“Unfair” might be the only word that best describes how life — and those around them — treated some people. Srividya was one of them. Renowned for her nuanced and powerful portrayals of dramatic roles, Srividya’s only true quest in life was love. She deeply, sincerely wished to love and be loved. Although she was honest and transparent in her affections, those on the receiving end, unfortunately, weren‘t. And it was those very people, whom she showered with all the love in her heart, that hurt her the most.
Despite earning as much adoration and compassion from the public as any actor of her generation could, her bleeding heart remained unhealed until her death. Yet, whenever a Malayalam cinema lover thinks of Srividya, it is almost impossible not to picture her smiling face. As graceful, gorgeous and genuine as she was, her life was marred by misfortunes. Until her passing at the age of 53 from cancer, she continued to fight various battles; and hence, it wouldn‘t be an exaggeration to title her life story, “The Tragedy of the Woman Who Loved“.
Born on July 24, 1953, as the daughter of renowned Carnatic singer ML Vasanthakumari and Tamil actor “Vikatam” Krishnamoorthy, Srividya commenced her film career at the age of 13, playing a small role in Sivaji Ganesan, Savitri and Gemini Ganesan’s Tamil film Thiruvarutchelvar (1967). Unlike her mother, Srividya’s passion lay in dance. Having been trained from a young age, her refined facial expressions and rhythmic body language played a crucial role in establishing her as an actor.
In 1969, she made her debut in Malayalam cinema, a move that would eventually define her career. At just 16, she starred opposite 57-year-old legendary actor Sathyan in Chattambikkavala. The following year, she appeared in the mythological film Kumara Sambhavam, portraying apsara Menaka. Her dance performance in the song “Maya Nadana Viharini” was widely acclaimed, and the industry quickly recognised her as a promising talent. Offers from Malayalam, Tamil and occasionally Telugu cinema began pouring in, and Srividya rose to stardom with remarkable ease.
She delivered memorable performances in Malayalam films like Chenda, Amba Ambika Ambalika, Idavazhiyile Poocha Mindaapoocha, Vilkkanundu Swapnangal, Raagam Thaanam Pallavi and Kathayariyathe. In Tamil, she made her mark in films such as Nootrukku Nooru, Velli Vizha, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Sollathaan Ninaikkiren, Thirumalai Deivam and Apoorva Raagangal. In a career spanning over 35 years, Srividya acted in more than 800 films across the four major South Indian film industries, as well as in Bollywood.
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Much like the case of legendary actor Thilakan, it was filmmaker extraordinaire KG George who explored the potential of Srividya too to the fullest. In his films like Adaminte Vaariyellu, Panchavadi Palam and Irakal, she received extremely nuanced characters with massive depths, sans any commonalities between them, and Srividya delivered superlative performances, even overshadowing her co-stars at times.
Actor Kumari and Srividya in film Chithira Chevvanam. (Express archive photo)
One of her most impressive qualities was that she never shied away from playing supporting characters. At a time when the industry was too eager to box and categorise actors, even more so than today, Srividya proudly played characters that were twice her age. Nonetheless, even when she wasn’t the leading lady, the audience’s eyes always wandered to find her, thanks to her impactful performances.
From Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam, Ennennum Kannettante, Innale and Ente Sooryaputhrikku to Kabooliwala, Pavithram, Aniyathi Pravu, Aaraam Thampuran, Achaammakkuttiyude Achaayan, Naadan Pennum Nattu Pramaniyum, Ingane Oru Nilapakshi, Randam Bhavam, Malayali Mamanu Vanakkam and Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam, she won over Malayali hearts with her moving portrayal of supporting characters, particularly mother roles. She also appeared in several television serials, winning over audiences there as well.
Srividya was renowned for her nuanced and powerful portrayals of dramatic roles. (Express archive photo)
The Tragedy of the Woman Who Loved
Even when she was at the peak of her career, her personal life was shrouded in sorrows. In her early 20s, while she was becoming one of the most prominent female talents in the South, she fell in love with a younger Kamal Haasan, who was an up-and-coming actor at that time. Probably the first serious relationship they had in their lives, Srividya and Kamal were so into each other that they even decided to get married. As he grew as a star and started getting many opportunities, Kamal urged her to wait for him, but Srividya was unwilling to delay marriage any further. This led to a rift between them, and Kamal did not even contact her for some time. One day, he came over to her house, she shared during a chat with Kairali TV, and upon seeing them, Srividya’s mother suggested that they wait a few years before making any big decisions. She believed both of them had a long and successful career ahead, and warned them not to rush into marriage only to regret it later. However, Kamal was enraged hearing this and left immediately, thus ending the relationship forever. Soon, he married dancer Vani Ganapathy.
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“I was deeply hurt. I felt like a failure as a woman. I kept thinking, ‘What does she have that I don’t?’ Although we never became close friends afterwards, we always maintained a cordial relationship,” Srividya added. Nonetheless, the emotional scar that the relationship’s demise caused in her wasn’t small, and it led to a series of poor decisions afterwards.
