{{Short description|Indian television anchor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{family name hatnote|Kanakala|lang=Telugu}} {{Infobox person | name = Suma Kanakala | image = Suma Kanakala.jpg | caption = Suma in 2015 | birth_name = Pallassana Paachuveettil Suma Menon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|3|22|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]], India | television = ''[[Star Mahila]]'' | spouse = {{marriage|[[Rajeev Kanakala]]|1999}} | children = 2 | years_active = 1991{{ndash}}present | occupation = {{hlist|[[Television presenter]]|[[Television producer|Producer]]|[[Actress]]}} }}
'''Suma Kanakala''' ([[Maiden and married names|née]] '''Pallassana Paachuveettil'''; born on 22 March 1975) is an Indian television presenter, actress, and producer who predominantly works in Telugu television and cinema. She is widely recognized for hosting ''[[Star Mahila]]'', a game show on [[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] that holds the distinction of being India's longest-running TV game show, with a successful run of exactly 12 years.
==Early life== Suma was born on 22 March 1975 in [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]], into a [[Malayalis|Malayali]] [[Nair]] family.<ref name="dob">{{Cite web |last=Kala |first=Surya |date=22 March 2021 |title=Suma Kanakala Birthday: కేరళలో పుట్టి.. తెలుగింటి ఆడపడుచుగా ఆదరణ సొంతం చేసుకున్న క్వీన్ ఆఫ్ యాంకర్స్ |url=https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/television/happy-birthday-anchor-suma-kanakala-441551.html |access-date=1 June 2021 |website=[[TV9 Telugu]] |language=te}}</ref> She is the only child of Pranavi Narayanan Kutty Nair and Pallassana Paachuveettil Vimala, born ten years after her parents' marriage. When she was six months old, the family moved to [[Secunderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] (now in [[Telangana]]), due to her father's employment with the [[Indian Railways]].
Suma spent her formative years in the [[Lallaguda|Lalaguda]] and [[Mettuguda]] areas of Secunderabad. She completed her education at [[St. Ann's High School, Secunderabad|St. Ann's High School]] in [[Lallaguda|Lalaguda]] and [[Mettuguda]] and pursued her undergraduate studies at Railway Degree College in Lalaguda.
==Career== A presenter aged 16, she has hosted many Telugu film audio launches, film awards and functions. She is a [[Malayali]] from [[Kerala]], but speaks [[Telugu language|Telugu]] fluently. She has acted in various serial and telefilms since 1995, her breakthrough came with the boom in satellite channels. ''Swayamvaram'', ''[[Anveshitha]]'', ''Geethanjali'', and ''Ravoyi Chandamama'' were her major dramas. She didn't have any interest in working in films.
Suma's flagship show is ''[[Star Mahila]]'' on [[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]], which attracted many female audiences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metromasti.com/tv/news/Star-Mahila-on-ETV-A-show-for-women/11047 |title=super star on ETV – A show for women |publisher=Metromasti.com |date=17 August 2011 |accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> She created a record by this show becoming one of the longest running women game show in India. Suma started her own production house named K. Suma Rajeev Creations on 26 December 2012 and has produced a show named ''Lakku Kikku'' which was telecasted on [[Zee Telugu]]. She also worked in a show named ''Genes'' on [[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]]. Her ''Kevvu Keka'' on [[MAA TV]] with co-star Mano and produced by K. Suma Rajeev Creations. Suma also sang "Suya Suya" song from the 2017 Telugu film ''[[Winner (2017 film)|Winner]]''. She is well known for her spontaneous and humorous remarks during her shows.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
== Personal life == She married [[Telugu cinema|Tollywood]] actor, [[Rajeev Kanakala]] on 10 February 1999 in Hyderabad. They have two children, [[Roshan Kanakala|Roshan Karthik Kanakala]] and Manaswini Kanakala.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 December 2008 |title=Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A date with TV stars |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/11/stories/2008121158130200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219134624/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/11/stories/2008121158130200.htm |archive-date=19 December 2008 |accessdate=24 August 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajiv Kanakala Reveals His Love Marriage Story With Suma- .. |url=https://m.ap7am.com/lv-312084-rajiv-kanakala-reveals-his-love-marriage-story-with-suma-interview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910060535/https://m.ap7am.com/lv-312084-rajiv-kanakala-reveals-his-love-marriage-story-with-suma-interview |archive-date=10 September 2021 |access-date=15 May 2020 |website=m.ap7am.com |language=en}}</ref> In addition to her mother tongue of [[Malayalam]], she is fluent in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Hindi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[English language|English]].<ref name="dob" />
