As a lifestyle expert reflecting on the extraordinary life of Srividya, I am left in awe and admiration for this multi-talented powerhouse who graced the silver screen with her presence for over four decades. Born into humble beginnings, Srividya’s journey from a struggling child artist to a pan-Indian actress is nothing short of inspiring. Her resilience in the face of adversity and her unwavering dedication to her craft are qualities that resonate deeply with me.
Warning: This article discusses the passing of an individual, and may be distressing or triggering for certain readers.
Known for her stardom in the Southern film industry, Srividya appeared in more than 800 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Beyond acting, she lent her voice as a playback singer, mimicked her mother’s style as a Carnatic singer, and was an accomplished Bharathanatyam dancer. This versatile actress was even linked romantically with Kamal Haasan, albeit unconfirmed stories. In essence, we are referring to the late Srividya.
Who is Srividya?
The pan-Indian actress Srividya was born on 24 July 1953 in Tamil Nadu. She was born to her father, famous comedian Krishnamurthy, and her mother, Carnatic classical singer M. L. Vasanthakumari. The late actress was raised in a typical Telugu family and has a brother named Sankararaman.
After Srividya was born, Srividya’s father had to stop acting due to a rare illness affecting his facial muscles. This diagnosis led to severe financial struggles within their family. In an old interview, it was noted that Srividya mentioned her mother often worked tirelessly to support the family, leaving little time for other activities such as breastfeeding.
At a tender age, the actress assumed her family’s duties and ventured into the entertainment industry. Moreover, she received a marriage proposal from an American scientist, yet Srividya chose to postpone matrimony at that time.
Srividya’s filmography
In 1967, Srividya embarked on her acting journey as a child artist. Her first role was in the Tamil movie Thiruvarutchelvar, where she acted alongside the acclaimed actor Sivaji Ganesan. Subsequently, she ventured into the Malayalam film industry with a dance sequence in Kumara Sambhavam (1969), which was directed by P. Subramaniam. Later on, Srividya made her Telugu film debut in Tata Manavadu, which was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao in 1972.
Even though she began acting at a very young age, it wasn’t until the 1971 Tamil movie “Nootrukku Nooru” that Srividya made her significant breakthrough. In this movie directed by K. Balachander, Srividya played the role of a college student who fell in love with her professor. Her first lead heroine role was in the film “Delhi to Madras,” where she starred opposite Jaishankar.
During the 1970s, Srividya gained prominence as a well-known actress in the Tamil cinema world. She starred in numerous successful films under the direction of K. Balachander, such as Velli Vizha, Sollathaan Ninaikkiren, and Apoorva Raagangal.
Notably, Srividya played the lead female role in Rajinikanth’s debut film, Apoorva Raagangal, making her his first heroine. Her career experienced a significant surge following the release of Chenda in 1973, which was directed by A. Vincent. Across South Indian language films, Srividya featured most frequently in Malayalam productions. Her portrayal of Amba, a character from the 1976 film Amba Ambika Ambalika, received widespread acclaim.
Srividya’s linkup with Kamal Haasan
According to various news outlets, it was while filming Apoorva Raagangal that she first met Kamal Haasan. Not long after, the two developed feelings for each other and began dating. Unfortunately, fate had different plans; Srividya and Kamal Haasan’s relationship ended when her mother disapproved. Later on, Kamal Haasan started dating Vani Ganapathy and eventually got married, which left Srividya feeling sad.
In 2006, Kamal Haasan and Srividya made news once more as Kamal paid a visit to Srividya while she was gravely ill in the hospital. Some sources claim that their romantic tale served as inspiration for the 2008 Malayalam film titled Thirakkatha.
Srividya’s personal life and marriage
In time, Srividya parted ways with Kamal Haasan and found herself falling in love with filmmaker Bharathan, who often cast her as the female lead in his films. However, even though she dared to love again, Srividya was once more left devastated when her relationship with Bharathan could not be sustained, eventually leading to his marriage with KPAC Lalitha.
Eventually, the actress who passed away, developed feelings for George Thomas – a fellow worker as an assistant director in the Malayalam movie ‘Teekkanal’ featuring Srividya. Against the objections of her family, they got married on 19th January, 1978.
1. Prior to their marriage, she underwent baptism at his request. In fact, he pressured her to resume her acting career following their union, attributing it to financial difficulties post-marriage. Srividya’s married life proved challenging and eventually culminated in a divorce in 1980. (Aiming for a more conversational tone)
1. Following George Thomas’s alleged theft of all her belongings, including her winnings, she found herself embroiled in a protracted legal struggle to take action against him. After their divorce from George Thomas, she was involved in an extended court case aimed at resolving their financial disagreements.
Srividya’s tragic death
2003 saw Srivisya receiving a biopsy examination following her complaints about bodily issues, which later confirmed her diagnosis with advanced breast cancer that had spread (metastatic). For the subsequent three years, she went through medical treatment to manage her condition.
During the treatment, she underwent chemotherapy, but till then, the deadly cancer had already spread throughout her body, and she breathed her last at the age of 53 in October 2006.
Approximately two months before she passed away, Srividya created a will and appointed K. B. Ganesh Kumar, a cine actor and MLA, to establish a charitable organization. The goal of this organization was to found a music and dance school for individuals who lacked sufficient opportunities due to financial hardship, or to grant scholarships to these students to further their education. Additionally, the will specified that deserving ailing artists should also be assisted. Furthermore, Srividya allocated five lakh rupees each for her brother’s children and one lakh rupees each for her household staff in the will.
Although Srividya may not be here in a physical sense, her memories will continue to live on within the hearts of her devoted fans and supporters.
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2024-08-27 18:23