Born in Kochi, in the state of Kerala, Santhakumari has been a predominant actress featuring in over 250 Malayalam movies and several Malayalam serials. Her career has spanned over 34 years, from 1976 to the present. Santhakumari was born as the eighth child out of ten, to parents Narayanan and Karthyayani, and completed her primary education from Thevara
C.C.P.L.M High School Ernakulam.
Her career span saw her receiving the prestigious Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for Chuvanna Vithukal in 1977, and also presented with a house, named “
Snehaveedu
” by the Malayalam Movie Artists Association in 2012. In 2011, she was also the recipient of the prestigious Kerala Film Critics Association Awards – the Chalachitra Prathibha Award.
Santhakumari made her debut in 1967 in the movie Iruttinte Aatmavu, after which she got her first major career break in the movie Secretary in 1976, following which she has acted in several well received and critically acclaimed movies in supporting roles.
Her career has also taken her to the silver screen in Malayalam, where she has acted in popular shows on TV including Sthree &
Omanathinkal Pakshi
(Asianet) and has featured in interviews including Oli Mangatha Tharakal on Surya TV.