{{Short description|Indian actress (1942–2010)}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Santha Devi | image = Santha Devi.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Damayanthi | birth_date = {{birth date text|1927}} | birth_place = Kozhikode, Kerala, India | death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|11|20|1927}} | death_place = Kozhikode | other_names = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1954–2010 | spouse = Balakrishnan (divorced)<br>Kozhikode Abdul Kader | partner = | website = }}
'''Damayanthi''' (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name '''Kozhikode Santha Devi''',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=12843695&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |title=Manorama Online | Movies | Nostalgia | |access-date=26 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223011/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=12843695&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> was an Indian Malayalam-language film and stage actress. In a career of about sixty years, she acted in more than 1000 plays and about 480 films.<ref name="Manorama"/>
== Biography == Santha Devi was born in Kozhikode in 1927 to Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma.
She made her debut as an actress in the 1954 drama ''Smarakam''. She made her cinema debut in ''Minnaminungu'' (1957) directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including ''Moodupadam'', ''Kuttikkuppayam'', ''Kunjalimaraykkar'', ''Iruttinte Athmavu'', ''Sthalathe pradhana payyans'' and ''Adwaitham''. Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie.
Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a hospital in Kozhikode.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bombaynews.net/story/709953|title=Veteran Malayalam actress Shanta Devi dies|date=20 November 2010|publisher=.bombaynews.net|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-date=22 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122034014/http://www.bombaynews.net/story/709953|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Family== She had five brothers and four sisters. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard. He left Devi after the couple had a son, Suresh Babu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-118715 |title=Mathrubhumi Eves - features, articles,ഒറ്റപ്പെടലിന്റെ വേദനയില് ശാന്താദേവി |access-date=2013-12-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811014935/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-118715 |archivedate=11 August 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer and had one more son, the late Sathyajith.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-121137 |title=ശാന്താദേവി വൃദ്ധസദനത്തിന്റെ തണലില് - articles, features - Mathrubhumi Eves |access-date=2013-12-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119155843/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/mb4eves/online/malayalam/kerala/women/articles/features-article-121137 |archivedate=19 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
== Awards and honours == Devi won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1978), the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship (2003),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/drama-a-ksna/465 |title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Drama |publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/drama-ksna/457|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship: Drama|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in ''Yamanam'' (1992),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/06/08/stories/2007060852680300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123131718/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/06/08/stories/2007060852680300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-11-23 |title=Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Interview : Natural actor |date=2007-06-08 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2010-08-23}}</ref> and the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays{{explain|date=May 2026}} in 1983 for ''Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam''.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite web|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8300195&programId=1073753765&channelId=-1073751706&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=11|title=നടി കോഴിക്കോട് ശാന്താദേവി അന്തരിച്ചു|publisher=Malayala Manorama|access-date=2010-11-21|archive-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307181822/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8300195&programId=1073753765&channelId=-1073751706&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Filmography (partial)== {{Div col|colwidth=22em}} ; Malayalam# Sandehi (1954) # Minnaminigu(1957) # Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963) # Moodupadam (1963) # Kuttikuppayam (1964) # Devalayam (1964) # Murappennu(1965) as Madhaviyamma # Mayor Nair (1966) # Kunjali Marakkar (1967) # Nagarame Nandi (1967) # Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967) # Ashwamedam (1967) as Lakshmi # Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) as Parukkuttiamma # Mulkireedam (1967) # Kottayam Kolacase (1967) # Aval (1967) # Anaachadanam (1968) # Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968) # Velutha Kathreena (1968) # Ummachu (1971) # Kuttyedathi(1971) as Meenakshi # Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972) # Darshanam (1973) # Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973) # Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974) # Nirmala (1975 film) (1975) # Utharayanam (1975) # Athithi (1975) # Njavalppazhangal (1976) # Yatheem (1977) # Aparadhi (1977) as Madhaviyamma # Padasaram (1978) as Kochukaali # Chuvanna Vithukal (1978) # Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978) # Thenthulli (1979) # Thakara (1979) # Neelathamara (1979) # Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980) # Chakara (1980) as Subhadra # Angadi (1980) # Ashwaradham (1980) # Adhikaram (1980) # Mylanji (1982 ) # Surumayitta Kannukal (1983) # Maniyara (1983) # Srikrishna Parundu (1984) # Anubandham (1985) # Dheivatheyorthu (1985) # Vellam (1985) # Abhayam Thedi (1986) # Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986) # PC 369 (1987) as Mandara # Nadodikkaattu (1987) as Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance) # Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987) # Rithubetham (1987) # Oohakachavadam (1988) # Dhinarathrangal (1988) # Kanakambarangal (1988) as Sreedevi's mother # Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) as Itti # Padippura (1989) # Chanakyan(1989) # V. I. P. (1989) as Karthyayani # Alicinte Anveshanam (1989) # Naduvazhikal (1989) # Carnivel (1989) # Aye Auto (1990) # Sasneham (1990) # Brahmarakshassu (1990) # Kakkathollayiram (1990) # No 20 Madras Mail (1990) # Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991) # Parallel College (1991) # Adwaitham (1991) # Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991) # Dhanam (1991) # Kamaladalam (1992) # Yamanam (1992) # Magrib (1993) # Agneyam (1993) # Ghoshayathra (1993) as Itheyiumma # Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993) # Naaraayam (1993) # Chukkan (1994) as Gayathri's Mother # Bharanakoodam (1994) as Manju's maid # Ghazal (1994) # Pingami (1994) # Tharavadu (1994) # Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994) # Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994) # Mazhayethum Munbe (1995) # Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995) # Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995) # Sasinas (1995) # Chandha (1995) # No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995) # Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995) # Madamma (1996) # Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996) # Harbour (1996) # Mahathma (1996) # Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997) # Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Valsan's mother #Sisiram (1998) #Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998) # Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998) # Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998) # Priyankari (2000) # Rapid Action Force (2000) as Vasanthakumari's muthassi # Ninneyum Thedi (2001) # Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001) # Neythukaran (2001) # Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002) # Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003) # Ammakkilikkoodu (2003) # Mizhirandilum (2003) # Anyar (2003) as Ummumma # Janakeeyam (2003) as Lakshmiyamma # Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) as Maimuna's mother # Freedom (2004) # Akale (2004) as Typewriting teacher # Maratha Nadu (2004) # Ullam (2005) # Anandabadram (2005) # Nottam (2006) as Jankiyamma # Mamma (2006) - Short film as Mrs. Philipose # Prajapathi (2006) # Vilapagalkkappuram (2008) # Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Janakiyamma # Thalappavu (2008) # Mayabazar(2008) # Koodaram (2009) # Malayali (2009) # Kerala Cafe (2009) # Nandhuni (2010) # Nalla Pattukare (2010) # Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother # Uthrada Ravu - Short film # Kunjipennu (2010) - album # Nurunguvettangal - Short film ... Sr. Margarita # Tharangal (2014) - photo only
; Hindi * Triyathri (1990) {{div col end}}
==Television serials (partial)== *Manasi (DD Malayalam) *Pennurimai (DD Malayalam) *Chitta (Surya TV) *Minnukettu (Surya TV) *Manassariyathe (Surya TV) *Kayamkulam Kochunni (Surya TV) *Ali Manthrikan *Ennapadam *Sakunam ( DD Malayalam) *Vadhu - telefilm *Vidhyarambham - telefilm *Puthiyaplakkuppayam - telefilm *Kannukal- telefilm *Kunchathumma - telefilm
==Dramas (partial)== * Kudukkukal * Smaarakam * Deepasthambham Mahaascharyam * Inquilaaabinte Makkal * Ithu Bhoomiyaannu * Pediswapnam
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|1526450}} * [http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Shanthadevi Shanthadevi at MSI]
{{NationalFilmAwardBestSupportingActress}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Santha}} Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses from Kozhikode Category:1927 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners Category:Indian stage actresses Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Actresses in Malayalam theatre Category:Indian television actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam television Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award