Roja Ramani (also known as Chemparathy Shobana) is an Indian actress and dubbing artist who predominantly worked in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil films. She was a child actor and her debut movie was Bhakta Prahlada (1967) for which she received National Film Award for Best Child Artist. She was popular during the 1970s and early 1980s and has acted in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Odia movies. She worked in over 400 Telugu films as a dubbing artist for various heroines. She is an active member of BlueCross and is involved in several social service activities.
Early life She was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India in as the only child to her parents. Her father was a journalist with Picture Post. The family relocated to Madras when she was 6 months old.
Career
She had started her career at the age of 7 in 1966 in the title role of Bhaktha Prahaladha in Telugu. It is the first full-length Eastman color feature film which was produced by AVM Productions. It was a blockbuster hit film. She acted in more than 40 films as a child artist and at the age of 13 she acted as a lead in the Malayalam movie Chemparathy which went on to be a record breaking hit and was a trendsetter at the time. The movie was remade with Roja Ramani in Telugu as Kanne Vayasu and in Tamil as Paruva Kaalam which also went on to be huge hits.
She has acted in more than 130 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Odia. She also lent her voice for over 400 films in Telugu and Tamil for the leading heroines at the time like Suhasini, Meena, Roja, Radhika, Soundarya, Ramba, Ramya Krishna, Vijaya Shanthi, Shilpa Shetty, Divya Bharathi, Nagma, and Khushbu.
She won the AP State Television Award, International Children's Film Festival Award, Filmfare Award, International Film Festival - Indian Panorama Award, and Zee Kutumbam Award.
Personal life She married Chakrapani, a Telugu actor in Odia and Telugu films, in 1981 at the age of 22, after meeting him on the sets of the Odia film Punarmilan (1977). He later became a producer, director, and the head of ETV Oriya. They have a son, Tarun, an actor in Telugu cinema, and a daughter, Amulya, who holds a degree in psychology and works as an interior designer.
Awards National Film Award for Best Child Artist for portraying Prahlada in Bhakta Prahlada – 1967
1972: Filmfare Best Actress Malayalam — Chembarathy
She has won more than 50 awards for her performances and voice dubbing. Like AP State Govt. NANDI Awards, Kerala State Govt, FilmFare, Cinema Express, Cine Herald, Malayala Manorama, Cine Goers, Madras Film Fans Associaction etc.
She was felicitated in 75 years of Indian Cinema Celebration and also in 100 years Cinema Celebration.
She has been honored in America, by Telugu Fine Arts Community in New Jersey and by Telugu Association in Tampa, Florida for her lifetime achievement and contribution to film industry. She was honored with Santosham Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Tollywood, at 15th Santosham Film Awards
In 2019, she received Santosham Excellence Award at 16th Santosham Film Awards.
Filmography
Year Film Role Language Notes 1967 Iru Malargal Geetha Tamil 1967 Bhakta Prahalada Tamil 1967 Bhakta Prahalada Telugu 1968 En Thambi Uma Tamil 1968 Bedi Bandavalu Kannada1968Chinnari PapaluTelugu1968Sathi ArundathiTelugu1968AsadhyuduTelugu 1969 Shanti Nilayam Tamil 1969 Kuzhandhai Ullam Tamil 1969 Sattekalapu Satteya Telugu1969Jarigina KathaTelugu 1970 Ethiroli Raji Tamil 1970 Vilayattu Pillai Tamil 1970 Enga Mama Sarojini Tamil 1970 Janaki Sabatham Tamil 1970 Namma Kuzhanthaigal Tamil1970Thalli ThandruluTelugu1970SrideviTelugu 1971 Poompaatta Sumathy Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1971 