Malayalam Actress Padmashri Shobana Profile and Biography
Shobana is a popular Indian actress who has mainly acted and is popular through her Malayalam films. She is also a professional Bharathnatyam dancer. Read more to know about the profile, biography, bio data, awards won, filmography and adopted child of Malayalam actress Shobana.
Full Name : Shobana Chandrakumar
Date of Birth : March 21st 1966
Hometown : Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Profession : Film Actress, Dancer
Years active : 1984 till present
Father's Name : Chandrakumar
Mother's name : Anandam
Marital Status : Single
Debut film in Malayalam : April 18 (1984)
Debut film in Tamil : Enakkul Oruvan (1984)
Languages worked in :Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada
Shobana Chandrakumar alias Shobana is and Indian actress who hails from the state of Kerala in India. She has worked in many languages namely in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. During the period of 1980 to 1990, she remained as one of the top leading actresses in these film industries. She has acted in over 150 movies in these 5 languages. Apart from acting, Shobana is a professional dancer also and an exponent of the Bharathanatyam dance form. She has won two national film awards for Best actress, for her performances in Manichitrathaazhu (1993) and Mitr My Friend (2002). In 2006, the Indian government awarded Shobana with the Padmashri title for her vast contributions to cinema and Bharathanatyam. Shobana's assets are her extraordinary beauty and proficient delivery of dance movements. Though she looks best in traditional dresses, she has a very good figure which allow her to look just as good in western wear too.
Early life and background of Malayalam actress Shobana
Shobana hails from the district of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. She was born on March 21st 1966 to Anandam and Chandrakumar. Shobana is the niece of the Travancore sisters Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, all the three sisters were popular in the field of Indian classical dance. Shobana has other relations too in the acting field. One is veteran actress Sukumari who is her paternal aunt. She is also related to the popular actor cum dancer, Vineeth. Shobana is not married but has adopted a six month old girl and named her Anantha Narayani. Though Shobana is not acting in many films nowadays, she is completely busy with her dance school and other creative hobbies.Professional acting career of Malayalam actress Shobana
Shobana's debut film in a leading role came with the film April 18 in the year 1984.She was only thirteen years old when she did the movie. She has acted alongside many of the superstars in Malayalam as well as Tamil movies. Some of her Malayalam co-stars include Mammotty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Jayaram. Shobana's debut film in Tamil was the film Enakkul Oruvan where she acted alongside famous actor Kamal Haasan. She has also acted alongside mega superstar Rajnikanth in two films namely Siva and Thalapathi. Thalapathi turned out to become one of the landmark films in Shobana's acting career. In Telugu films too, Shobana has acted with famous stars such as Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi. Her magnificent performance in the Malayalam film Manichitrathaazhu won her the National Film Award for Best Actress. In the film, Shobana plays the role of a young woman who is affected by split personality. The role demanded a lot of hard work and dedication but Shobana was able to portray the character with inimitable perfection. The film has been remade both in Hindi as Bhool Bhulaiyya and in Tamil as Chandramukhi but both the actresses who essayed Shobana's role were able to give the same kind of quality to the character. Shobana has received another National Film Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her stupendous performance in the film Mitr My Friend which is an Indian film taken in the English language. It was directed by Revathi who is Shobana's close friend, philosopher and guide. Shobana was always more popular through her Malayalam films as she did not get enough substantial roles in Tamil and the other film industries.
Professional career in dance of Malayalam actress Shobana
Shobana acquired her skills in dancing from Chidambaram academy in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and was nurtured and guided by the legendary Bharathnatyam dancer Chitra Visweswaran. Another guru for Shobana was Padma Subramanyam. Shobana's expressions and grace in dancing is unmatched. It is no wonder that Shobana is extremely popular and well-known for her Abhinaya which is a very important element in the Bharathnatyam dance form. Her dance is so mesmerising that she has also performed in Kuala Lampur before the King and Queen of Malaysia.
