Philomina

Philomina (1926 – 2 January 2006) was a veteran Malayalam film actress. She acted in more than 750 films in her career. She played mostly character and comedy roles, besides that of grandmother and mother.^[1] She started acting on the stage. This experience stood her in good stead when she was offered her first film role.^[2] The character of Anappara Achamma in Godfather is acknowledged to be one of the powerful roles ever in Malayalam cinema.^[3]

Early life

Entering the film industry with eight years of experience in professional drama, she worked with the drama troupe of P J Antony in the early days. She used to say it was her initial experience with an actor like Antony that helped shape her film career.

Philomina's parents were perturbed when she had to travel to Chennai for the first shoot. It was Moidu Padiyathu who convinced her parents. Her first movie, Kuttikkupayam (1964), produced by T.E. Vasudevan and directed by M. Krishnan Nair was a big hit. Philomina played the role of Prem Nazir's mother, a Muslim character.

Personal life

She was born to Devassia and Mariam on 1926 at Thrissur. She had her primary education from Valapad GVHS School. Her father died when she was 12. She used to sing at church choir. When her father died she started singing for dramas to make a living. Later she started acting in dramas and then moved to movies.^[4] She got married to Antony a Theater Artist on 1956, but lost her husband when her only son Joseph was three years old.

Film career

Philomina won her first State award, for the best supporting actress, in 1970 for her roles in films Thurakkathavaathil and Olavum Theeravum. In 1987, she received the award for the second time for Thaniyavarthanam.^[5]

Somewhere during this time, there was a short break in her career. She came back in the films of Bharathan and Padmarajan. The roles in films like Chatta, Innale, Njan Gandharvan, Venkalam, Churam, Vietnam Colony. Her roles in Kudumbapuranam, Godfather, Uppukandam Brothers, Thalayanamandram and Kakkothikavile Appuppanthadikal would also be remembered for long.^[6]

It was Sathyan Anthikkad who first cast Philomina in a comic role. The film Madanmaar Londonil, gave this talented actress a new image. Her roles in films like Malayogam, Kireedam, Uncle Bun, Manathe Kottaram, Vrudhanmaare Sookshikkuka and In Harihar Nagar.

In a career spanning over four decades Philomina starred in 750 films and numerous television serials. She was last seen in Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum.

Later life

Philomina was living in a small, well done-up apartment in Kochi till she shifted to her son's place in Chennai a couple of years before her death. She was a chronic diabetic and suffered stroke in 2005. She was getting insulin shots for her diabetic condition. She was bed-ridden for over a month. She died at her son- Joseph's residence in Chennai due to diabetes related problems in January 2006.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards:

• Second Best Actress - 1970 - Thurakkatha Vathil, Olavum Theeravum
• Second Best Actress - 1987 - Thaniyavarthanam

Partial filmography

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

TV Serial

• Sthree

References

• http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Philomina&limit=147

External links

• Philomina at MSI
• Philomina at the Internet Movie Database
• http://johnd83.blogspot.com/2010/09/memorable-female-movie-charactors.html