Sujatha (10 December 1952 â 6 April 2011) was an Indian actress who worked in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films in addition to few in Kannada and Hindi languages as well. The actress was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. After starring in numerous Malayalam films in her mother-tongue, Sujatha later got introduced to the Tamil film industry by veteran director K. Balachander and as a protagonist in her first Tamil film, Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974).
Sujatha was born in a Malayalam-speaking family on 10 December 1952 in Galle, Sri Lanka. She spent most of her early days of childhood over there. She participated in school plays, and later moved to Tamil Nadu when she was about 15.
Growing up in Sri Lanka and later shifting to Kerala, she did a Malayalam film Ernakulam Junction (1971) and that paved the way for future success.
She shot to fame with K. BalachanderâÂÂs 1974 directorial Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. The film was a raging hit and narrated the story of women sacrificing their happiness for their families. She acted opposite the late Sivaji Ganesan, and in the mid 1970s played heroine to both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who were just starting their career at that time.
Sujatha also won Filmfare Awards South for films like Uravu Solla Oruvan (1975), Annakili (1976), Avargal (1977) and Guppedu Manasu (1979). She garnered critical acclaim for doing maximum heroine-centric films. She went on to win Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for films like Thunaivi (1982) and Paritchaikku Neramaachu (1982).
In Gorintaku (1979), she paired with Sobhan Babu and sacrifices her love in a love story that gets a twist. Thus began an affair with Telugu audiences who got to see her in many more appropriate roles. Sujatha acted in some impressive films like Yedanthasthula Meda (1980) Circus Ramudu (1980), Prema Tarangalu (1980), Sitadevi (1982) M. L. A. Yedukondalu (1983), Anubandham (1984), Agni Gundam (1984), Justice Chakravarthy (1984), Sutradharulu (1984), Chanti (1992), Surigadu (1992), Pelli (1997), Sneham Kosam (1999) and Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu (2003).
During the 1980s, she started playing character roles, often portraying mothers. She played the mother of Rajinikanth in the films Maaveeran (1986) Kodi Parakuthu (1989), Uzhaippali (1993) and Baba (2002). She played mother roles for Ajith Kumar in Aval Varuvala (1998), Villain (2002), Attahasam (2004) and Varalaru (2006).
While undergoing treatment for a heart ailment, Sujatha died of cardiac arrest in Chennai on 6 April 2011.