Kaikalil]]'' ||  Viji Balakrishnan ||
|''[[Ee Kaikalil]]'' ||  Viji Balakrishnan ||
|-
|-
| 1986 ||''[[Padayani (film)|Padayani]]''  ||  Radha ||
|''[[Padayani (film)|Padayani]]''  ||  Radha ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Chilambu]]'' ||  Ambika ||
|''[[Chilambu]]'' ||  Ambika ||
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Rareeram]]'' ||  Meera ||
|''[[Rareeram]]'' ||  Meera ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Vrutham]]'' || Nancy ||
| rowspan=6 | 1987 || ''[[Vrutham]]'' || Nancy ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Nadodikattu]]'' ||  Radha ||
|''[[Nadodikattu]]'' ||  Radha ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Ithrayum Kaalam]]'' || Savithri ||
|''[[Ithrayum Kaalam]]'' || Savithri ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Kalam Mari Katha Mari]]''  ||  Ummu Kolzu ||
|''[[Kalam Mari Katha Mari]]''  ||  Ummu Kolzu ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Anantaram]]''  ||  Suma, Nalini ||
|''[[Anantaram]]''  ||  Suma, Nalini ||
|-
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Naalkavala]]'' ||Sainabha ||
|''[[Naalkavala]]'' ||Sainabha ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Vicharana]]''  ||  Anitha ||
| rowspan=9 | 1988 || ''[[Vicharana]]''  ||  Anitha ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Vellanakalude Nadu]]'' || Radha ||
|''[[Vellanakalude Nadu]]'' || Radha ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Janmandharam]]''  ||  Sridevi ||
|''[[Janmandharam]]''  ||  Sridevi ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Aryan (1988 film)|Aryan]]''  || Aswathy ||
|''[[Aryan (1988 film)|Aryan]]''  || Aswathy ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Aparan (film)|Aparan]]''  || Ambili ||
|''[[Aparan (film)|Aparan]]''  || Ambili ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Dhwani]]''  ||  Devi ||
|''[[Dhwani]]''  ||  Devi ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''Oru Vivaada Vishayam''  || ||
|''Oru Vivaada Vishayam''  ||Shobha ||
|-
|-
| 1988|| ''Alila Kuruvikal''||Bhavana ||
|''Alila Kuruvikal''||Bhavana ||
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Mukthi]]'' ||  Radhika ||
|''[[Mukthi]]'' ||  Radhika ||
|-
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Charithram]]'' ||  Cicily ||
| 1989 || ''[[Charithram]]'' ||  Cicily ||
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Innale]]'' || Maya/Gowri ||
| rowspan=4 | 1990 || ''[[Innale]]'' || Maya/Gowri ||
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Iyer the Great]]'' ||  Amala ||
|''[[Iyer the Great]]'' ||  Amala ||
|-
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Sasneham]]'' ||  Saraswathi ||
|''[[Sasneham]]'' ||  Saraswathi ||
|-
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Kalikkalam]]''  ||Annie ||
|''[[Kalikkalam]]''  ||Annie ||
|-
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Vasthuhara]]'' ||  Young Bhavani ||
| rowspan=4 | 1991 || ''[[Vasthuhara]]'' ||  Young Bhavani ||
|-
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Ulladakkam]]'' ||  Annie ||
|''[[Ulladakkam]]'' ||  Annie ||
|-
|-
| 1991|| ''[[Adayalam]]'' ||Malini ||
|''[[Adayalam]]'' ||Malini ||
|-
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Kankettu]]''||  Sujatha ||
|''[[Kankettu]]''||  Sujatha ||
|-
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam]]'' ||  Indu ||
| rowspan=3 | 1992 || ''[[Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam]]'' ||  Indu ||
|-
|-
| 1992 || '' Naaga Panchami'' ||  Panchami ||
|'' Naaga Panchami'' ||  Panchami ||
|-
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Pappayude Swantham Appoos]]''  ||  Bhama ||
|''[[Pappayude Swantham Appoos]]''  ||  Bhama ||
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Maya Mayuram]]'' || Bhadra ||
| rowspan=4 | 1993 || ''[[Maya Mayuram]]'' || Bhadra ||
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Meleparambil Aanveedu]]'' ||  Pavizham ||
|''[[Meleparambil Aanveedu]]'' ||  Pavizham ||
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Golanthara Vartha]]''|| Lekha  ||
|''[[Golanthara Vartha]]''|| Lekha  ||
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' || Ganga/Nagavalli ||
|''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' || Ganga/Nagavalli ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Pavithram]]'' ||  Meera ||
| rowspan=7 | 1994 || ''[[Pavithram (1994 film)|Pavithram]]'' ||  Meera ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Commissioner (film)|Commissioner]]'' || Indu Kurup ||
|''[[Commissioner (film)|Commissioner]]'' || Indu Kurup ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Thenmavin Kombathu]]''  || Karthumbi ||
|''[[Thenmavin Kombathu]]''  || Karthumbi ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Pakshe]]'' ||  Nandini Menon ||
|''[[Pakshe]]'' ||  Nandini Menon ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Minnaram]]''  ||  Neena ||
|''[[Minnaram]]''  ||  Neena ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''Vishnu'' ||  Susanna Mathews ||
|''Vishnu'' ||  Susanna Mathews ||
|-
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Manathe Vellitheru]]''  ||  Merlin ||
|''[[Manathe Vellitheru]]''  ||  Merlin ||
|-
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Sindoora Rekha]]'' ||  Arundhathi ||
| rowspan=3 | 1995 || ''[[Sindoora Rekha]]'' ||  Arundhathi ||
|-
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Mazhayethum Munpe]]'' ||  Uma Maheshwari ||
|''[[Mazhayethum Munpe]]'' ||  Uma Maheshwari ||
|-
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Minnaminuginum Minnukettu]]''  ||  Radhika ||
|''[[Minnaminuginum Minnukettu]]''  ||  Radhika ||
|-
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Kumkumacheppu]]''||  Indu ||
| rowspan=4 | 1996 || ''[[Kumkumacheppu]]''||  Indu ||
|-
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum]]''  || Alli ||
|''[[Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum]]''  || Alli ||
|-
|-
| 1996|| ''[[Rajaputhran]]'' ||Veni  ||
|''[[Rajaputhran]]'' ||Veni  ||
|-
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Hitler (1996 film)|Hitler]]''  ||  Gowri ||
|''[[Hitler (1996 film)|Hitler]]''  ||  Gowri ||
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Superman (1997 film)|Superman]]'' || Nithya ||
| rowspan=3 | 1997 || ''[[Superman (1997 film)|Superman]]'' || Nithya ||
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Kalyana Kacheri]]'' || Gopika ||
|''[[Kalyana Kacheri]]'' || Gopika ||
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Kaliyoonjal]]''  || Gowri ||
|''[[Kaliyoonjal]]''  || Gowri ||
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agni Sakshi]]'' || Devaki Manampalli ||
| 1999 || ''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agni Sakshi]]'' || Devaki Manampalli ||
|-
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Sradha]]''  || Suma ||
| rowspan=2 | 2000 || ''[[Sradha]]''  || Suma ||
|-
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Valliettan]]''  || Dev ||
|''[[Valliettan]]''  || Devi ||
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Mambazhakkalam]]''|| Indira ||
| 2004 || ''[[Mambazhakkalam]]''|| Indira ||
Line 241: Line 246:
|-
|-
| 2020||''[[Varane Avashyamund]]''||Neena ||
| 2020||''[[Varane Avashyamund]]''||Neena ||
|-
| 2025|| ''[[Thudarum]]'' ||Lalitha ||
<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mohanlal-shobanas-l360-begins-filming/article68094191.ece |title=Mohanlal, Shobana's 'L360' begins filming |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 April 2024 |access-date=25 April 2024}}</ref>
|}
|}