It was in 1994 that Shobana started her own dance school named Kalarpana which focused on the classical Bharathnatyam dance form. This school was opened mainly to organize annual festivals all over India. The funds that were raised through such shows were used to train talented dancers who did not have financial support. In its oen way, Kalarpana also helps in some charitable works and environmental issues.Awards won by Malayalam actress Shobana in acting field
1. National Film Award for Best Actress in 1993 (Manichitrathazhu)
2. National Film Award for Best Actress in 2002 (Mitr My Friend)
Awards won by Shobana in dancing field
1. Natya Ratna award by Deccan Fine Arts, Secunderabad in 1992
2. Natya Jothi Title award by Indian Fine Arts, Australia in 1994
3. Yuva Kala Bharathi award by Bharat Kalachar in 1995
4. Natya Mayuri Secunderabad Fine Arts in 1995
5. Bharata Kalaratna award by Bharathalaya in 1996
6. Nadana Mamani award by Karthik Fine Arts in 1997
7. Ugadi Purskar award by Madras Telugu academy in 1998Filmography of Malayalam actress Shobana
1. Mangala Nayaki (as a child actress) - 1980
2. April 18 (1984)
3. Kanamarayathu (1984)
4. Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove (1984)
5. Enakkul Oruvan (1984)
6. Avidathepole Ivideyum (1985)
7. Vasantha Sena (1985)
8. Meenamasathile Sooryan (1985)
9. Azhiyatha Bandhangal (1985)
10. Eeran Sandhya (1985)
11. Thammil Thammil (1985)
12. Anu Bandham (1985)
13. Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam (1985)
14. Ayanam (1985)
15. Yathra (1985)
16. Upaharam (1985)
17. T.P Balagopalan M.A (1986)
18. Kunjattakilikal (1986)
19. Iniyum Kurukshethram (1986)
20. Ente Entethu Mathram (1986)
21. Abhayam Thedi (1986)
22. Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku (1986)
23. Chaitnaya (1986)
24. Nyayavidhi (1986)
25. Ee Kaikalil (1986)
26. Rareeram (1986)
27. Vrutham (1987)
28. Nadodikkattu (1987)
29. Ithrayum Kalam (1987)
30. Muvva Goaled (1987)
31. Anantaram (1987)
32. Vellanakalude Nadu (1988)
33. Janmandharam (1988)
34. Idu Namma Alu (1988)
35. Dhwani (1988)
36. Aparan (1988)
37. Abhinandana (1988)
38. Vicharana (1988)
39. Rudraveena (1988)
40. Mukthi (1988)
41. Siva (1989)
42. Nari Nari Naduma Murari (1990)
43. Kokila (1989)
44. Innale (1989)
45. Chartroom (1989)
46. Sasneham (1990)
47. Alludugaru (1990)
48. Kalikkalam (1990)
49. Ulladakkam (1991)
50. Keechu Raallu (1991)
51. Kankettu (1991)
52. April 1 Vidudhala (1991)
53. Appula Appa Rao (1991)
54. Rowdy Gari Pellam (1991)
55. Rowdy Alludu (1991)
56. Thalapathi (1991)
57. Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam (1992)
58. Hello Darling (1992)
59. Ahankari (1992)
60. Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992)
61. Rakshana (1993)
62. Rendilla Poojari (1993)
63. Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993)
64. Maya Mayuram (1993)
65. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
66. Thenmavin Kombath (1994)
67. Pavithram (1994)
68. Pakshe (1994)
69. Minnaram (1994)
70. Manathe Vellitheru (1994)
71. Commissioner (1994)
72. Vishnu (1994)
73. Sindoora Rekha (1995)
74. Minnaminuginum Minnukettu (1995)
75. Mazhayethum Munpe (1995)
76. Suryaputhrulu (1996)
77. Kumkumacheppu (1996)
78. Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum (1996)
79. Hitler (1996)
80. Superman (1997)
81. Kalyana Kacheri (1997)
82. Kaliyoonjal (1997)
83. Agni Sakshi (1999)
84. Valliettan (2000)
85. Sradha (2000)
86. Mitr My Friend (2002)
87. Dance like a man (2003)
88. Maampazhakkalam (2004)
89. Makalkku (2005)
90. Game (2006)
91. Apna Asmaan (2007)
92. Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008)
93. Sagar alias Jacky Reloaded (2009)
94. Podaa Podi (2011)
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