THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Self-contentment has been her way of artistic-fulfilment, not awards and honours. The latest national honour, which many would admit as a late recognition to Sukumari, has made this veteran actor as enthused as ever. “I don’t know whether it is a late recognition or not. I am happy that I have got the national award,’’ said Sukumari in precisely measured words over the phone.
Seven times have Sukumari been awarded the best supporting actress, four times by the Kerala state and thrice by Kerala Critics Association. Never was heard a plea for more from this pleasant looking actor. Even while owning an immensely rich oeuvre, Sukumari has found more pleasure in the shadow than in the sparkling limelight.
Even though equally blessed an actor as her cousins, she was happier pairing with Adoor Bhasi than with Prem Nazir in the blooming times of her career. Though her debut in the lead role, Sukumari’s sedate visage was destined more for the solid character roles which she did with incredible assurance and control. When she did the scheming panchayat member Rahel in Panchavadippalam, she claimed an equal share of acclaim along with mavericks such as Bharat Gopi, Thilakan and Nedumudi Venu. When she played the shrewd, sensuous brothel runner Maluvamma with fiendish callousness in Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil, she let open a dark, an almost intimidating side of herself as an actor.
She seemed to reinvent her comic prowess in her roles as plump, pretentious rich ladies in the comic riots fashioned by Priyadarshan during the late 80s. There was nothing her face couldn’t reflect. Be it pomp, pleasure or pity, grouse, gloom or grief, her renditions in Malayalam cinema seemed just perfect. Not even the most captious critic would have found her less deserving.
Yet it required the character of a suffering, sacrificing brahmin lady in Tamil movie Namma Gramam to bestow her with a national honour.
But the awardee has a better way of putting it with the typical motherly warmth. “Awards have always made me happy. I have never given more thought into it.’’