===Telugu===
===Telugu===
[[File:Shobana (cropped).jpg|thumb|Shobana's Maya Ravan performance in Bangalore, which was held on 12 September in 2008.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of Telugu film credits
! Title
|-
! Role
! scope="col" | Year
! Sources
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
| 1982 ||''Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya''|| Sunithi Devi|| Children's film
|
|-
|-
| 1982||''Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya''|| Sunithi Devi||Debut film
|1984
|''Marchandi Mana Chattalu''|| Uma||
|
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''Marana Sasanam'' ||Lalitha||
| 1985 || ''Marana Sasanam'' ||Lalitha||
|
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''Srimathi Kanuka'' ||Padma ||
| rowspan=5 | 1986 || ''Srimathi Kanuka'' ||Swapna ||
|
|-
|-
| 1986 || ''Vijrumbhana'' || Shobha||
|''Vijrumbhana'' || Shobha||
 
|
|-
|-
| 1986 ||''[[Vikram (1986 Telugu film)|Vikram]]''|| Radha||
|''[[Vikram (1986 Telugu film)|Vikram]]''|| Radha||
|
|-
|-
| 1986 ||''Marchandi Mana Chattalu''|| Uma||
|''Dagudu Moothalu''|| Radha ||
|
|-
|-
| 1986 ||''Asthram''|| Padmini||
|''Asthram''|| Padmini||
|
|-
|-
| 1987 ||''Manushulu Marali'' || Savithri ||
| rowspan="5" |1987
|''Muddula Manavudu''|| Hemalatha ||
|
|-
|-
| 1987 ||''Muddula Manavudu''|| Hemalatha ||
|''Manavadostunnaadu''||Roopa||
|
|-
|-
| 1987 ||''Manavadostunnaadu''||Roopa||
|''[[Ajeyudu]]''||Rekha ||
|
|-
|-
| 1987||''[[Ajeyudu]]''||Rekha ||
|''[[Muvva Gopaludu|Muvva Gopaladu]]''||Krishna veni ||
|
|-
|-
| 1987 ||''[[Trimurtulu]]''||Latha||
|''[[Trimurtulu]]''||Latha||
|
|-
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Rudraveena (film)|Rudraveena]]''||Lalita Shiva Jyoti||
| rowspan=3 | 1988 ||''[[Rudraveena (film)|Rudraveena]]''||Lalita Shiva Jyoti||
|<ref name="TOI+Mar2020"/>
|-
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Abhinandana]]''||Rani||
|''[[Abhinandana]]''||Rani||
|<ref name="TOI+Mar2020"/>
|-
|-
| 1988 ||''Praja Pratinidhi''||Bharathi||
|''Praja Pratinidhi''||Bharathi||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''Paapa Kosam''||Swapna||
| rowspan=6 | 1990 ||''Paapa Kosam''||Swapna||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Nari Nari Naduma Murari]]''||Shobha||
|''[[Nari Nari Naduma Murari]]''||Shobha||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Kokila (1990 film)|Kokila]]''||Kokila ||
|''[[Kokila (1990 film)|Kokila]]''||Kokila ||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''Shourya chakra''||Bharathi||
|''Shourya Chakra''||Bharathi||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Neti Siddhartha]]''||Jyoti||
|''[[Neti Siddhartha]]''||Jyoti||
|
|-
|-
| 1990 ||''[[Alludugaru]]''|| Kalyani||
|''[[Alludugaru]]''|| Kalyani||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''[[April 1st Vidudhala]]''|| Bhuvaneshwari||
| rowspan="8" | 1991 ||''[[April 1st Vidudhala]]''|| Bhuvaneshwari||
|<ref name="TOI+Mar2020"/>
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''[[Appula Appa Rao]]''|| Subba Laxmi||
|''[[Appula Appa Rao]]''|| Subba Laxmi||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''[[Rowdy Gaari Pellam]]''|| Janaki||
|''[[Rowdy Gaari Pellam]]''|| Janaki||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''[[Minor Raja]]''|| Santhana Lakshmi||
|''[[Minor Raja]]''|| Santhana Lakshmi||
|
|-
|-
| 1991||''Manchi Roju''|| Padma ||
|''Manchi Roju''|| Padma ||
|
|-
|-
| 1991||''[[Rowdy Alludu]]''|| Sita||
|''[[Rowdy Alludu]]''|| Sita||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''Hello Darling''|| Bharathi ||
|''[[Alludu Diddina Kapuram]]''|| Sita||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''[[Alludu Diddina Kapuram]]''|| Sita||
|''Keechu Raallu''|| Monica||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''Keechu Raallu''|| Monica||
| rowspan="6" | 1992 ||''Ahankari''|| Shobana||
|
|-
|-
| 1991 ||''Thalapathi''||sundari ||
|''[[Asadhyulu]]''|| Jyoti||
|
|-
|-
| 1992 ||''Ahankari''|| Shobana||
|''Champion''|| Sandhya||
|
|-
|-
| 1992 ||''[[Asadhyulu]]''|| Jyoti||
|''Hello Darling''|| Bharathi ||
|
|-
|-
| 1992 ||''Champion''|| Sandhya||
|''Sivaratri''|| Gayatrhi||
|
|-
|-
| 1992 ||''Gangwar''|| Pavithra||
|''Gangwar''|| Pavithra||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 ||''Rowdy Gaari Teacher''|| Malli ||
| rowspan=6 | 1993 ||''Rowdy Gaari Teacher''|| Malli ||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 ||''Naga Jyoti''|| Gayathri ||
|''Naga Jyoti''|| Naga rani ||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Kannayya Kittayya]]''|| Saroja||
|''[[Kannayya Kittayya]]''|| Saroja||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Nippu Ravva]]''|| Guest appearance in a song ||
|''[[Nippu Ravva]]''|| Guest appearance in a song ||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''Rendilla Poojari'' ||  Radha ||
|''Rendilla Poojari'' ||  Radha ||
|
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Rakshana]]'' || Padma||
|''[[Rakshana]]'' || Padma||
|
|-
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Surya Putrulu]]''  ||  Ragini||
| 1997 || ''[[Surya Putrulu]]''  ||  Ragini||
|
|-
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Game (2006 film)|Game]]''  ||  Uma||
| 2006 || ''[[Game (2006 film)|Game]]''  ||  Uma||
|
|-
|-
| 2024 || ''[[Kalki 2898 AD]]''  || Mariam || Also sung the song "Theme of Shambala"
|
|2026 || ''[[Peddi]]''  || Filming ||
|}
|}