Kamal Haasan and Srividya in director K Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal. (Credit: IMDb)
After that, she got into a relationship with ace filmmaker Bharathan. In an episode of Safari TV’s Charithram Enniloode programme, veteran screenwriter and Bharathan’s close friend John Paul revealed that the filmmaker’s relationship with Srividya defied all conventions of romance ingrained in the Malayali psyche, and they both formed a deeper connection at the soul level. They also weren’t, he shared, interested in reducing their bond to the four walls of marriage. In a chat with Kairali TV, legendary actor KPAC Lalitha, who eventually became Bharathan’s wife, revealed that she was the hamsam in his relationship with Srividya.
“It was only to phone her that Bharathan used to come to my house. At that time, her family didn’t entertain calls from men to Srividya because they knew that it would be Bharathan’s. So, he would make me call her, and once Srividya came on the other end, he would take over the phone to chat with her. I was there the moment they decided to part ways as well. It happened while Srividya and I were working together on a movie. Right before the incident, she expressed to me apprehensions about the relationship’s future, mentioning that Bharathan had trust issues,” she shared. However, even after their marriage, Bharathan pursued Srividya, but she never gave in, Lalitha attested.
Srividya with Lakshmi, Suhasini Charuhasan and SV Venugopalan. (Express archive photo)
“It took a long time for the wounds in my heart to heal,” she told Manorama Online once. “During that time, I wished I had some comfort from anyone. As an only daughter, I didn’t even have siblings to share my sorrows with.” That was when she came across George Thomas, the young man producing her movie Theekkanal. He quickly understood her likes and dislikes and began acting accordingly. For a person who yearned to be loved selflessly, George’s interest in her and his actions blinded her completely. She soon decided to tie the knot with the man, who had portrayed himself as an affluent movie producer. “I grew closer to him out of a defiant need to show those who had betrayed me that I was living well. In reality, I wasn’t in love with him. It was simply an affection one could feel for a person who offered some solace to a scarred heart.” Although many people close to her, including her mother, actor-filmmaker Madhu, and veteran thespian Manorama, tried to persuade her to reconsider the decision, Srividya married George in Mumbai after being baptised.
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But by the time Srividya realised the truth about George Thomas, it was very late. Contrary to his claims, he wasn’t rich, nor did he have any genuine interest in her. When Star of Cochin, a group that owned a chit fund company and hotel businesses, decided to get into film production, their top bosses needed a frontman. So, they entrusted the job to George, the son of a trusted staff member. In reality, he was simply a salaried employee.
Srividya with Sivaji Ganesan. (Express archive photo)
The realisation that she had been betrayed again shattered her. But to survive, she needed money, and Srividya decided to resume acting. Considering her potential and fame, she kept receiving good offers and adequate remuneration. However, director Alleppey Ashraf once shared, George kept seizing all the money she earned and squandered it. He apparently used to withdraw money from her account by forging her signature on cheques. She soon realised that he had no love for her and saw her only as a money-making machine. Meanwhile, she also got to know that he was having affairs with other women on the side. The two of them often had arguments over this, and George physically abused her as well, Ashraf claimed.
“He even nipped my dream of becoming a mother in the bud. He forced me to have an abortion several times. I realised he intended to avoid having another heir to my property, which would happen if a child were born,” she shared. One night, after enduring all the pain for five years and with no other option left, she took an auto to her mother’s house. Her mom embraced her with open arms. With her mother by her side, Srividya decided to end her marriage with George, but that wasn’t easy since they had tied the knot under the Christian Marriage Act. What followed was a long legal battle. During all that time, George had Srividya’s assets. The matter even reached the Supreme Court. Finally, the verdict came in Srividya’s favour, but 14 years had passed by then.
Srividya with Shalini in Aniyathipraavu. (Express archive photo)
Meanwhile, her mother had also passed away, leaving Srividya all alone. Even her so-called relatives turned their backs on her. More than financial losses, it was the emotional setbacks that crushed her. Her dreams of getting married, having a person loving her endlessly, embracing motherhood, and having a happy family — which she never experienced growing up as her parents were in a loveless marriage — were splintered forever. Life’s sadistic habit of playing cruel jokes on her didn’t end there. Smashing her dream of settling in America, Srividya was diagnosed with cancer. Her final days were heart-wrenching. Unable to bear the excruciating pain, she reportedly often begged the doctors to kill her. She passed away on October 19, 2006.
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Before she breathed her last, she wished to see Kamal Haasan one last time, Ashraf said. Upon learning, Kamal came rushing to meet her. He was heartbroken to see her in that condition. Their meeting was private, with just the two of them. Neither of them ever revealed what they talked about that day, but it underscored one thing: Kamal was the love of Srividya’s life, and probably vice versa, too. Filmmaker Ranjith’s romantic drama Thirakkatha (2008) was inspired by the life of Srividya and her relationship with Kamal.
Even after her demise, she wasn’t offered rest in peace, as her name often cropped up in the news as a controversy erupted over her assets. Although she had written a will entrusting everything to actor-politician KB Ganesh Kumar, outlining how to use her assets and for what — which included establishing a dance school for poor children — her relatives made a hue and cry later, saying they knew nothing of that sort. The case is still going on.
Maybe she was too innocent for this devious world, or maybe the world never deserved her to begin with. Over 20 years have passed since Srividya left us, but her memories and the outstanding performances she delivered live on.
