Shobana | |
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.jpg) Shobana in 2011 | |
| Born | Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (1970-03-21)21 March 1970 (age 55) Trivandrum,Kerala, India |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1980–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
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| Family | Travancore family |
| Awards |
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| Website | actressshobana |
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (born 21 March 1970[1][2]), known professionally asShobana, is an Indian actress andBharatanatyam dancer who has appeared primarily inMalayalam cinema, along with notable work inTamil,Telugu,Hindi,English andKannada films. She is a recipient of twoNational Film Awards, oneKerala State Film Awards and twoFilmfare Awards South. In 2011, she was honored with theKalaimamani byGovernment of Tamil Nadu.[3] Over the years, she established herself as one of the greatest South Indian actresses.[4][5][6]
In a career spanning over four decades, Shobana has starred in 230 films across several languages.[7][8] She has earned twoNational Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in the Malayalam filmManichitrathazhu (1993) and the English filmMitr, My Friend (2001). The former also won her theKerala State Film Award for Best Actress.[9][10] Additionally, she received twoFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance inInnale (1990) andThenmavin Kombath (1994).[11][12][13]
Shobhana is also a Bharatanatyam dancer who received her training underChitra Visweswaran andPadma Subrahmanyam.[14] She emerged as an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties and currently runs a dance school,Kalarpana, inChennai.[9] In 2006, the Government of India honoured her with thePadma Shri for her contributions towards the arts.[15][16] In 2013, she receivedKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, also known asKalarathna, for her contributions to the performing arts.[17] She receivedhonorary doctorates fromVinayaka Mission's Research Foundation in 2018,[18] Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute in 2019[19] andSree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in 2022.[20] Shobana was awardedPadma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2025.[21]
Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai was born on March 21, 1970, into aNair family in Kerala to Chandrakumar Pillai and Anandam Chandrakumar Pillai. She is the niece of the renownedTravancore sisters—Padmini,Lalitha andRagini—who were celebrated for their expertise in classical Indian dance. ActorVineeth and actressParvathy Kurup are her cousins.[5][6][22]
Shobana made her debut as a child artist. In 1980, she won the Best Child Artiste Award for her role in the Tamil movie,Mangala Nayagi, a remake of the Hindi filmSaajanBina Suhagan.[23]
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She also starred in the Telugu filmBhakta Dhruva Markendaya in 1982, an acclaimed all children film made in both Tamil and Telugu.[24][25] As an adult, she was introduced to the film industry through the Malayalam filmApril 18 (1984), by directorBalachandra Menon. In the same year, she debuted in the Tamil film industry withEnakkul Oruvan (1984), directed bySP Muthuraman.[10] She did come back to act in occasional Tamil films oppositeSatyaraj (Mallu Vetti Minor, Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai),Bhagyaraj (Ithu Namma Aalu) andVijayakanth (Ponmana Selvan,Engitta Mothathay) in the early 90s – these roles were generally glamorous in which Shobana generally acted as the beautiful, posh and haughty city girl who is eventually charmed by the village boy.[26]
Her other major films includeRudraveena (1988),Kanamarayathu (1984)Ithiri Poove Chuvanna Poove,Yathra (1985),Anantaram (1987),Nadodikkattu (1987),Vellanakalude Nadu (1988),Idhu Namma Aalu (1988),Siva (1989),Innale (1990),Kalikkalam (1990),Thalapathi (1991),PappayudeSwanthamAppoos (1992),Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993),Manichitrathazhu (1993),Thenmavin Kombath (1994),Minnaram (1994),Mazhayethum Munpe (1995),Hitler (1996),Agni Sakshi (1999),Dance like a Man (2003),Makalkku (2005),Thira (2013) andVarane Avashyamund (2020).[27] FromAviduthe Pole Ivideyum toUpaharam, Shobana did sixteen movies in a single year, 1985.[28] Shobana also acted in the Tamil period filmKochadaiiyaan (2014).[7]
InRudraveena (1988), alongsideChiranjeevi andGemini Ganesan, she played classical dancer Lalitha Sivajyothi, who belongs to a lower caste and is denied entry into the temple. InAbhinandana (1988), she paired with Karthik, and essayed his love interest, who aspires to become a classical dancer. InKokila (1990), she paired with Naresh, and InAlludugaru (1990) she starred opposite Mohan Babu and was a remake of Malayalam filmChithram. 1 April Viduthala andRowdy Gari Pellam were other Telugu films in 1991.[29]
Shobana won her firstNational Film Award for Best Actress in1993 for her performance inAM Fazil'sManichitrathazhu. Her portrayal of Ganga Nakulan and alter-ego Nagavalli in the film was described by critics as "spell binding".[30]