===Tamil===
===Tamil===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of Tamil film credits
! Title
|-
! Role
! scope="col" | Year
! Sources
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|1980||''[[Mangala Nayagi]]''|| - ||
| rowspan=2 | 1980||''[[Mangala Nayagi]]''|| Herself || Child artist
|-
|-
|1980||''Manmatha Ragangal''|| - ||
|''Manmatha Ragangal''|| Herself || Child artist
|-
|-
|1984||''[[Enakkul Oruvan (1984 film)|Enakkul Oruvan]]''|| Kalpana ||
|1984||''[[Enakkul Oruvan (1984 film)|Enakkul Oruvan]]''|| Kalpana ||
Line 355: Line 417:
|1985||''[[Marudhani]]''|| Marudhani ||
|1985||''[[Marudhani]]''|| Marudhani ||
|-
|-
|1988|| ''Oray Thaai Oray Kulam'' || Easwari ||
| rowspan=2 | 1988|| ''Oray Thaai Oray Kulam'' || Easwari ||
|-
|1988|| ''[[Abhinandana|Kadhal Geetham]]'' || Rani ||
|-
|-
|1988|| ''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]'' || Banu ||
|''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]'' || Bhanu ||
|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa]]'' || Radha ||
| rowspan=5 | 1989|| ''[[Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa]]'' || Radha ||
|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Paattukku Oru Thalaivan]]'' || Shanthi ||
|''[[Paattukku Oru Thalaivan]]'' || Shanthi ||
|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Siva (1989 Tamil film)|Siva]]''  ||Parvathy ||
|''[[Siva (1989 Tamil film)|Siva]]''  ||Parvathy ||
|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Ponmana Selvan]]''  || Parvathy ||
|''[[Ponmana Selvan]]''  || Parvathy ||
|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai]]''  || Geeta ||
|''[[Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai]]''  || Geeta ||
|-
|-
|1990|| ''[[Enkitta Mothathe]]''  || Mallika ||
| rowspan=3 | 1990|| ''[[Engitta Mothathay]]''  || Mallika ||
|-
|-
|1990|| ''[[Mallu Vetti Minor]]''  || Santhana Lakshmi ||
|''[[Mallu Vetti Minor]]''  || Santhana Lakshmi ||
|-
|-
|1990|| ''[[Sathya Vaakku]]''  || Meena ||
|''[[Sathya Vaakku]]''  || Meena ||
|-
|-
|1991|| ''Mahamayi''  || Mahamayi||
| rowspan=2 | 1991|| ''Mahamayi''  || Mahamayi||
|-
|-
|1991|| ''[[Thalapathi]]''|| Subhalakshmi ||
|''[[Thalapathi]]''|| Subhalakshmi ||
|-
|-
|1993|| ''Sivarathiri'' || Gayathri ||
|1993|| ''Sivarathiri'' || Gayathri ||
Line 388: Line 448:
|-
|-
|2014||''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'' || Yaaghavi ||
|2014||''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'' || Yaaghavi ||
|-
|2025|| ''[[Coolie (2025 film)|Coolie]]'' || [[Thalapathi|Subhalakshmi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/coolie-opinion-rajinikanth-lokesh-kanagaraj-kamal-haasan-2771532-2025-08-15|title=Kamal fan, Rajini film: Coolie reminds us Superstar belongs to both camps|first=Akshay|last=Ramesh|date=15 August 2025|website=India Today}}</ref>
||Photo  appearance
|}
|}
{{div col}}


{{div col end}}
===Hindi===
 
===Kannada===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of Hindi film credits
! Title
|-
! Role
! scope="col" | Year
! Sources
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1984||''[[Ghar Ek Mandir (film)|Ghar Ek Mandir]]''||Priya||
|-
|1998||''[[Swami Vivekananda (1998 film)|Swami Vivekananda]]'' || Dancer ||
|-
|-
|1990||''[[Shivashankar]]''|| Girija||
|2007||''[[Apna Asmaan]]'' || Padmini Kumar ||
|-
|-
|1985||''[[Giri Baale]]'' || Neelaveni ||
|2008||''[[Mere Baap Pehle Aap]]''||Anuradha "Anu" Joshi ||
|}
|}


===Hindi===
===English===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of English film credits
! Title
! Role
! Sources
|-
|-
|2008||''[[Mere Baap Pehle Aap]]''||Anuradha Joshi (Annu) ||
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|2007||''[[Apna Asmaan]]'' || Padmini Kumar ||
|2002||''[[Mitr, My Friend]]'' || Lakshmi ||Actress [[Revathy]]'s directorial debut
|-
|-
|1998||''[[Swami Vivekananda (1998 film)|Swami Vivekananda]]'' || Dancer ||
|2003||''[[Dance Like a Man]]''||Ratna Parekh ||
|-
|-
|2008||''[[A Little Dream]]''|| Sundar's mother||[[Documentary film]] about the journey of former [[Indian President]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
|}
|}


===English===
===Kannada===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of Kannada film credits
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|-
|2008||''[[A Little Dream]]''|| Sundar's mother||[[Documentary film]] about the journey of former [[Indian President]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|2003||''[[Mahesh Dattani|Dance Like a Man]]''||Ratna Parekh ||
|1985||''[[Giri Baale]]'' || Neelaveni ||
|-
|-
|2002||''[[Mitr, My Friend]]'' || Lakshmi ||
|1990||''[[Shivashankar]]''|| Girija||
|}
|}


