Today’s Doodle honours P.K. Rosy (Rajamma, Rosamma, Rajammal), Malayalam cinema’s first female lead. J. C. Daniel directed her in Vigathakumaran (The Lost Child).
On this day in 1903, Rosy was born to a Pulaya family in Thiruvananthapuram, formerly Trivandrum (Kerala’s capital city). Her living relatives confirm that her father died when she was a child, leaving her family in financial distress. Her childhood was spent cutting grass. She was also very interested in the arts, which her uncle encouraged by arranging for her to study music and acting….. She also attended a local performing arts school on a regular basis to learn Kakkirasi Nattakam, a form of Tamil folk theatre in a mix of Tamil and Malayalam based on stories about Siva and Parvati arriving on Earth as nomads.
Rosy’s fascination with acting began at a young age. With her role in the Malayalam film Vigathakumaran, Rosy broke down barriers in an era when performing arts were discouraged in many sections of society, particularly for women (The Lost Child). Rosy’s story is relevant to discussions about media representation even though she never received recognition for her efforts. Her story continues to motivate and inspire many people today.