Following her National Award win in 1993, Shobana became highly selective about her films.[31]
Shobana is aBharatanatyam dancer.[32] She started her own dance school, "Kalipinya" in 1989 and got it registered in 1992.[3]
She has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestroZakir Hussain,Vikku Vinayakram andMandolin Srinivas. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, inKuala Lumpur before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia.[33] Shobana started performing in theSoorya Music & Dance festival organised by Soorya Krishnamoorthy from the year 1994.[34]
In 1994, Shobana founded a school for classical danceBharatanatyam inChennai namedKalarpana.[35]
She remains unmarried and in 2011, adopted a daughter, becoming a single mother.[36][37][38]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya | Sunithi Devi | Children's film | |
| 1984 | Marchandi Mana Chattalu | Uma | ||
| 1985 | Marana Sasanam | Lalitha | ||
| 1986 | Srimathi Kanuka | Swapna | ||
| Vijrumbhana | Shobha | |||
| Vikram | Radha | |||
| Dagudu Moothalu | Radha | |||
| Asthram | Padmini | |||
| 1987 | Muddula Manavudu | Hemalatha | ||
| Manavadostunnaadu | Roopa | |||
| Ajeyudu | Rekha | |||
| Muvva Gopaladu | Krishna veni | |||
| Trimurtulu | Latha | |||
| 1988 | Rudraveena | Lalita Shiva Jyoti | [29] | |
| Abhinandana | Rani | [29] | ||
| Praja Pratinidhi | Bharathi | |||
| 1990 | Paapa Kosam | Swapna | ||
| Nari Nari Naduma Murari | Shobha | |||
| Kokila | Kokila | |||
| Shourya Chakra | Bharathi | |||
| Neti Siddhartha | Jyoti | |||
| Alludugaru | Kalyani | |||
| 1991 | April 1st Vidudhala | Bhuvaneshwari | [29] | |
| Appula Appa Rao | Subba Laxmi | |||
| Rowdy Gaari Pellam | Janaki | |||
| Minor Raja | Santhana Lakshmi | |||
| Manchi Roju | Padma | |||
| Rowdy Alludu | Sita | |||
| Alludu Diddina Kapuram | Sita | |||
| Keechu Raallu | Monica | |||
| 1992 | Ahankari | Shobana | ||
| Asadhyulu | Jyoti | |||
| Champion | Sandhya | |||
| Hello Darling | Bharathi | |||
| Sivaratri | Gayatrhi | |||
| Gangwar | Pavithra | |||
| 1993 | Rowdy Gaari Teacher | Malli | ||
| Naga Jyoti | Naga rani | |||
| Kannayya Kittayya | Saroja | |||
| Nippu Ravva | Guest appearance in a song | |||
| Rendilla Poojari | Radha | |||
| Rakshana | Padma | |||
| 1997 | Surya Putrulu | Ragini | ||
| 2006 | Game | Uma | ||
| 2024 | Kalki 2898 AD | Mariam | Also sung the song "Theme of Shambala" | |
| 2026 | Peddi† | TBA | Filming |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Mangala Nayagi | Herself | Child artist |
| Manmatha Ragangal | Herself | Child artist | |
| 1984 | Enakkul Oruvan | Kalpana | |
| 1985 | Marudhani | Marudhani | |
| 1988 | Oray Thaai Oray Kulam | Easwari | |
| Idhu Namma Aalu | Bhanu | ||
| 1989 | Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa | Radha | |
| Paattukku Oru Thalaivan | Shanthi | ||
| Siva | Parvathy | ||
| Ponmana Selvan | Parvathy | ||
| Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai | Geeta | ||
| 1990 | Engitta Mothathay | Mallika | |
| Mallu Vetti Minor | Santhana Lakshmi | ||
| Sathya Vaakku | Meena | ||
| 1991 | Mahamayi | Mahamayi | |
| Thalapathi | Subhalakshmi | ||
| 1993 | Sivarathiri | Gayathri | |
| 1996 | Thuraimugam | Rukkumani | |
| 2012 | Podaa Podi | Veena | |
| 2014 | Kochadaiiyaan | Yaaghavi | |
| 2025 | Coolie | Subhalakshmi[40] | Photo appearance |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Ghar Ek Mandir | Priya | |
| 1998 | Swami Vivekananda | Dancer | |
| 2007 | Apna Asmaan | Padmini Kumar | |
| 2008 | Mere Baap Pehle Aap | Anuradha "Anu" Joshi |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mitr, My Friend | Lakshmi | ActressRevathy's directorial debut |
| 2003 | Dance Like a Man | Ratna Parekh | |
| 2008 | A Little Dream | Sundar's mother | Documentary film about the journey of formerIndian PresidentA. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Giri Baale | Neelaveni | |
| 1990 | Shivashankar | Girija |
| Year | Honour | Organisation | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Grade A Top | Doordarshan | [41] |
| 2006 | Padma Shri | Government of India | [42][43] |
| 2011 | Kalaimamani | Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram,Government of Tamil Nadu | [44] |
| 2012 | Arch of Excellence | All India Achievers Conference | [45] |
| 2013 | Kalarathna | Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy | [46] |
| 2018 | Honorary doctorate (D.Litt) | Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation | [18] |
| 2019 | Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute | [19] | |
| 2022 | Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit | [20] | |
| 2025 | Padma Bhushan | Government of India | [21][47] |
| Year | Title | Channel | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Penn | DD Podhigai | Tamil | Serial |
| 1999 | Uravugal | Vijay TV | ||
| 2010 | Jodi Number one season 5 | Reality show as Judge | ||
| Super Jodi | Surya TV | Malayalam | ||
| 2015 | D 3 (Grand finale) | Mazhavil Manorama | ||
| 2017 | Midukki | |||
| 2021 | Margazhi Thingal | YouTube | Tamil | Music Video[59] |