Inquilab Sindabad Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1971 Babu Young Ammu Tamil 1971 Ramalayam Telugu1971BhagyavanthuduTelugu1971Vichithra DampathyamTelugu 1971 Thande Makkalu Kannada 1972 Chembarathy Santha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1972 Apna Desh Sharda Hindi Uncredited1972Bullemma BulloduTelugu1972Sri Krishnanjaneya YuddhamTelugu1972Maa Inti VeluguTelugu 1973 Chaayam Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1973 Mazhakkaru Shantha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1973 Darshanam Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1973 Gayathry Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1973 Panitheeratha Veedu Leela Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1973 Anbu Sagodharargal Tamil 1973 Kanne Vayasu Telugu1973RamarajyamTelugu1973Marapurani ManishiTelugu 1973 Jaise Ko Taisa Munni Hindi Jeetendra's (Vijay's) sister 1974 Kaamini Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1974 Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1974 Paruva Kaalam Tamil 1974 En Magan Kamala Tamil 1974 O Seeta Katha Telugu1974Inti KodaluTelugu1974Adambaralu AnubhandaluTelugu1974Evariki Vare Yamuna TheereTelugu1974Tatamma KalaTelugu1974Anaganaga Oka ThandriTelugu1974Ram RaheemTelugu 1975 Mattoru Seetha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1975 Moguda Pellama Telugu 1975 Bali Peetam Sarada's sister Telugu1975Annadammula KathaTelugu1975SamsaramTelugu1975Bharatamlo Oka AmmayiTelugu1975Jebu DongaTelugu 1976 Amma Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1976 Needhikku Thalaivanangu Tamil 1976 Janaki Sabatham Tamil 1976 Muthyala Pallaki Telugu 1976 Raaja Lakshmi Telugu 1976 Monagadu Padma Telugu1976MahatmuduTelugu1976Manavoori KathaTelugu 1977 Sangamam Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1977 Anantham Paramanantham Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1977 Alu Magalu Telugu1977Khaidi KalidasuTelugu1977Ganga Yamuna SaraswathiTelugu1977Maa Iddari KathaTelugu1977Rambha Urvasi MenakaTelugu 1977 Kokila Kannada 1977 Punarmilan Odia 1978 Puthariyankam Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1978 Vayasu Ponnu Radhika Tamil 1978 Vandikkaran Magan Kokila Tamil 1978 Lambadolla Ramadasu Telugu 1978 Muyyige Muyyi Kannada 1978 Havina Hejje Kannada 1978 Sati Anasuya Odia 1978 Patipatni Odia 1979 Venalil Oru Mazha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1979 Maalika Paniyunnavar Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1979 Yakshipparu Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1979 Jeevitham Oru Gaanam Omana Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1979 Raathrikal Ninakku Vendi Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1979 Sigappukkal Mookkuthi Vaidhegi Tamil 1979 Aadu Pambe Tamil 1979 Iru Nilavugal Chellam Tamil 1979 Driver Ramudu Meena Telugu 1979 Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi Telugu 1979 Punadhirallu Shanthi Telugu 1980 Idimuzhakkam Panchali Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Agnikshethram Radha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Palattu Kunjikannan Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Moorkhan Rajani Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Rajaneegandhi Usha Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Ambala Vilakku Savithri Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Pappu Herself Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1980 Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam Vijaya Tamil 1980 Rakta Bandham Telugu1980Nayakudu VinayakuduTelugu 1981 Raktham Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1981 Oothikachiya Ponnu