Sukumari Amma
Name: Sukumari Amma
Date of Birth: 6th October 1940
Place of Birth: Nagercoil, Travancore, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
Date of Death: 26th March 2013 (aged 72)
Place of Death: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations: Actress, Classical Dancer, Voice Artist
Years Active: 1946 – 2013
Spouse: A. Bhimsingh (m. 1959; died 1978)
Children: 1
Parent(s):
- Father: Madhavan Nair
- Mother: Sathyabhama Amma
Relatives: Travancore family
Early Life and Education
Sukumari Amma was born into a Malayali family on 6th October 1940 in Nagercoil, Travancore. She was the daughter of Madhavan Nair, a bank manager, and Sathyabhama Amma. Sukumari's early education took place at Poojappura LP School until the second grade before she moved to Madras, where she continued her studies until the fourth forum.
Career Highlights
Sukumari began her acting career at the age of 10 and went on to feature in over 2500 films across multiple languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Sinhala, French, Bengali, Tulu, English, and Kannada. She gained prominence for her roles in various Priyadarshan and Balachandra Menon films. Notably, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Tamil film Namma Gramam (2010).
Personal Life
In 1959, Sukumari married director A. Bhimsingh, with whom she had a son named Suresh. Tragically, her husband passed away in 1978. Suresh followed in his mother's footsteps, pursuing a career in both medicine and acting. He married Uma, a costume designer, and they have a son named Vignesh.
Death and Legacy
Sukumari Amma passed away on 26th March 2013 at the age of 72 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, following a cardiac arrest. Her untimely demise left a profound impact on the Indian cinema and theatre industry. Sukumari's contributions were acknowledged through various awards and accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2003. Her legacy continues to inspire aspiring actors and artists, cementing her status as an icon in the realm of Indian entertainment.