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Shoba

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For other people name Shoba, see Shoba (name).
Shobha
Shobha from the film Moodu Pani (1980)[1]
Born
Mahalakshmi Menon

(1962-09-23)23 September 1962
Died1 May 1980(1980-05-01) (aged 17)[2]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Cause of deathSuicide by hanging
Other namesShoba Mahendra, Urvashi Shoba,[2] Baby Mahalakshmi, Baby Shoba
OccupationActress
Years active1965–1980
Spouse
​
(m. 1978)​
MotherPrema

Mahalakshmi Menon, best known by her stagename Shobha (23 September 1962 – 1 May 1980), was an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam and Tamil films. At the age of 17, she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1979 Tamil film Pasi. She also received three Kerala State Film Awards: for Best Actress (1978), Best Supporting Actress (1977) and Best Child Artist (1971); and two Filmfare Awards South for Best Actress in Kannada (1978) and Tamil (1979) films. Considered one of the finest talents to have emerged in the Indian film world, her promising career was unexpectedly cut short as she committed suicide in 1980, due to unknown reasons. Her popularity resulted in considerable public scrutiny of the events that led to her death and also various conspiracy theories.[3] The 1983 Malayalam film Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback is supposedly based on her life and death.

Born to Malayali parents in Madras, she started her career in the Tamil film industry, making her debut as a child artist in Thattungal Thirakkappadum (1966). Her first film as the main lead actress was in the 1978 Malayalam film Uthrada Rathri.

Early life

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Shoba was born on 23 September 1962, to K. P. Menon and Prema Menon – an actress credited by the mononym Prema, in the Malayalam film industry, from 1954 to 1981.[4]

Career

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In 1966, Shoba made her screen debut in Tamil thriller film Thattungal Thirakkappadum directed by actor J. P. Chandrababu. In the film she was credited as Baby Mahalakshmi where she played the role of Lakshmi opposite actress Savitri, K. R. Vijaya, R. S. Manohar and Chandrababu himself.[5][6] The following year she made her debut in Malayalam cinema in P. Venu's Udhyogastha, where she was credited as Baby Shoba. The film has been touted as the first "multi-starrer" of Malayalam cinema, with such top actors as Sathyan, Prem Nazir, K. P. Ummer, Padmini, Sharada, Sheela and Rajasree;[7] the huge hit, in a film targeted to all ages, brought Shoba wide attention as a child actor.[citation needed]

In 1978 she was cast as a heroine in Uthrada Rathri, a film directed by Balachandra Menon. She received the Kerala government's Best Actress award for the 1978 films Bandhanam and Ente Neelakaasham. The same year she earned the Best Actress award by Filmfare for the Kannada cinema film Aparichita. In 1979 she received the National Award for Best Actress for the Tamil film Pasi, which was produced by Lalitha, the eldest of the Travancore sisters. She also received the Filmfare Best Actress award for Pasi and received the Second Best Actress award from the Kerala government in 1977 for the film Ormakal Marikkumo.

Death

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Shobha is alleged to have committed suicide by hanging at the age of 17.[8][9] She was married to Balu Mahendra. The 1983 Malayalam film Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback directed by K. G. George is loosely based on her life and death.[10]

Filmography

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Malayalam films

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 Jeevithayaathra
1966 Karuna
Penmakkal
1967 Ollathumathi
Udhyogastha
Pareeksha
1968 Kadal
Adhyapika
Aparadhini
1969 Kuruthikkalam
Veettumrugam
1971 Avalalpam Vaikippoyi
Yogamullaval
Sindooracheppu Ammalu
Makane Ninakku Vendi Young Sophia
1972 Taxi Car Baby Shobha
Gandharavakshetram Young Lakshmi
Aradimanninte Janmi Minikutty
1973 Udayam Young Geetha
Bhadradeepam Lekha
1974 Ayalathe Sundari Shobha
Night Duty Ammini
1975 Ayodhya Shanthi
1976 Chottanikkara Amma
Amrithavaahini Rani
1977 Dweepu
Ormakal Marikkumo Ammini/Parvathi
Nurayum Pathayum
Rajaparambara
1978 Pad–aram Shoba
Randu Penkuttikal
Vayanadan Thamban
Uthrada Rathri
Oolkatal Reena
Ekakini
Bandhanam Thankam
1979 Lillyppookkal
Ishtapraaneshwari Rema
Ente Neelakaasham Malathy
1980 Shalini Ente Koottukari Shalini
Daaliya Pookkal
Soorya Daaham
Yovvanam Daham
Manju Moodal Manju

Tamil films

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 Naanal Child artist
1966 Thattungal Thirakkappadum Child artist
1969 Iru Kodugal Shoba Child artist
1971 Punnagai
1974 Vairam Usha
1978 Achchani
Nizhal Nijamagiradhu Thilagam
Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam Gowri
Mullum Malarum Valli
1979 Veetuku Veedu Vasappadi
Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai Kamala Typist
Enippadigal Chella Kannu
Chakkalathi Panchali
Agal Vilakku Navaneetham
Azhiyatha Kolangal Indumathi
Pasi Kuppamma
1980 Veli Thandiya Velladu
Moodu Pani Rekha
Ponnagaram Bhavani
Saamanthippoo
1981 Mayil Released posthumously
Vaadagai Veedu Released posthumously
Anbulla Athan Released posthumously

Telugu films

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Tharam Marindi Chenna
1978 Manavoori Pandavulu Sundari

Kannada films

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Kokila Kokila
1978 Aparichita Kusuma
1982 Amara Madhura Prema Released posthumously

Awards

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National Film Awards[8]
Filmfare Awards South
Kerala State Film Award[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Balu Mahendra (1939-2014)". The Hindu. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Top Indian actress found hanged". Montreal Gazette. United Press International. 2 May 1980. p. 10 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ Aravind, CV (9 May 2020). "Remembering Shoba, the brilliant actor who left us too soon". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021.
  4. ^ Babu, Subash (10 May 2020). "Actress Shobha and her intriguingly filmy life story still remain endearing". Malayala Manorama. Archived from the original on 29 May 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  5. ^ "The agony and ecstasy of being – Chandrababu". Southside.in. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008.[failed verification]
  6. ^ Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "A voice that mesmerised". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Film director P. Venu dead". The Hindu. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  8. ^ a b Kumar, S. R. Ashok (3 May 2002). "It's a heavy price to pay". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Why South Indian heroines are embracing death". Mid-Day. 20 April 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  10. ^ Joy, Prathibha. "Veteran director Balu Mahendra no more". The Times of India.
  11. ^ "State Film Awards". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.

Further reading

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