Shobha | |
|---|---|
 Shobha from the filmMoodu Pani (1980)[1] | |
| Born | Mahalakshmi Menon (1962-09-23)23 September 1962 |
| Died | 1 May 1980(1980-05-01) (aged 17)[2] Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
| Other names | Shoba Mahendra, Urvashi Shoba,[2] Baby Mahalakshmi, Baby Shoba |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1965–1980 |
| Spouse | |
| Mother | Prema |
Mahalakshmi Menon, known by her stagenameShobha (23 September 1962 – 1 May 1980), was an Indian actress best known for her work inMalayalam andTamil films. At the age of 17, she won theNational Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1979 Tamil filmPasi. She also received threeKerala State Film Awards: for Best Actress (1978), Best Supporting Actress (1977) and Best Child Artist (1971); and twoFilmfare Awards South for Best Actress inKannada (1978) and Tamil (1979) films. Considered one of the finest talents to have emerged in the Indian film world, her promising career was cut short as she committed suicide in 1980, for unknown reasons. Her popularity resulted in considerable public scrutiny of the events that led to her death and also various conspiracy theories.[3] The 1983 Malayalam filmLekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback is supposedly based on her life and death.
Born toMalayali parents inMadras, she started her career in the Tamil film industry, making her debut as a child artist inThattungal Thirakkappadum (1966). Her first film as the main lead actress was in the 1978 Malayalam filmUthrada Rathri.
Shoba was born on 23 September 1961, to K. P. Menon andPrema Menon – an actress credited by the mononym Prema, in the Malayalam film industry, from 1954 to 1981.[4]
In 1966, Shoba made her screen debut inTamilthriller filmThattungal Thirakkappadum directed by actorJ. P. Chandrababu. In the film she was credited as Baby Mahalakshmi where she played the role of Lakshmi opposite actressSavitri,K. R. Vijaya,R. S. Manohar and Chandrababu himself.[5][6] The following year she made her debut inMalayalam cinema inP. Venu'sUdhyogastha, where she was credited as Baby Shoba. The film has been touted as the first "multi-starrer" ofMalayalam cinema, with such top actors asSathyan,Prem Nazir,K. P. Ummer,Padmini,Sharada,Sheela andRajasree;[7] the huge hit, in a film targeted to all ages, brought Shoba wide attention as a child actor.[citation needed]
In 1978 she was cast as a heroine inUthrada Rathri, a film directed byBalachandra Menon. She received the Kerala government's Best Actress award for the 1978 filmsBandhanam andEnte Neelakaasham. The same year she earned the Best Actress award by Filmfare for theKannada cinema filmAparichita. In 1979 she received the National Award for Best Actress for the Tamil filmPasi, which was produced by Lalitha, the eldest of theTravancore sisters. She also received the Filmfare Best Actress award forPasi and received the Second Best Actress award from the Kerala government in 1977 for the filmOrmakal Marikkumo.
Shobha is alleged to have committedsuicide by hanging at the age of 17.[8][9] She was married toBalu Mahendra when she was only 15 years old. The 1983 Malayalam filmLekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback directed byK. G. George is loosely based on her life and death.[10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Jeevithayaathra | ||
| 1966 | Karuna | ||
| Penmakkal | |||
| 1967 | Ollathumathi | ||
| Udhyogastha | |||
| Pareeksha | |||
| 1968 | Kadal | ||
| Adhyapika | |||
| Aparadhini | |||
| 1969 | Kuruthikkalam | ||
| Veettumrugam | |||
| 1971 | Avalalpam Vaikippoyi | ||
| Yogamullaval | |||
| Sindooracheppu | Ammalu | ||
| Makane Ninakku Vendi | Young Sophia | ||
| 1972 | Taxi Car | Baby Shobha | |
| Gandharavakshetram | Young Lakshmi | ||
| Aradimanninte Janmi | Minikutty | ||
| 1973 | Udayam | Young Geetha | |
| Bhadradeepam | Lekha | ||
| 1974 | Ayalathe Sundari | Shobha | |
| Night Duty | Ammini | ||
| 1975 | Ayodhya | Shanthi | |
| 1976 | Chottanikkara Amma | ||
| Amrithavaahini | Rani | ||
| 1977 | Dweepu | ||
| Ormakal Marikkumo | Ammini/Parvathi | ||
| Nurayum Pathayum | |||
| Rajaparambara | |||
| 1978 | Pad–aram | Shoba | |
| Randu Penkuttikal | |||
| Vayanadan Thamban | |||
| Uthrada Rathri | |||
| Oolkatal | Reena | ||
| Ekakini | |||
| Bandhanam | Thankam | ||
| 1979 | Lillyppookkal | ||
| Ishtapraaneshwari | Rema | ||
| Ente Neelakaasham | Malathy | ||
| 1980 | Shalini Ente Koottukari | Shalini | |
| Daaliya Pookkal | |||
| Soorya Daaham | |||
| Yovvanam Daham | |||
| Manju Moodal Manju |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Naanal | Child artist | |
| 1966 | Thattungal Thirakkappadum | Child artist | |
| 1969 | Iru Kodugal | Shoba | Child artist |
| 1971 | Punnagai | ||
| 1974 | Vairam | Usha | |
| 1978 | Achchani | ||
| Nizhal Nijamagiradhu | Thilagam | ||
| Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam | Gowri | ||
| Mullum Malarum | Valli | ||
| 1979 | Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi | ||
| Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai | Kamala Typist | ||
| Enippadigal | Chella Kannu | ||
| Chakkalathi | Panchali | ||
| Agal Vilakku | Navaneetham | ||
| Azhiyatha Kolangal | Indumathi | ||
| Pasi | Kuppamma | ||
| 1980 | Veli Thandiya Velladu | ||
| Ponnagaram | Bhavani | Released posthumously | |
| Samanthipoo | Sakthi | Released posthumously | |
| Moodu Pani | Rekha | Released posthumously | |
| 1981 | Mayil | Released posthumously | |
| Vaadagai Veedu | Released posthumously | ||
| Anbulla Athan | Released posthumously |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Kokila | Kokila | |
| 1978 | Aparichita | Kusuma | |
| 1982 | Amara Madhura Prema | Released posthumously |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Tharam Marindi | Chenna | |
| 1978 | Manavoori Pandavulu | Sundari |
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