In commemoration of the centenary of Indian Cinema, tributes are being paid to some personalities from Indian cinema.
This feature celebrates noted actress Suryakantam. Suryakantam is known for her roles in Telugu movies as a mother-in-law.
Suryakantam started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by Gemini Studios. Thanks to the efforts of Leela Kumari, she got her first role as a character artiste in Narada Naradi.
But small roles did not satisfy the artiste inside her. She dreamt of going to Bombay. When Gemini Studio failed to provide her roles other than a dancer, she quit her job. But her financial position would not permit her to pursue her dream. Later, she bagged a role in Gruhapravesam.
Although she got an opportunity as the heroine in Soudamini, she could not do it, since she met with a car accident that hurt her face.
However, she consolidated her position by playing the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram. There was no looking back after this.
Once again, a heroine's role awaited her in Bollywood. But knowing that the producer had dropped another actress from his movie on personal grounds, after which the role was given to her, Suryakantam rejected the offer, saying that she "cannot live on the unhappiness of other artistes".
Her career soared. B Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani, ace directors of the era, would not do a movie without Suryakantam. They had even produced a movie Gundamma Katha (starring N T Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S V Ranga Rao), whose entire story would revolve around Suryakantam's role of Gundamma.
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