Adoor Pankajam
# Adoor Pankajam

Adoor Pankajam (1925 – 26 June 2010) was an Indian actress, in Malayalam movies. She hailed from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state. Mainly, she was a supporting actress and a comedian. Her sister Adoor Bhavani was also a Malayalam cinema actress.

Pankajam's most noted performance was in the national award winning film Chemmeen as "Nalla Pennu". She also did a pivotal role in India's first neo-realistic film Newspaper Boy (1955). In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama.

She died at the age of 85 on 26 June 2010.

## Personal life

Adoor Pankajam was born to Adoor Paarappurathu Kunjuraman Pillai and Kunjoonjamma in 1925 and was the second child of 8 children. Her sister Adoor Bhavani also became famous later through plays and movies.

She could only study till 4th standard due to financial difficulties. But still she continued her music studies under Pandalam Krishnapillai Bhagavathar till the age of 11. By this time, she had done musical kacheri in most of the temples around her village.

At 12, she started acting in Kannur Kerala Kalanilayam troupe against the will of her parents. She acted in their play Madhumadhurayam on over 300 stages. Her next play was Rakthabhandham by a theater in Chengannoor. In this play, she did a comic role which was widely accepted.

She met Devarajan Potti, the owner of Kollam Bharatha Kalachandrika while she was working with this troupe and later married him. Potti later started another troupe called Parthasarathy Theaters and during her tenure with this troupe, she got an invitation to act in movies.

She has a son named Ajayan, who is a cinema/TV serial actor.

## Career

She started her acting career with the stage play Madhu Madhuryam by Kalanilayam Theaters. Her first movie was Premalekhanam, produced by Pappa Soman. But her first movie which got released was Vishappinte Vila, directed by Boban Kunchacko. Her last movie was the Dileep-starrer Kunjikoonan. She has acted in over 400 films during her career.

In 1976, she and her sister Adoor Bhavani started a Theater troupe called Adoor Jaya Theaters. But later the sisters got split up and Bhavani left the Theater. Pankajam went on with the theater with her husband Devarajan Potti and she kept the Theater active for over 18 years.

