{{short description|Indian actress}} {{for|the Hindu system of worship dedicated to the Goddess|Shri Vidya}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Srividya | image = srividya.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1953|07|24}} | birth_place = Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2006|10|19|1953|07|24}} | spouse = {{marriage|George Thomas|1978|1980|end=divorce}} | death_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | parents = {{ubl|Vikatam R. Krishnamurthy|M. L. Vasanthakumari}} | other_names = Sreevidya | years_active = 1966–2006 | works = Full list }}
'''Srividya''' (24 July 1953 – 19 October 2006), was an Indian actress best known for her work predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films, along with a few Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. In a career spanning for 40 years, she had acted in more than 800 films. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Manorama Online {{!}} Movies {{!}} Nostalgia {{!}} |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8093176&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027193255/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8093176&programId=7940855&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3 |archive-date=2010-10-27 |access-date= |website=www.manoramaonline.com}}</ref> In addition to acting, Srividya occasionally worked as a playback singer as well as carnatic singer. She was also a well-trained Bharathanatyam dancer. She was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. She used her own voice for dubbing in almost all movies in all languages. She died in 2006 after battling metastatic breast cancer.
== Early life == Srividya was born on 24 July 1953 in Madras, Tamil Nadu into a Tamil family. Tamil film comedian Krishnamurthy and Carnatic classical singer M. L. Vasanthakumari were her parents. She had a brother, Sankararaman. Her father had to stop acting in the year she was born because of a disease which affected his facial muscles. Her family fell into financial crisis. Her mother worked long hours to meet the family's financial needs. Srividya debuted in films at a very early age.<ref>{{Cite web | title='Srividya loved life, and loved to live' - Rediff.com movies | url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/srividya/20061020.htm | access-date=2025-03-09 | website=m.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=இவர் மட்டும் நம்ம புரட்சித்தலைவருடன் நடித்திருந்தால் இவரது ரேஞ்சே வேற லெவல் தான்...! வடை போச்சே...!!! | url=https://cinereporters.com/superhit-old-actress-srividya-and-her-biography/ | access-date=2025-03-09 | website=cinereporters.com| date=8 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Srividya : Biography, Age, Movies, Family, Photos, Latest News - Filmy Focus | url=https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/srividya | access-date=2025-03-09 | website=filmyfocus.com}}</ref>
== Acting career == Srividya started her career as a child artist in the 1967 Tamil film ''Thiruvarutchelvar'' alongside legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan.<ref name = "The Hindu" /> Later she entered Malayalam films with a dance scene in ''Kumara Sambhavam'' (1969), directed by P. Subramaniam and in Telugu film ''Thatha-Manavadu'' (1972) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. However, her first major role was that of a college student falling in love with her professor in the 1971 Tamil film ''Nootrukku Nooru'', directed by K. Balachander. Her first film as heroine was ''Delhi to Madras'' (1972) in which she was paired opposite Jaishankar. In the mid-1970s, she became busy in the Tamil film industry. She acted in films such as ''Velli Vizha'', ''Sollathaan Ninaikkiren'' and ''Apoorva Raagangal'', all directed by K. Balachander. She was Rajinikanth's first heroine in ''Apoorva Raagangal'' (1975).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/tatamanavadu1973.php |title=Articles : Movie Retrospect : Tata Manavadu (1973) |website=Telugucinema.com |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717132602/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/tatamanavadu1973.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
She started acting in Malayalam in 1969. Her first movie was ''Chattambikkavala'' directed by N. Sankaran Nair, in which she acted as the heroine opposite to Sathyan. She gained public attention in ''Chenda'' (1973), directed by A. Vincent. Among the south Indian language movies she acted in, the maximum number of movies was in Malayalam (1969 to 2003).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/remembering-srividya-6-times-veteran-actor-stunned-us-85321 | title=Remembering Srividya: 6 times the veteran actor stunned us | date=24 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/columns/let-s-talk-movies/srividya-actor-death-anniversary-idavazhiyile-poocha-minda-poocha-movies-1.9000231 | title=Revisiting Rohini on Srividya's death anniversary | date=19 October 2023 }}</ref>
She portrayed ''Chottanikkara Devi'' in the Movies ''Chottanikkara Amma''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=641|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Chottaanikkara-Amma-1976/9465403379|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=.nthwall.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140925130232/http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Chottaanikkara-Amma-1976/9465403379|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/title/chottanikkara-amma-malayalam-movie/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070800/http://spicyonion.com/title/chottanikkara-amma-malayalam-movie/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=spicyonion.com}}</ref> and ''Amme Narayana''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=1576|title=Amme Naaraayana|accessdate=2014-10-20|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?6054 |title=Amme Naaraayana |accessdate=2014-10-20 |publisher=malayalasangeetham.info |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021001239/http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?6054 |archivedate=21 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/title/amme-narayana-malayalam-movie/|title=Amme Narayana|accessdate=2014-10-20|publisher=spicyonion.com|archive-date=19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019072926/http://spicyonion.com/title/amme-narayana-malayalam-movie/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Her role as Amba mythological character from the mythological story (adapted film) from the Mahabharata, ''Amba Ambika Ambalika'' (1976), has been appreciated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abcmalayalam.net/1976/3783/amba-ambika-ambalika |title=domain.title |website=abcmalayalam.net |language=en |access-date=23 November 2018 |archive-date=11 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611062449/http://abcmalayalam.net/1976/3783/amba-ambika-ambalika |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Playback singing == Srividya was a playback singer as well. She first sang for films in the Tamil film ''Amaran'' and then for Malayalam film ''Ayalathe Sundari'', along with Kishore Kumar.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/music/songs-of-the-day/kishore-kurmar-s-malayalam-song.html | title=കിഷോർ കുമാർ പാടിയ മലയാള ഗാനം }}</ref> She later sang in several films, such as ''Oru Painkilikkadha'', Njangalude Kochu Doctor, Rathilayam and ''Nakshathratharattu''.
