Suma Kanakala

Suma Kanakala (née Pallassana Paachuveettil Suma; born on 22 March 1975) is an Indian actress, television presenter and producer who predominantly works in Telugu films and television. She is best known for hosting ETV's Star Mahila – a Telugu TV game show, which is the longest-running TV game show in India and ran for exactly 12 years.

Suma Kanakala
Suma in 2015
Born
Pallassana Paachuveettil Suma

(1975-03-22) 22 March 1975 (age 49)
Occupations
Years active1991–present
TelevisionStar Mahila
Spouse
(m. 1999)
Children2

Early and personal life

Suma was born on 22 March 1975 in her native hometown of Palakkad, Kerala, India.[1] She was born to a Malayali orthodox Nair family and her parents are Pranavi Narayanan Kutty Nair and Pallassana Paachuveettil Vimala who were associated in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India for a very long time because of the father's job transfer near Lalaguda & Mettuguda railways in Secunderabad. She studied at St. Ann’s high school near Tarnaka colony and completed her Degree from Railway Degree College in Lalaguda. Suma was born 10 years later after her parents’ marriage as the only child for them. After six months of her mother’s delivery, she along with her parents flew to Secunderabad where she was brought up near Lalaguda & Mettuguda railways.

She married Tollywood actor, Rajeev Kanakala on 10 February 1999 in Hyderabad. They have two children, Roshan Karthik Kanakala and Manaswini Kanakala.[2][3] In addition to her mother tongue of Malayalam, she is fluent in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and English.[1]

Career

A presenter aged 16, she has hosted many Telugu film audio launches, film awards and functions. She is a Malayali from Kerala, but speaks Telugu fluently. She has acted in various serial and telefilms since 1995, her breakthrough came with the boom in satellite channels. Swayamvaram, Anveshitha, Geethanjali, and Ravoyi Chandamama were her major dramas. She didn't have any interest in working in films.

Kanakala's flagship show is Star Mahila on ETV, which attracted many female audiences.[4] She created a record by this show becoming one of the longest running women game show in India. Kanakala started her own production house named K. Suma Rajeev Creations on 26 December 2012 and has produced a show named Lakku Kikku which was telecasted on Zee Telugu. She also worked in a show named Genes on ETV. Her Kevvu Keka on MAA TV with co-star Mano and produced by K. Suma Rajeev Creations. Kanakala also sang "Suya Suya" song from the 2017 Telugu film Winner. She is well known for her spontaneous and humorous remarks during her shows.[5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
1996Kalyana PraapthirasthuTelugu[6]
1997Newspaper BoySitaMalayalam
IshtadanamAnitha Varma
1998Oro Viliyum KathorthuSubhadra
Pavitra PremaSwapnaTelugu
2000Chala BagundiVijayalakshmi
2001Pandanti Samsaram
Kalisi NaduddamVijaya's friend
2002Raghava
Joruga HusharugaKanchana's sister
2004VarshamVenkat's sister
SwarabhishekamNews reporter
2005PremikuluHerself
2007DheeShankar Goud's henchman's wife
2013BaadshahHerself
2019Oh! BabyTV Anchor (only on television)
2022Jayamma PanchayathiJayamma

Playback singer

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkLanguageNotes
1994–1995Amaravathi ki KathayeinDD NationalHindi
1997–1999AnveshithaClaraETVTelugu
Matti Manishi
Veyi Padagalu
Swayamvaram
Geetanjali
2007–2021Star MahilaETVTwo seasons
AvakayyaraHostMAA TV[7]
Lady Boss
Pattukunte Pattu CheeraTeja TV
PanchavataramTV9
Bhale Chance LeMAA TV
Lakku KikkuZee TeluguAlso producer
Gemini PuraskaaraluGemini TVTelevision special
Kevvu KekaMAA TV
2012–2013CineMAA AwardsTelevision special
SwarabhishekamETV
Soundarya Lahari
Pelli ChoopuluStar Maa
GenesETVTwo seasons
E JunctionETV Plus
2017Bigg Boss 1Inspection officerStar Maa
ConnexionHost
Sell Me The Answer
Wife Chethilo Life
2018Pelli Choopulu[8]
Sixth SenseContestant
2019F3 – Fun, Family & FrustrationHost
2018Apsara AwardsZee TeluguTelevision special
Big Celebrity ChallengeSeason 3
20198th SIIMA 2019Gemini TVTelevision special
2020–2021House of HungamaDesigner DeviStar Maa
2019–2022CashHostETVTwo seasons
2020All Is Well
2021Start MusicAhaSeason 3
2023–presentSuma AddaETV

Awards

References