In 2008, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honoured Pankajam and Bhavani for their overall contributions to theatre and drama. She has also received the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in the movie Sabarimala Ayyappan.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role |
| - | - | - |
| 2014 | Tharangal | Archive footage |
| 2006 | Ammathottil | |
| 2004 | Snehapoorvam | |
| 2003 | Margam | |
| 2002 | Adheena | |
| 2002 | Kunjikoonan | |
| 2001 | Snehapoorvam Anna | |
| 2001 | Soothradaran | Rameshan's grandmother |
| 1998 | Kudumba Vaarthakal | Meera's mother |
| 1998 | Thattakam | Meenakshi Thalla |
| 1997 | Adukkala Rahasyam Angadi Pattu | Karimeli |
| 1996 | Harbour | Plamena Ammachi |
| 1996 | Mayoora Nritham | Bhavaniyamma |
| 1995 | Three Men Army | Indira Devi's mother |
| 1995 | Achan Rajavu Appan Jethavu | Mariyamma |
| 1995 | Thumbolikadappuram | Kakkamma |
| 1995 | Kathapurushan | |
| 1995 | Arabikadaloram | Hassan's mother |
| 1995 | Alanchery Thambrakkal | Kettilamma |
| 1995 | Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka | Kusumavalli |
| 1993 | Varam Tharum Vadivelan Tamil film | Devi |
| 1992 | Aham | Mariyamma |
| 1992 | Kudumbasammetham | |
| 1991 | Perumthachan | Unnimya Valiyamma |
| 1991 | Maydinam | Mariya |
| 1991 | Neelagiri | Muthiyamma |
| 1990 | Aye Auto | Pankachi |
| 1990 | Lal Salam | |
| 1989 | Swagatham | Mrs.Pillai |
| 1989 | Najangalude Kochu Doctor | |
| 1989 | Aattinakkare | |
| 1988 | Kandathum Kettathum | |
| 1988 | Oohakkachavadam | |
| 1987 | Anantharam | Lakshmi Amma |
| 1981 | Arikkari Ammu | |
| 1981 | Vaadaka Veettile Athidhi | |
| 1980 | Palattu Kunjikannan | |
| 1980 | Ammayum Makalum | Brahannala |
| 1980 | Theekadal | Karthyayani |
| 1979 | Rajaveedhi | |
| 1979 | Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha | Kunjikkaliyamma |
| 1978 | Chakrayudam | |
| 1978 | Kadathanattu Makkam | |
| 1978 | Aaru Mankikkoor | |
| 1978 | Padakuthira | |
| 1978 | Vadakakkoru Hridayam | Karthyayani |
| 1977 | Choondakkari | |
| 1977 | Kodiyettam | |
| 1977 | Kannappanunni | |
| 1977 | Achaaram Ammini Osharam Omana | Kalyani |
| 1976 | Chennay Valarthiya Kutti | Padmakshi |
| 1976 | Mallanum Mathevanum | |
| 1976 | Yakshaganam | Naaniyamma |
| 1975 | Neela Ponman | Akkomma |
| 1975 | Neela Sari | |
| 1975 | Nathoon | |
| 1975 | Ma Nishada | |
| 1975 | Dharma Kshethra Kurukshethra | |
| 1975 | Priyamulla Sophia | |
| 1975 | Swarnamalsyam | |
| 1975 | Cheenvala | Karthyayani |
| 1974 | Vandikkari | |
| 1974 | Devi Kanyakumari | |
| 1974 | Youvanam | |
| 1974 | Durga | Yashodha |
| 1974 | Thumbolarcha | Ponni |
| 1973 | Rakkuyil | Madhavi |
| 1973 | Swargaputhri | Mariyakutty |
| 1973 | Ponnapuram Kotta | Kochukumma |
| 1973 | Thenaruvi | Kotha |
| 1973 | Pavangal Pennungal | |
| 1973 | Yaamini | Dakshyayani |
| 1973 | Panitheeratha Veedu | Rosi |
| 1973 | Chayam | |
| 1973 | Thottavadi | Kamalamma |
| 1973 | Enipadikal | |
| 1972 | Adyathe Kadha | |
| 1972 | Aromalunni | Nanipennu |
| 1972 | Prathikaram | Kamalam |
| 1972 | Postmane Kananilla | |
| 1972 | Gandharavakshetram | Lilly |
| 1972 | Oru Sundariyude Kadha | Paachiyakka |
| 1972 | Sree Guruvayoorappan | |
| 1971 | Lora Nee Evide | |
| 1971 | Bobanum Moliyum | |
| 1971 | Karakanakadal | Thoma's mother |
| 1971 | Panchavan Kaadu | Nangeli |
| 1971 | Agnimrigam | Karthyayini |
| 1970 | Dathuputhran | Achamma |
| 1970 | Othenante Makan | Uppatti |
| 1970 | Thara | Hostel warden |
| 1970 | Ningalenne Communistakki | Kamalamma |
| 1970 | Pearl View | Rathi Madhavan |
| 1969 | Urangatha Sundari | Madhavi |
| 1969 | Susi | Achamma |
| 1969 | Koottukudumbam | Shankari |
| 1969 | Jwala | Panki |
| 1969 | Kumara Sambhavam | Vasumathi |
| 1968 | Punnapra Vayalar | PK Vilasiniyamma |
| 1968 | Kodugalooramma | Konkimaami |
| 1968 | Ragini | |
| 1968 | Thirichadi | Ammukutti |
| 1967 | Mainatharuvi Kolacase | Orotha |
| 1967 | Kavalam Chundan | |
| 1967 | Olathumathi | |
| 1966 | Jail | Shankari |
| 1966 | Chemmeen | Nalla Pennu |
| 1965 | Thommante Makkal | Marykutty's mother |
| 1965 | Muthalali | |
| 1965 | Kadathukaran | Naaniyamma |
| 1965 | Inapravukal | Mariya |
| 1965 | Devatha | Pankajakshiyamma |
| 1965 | Odayil Ninnu | Sara |
| 1965 | Kochumon | Maathu |
| 1965 | Kattuthulasi | Kamalamma |
| 1965 | Kattuppokkal | Sharada |
| 1965 | Shakunthala | |
| 1964 | Adyakiranagal | Kunjeli |
| 1964 | Ayisha | Beeyathu |
| 1964 | Atom Bomb | Kalyanikutty |
| 1964 | Omanakuttan | Pankajakshi |
| 1964 | Karutha Kai | Maheswari |
| 1964 | Manavatti | Kalyani |
| 1964 | Anna | |
| 1964 | Bharthavu | Seetha |
| 1964 | Kalaju Kittiya Thankam | Pankajam |
| 1963 | Chilamboli | Parijatham |
| 1963 | Snapaka Yohannan | Rahael |
| 1963 | Sathyabhama | Harini |
| 1963 | Doctor | Thankamma |
| 1963 | Kalayum Kaminiyum | Panki |
| 1963 | Kadalamma | Kaliyamma |
| 1963 | Nithya Kanyaka | |
| 1963 | Susheela | |
| 1962 | Snehadeepam | Kochu Narayani/Naani |
| 1962 | Bhagyajathakam | Servant |
| 1962 | Kaalpadukal | |
| 1962 | Kannum Karalum | Parukuttiyamma |
| 1962 | Bharya | Rahel |
| 1962 | Sreerama Pattabhishekam | Mandara |
| 1961 | Bhakta Kuchela | Kamakshi |
| 1961 | Jnaanasundari | Kathri |
| 1961 | Christmas Rathri | Mariya |
| 1961 | Sabarimala Ayyappan | Parvathi |
| 1959 | Nadodikal | Janu |
| 1959 | Chathurangam | |
| 1958 | Randidangazhi (film) | |
| 1957 | Minnunnathellam Ponnalla | Kalyani |
| 1957 | Padatha Painkili | Theyi |
| 1957 | Deva Sundari | |
| 1956 | Koodapirappu | |
| 1956 | Manthravadi | Mayavathi |
| 1956 | Avar Unnarunnu | Nani |
| 1955 | Newspaper Boy | Lakshmi Amma |
| 1955 | Harishchandra | Kalakanta's wife |
| 1955 | Kidappadam | Rishakkaran's wife |
| 1955 | CID | Panki |
| 1954 | Avan Varunnu | Madhaviyamma |
| 1954 | Avakashi | Sheelavathi |
| 1954 | Balyasakhi | Gouri |
| 1953 | Sheriyo Thetto | Paru |
| 1953 | Ponkathir | Janu |
| 1952 | Vishappinte Vili | Madhavi |
| 1952 | Premalekha | Devaki |
| 1952 | Achan | Pankajam |

## Dramas

* Parithranayam
* Pamsula
* Homam
* Rangapooja
* Paashupathrasthram
* Madhumadhurayam
* Rakthabhandham
* Kalyanachitti

## TV Serial

* Parinamam