She was an expert classical vocalist as well. She used to sing in functions such as the ''Soorya Festival''. She was mainly trained by her mother, who was one among the female trinity in Carnatic music, along with M. S. Subbulakshmi and D. K. Pattammal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/srividya-and-mlv-do-gains-and-losses-together-form-a-pattern-news-303738 | title=Srividya & MLV: Do Gains and Losses Together Form a Pattern? | date=31 October 2017 }}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Srividya has acted in many films including Annai Velankanni, Unarchigal and Apoorva Raagangal with Kamal Haasan. Srividya and Kamal Haasan fell in love and Kamal Haasan proposed to her. Srividya's mother stopped them from getting married. A few years later Kamal began courting Vani Ganapathy and they got married which was a great disappointment for Srividya.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=9-txguvyI3k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/9-txguvyI3k |archive-date=17 November 2021 |url-status=live |title=ஸ்ரீவித்யாவின் வாழ்க்கையை புரட்டிப் போட்ட அவரது காதல், Episode - 83 |date=6 June 2019 |publisher=Touring Talkies |access-date=10 June 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=DYl_KF19-E4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/DYl_KF19-E4 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |url-status=live |title=பலத்த எதிர்ப்புக்கு மத்தியில் திருமணம் செய்துகொண்ட ஸ்ரீவித்யா, Episode - 85 |date=10 June 2019 |publisher=Touring Talkies |access-date=10 June 2020 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During this period she fell in love with film director Bharathan who made many films with her as the female lead. But they couldn't continue the relationship and eventually Bharathan married K.P.A.C. Lalitha.
Later she fell in love with George Thomas, an assistant director in her Malayalam film ''Teekkanal''. She married him on 19 January 1978 despite opposition from her family.<ref name="biodata">{{Cite web |title=Mathrubhumi - Books--മനസ്സ് തുറന്ന് ശ്രീവിദ്യ പറഞ്ഞ കാര്യങ്ങള് |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/article/interview/2065 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129051412/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/article/interview/2065/ |archive-date=29 January 2015 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.mathrubhumi.com |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref> As George wished, she was baptised before the marriage. She wanted to stay as a housewife, but had to return to acting, when George forced her to, citing financial issues. She soon realised that she made a wrong decision in marrying him. Her life became miserable and the marriage ended in divorce in 1980. After her divorce she continued acting in movies (mainly Malayalam). She had to fight and seek legal action against George Thomas as he had snatched all her properties, even her awards, from her.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/oct/20srividya.htm |title=Srividya loved life, and loved to live |author=Shobha Warrier |date=20 October 2006 |publisher=Rediff |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> Hence, the divorce with George Thomas was followed by a prolonged legal battle to settle financial issues between the two. The case went up to the Supreme Court of India, where she won in the final verdict.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/malayalam/srividya-kamal-haasan-love-story-2393146 | title=Kamal Haasan and Srividya's tragic love story: Romance shrouded with heartbreak and betrayal | date=2 January 2024 }}</ref> After the case was closed, she left Chennai and settled in Thiruvananthapuram, where she lived for the rest of her life.<ref name="biodata" />
== Death == In 2003, she underwent a biopsy test following physical problems and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She underwent treatment for three years. Two months before her death on 17 August 2006, Srividya had executed a will and entrusted K. B. Ganesh Kumar, cine actor and MLA, to register a charitable society to ‘start a music and dance school for efficient students who could not get ample opportunities due to lack of money or to give away scholarship to such students to continue their studies and to extend financial assistance to deserving ailing artistes.’