Line 437: Line 504:
===Titles and honours===
===Titles and honours===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:80%;"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:80%;"
|+ List of titles and honours received by Shobana
|-
|-
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Honour
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Honour
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Honouring body
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Organisation
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"| {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"| {{refh}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2000
! scope="row"| 2000
|Grade A Top
|Grade A Top
|[[Doordarshan]]
|[[Doordarshan]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/chennaiyil-thiruvaiyaru/2009/profiles/shobana.asp |title=About Shobana |website=lakshmansruthi.com}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/chennaiyil-thiruvaiyaru/2009/profiles/shobana.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215220501/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/chennaiyil-thiruvaiyaru/2009/profiles/shobana.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 December 2009 |title=About Shobana |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2006
! scope="row"| 2006
|[[Padma Shri]]
|[[Padma Shri]]
|[[Government of India]]
|[[Government of India]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Year=2006-2006&Field=Art&Award=Padma%20Shri |title=Padma Awardees |website=Padma Awards - Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/news/general/1274-padma-shri-shobana |title=Padmashri for Shobana |website=kutcheribuzz.com}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="award00-09">{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2014)|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/YearWiseListOfRecipientsBharatRatnaPadmaAwards-1954-2014.pdf|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]|date=21 May 2014|accessdate=22 March 2016|pages=117–166|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220252/http://www.mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/YearWiseListOfRecipientsBharatRatnaPadmaAwards-1954-2014.pdf|archive-date=14 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/news/general/1274-padma-shri-shobana |title=Padmashri for Shobana |website=kutcheribuzz.com |access-date=25 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2011
! scope="row"| 2011
|[[Kalaimamani]]
|[[Kalaimamani]]
|Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram, [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram, [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shobana.info/about-shobana/ |title=Shobana Awards |website=Shobana.info - Kalarpana |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shobana.info/about-shobana/ |title=Shobana Awards |website=Shobana.info - Kalarpana |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201175228/http://www.shobana.info/about-shobana/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2012
! scope="row"| 2012
|Arch of Excellence
|Arch of Excellence
|All India Achievers Conference
|All India Achievers Conference
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/284624218258370/photos/a.390972834290174/390974527623338/ |title=Arch of Excellence |date=4 August 2012 |website=[[Facebook]] - All India Achievers Conference |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/aiac-excellence-awards-presented/article3696305.ece |title=AIAC Excellence Awards presented |date=28 July 2012 |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/aiac-excellence-awards-presented/article3696305.ece |title=AIAC Excellence Awards presented |date=28 July 2012 |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2013
! scope="row"| 2013
|[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship|Kalarathna]]
|[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship|Kalarathna]]
|[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy]]
|[[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keralasangeethanatakaakademi.in/fa.php |title=Fellowship List - Dance|website=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.keralasangeethanatakaakademi.in/fa.php |title=Fellowship List - Dance |website=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2015
! scope="row"| 2018
|Global Achievement for Performing Arts
| rowspan="3" | [[Honorary degree|Honorary doctorate]] ([[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt]])
|[[All Malaysia Malayalee Association]]
|[[Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/511284689039660/photos/achievement-unlocked!-we%27ve-had-many/538031093031686/ |title=Achievement unlocked |date=4 December 2015 |website=[[Facebook]] - The Global Malayalee |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="shobana" />
|-
|-
! scope="row"| 2019
! scope="row"| 2019
|[[Honorary degree|Honorary doctorate]] ([[Doctor of Letters|D.Litt]])
|Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute
|[[Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="doctorate" />
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="doctorate" />
|-
! scope="row"| 2022
|[[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]]
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="ssus" />
|-
! scope="row"| 2025
|[[Padma Bhushan]]
|Government of India
|style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="IE_padmaShri"/><ref name="Padma Awards 2025">{{cite news|title=Padma Awards 2025|url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf|accessdate=26 January 2025|work=|publisher=Ministry Of Home Affairs|date=25 January 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126163202/https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf|archivedate=26 January 2025}}</ref>
|}
|}