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Language !Notes |- |1996 |''Kalyana Praapthirasthu'' | |[[Telugu language|Telugu]] |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murthy |first1=Neeraja |date=3 May 2022 |title=Suma Kanakala on her new film 'Jayamma Panchayati' |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/suma-kanakala-on-playing-jayamma-in-jayamma-panchayati/article65375056.ece}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |1997 |''[[Newspaper Boy (1997 film)|Newspaper Boy]]'' |Sita | rowspan="3" |[[Malayalam]] | |- |''Ishtadanam'' |Anitha Varma | |- | rowspan="2" |1998 |''[[Oro Viliyum Kathorthu]]'' |Subhadra | |- |''[[Pavitra Prema]]'' |Swapna | rowspan="14" |Telugu | |- |2000 |''[[Chala Bagundi]]'' |Vijayalakshmi | |- |rowspan="2"|2001 |''[[Pandanti Samsaram]]'' | | |- |''[[Kalisi Naduddam]]'' |Vijaya's friend | |- | rowspan="2"|2002 || ''[[Raghava (film)|Raghava]]'' || || |- |''Joruga Husharuga'' || Kanchana's sister || |- | rowspan="2" |2004 |''[[Varsham (2004 film)|Varsham]]'' |Venkat's sister | |- |''[[Swarabhishekam]]'' |News reporter | |- |2005 |''[[Premikulu]]'' |Herself | |- |2007 |[[Dhee (film)|''Dhee'']] |Shankar Goud's henchman's wife | |- |2013 |''[[Baadshah (2013 film)|Baadshah]]'' |Herself | |- |2019 |''[[Oh! Baby (2019 film)|Oh! Baby]]'' |TV Anchor (only on television) | |- |2022 |''[[Jayamma Panchayathi]]'' |Jayamma | |- |2025 |''[[Premante]]'' |Asha Mary | |}
====Playback singer==== *''[[Winner (2017 film)|Winner]]'' (2017) - "Suyaa Suyaa"
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Network !Language !Notes |- |1994–1995 |[[Amaravati ki Kathayein|''Amaravathi ki Kathayein'']] | |[[DD National]] |[[Hindi]] | |- |1997–1999 |''[[Anveshitha]]'' |Clara |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] | rowspan="35" |[[Telugu language|Telugu]] | |- | |''Matti Manishi'' | | | |- | |''Veyi Padagalu'' | | | |- | |''Swayamvaram'' | | | |- | |''Geetanjali'' | | | |- |2007–2021 |''[[Star Mahila]]'' | |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] |Two seasons |- | |''Avakkayyara'' | rowspan="14" |Host | rowspan="2" |[[MAA TV]] |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahalakshmi |first=Harika |date=20 March 2019 |title=Suma Kanakala : Here Are The TV Shows That Made 'Suma Kanakala' The Undisputed Queen Of Small Screen - Wirally |url=https://wirally.com/suma-kanakala/ |access-date=29 December 2020 |website=wirally.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | |''Lady Boss'' | |- | |''Pattukunte Pattu Cheera'' |[[Teja TV]] | |- | |''Panchavataram'' |[[TV9 Telugu|TV9]] | |- | |''Bhale Chance Le'' |[[MAA TV]] | |- | |''Lakku Kikku'' |[[Zee Telugu]] |Also producer |- | |[[Gemini TV|Gemini Puraskaaralu]] |[[Gemini TV]] |Television special |- | |''Kevvu Keka'' | rowspan="2" |[[MAA TV]] | |- |2012–2013 |[[CineMAA Awards]] |Television special |- | |''Swarabhishekam'' | rowspan="2" |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] | |- | |''Soundarya Lahari'' | |- | |''Pelli Choopulu'' |[[Star Maa]] | |- | |''Genes'' |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] |Two seasons |- | |''E Junction'' |[[E TV Plus|ETV Plus]] | |- |2017 |''[[Bigg Boss (Telugu season 1)|Bigg Boss 1]]'' |Inspection officer | rowspan="7" |[[Star Maa]] | |- | |''[[Connexion (game show)|Connexion]]'' | rowspan="4" |Host | |- | |''Sell Me The Answer'' | |- | |''Wife Chethilo Life'' | |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |''Pelli Choopulu'' | {{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |- |[[Sixth Sense (game show)|''Sixth Sense'']] |Contestant | |- |2019 |''F3 – Fun, Family & Frustration'' | rowspan="4" |Host | |- |2018 |Apsara Awards | rowspan="2" |[[Zee Telugu]] |Television special |- | |''Big Celebrity Challenge'' |Season 3 |- |2019 |[[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|8th SIIMA 2019]] |[[Gemini TV]] |Television special |- |2020–2021 |''[[House of Hungama]]'' |Designer Devi |[[Star Maa]] | |- |2019–2022 |''Cash'' | rowspan="4" |Host |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] |Two seasons |- |2020 |''All Is Well'' | | |- |2021 |''Start Music'' |[[Aha (streaming service)|Aha]] |Season 3 |- |2023–present |''[[Suma Adda]]'' |[[ETV (Telugu)|ETV]] | |}
==Awards== * [[Nandi Awards|Nandi Award for Best TV Anchor 2010]]{{snd}}''Panchavataram''{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} * Limca Fresh Face Award 2009<ref>{{cite web |author=Limca fresh face hunt |url=http://whatslatest.com/blog/?p=463 |title=Limca fresh face hunt |publisher=Whatslatest.com |date=20 August 2009 |accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> * Local TV Media Awards Best Anchor{{snd}}Star Mahila (2010){{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} * Cinegoer Award Best Anchor{{snd}}Star Mahila (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/apcinegoertvawards2011.html |title=AP Cine Goers 7th TV awards 2010 – Telugu cinema |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=21 August 2011 |accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> * Got placed in Limca Book of World Records for successful completion of ''[[Star Mahila]]''{{'}}s 2000 episodes.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} *[[Zee Telugu|Apsara Awards 2018]]: Entertainer of the year{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Sister project links |auto=yes}} *{{Facebook|SumaKanakala}} *{{IMDb name|11598075}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanakala, Suma}} [[Category:Indian women television presenters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]] [[Category:Indian film actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Kerala]] [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Telugu television anchors]] [[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]] [[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]] [[Category:Actresses in Telugu television]] [[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]] [[Category:Indian game show hosts]] [[Category:Indian soap opera actresses]] [[Category:Indian television talk show hosts]]