Adoor Pankajam (1925 – 26 June 2010) was an Indian actress, in Malayalam movies. She hailed from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state.[1] Mainly, she was a supporting actress and a comedian. Her sister Adoor Bhavani was also a Malayalam cinema actress.[2]

Adoor Pankajam
Born1925
Adoor, Travancore
Died26 June 2010
Adoor, Kerala, India
OccupationActress
Years active1937–1996
SpouseDevarajan Potti
ChildrenAjayan
Parent(s)K. Raman Pilla, Kunjukunjamma

Pankajam's most noted performance was in the national award winning film Chemmeen as "Nalla Pennu". She also did a pivotal role in India's first neo-realistic film Newspaper Boy (1955). In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.[citation needed]

She died at the age of 85 on 26 June 2010.[3]

Personal life

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Adoor Pankajam was born to Adoor Paarappurathu Kunjuraman Pillai and Kunjoonjamma in 1925 and was the second child of 8 children.[1] Her sister Adoor Bhavani also became famous later through plays and movies.

She could only study till 4th standard due to financial difficulties. But still she continued her music studies under Pandalam Krishnapillai Bhagavathar till the age of 11. By this time, she had done musical kacheri in most of the temples around her village.

At 12, she started acting in Kannur Kerala Kalanilayam troupe against the will of her parents. She acted in their play Madhumadhurayam on over 300 stages. Her next play was Rakthabhandham by a theater in Chengannoor. In this play, she did a comic role which was widely accepted.

She met Devarajan Potti, the owner of Kollam Bharatha Kalachandrika while she was working with this troupe and later married him. Potti later started another troupe called Parthasarathy Theaters and during her tenure with this troupe, she got an invitation to act in movies.

She has a son named Ajayan, who is a cinema/TV serial actor.

Career

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She started her acting career with the stage play Madhu Madhuryam by Kalanilayam Theaters. Her first movie was Premalekhanam, produced by Pappa Soman. But her first movie which got released was Vishappinte Vila, directed by Boban Kunchacko. Her last movie was the Dileep-starrer Kunjikoonan. She has acted in over 400 films during her career.

In 1976, she and her sister Adoor Bhavani started a Theater troupe called Adoor Jaya Theaters. But later the sisters got split up and Bhavani left the Theater. Pankajam went on with the theater with her husband Devarajan Potti and she kept the Theater active for over 18 years.

In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.[citation needed] She has also received the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in the movie Sabarimala Ayyappan.

Filmography

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1950s

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 Achan Pankajam
Premalekha Devaki
Vishappinte Vili Madhavi
1953 Ponkathir Janu
Sheriyo Thetto Paru
1954 Balyasakhi Gouri
Avakashi Sheelavathi
Avan Varunnu Madhaviyamma
1955 CID Panki
Kidappadam Rishakkaran's wife
Harishchandra Kalakanta's wife
Newspaper Boy Lakshmi Amma
1956 Avar Unarunnu Nani
Manthravadi Mayavathi
Koodappirappu
1957 Deva Sundari
Padatha Painkili Theyi
Minnunnathellam Ponnalla Kalyani
1958 Randidangazhi
1959 Chathurangam
Nadodikal Janu

1960s

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 Sabarimala Ayyappan Parvathi
Christmas Rathri Mariya
Jnaanasundari Kathri
Bhakta Kuchela Kamakshi
1962 Sreerama Pattabhishekam Mandara
Bharya Rahel
Kannum Karalum Parukuttiyamma
Kaalpadukal
Bhagyajathakam Servant
Snehadeepam Kochu Narayani/Naani
1963 Susheela
Nithyakanyaka
Kadalamma Kaliyamma
Kalayum Kaminiyum Panki
Doctor Thankamma
Sathyabhama Harini
Snapaka Yohannan Rahael
Chilamboli Parijatham
1964 Kalaju Kittiya Thankam Pankajam
Bharthavu Seetha
Anna
Manavatti Kalyani
Karutha Kai Maheswari
Omanakuttan Pankajakshi
Atom Bomb Kalyanikutty
Aayisha Beeyathu
Adyakiranagal Kunjeli
1965 Shakuntala
Kattuppokkal Sharada
Kattuthulasi Kamalamma
Kochumon Maathu
Odayil Ninnu Sara
Devatha Pankajakshiyamma
Inapravukal Mariya
Kadathukaran Naaniyamma
Muthalali
Thommante Makkal Marykutty's mother
1966 Chemmeen Nalla Pennu
Jail Shankari
1967 Ollathumathi
Kavalam Chundan
Mainatharuvi Kolacase Orotha
1968 Thirichadi Ammukutti
Ragini
Kodugalooramma Konkimaami
Punnapra Vayalar PK Vilasiniyamma
1969 Kumara Sambhavam Vasumathi
Jwala Panki
Koottukudumbam Shankari
Soosi Achamma
Urangatha Sundari Madhavi

