Adoor Bhavani

Adoor Bhavani Biography

Adoor Bhavani was a veteran actress of Malayalam cinema known for supporting and character roles. Her sister Adoor Pankajam was also a noted character artist of Malayalam cinema. The sisters belong to Adoor of Pathanamthitta district and thus known by the tag name – Adoor. Adoor has contributed numerous artists to Malayalam cinema. World famous director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and legendary actor of Malayalam cinema Adoor Bhasi also belong to the same village. Bhavani is best known for portraying roles similar to ‘Mandara’ of epic Ramayana, who creates quarrels between two. She has also portrayed some serious and negative roles apart from several comic ones. She also portrayed illiterate lady in most of her movies.  Kallichellama is one of her most memorable roles and she received Kerala state award for second best actress for the role. With her death, she left a void that can never be filled by another artist.

 She was born in 1927 in Adoor of Pathanamthitta district to Adoor Paarappurathu Kunjuraman Pillai and Kunjoonjamma. Adoor Pankajam was two years younger to her. Panakajam was also a well-established film and theater artist and she used to perform music concerts at temple festivals. The sisters were born in a very poor family and for the same reason they couldn’t get higher education. They studied till primary school only. Later the sisters got associated with plays and theatre though it was disapproved by their parents. Slowly their good performances in theatre earned opportunities in movies as well.

Though Pankajam got film opportunities first, it was the elder sister who excelled in acting. Pankajam had good looks comparing her elder sister. Kallichellamma, Swayamvaram and Kodiyettam are among her earliest noted roles. Adoor Bhavani, veteran actor, passed away at Pannivizha near Adoor on 25 October 2009 and a few months later on 26 June 2010, Pankajam too passed away, thus bringing to an end of a legendary episode of the amazing story of Adoor sisters of silver screen. She was also suffering from Osteoporosis.

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Updated: July 07, 2014