Shobana Biography

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai is a versatile personality known for her roles as an actress, dancer, and choreographer. She embarked on her cinematic journey with notable debuts in multiple languages: Tamil with “Mangala Nayagi” (1980) where she began as a child artist, Telugu in “Bhakta Dhruva Markandeya” (1982) portraying Sunithi Devi, and Malayalam in “April 18” (1984) under her name Shobana.

Shobana Height, Age, Family, Biography, & More

She also ventured into Kannada cinema with “Giri Baale” (1985) playing the role of Neelaveni. Shobana’s talent was recognized early in her career with the Best Child Artist award for “Mangala Nayagi” (1980). Born on 21 March 1970, she continues to be celebrated for her contributions to Indian cinema and dance.

Early Life

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, born on 21 March 1970 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, showed early promise as a dancer and performer. She began her career as a child artist, making her debut in the Tamil film “Mangala Nayagi” (1980) and subsequently appearing in Telugu and Malayalam films. Trained in Bharatanatyam under noted gurus Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam, Shobana’s talent and dedication paved the way for her transition into a prominent actress and choreographer in Indian cinema.

Education

Shobana attended St. Thomas Higher Secondary School in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, for her schooling.

Age

Shobana was born on 21 March 1970 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, under the zodiac sign of Aries. As of 2024, she is 54 years old and holds Indian nationality.

Physical Stats

Shobana stands approximately 5′ 8″ tall (172 cm) with black eyes and black hair.

Wife

Shobana is unmarried and has adopted a daughter named Anantha Narayani, who is a dancer.

Family

Shobana’s father is Chandrakumar Pillai, and her mother is Anandam Chandrakumar. She has notable relatives including the Travancore sisters (Lalitha, Padmini, Ragini), who are renowned dancers and performers, along with her cousins Parvathy Jayaram, an actress, and Vineeth, an actor.

Shobana with her Father

Shobana with her Mother

Career

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai’s illustrious career spans decades, marked by her multifaceted talents as an actress, dancer, and choreographer. She gained early recognition as a child artist in films like “Mangala Nayagi” (1980) and “Bhakta Dhruva Markendaya” (1982). Transitioning into adulthood, Shobana excelled in classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, and established herself as an independent performer and choreographer.

Her acting career flourished with memorable roles in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, earning acclaim for films such as “April 18” (1984), “Rudraveena” (1984), and “Abhinandana” (1988). Beyond acting, she founded the dance school ‘Kalipinya’ in 1989, further cementing her legacy in the arts.

Film List

Telugu List

Net Worth

His net worth is not known.

Some Lesser Known Facts About Shobana

• Shobhana is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She is trained by Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam at the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Shobana worked in some Tamil films in the early 1990s. These films include ‘Mallu Vetti Minor,’ ‘Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai,’ ‘Idhu Namma Aalu,’ ‘Ponmana Selvan,’ and ‘En Kitta Mothathey.’
• Shobana then returned to Malayalam films.
• Shobana excels in Abhinaya, a form of Bharatanatyam. She became an independent performer and choreographer in her twenties.
• She performed live at the World Malayalee Convention in the United States in 1985.
• She entered the film industry as an actress with the Malayalam film ‘April 18’ in 1984. The film was directed by Balachandra Menon. Her portrayal of a simple girl in the film was praised by audiences.
• She came into the limelight with the 1980 Tamil film ‘Mangala Nayagi,’ which was directed by Krishnan and Panju. This film was a remake of the Hindi film ‘Saajan Bina Suhagan.’
• In the 1988 film ‘Abhinandana,’ she played the love interest of Karthik’s character, who aspires to become a classical dancer.
• In the 1984 film ‘Rudraveena,’ she acted opposite Chiranjeevi and played the role of Lalitha Sivajyothi, a classical dancer from a lower caste who was denied entry into the temple. This role brought her recognition in Telugu cinema.
• In 1985, Shobana acted in sixteen films.
• In 1984, she made her acting debut in the Tamil film industry with the film ‘Enakkul Oruvan,’ which was directed by SP Muthuraman. The film did not perform well at the box office.
• In 1982, she appeared in the Telugu film ‘Bhakta Dhruva Markendaya,’ a children’s film. The film was later released in Tamil.

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