===Other awards===
===Film awards===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
|+ List of film awards received by Shobana
!Awards and nominations
|-
!Category
! scope="col" | Year
!Film
! scope="col" | Award
!Result
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" | {{Ref heading}}
|-
| 1984
| rowspan="8" |[[Filmfare Awards South]]|| rowspan="3" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress – Malayalam]]||''[[Kanamarayathu]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|1985||''[[Yathra]]''||{{nom}} ||
|-
|1986||''[[Chilambu]]''||{{nom}} ||
|-
| rowspan="2" |1988||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu|Best Actress - Telugu]]||''[[Rudraveena (film)|Rudraveena]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|1984||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Kanamarayathu]]''||{{nom}}
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil|Best Actress - Tamil]]||''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|1985||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Yathra]]''||{{nom}}
| rowspan="2" |1990||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress – Malayalam]]||''[[Innale]]''||{{won}}
|
|-
|-
|1986||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Chilambu]]''||{{nom}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu|Best Actress - Telugu]]||''[[Alludugaru]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|1988||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu]]||''[[Rudraveena (film)|Rudraveena]]''||{{nom}}
|1991||''[[Rowdy Gaari Pellam]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|1988||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil]]||''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (1988 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''||{{nom}}
| rowspan="4" |1993||[[National Film Awards]]||[[National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress]]|| rowspan="2" |''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''||{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/76_41stNfacatalogue.pdf|title=41st National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116081835/https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/76_41stNfacatalogue.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1990||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Innale]]''||{{won}}
|[[Kerala State Film Awards]]||[[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]||{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=State Film Awards (1991–99) |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |access-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234157/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>
|-
|-
|1990||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu]]||''[[Alludugaru]]''||{{nom}}
|[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards]]||[[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] || ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' & ''[[Meleparambil Anveedu]]''||{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala Film Critics Association Awards - 1977-2012 |url=https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/film-critics-awards-complete-list-from.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards|Kerala Film Critics Association]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1991||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu]]||''[[Rowdy Gaari Pellam]]''||{{nom}}
| rowspan="4" |[[Filmfare Awards South]]|| rowspan="4" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress – Malayalam]] ||''[[Manichitrathazhu]]'' ||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|1993||[[National Film Awards]]||[[National Film Award for Best Actress]]||''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''||{{won}}
|1994||''[[Thenmavin Kombath]]''||{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=42nd South Filmfare Awards |url=https://archive.org/download/42ndAnnualFilmfaresouthawardsTeluguMalayalamwinners/IMG_20161006_074048%5B1%5D.jpg |publisher=[[Filmfare]]}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1993||[[Kerala State Film Awards]]||[[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress]]||''Manichitrathazhu''||{{won}}
|1996||''[[Kumkumacheppu]]''||{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmfare.com:80/site/october97/south3e.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991103180423/http://www.filmfare.com/site/october97/south3e.htm|archive-date=3 November 1999|title=Filmfare – South Special|date=3 November 1999|access-date=16 December 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1993||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''||{{nom}}
|rowspan="2"|1999||rowspan="2"| ''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agnisakshi]]''||{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/news/rahman_bags_12th_filmfare_award.htm|title=Rahman bags 12th Filmfare award|website=pvv.ntnu.no}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1994||Filmfare Awards South||Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam||''[[Thenmavin Kombath]]''||{{won}}
|[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards]]||[[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] ||{{won}}
|
|-
|-
|1996||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Kumkumacheppu]]''||{{nom}}
|2002||[[National Film Awards]]||[[National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role|Best Actress]]||''[[Mitr, My Friend]]''||{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=49th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/68_49thNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725232419/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/68_49thNfacatalogue.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1999||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agnisakshi]]''||{{nom}}
|2005||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress – Malayalam]]||''[[Makalkku]]''||{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|2002||National Film Awards||National Film Award for Best Actress||''[[Mitr, My Friend]]''||{{won}}
| rowspan="2" |2013||[[Vanitha Film Awards]]||Best Actress|| rowspan="2" |''[[Thira (film)|Thira]]''||{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.keralatv.in/2014/01/vanitha-film-awards-2014/ | title=Vanitha Film Awards 2014 | publisher=keralatv.in | date=6 January 2014 | accessdate=6 January 2014}}
</ref>
|-
|-
|2005||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Makalkku]]''||{{nom}}
|[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress – Malayalam]]||{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/winners-of-61st-idea-filmfare-awards-south-6712.html|title=Winners of 61st Idea Filmfare Awards South|website=filmfare.com|accessdate=20 December 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
|2013||[[Vanitha Film Awards]]||Vanitha Film for Best Actress||''[[Thira]]''||{{won}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=V.P |first1=Nicy |title=Shobana to Play Lead in 'Thira' Sequel |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/shobana-play-lead-thira-sequel-608682 |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=www.ibtimes.co.in |date=9 September 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
|2021||[[10th South Indian International Movie Awards|South Indian International Movie Awards]]||[[SIIMA Award for Best Actress - Malayalam|Best Actress - Malayalam]]
|rowspan="2"|''[[Varane Avashyamund]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite news |title=SIIMA 2023 winners: Ponniyin Selvan I, Nna Thaan Case Kodu, R Madhavan, Trisha, Tovino Thomas and Kalyani Priyadarshan win big |work=Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/siima-awards-2023-day-2-r-madhavan-takes-home-award-for-best-debutant-director-kamal-haasan-best-actor-mani-ratnams-ponniyin-selvan-shines-8943416/lite/ |access-date=16 September 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928192620/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/siima-awards-2023-day-2-r-madhavan-takes-home-award-for-best-debutant-director-kamal-haasan-best-actor-mani-ratnams-ponniyin-selvan-shines-8943416/lite/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
|2013||[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam]]||''[[Thira]]''||{{nom}}
|2021-2022
|[[Filmfare Awards South]]||[[Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam|Best Actress - Malayalam]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://filmfare.com/news/bollywood/nominations-for-the-67th-parle-filmfare-awards-south-2022_-55551.html|title=Nominations for the 67th Parle Filmfare Awards South 2022 with Kamar Film Factory |date=7 October 2022 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Filmare News |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010042442/https://filmfare.com/news/bollywood/nominations-for-the-67th-parle-filmfare-awards-south-2022_-55551.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
|}


==Television ==
==Television ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
|+ List of television credits
! Title
! Channel
!Language
! Notes
|-
|-
|1991||''[[Penn (1991 TV series)|Penn]]'' ||[[DD Podhigai]]||[[Tamil language|Tamil]]||Serial
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Channel
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
|1999||''Uravugal'' ||[[Vijay TV]]||Tamil||Serial
|1991||''[[Penn (1991 TV series)|Penn]]'' ||[[DD Podhigai]]|| rowspan="3" |[[Tamil language|Tamil]]||rowspan=2|Serial
|-
|-
|2010||''[[Jodi Number One|Jodi Number one season 5]]''||[[Vijay TV]]||Tamil||Reality show as Judge
|1999||''Uravugal'' || rowspan="2" |[[Vijay TV]]
|-
|-
|2010||''Super Jodi''||[[Surya TV]]||Malayalam||Reality show as Judge
| rowspan="2" |2010||''[[Jodi No.1 (TV series)|Jodi Number one season 5]]''||rowspan=4|Reality show as Judge
|-
|-
|2015||''[[D 4 Dance|D 3]]''   <br />(Grand finale)  ||[[Mazhavil Manorama]]|| Malayalam ||Reality show as Judge
|''Super Jodi''||[[Surya TV]]|| rowspan="3" |Malayalam
|-
|-
|2017||''[[Midukki]]'' ||[[Mazhavil Manorama]]|| Malayalam||Reality show as Judge
|2015||''[[D 4 Dance|D 3]]'' (Grand finale)  || rowspan="2" |[[Mazhavil Manorama]]
|-
|-
|2021||''Margazhi Thingal''||[[YouTube]]||Tamil||Music Video<ref>{{cite news |last1=CR |first1=Sharanya |last2=Vijayakumar |first2=Sindhu |title=Nine actresses come together to render Thiruppavai and celebrate the spirit of Margazhi - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/nine-actresses-come-together-to-render-thiruppavai-and-celebrate-the-spirit-of-margazhi/articleshow/80141506.cms |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=7 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
|2017||''[[Midukki]]''
|-
|2021||''Margazhi Thingal''||[[YouTube]]||Tamil||Music Video<ref>{{cite news |last1=CR |first1=Sharanya |last2=Vijayakumar |first2=Sindhu |title=Nine actresses come together to render Thiruppavai and celebrate the spirit of Margazhi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/nine-actresses-come-together-to-render-thiruppavai-and-celebrate-the-spirit-of-margazhi/articleshow/80141506.cms |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=7 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3" |2023||''Mayamayooram''|| rowspan="3" |[[Zee Keralam]] || rowspan="3" |Malayalam || rowspan="3" |Serials Promo presenter<ref>{{cite news  |title=Watch: Shobhana presents the prologue for THESE Malayalam soaps |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/watch-shobhana-presents-the-prologue-for-these-malayalam-soaps/articleshow/105126576.cms|access-date=10 February 2026 |work=The Times of India |date=10 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|''Subhadram''
|-
|''Seethayanam''
|}
|}


