Shobana
Shobana in 2021
Born
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai

(1970-03-21) 21 March 1970
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • choreographer
Years active1980–present
Children1
FamilyTravancore family
AwardsPadma Shri (2006)
Kalaimamani (2011)
Websiteactressshobana.com

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (born 21 March 1970[1][2]) is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. She acts predominantly in Malayalam films along with Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and English films. She has won two National Film Awards, one Kerala State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South, with 14 Nominations for Best Actress Category in three different south Indian languages, Tamil Nadu State's Kalaimamani Award in 2011 and numerous other awards.[3][4] In a career spanning nearly 35–40 years from now, Shobana has starred in approximately 163 films across several regional languages- 90 in Malayalam, 44 in Telugu, 21 in Tamil, 2 in Kannada & 3 in both Hindi as well as English languages.

She won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice, for her performances in the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993) and the English film Mitr, My Friend (2001). Subsequent to the year 1999, Shobana turned extremely selective about her films.[5][6][7][8][9]

Shobana was trained under the Bharatanatyam dancers Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam. She emerged as an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties and currently runs a dance school, Kalarpana, in Chennai.[5] In 2006, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri for her contributions towards the arts.[10][11]

In 2014, the Kerala State Government honoured her with the Kala Ratna Award. In 2019, she was bestowed an honorary doctorate from Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute.[12] In 2022, she was bestowed a Doctor of Letters degree from Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit.[13]

Personal life

She is the niece of the Travancore sistersLalitha, Padmini and Ragini, all of whom were Indian classical dancers and actresses.[14]

Shobhana is single. In 2011, she became a single-parent mother to a girl child named Anantha Narayani Chandrakumar through adoption.[15][16][17][18]

Career

Film career

Shobana made her debut as a child artists. She had a major role in the Tamil movie Mangala Nayagi in 1980 directed by Krishnan–Panju, starring Srikanth and K. R. Vijaya, which was the remake of the Hindi film Saajan Bina Suhagan, for which she won the Best Child Artiste Award.[19]

She also starred in the Telugu film Bhakta Dhruva Markendaya in 1982, an acclaimed all children film made in both Tamil and Telugu.[20][21] As an adult, she was introduced to the film industry through the Malayalam film April 18, by director Balachandra Menon. Her realistic portrayal of a simple girl-next-door appealed to audiences and she went on to work in numerous films. In the same year, she entered the Tamil film industry and acted in Enakkul Oruvan, directed by SP Muthuraman.[6] Enakkul Oruvan didn't perform well at the box office and Shobana's commercial landing was stalled as she went back into Malayalam films. She did come back to act in occasional Tamil films opposite Satyaraj (Mallu Vetti Minor, Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai), Bhagyaraj (Ithu Namma Aalu) and Vijayakanth (Ponmana Selvan, En Kitta Mothathey) in the early 90s – these roles were generally glamorous in which Shobana generally acted as the beautiful, posh and haughty city girl who is eventually charmed by the village boy.[22]

Her other major films include Rudraveena (1988), Meleparambil Aanveedu, Kanamarayathu, Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove, Yathra(1985), Anantaram, Nadodikkattu (1987), Vellanakalude Nadu (1988), Idhu Namma Aalu (1988), Siva (1989), Innale (1990), Kalikkalam (1990), Thalapathi (1991), Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Thenmavin Kombath (1994), Minnaram (1994), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Hitler (1996), Agni Sakshi (1999), Dance like a Man (2003), Makalkku (2005), Thira (2013) and Varane Avashyamund (2020). From Aviduthe Pole Ivideyum to Upaharam, Shobana did sixteen movies in a single year, 1985.[23] Shobana also acted in the Tamil period film Kochadaiiyaan.[4]

Shobana won her first National Film Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in AM Fazil's Manichitrathazhu. Her portrayal of Ganga Nakulan and alter-ego Nagavalli in the film was described by critics as "spell binding".[24] She received her second National Film Award for Best Actress in 2001 for her role in the Indian English language film Mitr, My Friend, directed by Revathi. Consequent to the 1993 National Award, Shobana turned extremely selective about her films.[25]

Classical dance career

Shobana is a Bharata Natyam dancer.[26] She did her dance training at the Chidambaram academy in Chennai, Tamil Nadu under Chitra Visweswaran. Shobana danced Abhinaya, a pivotal element in Bharata Natyam. She was one among the judges in Jodi No. 1, a reality show for dance aired on Vijay TV.

