Sachu

Kumari Sachu (born 1948) is a veteran Tamil actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedian who has nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her début in film's in 1953 in the film Rani at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. In Recent times, she has also begun acting in television serials.^[1] In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.^[2]

Early life

Sachu was born into a large family in Mylapore. Hailing from an orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, it was not smooth sailing for the young actress, but her talent acted as the decisive factor. Permission was granted by her lawyer-father. As she teamed up with her sister for Bharatanatyam recitals, her film career forged ahead.

Film career

In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by director A C Sami (of "Velaikkari" fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number.^[3] Sami cast her in the Bhanumathi-starrer "Rani", and for a scene, she had to cry. But Sachu just did not know how to cry! A quiet pinch did the trick. Then followed the Arignar Anna-scripted "Sorga Vaasal". As the younger Paro in Devadasu, her performance was endearing. The chubby-faced Sachu went on to fill the vacuum left by Baby Saroja.

Sachu performed with élan with the legends, be it Bhanumathi, Padmini, Anjali Devi, or Savithri. The evergreen "Maya Bazaar" was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). Playing the junior version of S Varalakshmi in "Shyamala" thrilled her no end since it starred the legendary Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. She then took a small break during which she spent the interim perfecting her dance, giving recitals and playing sister roles. Her first film as heroine in "Veera Thirumagan" with Anandan was screened in 1961.

She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act as Nagesh's pair in the film Kadhalikka Neramillai,^[4] This film starred Muthuraman, Nagesh, Kanchana, Rajasree, T. S. Balaiah in lead roles. After success of this film, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors like Suruli Rajan, `Thengai' Srinivasan, Cho Ramaswamy, Thangavelu, M.R.Vasu and M R Radha in many films from 1964 to 1989. She, Manorama, Jayalalithaa came together to act in 2 classic comedy films - Galata Kalyanam and Bommalattam. Her other notable films include Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan, Meenava Nanban.

The 1970s saw her taking to the stage, and her first play was PVR's "Neerottam", where she played the famous Charu. She played a dual role in ARS' "Deviyar Iruvar".

Since then, Sachu has been lending her talents out and has successfully starred in over 500 films playing varied roles, and has starred alongside veteran actors such as Sivaji Ganesan, M G Ramachandran, Muthuraman, S A Ashokan, Nagesh, Suruli Rajan, Thengai Srinivasan, Thangavelu and M R Radha.

The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongside Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as Vijay, Surya, Karthik Muthuraman, Sakthi Vasu and many others.

Television career

She moved on to the small screen in the 2000s and has starred in many serials such as Manbumigu Mayor, Costly Mappilay, Ananda Bhavan, Dinesh Ganesh and Veetukku Veedu Looty, where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema.

Awards and nominations

A proud moment in Sachu's life was when she received the Kalaimamani award from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented by M S Subbulakshmi. Also in 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.

Partial filmography

References