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==External links==
==External links==
* {{commonscatinline}}
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.shobana.info/}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0811794|name=Shobana}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0811794|name=Shobana}}


{{Padma Bhushan Award Recipients 2020–2029}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{FilmfareMalayalamBestActress}}
{{FilmfareMalayalamBestActress}}
{{KeralaStateAwardForBestActress}}
{{KeralaStateAwardForBestActress}}
{{National Film Award for Best Actress}}
{{National Film Award for Best Actress}}
 
<!--{{Chalachitra Prathibha Award recipients}}-->
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


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[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]
[[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]]
[[Category:Bharatanatyam exponents]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Best Actress National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Actress National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Kerala Film Critics Awards winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
Line 588: Line 709:
[[Category:Indian women classical musicians]]
[[Category:Indian women classical musicians]]
[[Category:Women artists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Women artists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century women musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian drummers]]
[[Category:21st-century drummers]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]

Latest revision as of 18:35, 21 March 2026


Shobana
Shobana in 2011
Born
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai

(1970-03-21) 21 March 1970 (age 56)
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Occupation
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • choreographer
Years active1980–present
Children1
Relatives
FamilyTravancore family
Awards
Websiteactressshobana.com

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (born 21 March 1970[1][2]), known professionally as Shobana, is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer who has appeared primarily in Malayalam cinema, along with notable work in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, English and Kannada films. She is a recipient of two National Film Awards, one Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, she was honored with the Kalaimamani by Government of Tamil Nadu.[3] Over the years, she established herself as one of the greatest South Indian actresses.[4][5][6]

In a career spanning over four decades, Shobana has starred in 230 films across several languages.[7][8] She has earned two National Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993) and the English film Mitr, My Friend (2001). The former also won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress.[9][10] Additionally, she received two Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in Innale (1990) and Thenmavin Kombath (1994).[11][12][13]

As a Bharatanatyam dancer, Shobana received her training under Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam.[14] She emerged as an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties and currently runs a dance school, Kalarpana, in Chennai.[9] In 2006, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri for her contributions towards the arts.[15][16] In 2013, she received Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, also known as Kalarathna, for her contributions to the performing arts.[17] She received honorary doctorates from Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation in 2018,[18] Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute in 2019[19] and Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in 2022.[20] Shobana was awarded Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2025.[21]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai was born on March 21, 1970, into a Nair family in Kerala to Chandrakumar Pillai and Anandam Chandrakumar Pillai. She is the niece of the renowned Travancore sisters—Padmini, Lalitha and Ragini—who were celebrated for their expertise in classical Indian dance. Actor Vineeth and actress Parvathy Kurup are her cousins.[5][6][22]

Career[edit | edit source]

Film career[edit | edit source]

Shobana made her debut as a child artist. In 1980, she won the Best Child Artiste Award for her role in the Tamil movie, Mangala Nayagi, a remake of the Hindi film Saajan Bina Suhagan.[23]

The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Shri Award – 2006 to Shobana in New Delhi on 20 March 2006.

She also starred in the Telugu film Bhakta Dhruva Markendaya in 1982, an acclaimed all children film made in both Tamil and Telugu.[24][25] As an adult, she was introduced to the film industry through the Malayalam film April 18 (1984), by director Balachandra Menon. In the same year, she debuted in the Tamil film industry with Enakkul Oruvan (1984), directed by SP Muthuraman.[10] She did come back to act in occasional Tamil films opposite Satyaraj (Mallu Vetti Minor, Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai), Bhagyaraj (Ithu Namma Aalu) and Vijayakanth (Ponmana Selvan, Engitta Mothathay) in the early 90s – these roles were generally glamorous in which Shobana generally acted as the beautiful, posh and haughty city girl who is eventually charmed by the village boy.[26]

Her other major films include Rudraveena (1988), Kanamarayathu (1984) Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove, Yathra (1985), Anantaram (1987), Nadodikkattu (1987), Vellanakalude Nadu (1988), Idhu Namma Aalu (1988), Siva (1989), Innale (1990), Kalikkalam (1990), Thalapathi (1991), Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992), Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Thenmavin Kombath (1994), Minnaram (1994), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Hitler (1996), Agni Sakshi (1999), Dance like a Man (2003), Makalkku (2005), Thira (2013) and Varane Avashyamund (2020).[27] From Aviduthe Pole Ivideyum to Upaharam, Shobana did sixteen movies in a single year, 1985.[28] Shobana also acted in the Tamil period film Kochadaiiyaan (2014).[7]

In Rudraveena (1988), alongside Chiranjeevi and Gemini Ganesan, she played classical dancer Lalitha Sivajyothi, who belongs to a lower caste and is denied entry into the temple. In Abhinandana (1988), she paired with Karthik, and essayed his love interest, who aspires to become a classical dancer. In Kokila (1990), she paired with Naresh, and In Alludugaru (1990) she starred opposite Mohan Babu and was a remake of Malayalam film Chithram. 1 April Vidudhala and Rowdy Gari Pellam were other Telugu films in 1991.[29]

Shobana won her first National Film Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in AM Fazil's Manichitrathazhu. Her portrayal of Ganga Nakulan and alter-ego Nagavalli in the film was described by critics as "spell binding".[30]

Following her National Award win in 1993, Shobana became highly selective about her films.[31]

Classical dance career[edit | edit source]

Shobana during a live classical dance performance

Shobana is a Bharatanatyam dancer.[32] She started her own dance school, "Kalipinya" in 1989 and got it registered in 1992.[3]

She has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram and Mandolin Srinivas. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, in Kuala Lumpur before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia.[33] Shobana started performing in the Soorya Music & Dance festival organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy from the year 1994.[34]

In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical dance Bharatanatyam in Chennai named Kalarpana.[35]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

She remains unmarried and in 2011, adopted a daughter, becoming a single mother.[36][37][38]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released

Malayalam[edit | edit source]

