Soundarya was an Indian multilingual actress and producer who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema besides Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films in lead roles. She is considered to be one of the most talented actors in South. She worked with almost all the top actors of her times. Unfortunately, she died in an aircraft crash near Bangalore on 17 April 2004, when she was on her way to Karimnagar to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party and Telugu Desam Party candidate for the upcoming elections. Today is her birth anniversary and let us try to recollect some of her achievements.

Soundarya made her debut with the film Manavarali Pelli. The film did not bring her enough recognition but she worked hard and emerged as a star heroine. She banked on her performance more than glamour and it was her USP. The success of Ammoru made her a star in the industry. Her performance as Padmavathi from the film Chudalani Undi is still a remarkable one in the history of Telugu cinema.

Jagapathi Babu acted in the most number of films with Soundarya. Some of the films in the combination are Bhale Bullodu, Chilukapachcha Kapuram, Priyuralu, Allari Premikudu, Dongata, Pelli Peetalu, Sardhukupodham Randi, Moodu Mukkalaata.

The films in the combination of Venkatesh and Soundarya have also become hits. Super Police, Intlo Illalu Ontintlo Priyuralu, Pavutra Bandham, Pelli Chesukundham Raa, Jayam Manadera, Devi Putrudu and others are some films in their combination.

Soundarya bagged a Nandi award for her performance in the film Pavitra Bandham. She also played a negative shaded role in Na Manasistha Raa and impressed the audiences. She is a part of multiple languages like Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam languages.

As the biopic of legendary actress Savitri titled as Mahanati is doing wonders at the theaters. Bringing back the golden times to us in the theaters, Mahanati is one of the most loved movies currently.

It seems like it is raining biopics in Telugu right now. After Mahanati, NTR and YSR biopics are on the cards too. The latest we hear is that late actress Soundarya’s life story is to be made as a biopic. This idea is shared from the mills of popular producer Raj Kandukuri of ‘Pelli Choopulu’ and ‘Mental Madhilo’ fame. It seems that Raj Kandukuri is to make this biopic which is currently being planned to be made in Telugu, Tamil Kannada, Malayalam. If the news will turn out to be true, whom do you think will suit to play Soundarya?

Well that’s what she says anyway! Yes, it was recently in a televised chat show that the fans got Soundarya Ashwin, the daughter of the Superstar and the woman behind the epic animated saga Kochadaiiyaan, to finally let loose and show her candid side to the fans.

Though the interview did start another controversy regarding Soundarya’s remark about actor Simbu and his singing… ahem, it did have another interesting highlight which caught everyone’s attention. When asked the question – “If you had to act with someone on screen, who would that be?”, Soundarya replied without much hesitation that it would have to be Thala Ajith.

She said she would like to act opposite him. Though we’re sure she must have gotten many offers along the way – growing up in the industry the way she did – the gorgeous film maker and mother has always maintained that she preferred to stay behind the camera.

She said that she admired and respected Ajith’s talent onscreen and him as a person too. Given her obvious liking for the actor, would she consider directing him ever? We don’t know about that just yet, but that would be one for the books indeed if Rajnikanth’s daughter were to direct a Thala Ajith film, yeah?

Soundarya has to be congratulated though on the success of Kochadaiiyaan here in India and internationally, as she was, without a doubt, the driving force behind its making and the one person who has been tirelessly campaigning for it since its release.

Though there have been criticisms aimed at Kochaidaiiyaan because of its technical flaws and how it doesn’t exactly match up to the Hollywood productions, she has been praised by many for the sheer innovation in bringing such a creation to the Indian audiences.

Veteran directors have also hailed her ambition and determination in getting it done on time and that too in two years, given the magnitude of the project, the people involved and the technology which was new to many.

Actor Silambarasan aka Simbu aka STR, has quite a loyal fan base among Kollywood audiences and it looks like they are always ready and willing to go that extra mile to support or defend their hero – though one might argue things went a bit too far this time for sure.

Here’s how the whole thing began:

Simbu had watched the Rajnikanth epic animated flick Kochadaiiyaan like millions of others aorund the world and being quite involved in the social media, he thought it best to tweet his opinions of the movie after watching it. He does, have quite a few people following him on Twitter after all, and while the star gave more or less a positive feedback about the film, he did point out that obvious fact, like many others before him – the graphics or the CGI were not up to Hollywood standards.

Now while this has been a much mentioned criticism of Kochadaiiyaan, one wonders why an actor who knows the whole process thought it best to summarize it in a tweet to be read by thousands.

Anyway, Soundarya Ashwin, the director of Kochadaiiyaan, didn’t make a big deal out of the critiquing and simply said thank you – then.

But later, when she was on a TV show (Coffee with DD on Vijaya TV) in a much hyped visit, she was asked about Simbu’s comment.. well, not directly but she was asked what she would like to say to five people – and in particular Simbu. Soundarya perhaps thought this the ideal chance for a friendly comeback to the actor’s criticism and said “Simbu, don’t sing. Stop it.”

Well, needless to say that didn’t go over very well with the numerous Simbu fans who were watching and thus began the, practically immediate, abuse of Soundarya on Twitter. Evidently, things escalated to such an extent that Simbu himself had to send out this tweet:

Everyone has their rite to comment about anyone …request fans to stop this abusive aprroach … Pls treat others the same way u treat me.

This prompted Soundarya to tweet out too and inform the fans at large that there were no hard feelings between Simbu and her, and that they were childhood friends.
While this has calmed most of the agitated STR admirers for now, it remains to be seen if there is going to be any long term bad blood – the public may move on quickly but they hardly ever forget, especially insults to their idols.

Things do seem to escalate these days since social media became just a bit too popular with the masses doesn’t it?

Watch the clip of the TV show that caused all the trouble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nYxs_V4dd0

In lieu of promoting Kochadaiiyaan, daughter of the Southern Superstar Rajinikanth, Soundarya opened up in a candid chat, sharing her views on the trending jokes of Rajinikanth. The super kid who produced the 3D tech film about the warrior Kochadaiiyaan, expressed few hearty things that make her father a superhero in the likes of Chuck Norris.

She particularly replied to the over the top jokes made on Rajini. “I think each person has his own identity. He is worshipped because of the way he is. He is by far the most true and honest person you will ever meet. He will be the same to everyone. He is the same to the biggest and the smallest person. He is honest to himself and to what he does” she said while talking to PTI.

“He practices what he preaches. I cannot comment on what separates him from his contemporaries but I believe he has his own identity and he is what he is. There is a lot of under current, a lot of respect for every Rajinikanth Joke. It is not that people come up with these things, it is because my father can do these impossible things, and I think only he can” Soundarya expressed.

The daughter who is known for her beauty and talent, worked very hard on this project and is quite proud about it. Kochadaiiyaan is a 3 D film with photorealistic motion caption picture technology that was earlier used in Hollywood biggies like Avatar and The Adventures of Tintin. Kochadaiiyaan will officially mark a new advancement in animation for the Indian Cinema.

Soundarya stated that Rajinikanth the brand itself is a game changer for the movie.“I believe he will be the game changer because animation has not been understood in our country yet, as it is still considered cartoon. In our country, again because of the lack of budget, time and trained technicians, a lot of films have not done justice to what animation can do” she said.