Subbalakshmi is an acclaimed Carnatic musician, composer and an actress in Malayalam movies. She is one of the prominent supporting actresses currently handling grand mother roles in Malayalam movies. She is noted for her performance in Kalyanaraman (2002), Pandippada (2005) and Nandanam (2002). Her daughter Thara Kalyan is also an actress in Malayalam movies.
Personal life
She was married to late Kalyanakrishnan. The couple has two daughters and one son. Her younger daughter Thara Kalyan is also a famous actress and an acclaimed dancer. Subbalakshmi, prior to entering movies, was a music and dance instructor at Jawahar Balabhavan and has worked with All India Radio since 1951. She is noted for being the first lady composer of All India Radio from south India. She has done many concerts and is a dubbing artist as well. She has acted in some telefilms and albums.
Partial filmography
As actress
Appeared in more than 75 films
Malayalam films
Nandanam (2002) as Veshamani Ammal (Malayalam) Debut
Kalyanaraman (2002) as Karthyayyani
Thilakkam (2003) as Ammu's grandmother
Gramaphone (2003) as Gregory's mother
Saudhamini (2003) as Kunjulakshmiyamma
C.I.D. Moosa (2003) as Meena's grandmother
Maanikyan (2005) as Ammomma
Rappakal (2005) as Valiya Varma's Wife
Pandippada (2005) as Meena's Grandmother
Classmates (2006) as Special appearance in the song (old lady) Note Book (2006) Kalabham (2006) as Alamelu Ammal Ravanan (2006) as Muthassi Romeoo (2007) as Bhama's grandmother Ali Bhai (2007) as Old lady in the colony Chocolate (2007) as Dance Teacher Mulla (2008) as Old lady Meghatheertham (2009) as Artist Chattambinaadu (2009) as Old lady in village Seetha Kalyanam (2009) as Abhirami's grandmother Yugapurushan (2010) as Antharjanam Marykkundoru Kunjaadu (2010) as Bus Passenger Neelambari (2010) as Paatti Note Out (2011) as Maya's grandmother Lakshmi Vilasam Renuka Makan Raghuram (2012) as Old woman Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty (2012) as TV Audient Load Shedding (2013) as Ravi's mother Oru Yathrayil (2013) - { Segment : I Love Appa} as Paatti Sound Thoma (2013) as Seller Swaasam (2013) as Meera's grandmother Koothara (2014) as Koobrin's Valyammachi Cherukkanum Pennum (2014) as Pranayakatha (2014) as Reetha's grandmother Avarude Veedu (2014) as Old lady Nakshathrangal (2014) as Madhaviyamma 69 (2014) as Grandmother Murukku (2014) as Lady Chirakodinja Kinavukal (2015) as Old lady Rudrasimhasanam (2015) as Grandmother Oru New Generation Pani (2015) as Rachana's paatti Rani Padmini (2015) as Rani's grandmother Ivan Maryadaraman (2015) as Old guest Aakashavani (2016) as Vani's grandmother 1948 Kaalam Paranjathu (2019) as Antharjanam Jack & Daniel (2019) as Muthassi Therottam (2019) One (2021) as Ramya's grandmother Star (2021) as Devi Muthassi Pachathappu as Meenakshiyamma Chakkarappazham Oru Vaathil Kotta Kaakan Mallanum Mathevanum
Telugu films
Kalyana Ramudu (2003) as Karthyayyani
Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) as Jessie's Grandmother
Hindi films
Jagat Jogini Maa Khodiyar (2006) as Mamaniya's wife
Ekk Deewana Tha (2012) as Jessie's Grandmother
Dil Bechara (2020) as Manny's grandmother
Tamil films
Oru Ponnu Oru Paiyan (2007) as Viswanathan's sister
Raman Thediya Seethai (2008) as Gayathri's paatti
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) as Jessie's grandmother
Ore Oru Raja Mokkaraja (2015) as Paatti
Ammani (2016) as Ammani (Title role) House Owner (2019) as Radha's grandmother Beast (2022) as hostage
Kannada films
Honganasu (2008) (Kannada)
Sanskrit films
Madhurasmitham
English film
In the Name of God
As Dubbing artist
Jack & Daniel (2019) - Old lady passenger in the road
Rock n' Roll (2007) - Chandramouli's mother (Vanitha Krishnachandran) - Song bit
As playback singer
"Entadukke Vannadukkum" as Marykkundoru Kunjaadu (2010) "Kanne Kannarakkanave" as Rudrasimhasanam (2015) "Mazhai Ingillaye" as Ammani (2016) "Super Sundaran" as Jimmy Ee Veedinte Aiswaryam (2019) Peythoriyathe