Sharada

Sharada Biography

Sharada is considered as the most versatile actress of Malayalam film industry who has won National awards thrice – A unique record among the south Indian actresses till now. Though she was born in Andhra Pradesh, she has been accepted as a traditional Malayali girl, through the roles she played along with the leading actors of Mollywood – Sathyan, Prem Nasir and Madhu. She was the most celebrated female artist of Malayalam film industry during 1960’s and 1970’s and has ruled as the queen, though she had to place tough competitions from actress Sheela.

Sharada was born in Gundur of Andhra Pradesh to an agricultural family. She was send to Chennai in her childhood days to live with her grandmother. Sharada’s mother was of supportive nature who loved to see her child performing dance and art forms while her grandmother, of conservative type. Very soon she entered drama and Telugu movies. Kanyasukham was her debut movie. Her role in Telugu drama Raktha kaneeru was well noted. She did a string of movies in Telugu, but majority of them failed at box office.

She debut Tamil movies with Kumkumam in 1963 and Kannada movies with Valmiki in the next year. In 1965, she debut in Malayalam movie ‘Inapravukal’ (Love doves) which proved to be the turning point of her acting career. She acted along with leading actors of Malayalam screen – Satyam and Prem nazir. Her role as Kuncheria’s daughter Rahel was well noted and she decided to stay in Malayalam industry. Malayalam industry gave her that stardom only a few lucky persons are designated for. It is not easy to point out the best roles she has done in Malayalam movies. From one movie to another, she improved and Malayalam film history witnessed the finest performance of Sharada as heroine.

Sharada is the second winner of National awards after Nargis Dutt in 1967. She won for her most memorable performance till now, Thulabharam. She beautifully portraits the miseries and hard times of a poor widow, whose husband is killed by his enemies. The way by which she survives after killing her 3 kids giving poison, due to poverty is really heart breaking. Till now, this role is considered to be the finest performance of an actress onscreen. Sharada won it for the second time for Swayamvaram and third time for a Telugu movie – Nimajjanam. She is the second actress who has able to win it three times or more, the other actress being Shabana Azmi.

For her Bollywood movie, Samaj ko badle do, she has won BFJA award. Her other memorable movies include Thriveni, Iruttinte aathmavu, Manaswini, Karthika, Midu midukki, Jwala, Vilakku vaangiya veena, Brahmachari, Elipathayam, Bhadra deepam, Thara, Kaatu thulasi, Pareeksha,  Murapennu, Mooladhanam, Shakunthala, Koottukudumbam, Nadhi, Aaradhana, Astamayam and Aabhijathyam.    

Published: N/A

Updated: March 28, 2018