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Sachu | |
|---|---|
| Born | P.K. Saraswathi (1946-01-07)7 January 1946 (age 80) |
| Other names | Kumari Sachu |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1952 – Present |
| Parent(s) | Father: Sundaresan Iyer Mother: Jayalakshmi |
| Relatives | Maadi Lakshmi (actress) |
Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known asKumari Sachu is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedienne who nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her film début in 1952 in the filmRani at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. She started acting in television serials in 1995.[1]
Sachu was born into a large orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, it was not smooth sailing for the young actress, but her talent acted as the decisive factor. Permission was granted by her lawyer-father. As she teamed up with her sister,Maadi Lakshmi, forBharatanatyam recitals, her film career forged ahead.
In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by directorA. S. A. Sami (ofVelaikkari fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number.[2] Sami cast her in theBhanumathi-starrerRani. Then followed theArignar Anna-scriptedSorga Vaasal. As the younger Paro inDevadasu, her performance was endearing. The chubby-faced Sachu went on to fill the vacuum left by Baby Saroja.
Sachu performed with élan with the legends, be itBhanumathi,Padmini,Anjali Devi, orSavithri. The evergreenMaya Bazaar was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). She then took a small break during which she spent the interim perfecting her dance, giving recitals and playing sister roles. Her first film as heroine inVeera Thirumagan with Anandan, released in 1961.
She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act asNagesh's pair in the filmKadhalikka Neramillai,[3] This film starredMuthuraman,Nagesh,Kanchana,Rajasree andT. S. Balaiah. After the success of this film, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors likeSuruli Rajan, "Thengai" Srinivasan,Cho Ramaswamy,Thangavelu, M. R. Vasu andM. R. Radha in many films from 1964 to 1989. She,Manorama andJayalalithaa came together to act in 2 classic comedy films -Galata Kalyanam andBommalattam. Her other notable films includeKalai Arasi,Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan andMeenava Nanban.
The 1970s saw her taking to the stage, and her first play was PVR'sNeerottam, where she played the famous Charu. She played a dual role in ARS'Deviyar Iruvar.
Since then, Sachu has been lending her talents out and has successfully starred in over 500 films playing varied roles, and has starred alongside veteran actors such asSivaji Ganesan,M. G. Ramachandran,Muthuraman,S. A. Ashokan,Nagesh,Suruli Rajan,Thengai Srinivasan,Thangavelu andM. R. Radha.
The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongsideRajinikanth,Kamal Haasan,Chiranjeevi, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such asVijay,Surya,Karthik,Sakthi Vasu and many others.
She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials such asManbumigu Maamiyar,Costly Mappilay,Mel Maadi Gaali,[4]Ananda Bhavan,ChellammaVidiyal Pudithu,Oorarinda Rahasiyam,Mr. Brain,Pitchai Apartments (Kalakendra Humour and Drama),Podunalam Ponnuswamy (Kalakendra Humour and Drama), "Washingtonil Thirumanam" (Kalakendra Humour and Drama),Dinesh Ganesh andVeetukku Veedu Looty, where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema.
She also acted asVijayakumar's elder sister in the serialNandini, which aired onSun TV.
Sachu received theKalaimamani award from Chief MinisterJayalalithaa in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented byM. S. Subbulakshmi. In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Inapravugal | ||
| Subhaidha | |||
| 1966 | Kalyanayathrayil | ||
| 1968 | Dial 2244 | ||
| 1969 | Vilakkapetta Bandhangal | ||
| 1978 | Balapareekshanam | ||
| Pathinalam Ravu | |||
| 1981 | Dwanthayudham |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Rani | ||
| 1954 | Bahut Din Huye |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Tingu Ranga | ||
| 1953 | Ammalakkalu | ||
| Devadasu | |||
| 1957 | Maya Bazaar | ||
| 2007 | Shankar Dada Zindabad |