List of Malayalam film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1984 April 18 Sobhana Debut in lead role
Kanamarayathu Sherly
Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove Subhadra
Alakadalinakkare Daisy
1985 Avidathe Pole Ivideyum Sujatha
Vasantha Sena Merlin
Thozhil Allengil Jail Jalaja
Akkacheyude Kunjuvava Mridula
Meenamasathile Sooryan Revathi
Azhiyatha Bandhangal Geetha
Eeran Sandhya Prabha
Thammil Thammil Kavitha
Anubandham Vijayalakshmi
Ee Thanalil Ithiri Nerum Soudamini
Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam Sharada
Ayanam Alice
Yathra Thulasi
Rangam Chandrika
Oru Naal Innoru Naal Rajani
Upaharam Maggie Fernandez
1986 Udayam Padinjaru Renu
T. P. Balagopalan M. A. Anitha
Kunjattakilikal Usha
Iniyum Kurukshethram Lekha
Aayiram Kannukal Anu
Ente Entethu Mathrem Ambili
Abhayam Thedi Meera/Miranda
Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku Indu
Aalorungi Arangorungi Geetha
Nyayavidhi Geetha
Ee Kaikalil Viji Balakrishnan
Padayani Radha
Chilambu Ambika
Rareeram Meera
1987 Vrutham Nancy
Nadodikattu Radha
Ithrayum Kaalam Savithri
Kalam Mari Katha Mari Ummu Kolzu
Anantaram Suma, Nalini
Naalkavala Sainabha
1988 Vicharana Anitha
Vellanakalude Nadu Radha
Janmandharam Sridevi
Aryan Aswathy
Aparan Ambili
Dhwani Devi
Oru Vivaada Vishayam Shobha
Alila Kuruvikal Bhavana
Mukthi Radhika
1989 Charithram Cicily
1990 Innale Maya/Gowri
Iyer the Great Amala
Sasneham Saraswathi
Kalikkalam Annie
1991 Vasthuhara Young Bhavani
Ulladakkam Annie
Adayalam Malini
Kankettu Sujatha
1992 Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam Indu
Naaga Panchami Panchami
Pappayude Swantham Appoos Bhama
1993 Maya Mayuram Bhadra
Meleparambil Aanveedu Pavizham
Golanthara Vartha Lekha
Manichitrathazhu Ganga/Nagavalli
1994 Pavithram Meera
Commissioner Indu Kurup
Thenmavin Kombathu Karthumbi
Pakshe Nandini Menon
Minnaram Neena
Vishnu Susanna Mathews
Manathe Vellitheru Merlin
1995 Sindoora Rekha Arundhathi
Mazhayethum Munpe Uma Maheshwari
Minnaminuginum Minnukettu Radhika
1996 Kumkumacheppu Indu
Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum Alli
Rajaputhran Veni
Hitler Gowri
1997 Superman Nithya
Kalyana Kacheri Gopika
Kaliyoonjal Gowri
1999 Agni Sakshi Devaki Manampalli
2000 Sradha Suma
Valliettan Devi
2004 Mambazhakkalam Indira
2005 Makalkku Killeri
2009 Sagar alias Jacky Reloaded Indu
2013 Thira Dr. Rohini Pranab
2020 Varane Avashyamund Neena
2025 Thudarum Lalitha

[39]

Telugu[edit | edit source]

List of Telugu film credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1982 Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya Sunithi Devi Children's film
1984 Marchandi Mana Chattalu Uma
1985 Marana Sasanam Lalitha
1986 Srimathi Kanuka Swapna
Vijrumbhana Shobha
Vikram Radha
Dagudu Moothalu Radha
Asthram Padmini
1987 Muddula Manavudu Hemalatha
Manavadostunnaadu Roopa
Ajeyudu Rekha
Muvva Gopaladu Krishna veni
Trimurtulu Latha
1988 Rudraveena Lalita Shiva Jyoti [29]
Abhinandana Rani [29]
Praja Pratinidhi Bharathi
1990 Paapa Kosam Swapna
Nari Nari Naduma Murari Shobha
Kokila Kokila
Shourya Chakra Bharathi
Neti Siddhartha Jyoti
Alludugaru Kalyani
1991 April 1st Vidudhala Bhuvaneshwari [29]
Appula Appa Rao Subba Laxmi
Rowdy Gaari Pellam Janaki
Minor Raja Santhana Lakshmi
Manchi Roju Padma
Rowdy Alludu Sita
Alludu Diddina Kapuram Sita
Keechu Raallu Monica
1992 Ahankari Shobana
Asadhyulu Jyoti
Champion Sandhya
Hello Darling Bharathi
Sivaratri Gayatrhi
Gangwar Pavithra
1993 Rowdy Gaari Teacher Malli
Naga Jyoti Naga rani
Kannayya Kittayya Saroja
Nippu Ravva Guest appearance in a song
Rendilla Poojari Radha
Rakshana Padma
1997 Surya Putrulu Ragini
2006 Game Uma
2024 Kalki 2898 AD Mariam Also sung the song "Theme of Shambala" 2026 Peddi Filming

Tamil[edit | edit source]

List of Tamil film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Mangala Nayagi Herself Child artist
Manmatha Ragangal Herself Child artist
1984 Enakkul Oruvan Kalpana
1985 Marudhani Marudhani
1988 Oray Thaai Oray Kulam Easwari
Idhu Namma Aalu Bhanu
1989 Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa Radha
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan Shanthi
Siva Parvathy
Ponmana Selvan Parvathy
Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai Geeta
1990 Engitta Mothathay Mallika
Mallu Vetti Minor Santhana Lakshmi
Sathya Vaakku Meena
1991 Mahamayi Mahamayi
Thalapathi Subhalakshmi
1993 Sivarathiri Gayathri
1996 Thuraimugam Rukkumani
2012 Podaa Podi Veena
2014 Kochadaiiyaan Yaaghavi
2025 Coolie Subhalakshmi[40] Photo appearance

Hindi[edit | edit source]

List of Hindi film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Ghar Ek Mandir Priya
1998 Swami Vivekananda Dancer
2007 Apna Asmaan Padmini Kumar
2008 Mere Baap Pehle Aap Anuradha "Anu" Joshi

English[edit | edit source]

List of English film credits
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Mitr, My Friend Lakshmi Actress Revathy's directorial debut
2003 Dance Like a Man Ratna Parekh
2008 A Little Dream Sundar's mother Documentary film about the journey of former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Kannada[edit | edit source]

List of Kannada film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1985 Giri Baale Neelaveni
1990 Shivashankar Girija

Awards and recognitions[edit | edit source]

Titles and honours[edit | edit source]

List of titles and honours received by Shobana
Year Honour Organisation Ref.
2000 Grade A Top Doordarshan [41]
2006 Padma Shri Government of India [42][43]
2011 Kalaimamani Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram, Government of Tamil Nadu [44]
2012 Arch of Excellence All India Achievers Conference [45]
2013 Kalarathna Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy [46]
2018 Honorary doctorate (D.Litt) Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation [18]
2019 Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute [19]
2022 Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit [20]
2025 Padma Bhushan Government of India [21][47]

Film awards[edit | edit source]