Shalini Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1981 Sanchari Sumam Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1981 Kadathu Maalu Malayalam Credited as Shobana1981Sri Anjaneya CharithraTelugu1981Dari Tappina ManishiTelugu 1981 Bangarada Mane Kannada 1981 Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha Kannada 1981 Sita Lavakush Odia 1982 Murai Ponnu Tamil 1982 Sangili Santha Tamil 1982 Samaya Bada Balaban Odia 1985 Jeevante Jeevan Malayalam Credited as Shobana 1985 Kongumudi Telugu 1986 Magadheerudu Telugu 1986 Kashmora Telugu 1991 Assembly Rowdy News Reader Telugu
Dubbing Credits Dubbed for Films Suhasini Nirdoshi (1984) (First film) Intiguttu (1984)Manishiko Charitra (1984)Challenge (1984)Justice Chakravarthy (1984)Illalu Priyuralu (1984)Kongumudi (1985)Magaraju (1985)Sravana Sandhya (1986)Aradhana (1987)Chuttalabbayi (1988)Bala Gopaludu (1989) Archana Nireekshana (1986)Parama Sivudu (1991) Radha Kaliyuga Krishnudu (1986)Adavi Raja (1986)Yamudiki Mogudu (1988)Bharya Bhartalu (1988)Ramudu Bheemudu (1988)Lankeshwarudu (1989)Dorikithe Dongalu (1989)Soggadi Kaapuram (1989)Kodama Simham (1990)Aayudham (1990) Rajani Rendu Rella Aaru (1986)Pratidwani (1986)Majnu (1987)Collector Gari Abbayi (1987)Agni Putrudu (1987)Bhale Mogudu (1987)Aha Naa Pellanta! (1987)Muddu Bidda (1987)Brahma Putrudu (1988)Jeevana Ganga (1988)Murali Krishnudu (1988)Chikkadu Dorakadu (1988)Gaduggai (1989)Chalaki Mogudu Chadastapu Pellam (1989)Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagratha (1989)Dhruva Nakshatram (1989)Neram Nadi Kadu (1989)Prananiki Pranam (1990) Shobana Vikram (1986)Muddula Manavudu (1987)Manavadostunnaadu (1987)Ajeyudu (1987)Muvva Gopaludu (1987)Abhinandana (1988)Rudra Veena (1988)Paapa Kosam (1988)Alludugaru (1990)Appula Appa Rao (1991)Minor Raja (1991) Rowdy Gaari Pellam (1991)Ahankari (1992)Champion (1992)Gang War (1992) Rakshana (1993)Rendilla Poojari (1993) Khushbu Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986)Captain Nagarjun (1986)Chinnodu Peddodu (1988)Prema Kireetam (1988)Chinni Krishnudu (1988) Bhanupriya Kashmora (1986)Aayanaki Mugguru (1991) Farah Vijetha Vikram (1987) Mandakini Bhargava Ramudu (1987) Ranjini Brahma Rudrulu (1987) Gautami Srinivasa Kalyanam (1987)Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata (1990)Chaitanya (1991) Amala Chinababu (1988)Raktha Tilakam (1988) Vijayashanti Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989)Indrudu Chandrudu (1989)Muddula Mavayya (1989)Muddula Menalludu (1990) Juhi Chawla Vicky Daada (1989) Urvashi Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990) (Telugu Dubbed version)Chakram (2005) Aishwarya Adavilo Abhimanyudu (1989)Pellante Noorella Panta (1992)Subba Rayudi Pelli (1992)Brahma (1992) Yamuna Mouna Poratam (1989)Puttinti Pattu Cheera (1990)Ghatana (1990)Udayamam (1990)Yerra Mandaram (1991)Mamagaru (1991)Premaku Padu Sutralu (1991)Surigadu (1992)Rajadhani (1993)Brahmachari Mogudu (1994) Divya Bharti Bobbili Raja (1990) Rowdy Alludu (1991)Naa Ille Naa Swargam (1991)Assembly Rowdy (1991)Chittemma Mogudu (1992)Dharma Kshetram (1992)Tholi Muddhu (1993) Meena Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu (1991) Indra Bhavanam (1991) Aswamedham (1992)Moratudu Naa Mogudu (1992)Chanti (1992)Allari Mogudu (1992) Allari Pilla (1992)President Gari Pellam (1992)Sundarakanda (1992)Bangaru Maama (1992)Mutha Mestri (1993)Allari Alludu (1993)Abbaigaru (1993)Rajeswari Kalyanam (1993)Konguchatu Krishnadu (1993)Bhale Pellam (1994)Bobbili Simham (1994)Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam (1995)Aalu Magalu (1995)Chilakapachcha Kaapuram (1995)Muddula Mogudu (1997)Suryavamsam (1998 film) (1998)Bobbili Vamsham (1999)Velugu Needalu (1999) Malashri Prema Khaidi (1991)Urmila (1993)Allari Police (1994)