Philomina

Philomina
Born	Philomina
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1964-2003
Awards	Kerala State Film Awards 1970, 1987 - Best Supporting Artiste (Thurakkathavaathil , Olavum Theeravum), (Thaniyavarthanam")

Philomina(1926-2006) was a veteran Malayalam actress of yesteryear. She had acted in more than 750 films in her long film career. She played mostly character and comedy roles, besides that of grandmother and mother. Like most actors Philomina had cut her acting teeth on the stage. This experience stood her in good stead when she was offered her first film role.

Early life

Entering the film industry with eight years of experience in professional drama, she worked with the drama troupe of P J Antony in the early days. She used to say it was her initial experience with a great actor like Antony that helped her shape her film career.

Philomina's parents were disturbed, when she had to travel to Chennai for the first shoot, it was Moidu Padiyathu who convinced her parents. Her first movie,`Kuttikkupayam' (1964), produced by T.E. Vasudevan and directed by M. Krishnan Nair was a big hit. Philomina, who essayed the role of Prem Nazir's mother, a Muslim character, went on to become an integral part of Malayalam movies.

She was flitting from set to set breathing life into numerous roles. In between she got married, but lost her husband when her son was just three years old. Acting was not a lucrative option. Philomina slogged to build up career and life, brick by brick.

Film career

Better times rolled and this versatile actress established herself. Her individualistic voice and unique style of dialogue delivery were her greatest assets. Philomina used to very proudly claim that no one ever dubbed for her. Philomina won her first State award, for the best supporting actress, in 1970 for her roles in films `Thurakkathavaathil' and the widely acclaimed `Olavum Theeravum.' In 1987 she received the award for the second time for `Thaniyavarthanam.'

Somewhere during this time there was a short break in her career. However, she came back with a bang with some challenging roles in the films of Bharathan and Padmarajan. And Philomina did full justice to the confidence reposed in her by these and the other directors. The roles in films like `Chatta', 'Innale', `Njan Gandharvan,' `Venkalam,' `Churam,' `Vietnam Colony' were testimony of Philomina's versatility. Her roles in ‘Kudumbapuranam,’ ‘Godfather,’ ‘Uppukandam Brothers, ‘Thalayanamandram’ and ‘Kakkothikavile Appuppanthadikal’ would also be remembered for long.

It was Sathyan Anthikkad who first cast Philomina in a comic role. The film `Madanmaar Londonil,' gave this talented actress a new image. From then, with a keen sense of commitment to her job and a passion for acting, she transformed herself into the most popular comedienne of Malayalam cinema. Her roles in films like `Malayogam,' `Kireedam,' `Uncle Bun,' `Manathe Kottaram, `Vrudhanmaare Sookshikkuka,' `In Harihar Nagar,' and many others revealed the different facets of this genre.

In a career spanning over four decades Philomina starred in 750 films and numerous television serials. This ebullient actress was last seen in `Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum.'

Later life

Philomina was living in a small, well done-up apartment in Kochi till she shifted to her son's place in Chennai a couple of years before her death. She was a chronic diabetic and suffered stroke in 2005. She was getting insulin shots for her diabetic condition. She was bed-ridden for over a month. She died at her son Joseph's residence in Chennai due to diabetic related problems in January 2006.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

• Second Best Actress - 1970 - Thurakkatha Vathil, Olavum Theeravum
• Second Best Actress - 1987 - Thaniyavarthanam