"I am bequeathing all my properties except some payments mentioned elsewhere in this will. An appropriate body with eminent persons, registered under Charitable Societies Act should be formed and the realised value of all my assets should be transferred as a nucleus fund," she said in the will entrusting Ganesh Kumar to register the society.
She had also left five lakh rupees each to her brother's children and one lakh rupees each to her servants in the will, executed on 17 August 2006. In October 2006, she underwent chemotherapy, but cancer had already spread throughout her body, and she died at 19:45 on 19 October 2006, aged 53.<ref name = "The Hindu" >{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/veteran-actor-srividya-passes-away/article18501313.ece |title=Veteran actor Srividya passes away |date=20 October 2006 |work=The Hindu |access-date=23 November 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She was cremated with full state honours at the Brahmana Samooham crematorium in Karamana.[https://www.mnrscottsdale.com/ 6]
== Awards == ;Kerala State Film Awards * 1979 – Best Actress – ''Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha'', ''Jeevitham Oru Gaanam'' * 1983 – Best Actress – ''Rachana'' * 1985 - Second Best Actress - ''Irakal'' * 1986 – Second Best Actress – ''Ennennum Kannettante'' * 1992 – Best Actress – ''Daivathinte vikrithikal''
;Kerala State Television Awards * 2004 – Best Actress : Avicharithum
; Tamil Nadu State Film Awards * 1977 – Special Prize – ''Madhurageetham'' * 1992 – MGR Award
;Film Fans Association Awards - Tamil *1991 - Best character actress - Thalapathi
; Kerala Film Critics Association Awards * 1979 – Best Actress – ''Idavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha''<ref>[https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/film-critics-awards-complete-list-from.html "കേരള ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്സ് അവാര്ഡ് 1977 - 2012"]. Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 25 January 2023.</ref> * 2005 – Chalachitra Prathibha Award<ref>[https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/chalachitra-prathibha-awards.html "CHALACHITRA PRATHIBHA AWARDS ചലച്ചിത്ര പ്രതിഭാ അവാര്ഡ് ഇതുവരെ"]. Kerala Film Critics Association. Retrieved 25 January 2023.</ref>
;Filmfare Awards South * 1975: Special Award – South<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vmLVAAAAMAAJ&q=srividya |title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who |year=1978 |last1=Reed |first1=Sir Stanley}}</ref> – ''Apoorva Raagangal'' (Tamil) * 1979: Best Actress – Malayalam – ''Edavazhiyile Poocha Mindapoocha'' * 1980: Best Actress – Malayalam – ''Puzha''
; Cinema Express Awards * 1991 – Best Character Actress – Thalapathi (Tamil)
; Government Honours * 1977 – Kalaimamani – from the government of Tamil Nadu for the contribution to the Tamil cinema
==Filmography== {{Main|Srividya filmography}}
== TV serials == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Channel ! Language !Notes |- |||''Engae Aval'' |||| rowspan="2" |Tamil|| |- |||''Lakshmi Vanthachi'' |||| rowspan="2" | Television film |- |||''Ammayude Makan''||||Malayalam |- | rowspan="2" |1991||''Penn'' ||DD|| rowspan="3" |Tamil|| 1st episode |- |''Oorarinda Rahasiyam'' |||| |- |||''Galatta Kudumbam'' |||| |- |1996||''Mohana Darsanam''||DD ||Malayalam|| |- |1998||''Uravugal''||Vijay TV ||Tamil|| |- |1999|||''Ariyathe'' |Sheela|| rowspan="14"|Malayalam||Television film |- | rowspan="2" |2001||''Venalmazha'' ||Surya TV|| |- |''Durga''|||| |- |2002–2003||''Snehadooram''|| rowspan="3" |Asianet (TV channel)|| |- |Rowspan=2|2003–2004|| ''Vasundhara Medicals'' || |- |''Swapnam''|| |-
|2004–2005||''Avicharitham'' ||Asianet|| |- |2004|| ''Sthreehrudayam'' ||Surya TV|| |- |2005||''Omanathinkal Pakshi'' || rowspan="2" |Asianet|| |- | rowspan="2" |2006|| ''Ammathamburatti''|| |- | ''Dial 100 Police Story''|||| rowspan="5" |Archive footage |- | rowspan="2" |2021||''Priyankari''||Flowers TV |- |''Kanyadanam''|| rowspan="2" |Surya TV |- |2023||''Ninnishtam Ennishtam '' |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|0820286}} * {{Bollywood Hungama person|srividya}} <!--{{Chalachitra Prathibha Award recipients}}--> {{FilmfareMalayalamBestActress}} {{KeralaStateAwardForBestActress}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1953 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Tamil actresses Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Actresses from Chennai Category:Deaths from breast cancer in India Category:Kerala State Film Award winners Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam television Category:Actresses in Tamil television Category:Indian television actresses Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:Kerala State Television Award winners