List of film awards received by Shobana
Year Award Category Film Result Template:Ref heading
1984 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam Kanamarayathu Nominated
1985 Yathra Nominated
1986 Chilambu Nominated
1988 Best Actress - Telugu Rudraveena Nominated
Best Actress - Tamil Idhu Namma Aalu Nominated
1990 Best Actress – Malayalam Innale Won
Best Actress - Telugu Alludugaru Nominated
1991 Rowdy Gaari Pellam Nominated
1993 National Film Awards Best Actress Manichitrathazhu Won [48]
Kerala State Film Awards Best Actress Won [49]
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Manichitrathazhu & Meleparambil Anveedu Won [50]
Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam Manichitrathazhu Nominated
1994 Thenmavin Kombath Won [51]
1996 Kumkumacheppu Nominated [52]
1999 Agnisakshi Nominated [53]
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Won
2002 National Film Awards Best Actress Mitr, My Friend Won [54]
2005 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam Makalkku Nominated
2013 Vanitha Film Awards Best Actress Thira Won [55]
Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam Nominated [56]
2021 South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actress - Malayalam Varane Avashyamund Won [57]
2021-2022 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress - Malayalam Nominated [58]

Television[edit | edit source]

List of television credits
Year Title Channel Language Notes
1991 Penn DD Podhigai Tamil Serial
1999 Uravugal Vijay TV
2010 Jodi Number one season 5 Reality show as Judge
Super Jodi Surya TV Malayalam
2015 D 3 (Grand finale) Mazhavil Manorama
2017 Midukki
2021 Margazhi Thingal YouTube Tamil Music Video[59]
2023 Mayamayooram Zee Keralam Malayalam Serials Promo presenter[60]
Subhadram
Seethayanam

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Davis, Maggie (15 June 2017). "Malayalam actress Shobana to get hitched at the age of 47?". India.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "Happy Birthday Shobana: Five movies of the actress from 'Manichithrathazhu' to 'Makalkku' that you should watch right away". The Times of India. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "I am an introvert, says Shobana". The Hindu. 29 December 2005. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Beyond Bollywood: The biggest icons of the south film industry". Vogue. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Shobhana, a never fading grace that blessed Malayalam cinema". The Times of India. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 K. Jeshi (31 March 2005). "Thinking actress". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna'". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Padmanabhan, S. (7 February 2020). "Shobana returns to cinema after seven years with Malayalam movie 'Varane Avashyamunde'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Metro Plus Bangalore / Personality : Thinking actress". The Hindu. 6 April 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Francis, Sneha May (31 December 2008). "Shobana's mystical twist to an epic". Gulf News. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Prakash, Asha (28 April 2018). "Shobana: I don't feel bad if I don't act in a film, as long as people are making great films". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Jayaram, Deepika (5 November 2018). "Shobana extends her support for #MeToo movement". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. ↑ Mahadevan, Sangeeta. "SHOBANA - IN FINE FORM". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 3 February 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Mahesh, Chitra (1 May 2014). "Life on her own terms". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  16. ↑ "Welcome to Sify.com". sify.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Governor's Call to Protect Artistes". The New Indian Express. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Shobana - about". actressshobana.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Honorary doctorate conferred on CM". The Hindu. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Ragin, S (1 January 2022). "Governor approved varsity syndicate's recommendation to grant D Litt to three people". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Balakrishna, Ajith, Shekhar Kapur, Shobana honoured with Padman Bhushan, Arijit Singh, Ricky Kej conferred with Padma Shri". The Indian Express. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  22. ↑ "About". Archived from the original on 8 September 2011.
  23. ↑ "The ultimate quiz on actress Shobana". OTTPlay. 21 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya 1982 Telugu Movie Wiki, Cast Crew, Songs, Videos, Release Date". MovieGQ. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "In her own groove". The Hindu. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Mohanlal & Shobana to share screen after 20 yrs". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  28. ↑ "In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna'". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "Happy Birthday Shobana: 6 films of the veteran actress one must watch". The Times of India. 21 March 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  30. ↑ S.R. Praveen (17 November 2013). "Sequel fails to impress". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Shobhana changing track". The Hindu. 3 February 2003. Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  32. ↑ "Manorama Online – Movies". manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "SHOBANA – exponent of Bharata Natyam – Indian classical performing arts". Artindia.net. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  34. ↑ "Bharathanatyam concert by Padma shri Shobana". Thiraseela.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "BizHat.com – Malayalam Film Actress Shobana k". Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  36. ↑ "Women's Day 2016: Popular celebrities who broke all stereotypes and adopted children". Zee News. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  37. ↑ "Shobhana adopts a baby girl". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  38. ↑ Davis, Maggie (16 June 2017). "Is actress Shobana really getting married or is this just a rumour?". India News. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  39. ↑ "Mohanlal, Shobana's 'L360' begins filming". The Hindu. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  40. ↑ Ramesh, Akshay (15 August 2025). "Kamal fan, Rajini film: Coolie reminds us Superstar belongs to both camps". India Today.
  41. ↑ "About Shobana". Lakshman Sruthi. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009.
  42. ↑ "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2014)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 21 May 2014. pp. 117–166. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  43. ↑ "Padmashri for Shobana". kutcheribuzz.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  44. ↑ "Shobana Awards". Shobana.info - Kalarpana. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  45. ↑ "AIAC Excellence Awards presented". The Hindu. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  46. ↑ "Fellowship List - Dance". Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  47. ↑ "Padma Awards 2025" (PDF). Ministry Of Home Affairs. 25 January 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  48. ↑ "41st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  49. ↑ "State Film Awards (1991–99)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  50. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Association Awards - 1977-2012". Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  51. ↑ "42nd South Filmfare Awards". Filmfare.
  52. ↑ "Filmfare – South Special". 3 November 1999. Archived from the original on 3 November 1999. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  53. ↑ "Rahman bags 12th Filmfare award". pvv.ntnu.no.
  54. ↑ "49th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  55. ↑ "Vanitha Film Awards 2014". keralatv.in. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  56. ↑ "Winners of 61st Idea Filmfare Awards South". filmfare.com. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  57. ↑ "SIIMA 2023 winners: Ponniyin Selvan I, Nna Thaan Case Kodu, R Madhavan, Trisha, Tovino Thomas and Kalyani Priyadarshan win big". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  58. ↑ "Nominations for the 67th Parle Filmfare Awards South 2022 with Kamar Film Factory". Filmare News. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  59. ↑ CR, Sharanya; Vijayakumar, Sindhu (7 January 2021). "Nine actresses come together to render Thiruppavai and celebrate the spirit of Margazhi". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  60. ↑ "Watch: Shobhana presents the prologue for THESE Malayalam soaps". The Times of India. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2026.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Padma Bhushan Award Recipients 2020–2029

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