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Director	Cast
1965	Chemmeen		Ramu Karyat	Sathyan, Sheela, Madhu
1965	Ollavum Theeravum	Nabisa's Mother	P. N. Menon	Madhu , Usha Nandhini
1978	Lisa	Deviyamma	Baby	Vidhubala, Prem Nazir, Seema
1979	Puthiya Velicham	Althara Amma	Sreekumaran Thampi	Srividya, Jayan, Jayabharathi
1979	Kazhukan		A.B.Raj	Jayan, Shuba, Sukumaran
1981	Abhinayam	Bharghavi	Baby	Jayan, Vidhubala
1983	Aa Rathri	Abdu's Mother	Joshi	Mammootty, Poornima Jayaram, Lalu Alex
1985	Kathodu Kathroam		Bharathan	Mammootty, Saritha, Nedumudi Venu
1986	Arapatta Kettiya Gramathil		Padmarajan	Mammootty, Asokan, Kanakalatha
1986	Rareeram	Sister	Sibi Malayil	Mammootty, Sobhana, Nedumudi Venu
1988	Pattana Pravesam	Prabhakaran Thampi's Mother	Sathyan Anthikkad	Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Ambika
1988	Kudumbapuranam	Kunjamma	Sathyan Anthikkad	Balachandra Menon, Ambika, Thilakan
1988	Kakkthikavile Appooppan Thadikkal		Kamal	Revathi, Ambika
1988	Dinarathrangal	Aravindan's Mother	Joshi	Mammootty, Sumalatha, Mukesh
1989	Ulsavapittennu	Muthassi	Gopi	Mohanlal, Parvathy, Jayaram
1989	Pradeshika Varthakal		Kamal	Jayaram, Innocent, Parvathy
1989	Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal	Kunjulakshmi's Grandmother	Kamal	Jayaram, Parvathy, Jagathy
1989	Oru Sayanathinte Swapnam		Bharathan	Suhasini, Mukesh
1989	Mazhavil Kavadi	Velayudhankutty's Grandmother	Sathyan Anthikkad	Jayaram, Urvashi, Sithara
1989	Innale	Rahelamma	Padmarajan	Jayaram, Sobhana, Suresh Gopi
1989	Ardham	House Owner	Sathyan Anthikkad	Mammootty, Sreenivasan, Parvathy
1989	Mahayanam	Janamma	Joshi	Mammootty, Seema, Mukesh
1989	Thalayanamanthram	Paru	Sathyan Anthikkad	Sreenivasan, Urvashi, Jayaram
1990	Sasneham	Veroni	Sathyan Anthikkad	Balachandra Menon, Sobhana, Innocent
1990	Orukkam	Paru	K.Madhu	Suresh Gopi, Murali, Renjini
1990	Malayogam	Mary	Sibi Malayil	Jayaram, Parvathy, Innocent
1990	Kouthuka Varthakal	Rosemary's Grandmother	Thulasidas	Suresh Gopi, Urvashi, Siddique
1990	In Harihar Nagar	Maya's Grandmother	Siddique-Lal	Mukesh, Jagadish, Siddique, Asokan
1990	Gajakesariyogam	Philipose's Mother	P. G. Viswambaran	Innocent, K. P. A. C. Lalitha
1990	Doctor Pasupathy	Kunjulakshmi	Shaji Kailas	Innocent, Parvathy, Mamukkoya
1990	Kalikkalam	Janakiyamma	Sathyan Anthikkad	Mammootty, Sobhana
1991	Uncle Bun	Gloria Therathi	Bhadran	Mohanlal, Kushboo, Nedumudi Venu
1991	Ulladakkam	Hospital Attendant	Kamal	Mohanlal, Sobhana, Amala
1991	Souhrdam	Kathrina	Shaji Kailas	Mukesh, Urvashi, Parvathy
1991	Pookalam Varavaayi		Kamal	Jayaram, Baby Shyamili, Innocent, Jagathy
1991	Parallel College	Rahelamma	Thulasidas	Suresh Gopi, Geetha
1991	NJan Gandharvan	Bhama's Grandmother	Padmarajan	Nitish Bharadwaj, Suparna Anand
1991	Mookilla Rajyathu	Insane Lady	Asokan, Thaha	Mukesh, Thilakan, Jagathy, Siddique
1991	Mimics Parade	Thandamma	Thulasidas	Jagadish, Siddique, Innocent
1991	Innathe Programme	Bhargavikutty Amma	P. G. Viswambaran	Mukesh, Siddique, Zainuddin, Radha
1991	Aakasakottayile Sulthan	Pappy's Sister	Jayaraj	Sreenivasan, Saranya, Mamukkoya
1992	Snehasagaram		Sathyan Anthikkad	Innocent, Murali, Urvashi
1992	Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam		P.Chandrasekhar	Sreenivasan, Monisha, Sobhana
1992	My Dear Muthachan	Kunjamma	Sathyan Anthikkad	Thilakan, Jayaram
1992	Ente Ponnu Thampuran	Meerabhai	A.T.Abu	Suresh Gopi, Urvashi
1992	Vietnam Colony	Suhra Bai	Siddique-Lal	Mohanlal, Innocent, Kanaka
1993	Venkalam	Grandmother	Bharathan	Murali, Urvashi
1993	Pravachakan		P. G. Viswambaran	Mukesh, Siddique, Mamukkoya
1993	Bhagyavan	Janu	Suresh Unnithan	Sreenivasan, Jagathy, Sithara
1993	Vardhkyapuranam		Rajasenan	Manoj K. Jayan, Kanaka
1993	Pidakozhi Kuvunna Nootandu	Mariamma	Viji Thampi	Urvashi, Kalpana, Manoj K. Jayan
1994	Manathe Kottaram	Dilip's Grandmother	Sunil	Kushboo, Dileep, Suresh Gopi
1994	Kadal		Siddique-Shameer	Babu Antony, Charmila
1994	Vrudhanmaare Sookshikukka	Margerett	Sunil	Jayaram, Kushboo, Dileep
1995	Kusruthikaattu		Suresh Vinu	Jayaram, Kanaka
1995	Avittam Thirunal Arogyasrimaan		Viji Thampy	Jagathy, Balachandra Menon, Shanthikrishna
1996	Vanarasena		Jayan Varkala	Anju Aravind, Sudeesh, Jagathy
1996	Malayalamaasam Chingam Onnu		Nisar	Premkumar, Dileep, Rudra
1996	Kireedamillatha Rajakanmaar		Kalabhavan Ansar	Annie, Jagadish, Jagathy, Premkumar, Kalabhavan Mani
1996	Excuse Me Ehtu Collegilla		Mohanroop	Premkumar, Kalabhavan Mani, Innocent
1996	Aayiram Naavulla Ananthan		Thulasidas	Mammootty, Murali, Gauthami
1997	Manthramothiram		Sai Shankar	Dileep, Kalabhavan Mani, Nedumudi Venu
1997	Churam		Bharathan	Divya Unni, Manoj K. Jayan, Nedumudi Venu
1997	Aramana Rahasyam Angadipattu		Nisar	Geetha, Jagathy, Vijayaraghavan
1998	Amma Ammayiamma	Narayani Amma	Sandhya Mohan	Mukesh, Sukanya
2000	Mr.Butler	Grandmother	Sasi Shankar	Dileep, Innocent, Jagathy
2003	Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum	Muthu's Grandmother	Vinayan	Prithviraj, Renuka Menon, Jagathy

External links

• Philomina at IMDb