M. S. Sundari Bai | |
|---|---|
| Born | Madurai Saurashtra Sundari (1923-03-02)2 March 1923 |
| Died | 12 March 2006(2006-03-12) (aged 83) Chennai, India |
| Other names | Sundari Bai |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, dancer, actress |
| Spouse | |
Madurai Saurashtra Sundari Bai (2 March 1923 – 12 March 2006) was an Indian actress, singer and dancer who worked mainly inTamil cinema from the 1940s to the 1970s.[1][2] Sundari Bai was the wife of writer and directorKothamangalam Subbu. Her most notable films includeAadmi (1939),[3]Madanakamarajan (1941),Nandanar (1942),Dasi Aparanji (1944),Kannamma En Kadhali (1945),Miss Malini (1947),Chandralekha (1948),Avvaiyyar (1953),Vanjikottai Valiban (1958),Deivapiravi (1960),Padikkadha Medhai (1960)[4] andSila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1976).[2]
Sundari Bai was born inMadurai in 1923, and belonged to theSaurashtra community. A family friend persuaded her parents to send her to Bombay (nowMumbai). In the 1930s, she appeared in an advertisement film.[2] When film producerS. S. Vasan boughtKrishnaswami Subrahmanyam's MPPC Studio and renamed itGemini Studios in 1940,[5] Sundari Bai joined Gemini as staff artiste. She appeared in a major role in Gemini's first Tamil productionMadanakamarajan (1941). She played a slum girl inNandanar (1942), while her role as a maid inDasi Aparanji (1944) elevated her fame. She later fell in love withKothamangalam Subbu, another member of the Gemini staff who was a writer, actor, and director, and married him. In 1945, Sundari Bai played the lead inKannamma En Kadhali, aWorld War II film written by Subbu. In 1947, Gemini produced the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessfulMiss Malini, written and directed by Subbu, who also played the male lead. Sundari Bai acted and sang two songs in this film that became hits. She later went on to act in various films includingChandralekha,Samsaram,Moondru Pillaigal,Avvaiyar,Valliyin Selvan,Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi,Vanjikottai Valiban,Deivapiravi,Naan Kanda Sorgam,Padikkadha Medhai,Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar andSila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal.[2]