She started her own dance school, "Kalipinya" in 1989 and got it registered in 1992.[3]

She has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram and Mandolin Srinivas. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, in Kuala Lumpur before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia.[27] Shobana started performing in the Soorya Music & Dance festival organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy from the year 1994.[28]

In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical dance Bharata Natyam in Chennai named Kalarpana.[29]

Filmography

Malayalam

Year Title Role Notes
1984April 18SobhanaDebut in lead role
KanamarayathuSherly
Ithiri Poove Chuvanna PooveSubhadra
AlakadalinakkareDaisy
1985Avidathepole IvideyumSujatha
Vasantha SenaMerlin
Thozhil Allengil JailJalaja
Akkacheyude KunjuvavaMridula
Meenamasathile SooryanRevathi
Azhiyatha BandhangalGeetha
Eeran SandhyaPrabha
Thammil ThammilKavitha
AnubandhamVijayalakshmi
Ee Thanalil Ithiri NerumSoudamini
Ee Shabdam Innathe ShabdamSharada
AyanamAlice
YathraThulasi
RangamChandrika
Oru Naal InnorunaalRajani
UpaharamMaggie Fernandez
1986Udayam PadinjaruRenu
T. P. Balagopalan M.A.Anitha
KunjattakilikalUsha
Iniyum KurukshethramLekha
Aayiram KannukalAnu
Ente Entethu MathremAmbili
Abhayam ThediMeera/Miranda
Kshamichu Ennoru VakkuIndu
Aalorungi ArangorungiGeetha
NyayavidhiGeetha
Ee KaikalilViji Balakrishnan
PadayaniRadha
ChilambuAmbika
RareeramMeera
1987VruthamNancy
NadodikattuRadha
Ithrayum KaalamSavithri
Kalam Mari Katha MariUmmu Kolzu
AnantaramSuma, Nalini
NaalkavalaSainabha
1988VicharanaAnitha
Vellanakalude NaduRadha
JanmandharamSridevi
AryanAswathy
AparanAmbili
DhwaniDevi
Oru Vivaada VishayamShobha
Alila KuruvikalBhavana
MukthiRadhika
1989CharithramCicily
1990InnaleMaya/Gowri
Iyer the GreatAmala
SasnehamSaraswathi
KalikkalamAnnie
1991VasthuharaYoung Bhavani
UlladakkamAnnie
AdayalamMalini
KankettuSujatha
1992Oru Kochu BhoomikulukkamIndu
Naaga PanchamiPanchami
Pappayude Swantham AppoosBhama
1993Maya MayuramBhadra
Meleparambil AanveeduPavizham
Golanthara VarthaLekha
ManichitrathazhuGanga/Nagavalli
1994PavithramMeera
CommissionerIndu Kurup
Thenmavin KombathuKarthumbi
PaksheNandini Menon
MinnaramNeena
VishnuSusanna Mathews
Manathe VellitheruMerlin
1995Sindoora RekhaArundhathi
Mazhayethum MunpeUma Maheshwari
Minnaminuginum MinnukettuRadhika
1996KumkumacheppuIndu
Aramana Veedum AnjoorekkarumAlli
RajaputhranVeni
HitlerGowri
1997SupermanNithya
Kalyana KacheriGopika
KaliyoonjalGowri
1999Agni SakshiDevaki Manampalli
2000SradhaSuma
ValliettanDevi
2004MambazhakkalamIndira
2005MakalkkuKilleri
2009Sagar alias Jacky ReloadedIndu
2013ThiraDr. Rohini Pranab
2020Varane AvashyamundNeena

Telugu

Year Title Role Notes
1982Bhakta Dhruva MarkandeyaSunithi DeviChildren's film
1984 Marchandi Mana ChattaluUma
1985Marana SasanamLalitha
1986Srimathi KanukaPadma
VijrumbhanaShobha
VikramRadha
Dagudu MoothaluRadha
AsthramPadmini
1987 Muddula ManavuduHemalatha
ManavadostunnaaduRoopa
AjeyuduRekha
Muvva GopaladuKrishna veni
TrimurtuluLatha
1988RudraveenaLalita Shiva Jyoti
AbhinandanaRani
Praja PratinidhiBharathi
1990Paapa KosamSwapna
Nari Nari Naduma MurariShobha
KokilaKokila
Shourya chakraBharathi
Neti SiddharthaJyoti
AlludugaruKalyani
1991April 1st VidudhalaBhuvaneshwari
Appula Appa RaoSubba Laxmi
Rowdy Gaari PellamJanaki
Minor RajaSanthana Lakshmi
Manchi RojuPadma
Rowdy AlluduSita
Alludu Diddina KapuramSita
Keechu RaalluMonica
1992AhankariShobana
AsadhyuluJyoti
ChampionSandhya
Hello DarlingBharathi
SivaratriGayatrhi
GangwarPavithra
1993Rowdy Gaari TeacherMalli
Naga JyotiNaga rani
Kannayya KittayyaSaroja
Nippu RavvaGuest appearance in a song
Rendilla PoojariRadha
RakshanaPadma
1997Surya PutruluRagini
2006GameUma