1970s

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Year Title Role Notes
1970 Pearl View Rathi Madhavan
Ningalenne Communistakki Kamalamma
Thara Hostel Warden
Othenante Makan Uppatti
Dathuputhran Achamma
1971 Agnimrigam Karthyayini
Panchavan Kaadu Nangeli
Karakanakadal Thoma's mother
Bobanum Moliyum
Lora Nee Evide
1972 Sree Guruvayoorappan
Oru Sundariyude Kadha Paachiyakka
Gandharavakshetram Lilly
Postmane Kananilla
Prathikaram Kamalam
Aromalunni Nanipennu
Adyathe Kadha
1973 Enippadikal
Thottavadi Kamalamma
Chayam
Panitheeratha Veedu Rosi
Yamini Dakshyayani
Pavangal Pennungal
Thenaruvi Kotha
Ponnapuram Kotta Kochukumma
Swargaputhri Mariyakutty
Rakkuyil Madhavi
1974 Thumbolarcha Ponni
Durga Yashodha
Youvanam Rajan's girlfriend
Devi Kanyakumari Kamalakshi
Vandikkari
1975 Cheenavala Karthyayani
Swarnamalsyam
Priyamulla Sophia
Dharma Kshethra Kurukshethra
Manishada Sathyabhama
Nathoon
Neela Sari
Neela Ponman Akkomma
1976 Yakshaganam Naaniyamma
Mallanum Mathevanum
Chennay Valarthiya Kutti Padmakshi
1977 Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana Kalyani
Kannappanunni
Kodiyettam Pankajakshi
Choondakkari
1978 Vadakakkoru Hridayam Karthyayani
Padakuthira
Aaru Mankikkoor
Kadathanattu Makkam
Chakrayudam
1979 Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Kunjikkaliyamma
Rajaveedhi

1980s

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Theekadal Karthyayani
Ammayum Makalum Brahannala
Paalattu Kunjikannan
1981 Vaadaka Veettile Athidhi
Arikkari Ammu
1987 Anantaram Lakshmi Amma
1988 Oohakachavadam
Kandathum Kettathum
1989 Aattinakkare
Najangalude Kochu Doctor Nurse
Swagatham Mrs. Pillai

1990s

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Lal Salam
Aye Auto Pankachi
1991 Neelagiri Muthiyamma
Maydinam Mariya
Perumthachan Unnimya Valiyamma
1992 Kudumbasametham
Aham Mariyamma
1993 Varam Tharum Vadivelan Devi Tamil film
1995 Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka Kusumavalli
Alanchery Thambrakkal Kettilamma
Arabikadaloram Hassan's mother
Kathapurushan
Thumbolikadappuram Kakkamma
Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu Mariyamma
Three Men Army Indira Devi's mother
1996 Mayoora Nritham Bhavaniyamma
Harbour Plamena Ammachi
1997 Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu Karimeli
1998 Thattakam Meenakshi Thalla
Kudumba Vaarthakal Meera's mother

2000s

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Soothradharan Rameshan's grandmother
Snehapoorvam Anna
2002 Kunjikoonan
Adheena
2003 Margam
2004 Snehapoorvam
2006 Ammathottil

2010s

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 Tharangal Archive footage

Dramas

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  • Parithranayam
  • Pamsula
  • Homam
  • Rangapooja
  • Paashupathrasthram
  • Madhumadhurayam
  • Rakthabhandham
  • Kalyanachitti

TV Serial

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  • Parinamam

References

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  1. ^ a b "അടൂര്‍ സഹോദരിമാര്‍, Interview - Mathrubhumi Movies". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Manorama Online |". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Malayalam actress Adoor Pankajam dies". News18. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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