Sachu

Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known as Kumari Sachu is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She is a character actress/comedienne who nonchalantly blended into the roles she has portrayed over five decades. She made her film début in 1953 in the film Rani at the age of 4, and has since then been a prominent face on the silver screen. She started acting in television serials in 1995.^[1]

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Sachu was born into a large 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, Maadi Lakshmi, for Bharatanatyam recitals, her film career forged ahead.

In 1953, Sachu, then less than four years old, was noticed by director A. S. A. Sami (of Velaikkari fame), who was in the process of casting her sister for a dance number.^[2] Sami cast her in the Bhanumathi-starrer Rani. 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). 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, released in 1961.

She was offered to play the role of a comedian and act as Nagesh's pair in the film Kadhalikka Neramillai,^[3] This film starred Muthuraman, Nagesh, Kanchana, Rajasree and T. S. Balaiah. After the 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 and 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 and 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 Haasan, Chiranjeevi, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as Vijay, Surya, Karthik, Sakthi Vasu and many others.

She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials such as Manbumigu Maamiyar, Costly Mappilay, Ananda Bhavan, "Chellamma" "veediyal Pudithu" Oorarinda Rahasiyam" "Mr Brain" "Pitchai Apartments"(Kalakendra Humour and Drama) "Podunalam ponnuswamy(Kalakendra Humour and Drama) "Washingtonil Thirumanam"(Kalakendra Humour and Drama) Dinesh Ganesh and Veetukku Veedu Looty, where she quotes that she had been able to act in roles which she could not in cinema.

She also acted as Vijayakumar's elder sister in the serial Nandini, which aired on Sun TV. She is currently doing role of Sumangala in Malayalam TV series Janakiyudeyum Abhiyudeyum Veedu.

Sachu received the Kalaimamani award from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 1991 and the Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha award, which was presented by M. S. Subbulakshmi. In 2012, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai honoured Kumari Sachu with the Nadaga Soodamani award.