Tamil

Year Title Role Notes
1980Mangala NayagiHerselfChild artist
Manmatha RagangalHerselfChild artist
1984Enakkul OruvanKalpana
1985MarudhaniMarudhani
1988Oray Thaai Oray KulamEaswari
Kadhal GeethamRani
Idhu Namma AaluBanu
1989Sattathin Thirappu VizhaaRadha
Paattukku Oru ThalaivanShanthi
SivaParvathy
Ponmana SelvanParvathy
Vaathiyaar Veettu PillaiGeeta
1990Enkitta MothatheMallika
Mallu Vetti MinorSanthana Lakshmi
Sathya VaakkuMeena
1991MahamayiMahamayi
ThalapathiSubhalakshmi
1993SivarathiriGayathri
1996ThuraimugamRukkumani
2012Podaa PodiVeena
2014KochadaiiyaanYaaghavi

Kannada

Year Title Role Notes
1985Giri BaaleNeelaveni
1990ShivashankarGirija

Hindi

Year Title Role Notes
1998Swami VivekanandaDancer
2007Apna AsmaanPadmini Kumar
2008Mere Baap Pehle AapAnuradha Joshi (Annu)

English

Year Title Role Notes
2002Mitr, My FriendLakshmiActress Revathy's directional debut
2003Dance Like a ManRatna Parekh
2008A Little DreamSundar's motherDocumentary film about the journey of former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Awards and recognitions

Titles and honours

Year Honour Honouring body Ref(s)
2000 Grade A Top Doordarshan [30]
2006 Padma Shri Government of India [31][32]
2011 Kalaimamani Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram, Government of Tamil Nadu [33]
2012 Arch of Excellence All India Achievers Conference [34]
2013 Kalarathna Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy [35]
2019 Honorary doctorate (D.Litt) Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute [12]

Other awards

Year Awards and nominations Category Film Result
1984Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - MalayalamKanamarayathuNominated
1985YathraNominated
1986ChilambuNominated
1988Best Actress - TeluguRudraveenaNominated
Best Actress - TamilIdhu Namma AaluNominated
1990Best Actress - MalayalamInnaleWon
Best Actress - TeluguAlludugaruNominated
1991Rowdy Gaari PellamNominated
1993National Film AwardsBest ActressManichitrathazhuWon
Kerala State Film AwardsBest ActressWon
Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - MalayalamManichitrathazhuNominated
1994Thenmavin KombathWon
1996KumkumacheppuNominated
1999AgnisakshiNominated
2002National Film AwardsBest ActressMitr, My FriendWon
2005Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - MalayalamMakalkkuNominated
2013Vanitha Film AwardsBest ActressThiraWon[36]
Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - MalayalamNominated
202110th South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actress - MalayalamVarane AvashyamundWon
2021-2022 Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - MalayalamVarane Avashyamund Nominated[37]

Television

Year Title Channel Language Notes
1991PennDD PodhigaiTamilSerial
1999UravugalVijay TVTamilSerial
2010Jodi Number one season 5Vijay TVTamilReality show as Judge
2010Super JodiSurya TVMalayalamReality show as Judge
2015D 3 (Grand finale)Mazhavil ManoramaMalayalamReality show as Judge
2017MidukkiMazhavil ManoramaMalayalamReality show as Judge
2021Margazhi ThingalYouTubeTamilMusic Video[38]
2021Madhuram ShobhanamZee KeralamMalayalam
2023MayamayuramZee KeralamMalayalamLaunch promo
SubhadramZee KeralamMalayalam
SeethayanamZee KeralamMalayalam

References

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  2. "Happy Birthday Shobana: Five movies of the actress from 'Manichithrathazhu' to 'Makalkku' that you should watch right away". The Times of India. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 "I am an introvert, says Shobana". The Hindu. 29 December 2005.
  4. 1 2 "In pics: Shobana dedicates her dance to 'Krishna'". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Metro Plus Bangalore / Personality : Thinking actress". The Hindu. 6 April 2005. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 Francis, Sneha May (31 December 2008). "Shobana's mystical twist to an epic". Gulf News. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. Prakash, Asha (28 April 2018). "Shobana: I don't feel bad if I don't act in a film, as long as people are making great films". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  8. Jayaram, Deepika (5 November 2018). "Shobana extends her support for #MeToo movement". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. Mahadevan, Sangeeta. "SHOBANA - IN FINE FORM". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 3 February 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  10. "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  11. "Welcome to Sify.com". sify.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Honorary doctorate conferred on CM". The Hindu. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  13. Ragin, S (1 January 2022). "Governor approved varsity syndicate's recommendation to grant D Litt to three people". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  14. "About". Archived from the original on 8 September 2011.
  15. "Women's Day 2016: Popular celebrities who broke all stereotypes and adopted children". Zee News. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  16. "Shobhana adopts a baby girl". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  17. Mahesh, Chitra (1 May 2014). "Life on her own terms". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  18. Davis, Maggie (16 June 2017). "Is actress Shobana really getting married or is this just a rumour?". India News. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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  34. "AIAC Excellence Awards presented". The Hindu. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  35. "Fellowship List - Dance". Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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