Suryakantham, the fantabulous woman was born in a rich Brahmin family at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram in Kakinada in East Godavari district on 28 October, 1924 as the 14th child to her parents. All through her girlhood she was strongly pulled in by arts and picked up dance to satisfy her crave in fine arts. She used to see many a Hindi film, which are mostly of Ashok Kumar and Leela Chitneese, and was greatly enthused by seeing them and spaced up her mind for Hindi films only. She learnt dance and singing at a tender age of six.

Surya Kantham did turn away an offer which was extended by P. Pullaiah and Thapi Dharma Rao. Just as it was in her destiny, Pullaiah cooked up her mind and made her to act in his film ‘Narada Naradi’ which was the commencing film for ‘Surya Kantham. But little roles did not satisfy the artiste in her.

Surya Kantham dreamt of going to Bombay (Mumbai) for better opportunities. When Gemini Studio makers failed to provide her roles other than a dancer, she had quit her job. But her financial position would not permit her chase after her dream.

Later, Surya Kantham got a good character artiste role in the movie “Grihapravesam”. Though, she got an opportunity to do the heroine role in “Soudhamini”, God had decided something really worthwhile for her. The heroine chance slipped away from her, when she was met with a car accident (in which Suryakantham was hurt in the face). But she consolidated her position by playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law in “Samsaram”. There was no looking back thereafter. The audience began to abuse her Surya Kantham (of course her character).

From that time onwards the carpeting for the great actress started unrolling all over the cinema tract.

Her vocation acquired a twisting point in 1950 with the film ‘Samsaram’ therewith she almost churned out a daunting image in all the viewers.

Once again, the most-wanted “heroine” role tapped her door through Mumbai tinsel world. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds; and the same was given to her; Suryakantham rejected the offer, saying “I can’t live on the unhappiness of other artistes.” Such was the integrity of Suryakantham, as an artiste. “Kodarikam” lifted her to lofty heights. Ace directors or the era, B Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not dare to do a movie without Suryakantham. They had even produced a movie “Gundammakatha”, starring N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao. The entire story would revolve round Suryakantham. Audience all over state wondered at the title. But when the movie released, it became an instant hit.

Surya Kantham was fairly soft and supple in nature. There dwelt a sweet heart beneath her pungent tongue. She always maintained herself happy and would always keep on the surrounds full of life. She was very functional in thinking and really generous and genial when helping others. She favored food a lot and she loved dishing out the food, which she prepared, (especially Andhra Pulihora) to others.

Surya Kantham was an enthusiastic social worker. She used to pay her contributions to the Andhra Pradesh Stage Artistes Association every year. She used to shell out funds to many educational institutes, centers for handicapped, and libraries. She took an enormous involvement in accumulating the funds when the Divi Seema was totally washed out by floods. She extended her helping hand and rescued many girls who were pulled in by the colourful film industry in wrong-headedly. She performed many charity shows.

Surya Kantham extended the funds through Rama Krishna Mutt. She was very hard-and-fast while collecting her remuneration from the canny people all at once helped many a needy person without taking even single money. She always passed over the laurels that she got to the others and she was always grateful to her producers, directors and her co-artistes.

Surya Kantham did about 750 films in the days when only 4-5 films were releasing in a year. This is over again a conspicuous record of Surya Kantham. She also acted in 49 films in Tamil and she got her dream executed when she acted in some Hindi films like ‘Bahut Din Huyen’, ‘Do Dulhein’ and ‘Bala Nagamma’. If you say her performance a guidebook to all the supporting actresses, her dialogues must be the mere reproductions of Telugu Language.

The memorable woman Surya Kantham physically parted (due to diabetes) from us for about eight years ago but ever rested in the hearts of cinema lovers.

Awards:

Mahanati Savithri Memorial Award

Titles:

Gayyali atta
Sahaja Nata Kala Shiromani
Haasya Nata Siromani
Bahumukha Natanaa Praveena
Rangasthala Siromani
Arungalai Maamani (Tamil)

Name                        :    Suryakantham
Star Name                :    Suryakantham
Date of Birth            :    1924-10-28
Place of Birth           : East Godavari district, Kakinada
Mother Tongue        : Telugu
Date of Marriage     :    1950
Eye Color                 :    Black
Hair Color               :    Black
Mother                     : Ponnada Venkata Ratnamma
Father                      : Ponnada Anantha Ramaiah
Debut Movie           :    Telugu – Narada Naradi (1946)
Debut Movie           :    Tamil – Kaathal
Date of Death         :    1996-12-17

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