Damayanthi (1927 – 20 November 2010), better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi, was an Indian Malayalam-language film and stage actress. In a career of about sixty years, she acted in more than 1,000 plays and about 480 films.

Biography Santha Devi was born in Kozhikode in 1927 to Thottathil Kannakkuruppu and Karthiyayani Amma.

She made her acting debut in the 1954 drama Smarakam and her cinema debut in Minnaminungu (1957), directed by Ramu Karyat. She acted in over 480 movies including Moodupadam, Kuttikkuppayam, Kunjalimaraykkar, Iruttinte Athmavu, Sthalathe pradhana payyans and Adwaitham. The 2009 Kerala Cafe, produced by director Ranjith, was her last movie.

Devi died on 20 November 2010 evening in a hospital in Kozhikode.

Family She had five brothers and four sisters. At the age of 18 she married her uncle's son, Balakrishnan, a railway guard. He divorced Devi after the couple had a son, Suresh Babu. Later, she married Kozhikode Abdul Kader, a popular Malayalam playback singer and had one more son, the late Sathyajith.

Awards and honours Devi won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (1978), the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship (2003), the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Yamanam (1992), and the Kerala Film Critics Association Award in 1979 and Kerala State Award for Best Actress in State plays in 1983 for Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam.

Filmography (partial)

Malayalam# Sandehi (1954) Minnaminigu(1957) Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1963) Moodupadam (1963) Kuttikuppayam (1964) Devalayam (1964) Murappennu(1965) as Madhaviyamma Mayor Nair (1966) Kunjali Marakkar (1967) Nagarame Nandi (1967) Aneshichu Kandethiyilla (1967) Ashwamedam (1967) as Lakshmi Iruttinte Athmavu (1967) as Parukkuttiamma Mulkireedam (1967) Kottayam Kolacase (1967) Aval (1967) Anaachadanam (1968) Thokkukal Kathaparayunnu (1968) Velutha Kathreena (1968) Ummachu (1971) Kuttyedathi(1971) as Meenakshi Iniyoru Janmam Tharoo (1972) Darshanam (1973) Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu (1973) Udayam Kizhakku Thanne (1974) Nirmala (1975 film) (1975) Utharayanam (1975) Athithi (1975) Njavalppazhangal (1976) Yatheem (1977) Aparadhi (1977) as Madhaviyamma Padasaram (1978) as Kochukaali Chuvanna Vithukal (1978) Avar Jeevikkunnu (1978) Thenthulli (1979) Thakara (1979) Neelathamara (1979) Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980) Chakara (1980) as Subhadra Angadi (1980) Ashwaradham (1980) Adhikaram (1980) Mylanji (1982 ) Surumayitta Kannukal (1983) Maniyara (1983) Srikrishna Parundu (1984) Anubandham (1985) Dheivatheyorthu (1985) Vellam (1985) Abhayam Thedi (1986) Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986) PC 369 (1987) as Mandara Nadodikkaattu (1987) as Ramdas's Mother (Cameo appearance) Idanazhiyil Ou Kalocha (1987) Rithubetham (1987) Oohakachavadam (1988) Dhinarathrangal (1988) Kanakambarangal (1988) as Sreedevi's mother Asthikal Pookkunnu (1989) as Itti Padippura (1989) Chanakyan(1989) V. I. P. (1989) as Karthyayani Alicinte Anveshanam (1989) Naduvazhikal (1989) Carnivel (1989) Aye Auto (1990) Sasneham (1990) Brahmarakshassu (1990) Kakkathollayiram (1990) No 20 Madras Mail (1990) Aakoshakkottayile Sulthan (1991) Parallel College (1991) Adwaitham (1991) Daivasahayam Lucky Centre (1991) Dhanam (1991) Kamaladalam (1992) Yamanam (1992) Magrib (1993) Agneyam (1993) Ghoshayathra (1993) as Itheyiumma Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993) Naaraayam (1993) Chukkan (1994) as Gayathri's Mother Bharanakoodam (1994) as Manju's maid Ghazal (1994) Pingami (1994) Tharavadu (1994) Deyvathinte Vikrithikal (1994) Avan Ananthapadmanabhan (1994) Mazhayethum Munbe (1995) Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Njanum (1995) Oru Abhibashakante Case Diary (1995) Sasinas (1995) Chandha (1995) No 1 Snehatheeram Bangalore North (1995) Sundarimare Sookshikkuka (1995) Madamma (1996) Aakaashathekkoru Kilivaathil (1996) Harbour (1996) Mahathma (1996) Suvarna Simhaasanam (1997) Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997) as Valsan's mother Sisiram (1998) Oro Viliyum Kathorthu (1998) Magician Mahendralal From Delhi (1998) Chenaparambile Anakaryam (1998) Priyankari (2000) Rapid Action Force (2000) as Vasanthakumari's muthassi Ninneyum Thedi (2001) Kattu Vannu Vilichappol (2001) Neythukaran (2001) Ee Bhargavi Nilayam (2002) Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003) Ammakkilikkoodu (2003) Mizhirandilum (2003) Anyar (2003) as Ummumma Janakeeyam (2003) as Lakshmiyamma Kilichundan Mambhazham (2003) as Maimuna's mother Freedom (2004) Akale (2004) as Typewriting teacher Maratha Nadu (2004) Ullam (2005) Anandabadram (2005) Nottam (2006) as Jankiyamma Mamma (2006) - Short film as Mrs. Philipose Prajapathi (2006) Vilapagalkkappuram (2008) Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Janakiyamma Thalappavu (2008) Mayabazar(2008) Koodaram (2009) Malayali (2009) Kerala Cafe (2009) Nandhuni (2010) Nalla Pattukare (2010) Annarakkannanum Thannalayathu (2010) ... Valiyathan's mother Uthrada Ravu - Short film Kunjipennu (2010) - album Nurunguvettangal - Short film ... Sr. Margarita Tharangal (2014) - photo only

Hindi Triyathri (1990)

Television serials (partial) Manasi (DD Malayalam) Pennurimai (DD Malayalam) Chitta (Surya TV) Minnukettu (Surya TV) Manassariyathe (Surya TV) Kayamkulam Kochunni (Surya TV) Ali Manthrikan Ennapadam Sakunam ( DD Malayalam) Vadhu - telefilm Vidhyarambham - telefilm Puthiyaplakkuppayam - telefilm Kannukal- telefilm Kunchathumma - telefilm

Dramas (partial) Kudukkukal Smaarakam Deepasthambham Mahaascharyam Inquilaaabinte Makkal Ithu Bhoomiyaannu Pediswapnam

References

External links

Shanthadevi at MSI