Shanthi Williams

Shanthi Williams is an Indian actress who is popular in Tamil and Malayalam film and television industry. She was born to Malayali parents in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in India. She initiated her career as a child artist when she was just 12 years old. She did supporting and second heroine roles in movies and serials. She was known for her character as a customary mother in the popular Tamil drama serial, Metti Oli. Shanthi was awarded the Best Actress in a Negative Role for her performance in S. Kumaran’s Tamil Serial, Thendral. The award was given by veteran Director K. Balachander for her role as the mother of Tamizh (played by Deepak Dinkar). She also got her fame after doing the role of Angayarkanni on Sun TV’s Vani Rani. She played Vani and Rani’s mother-in-law. Shanthi was married to Malayalam cameraman, J. Williams in 1979. But the latter passed away in 2005. The couple has four children.  

Shanthi has acted in dozens of serials and more than 20 films. She has played supporting roles as a mother or mother-in-law in many movies and portrayed lead negative roles in many TV serials fetching her praises from across the industry. Shanthi started acting in 1970 with the film, Vietnam Veedu. Then, she played as Pallavi in the 1980 psychological thriller film Moodu Pani. She appeared as a friend of Rekha who was forced to prostitution. After many years, Shanthi appeared in many films like Gentleman in 1993, Gentle Man Security in 1994, Karuppu Nila in 1995, Kizhakku Mugam and Poove Unakkaga in 1996, Aahaa Enna Porutham in 1997, Sollamale and Kaadhale Nimmadhi in 1998, followed by the Tamil comedy film, Suyamvaram in 1999.  She was also in the Tamil films Vaanavil and Unakkaga Mattum. Shanthi portrayed mostly the roles of a mother and a grandmother in films like Manadhai Thirudivittai, Lovely, Roja Kootam, Anniyan, Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal and Climax. Recently, she did the film, Amma Ammamma, a story about Sampath and Saranya, who never have a baby of their own after being married for 15 years. Until they met the couple, Anand, and Devadarshini, and the latter died after giving birth to their second child. Shanthi also started on doing television serials in 1999. She played the role of Padmavathi in Radaan Productions’ Chithi followed by the popular Metti Oli and Annamalai.  She was also a part of the popular teleserial Arasi as Chandramathi, the mother of Arasi (played by Raadhika Sarathkumar). She also appeared in serials like Thangam, , Shanthi Nilayam, Vasantham, Thangamana Purushan, Simran Thirai, Raja Rajeshwari, Kalasam, Bandham and much more. Shanthi was also seen in Amrita’s Innalathe Tharam. Recently, Shanthi also made a guest appearance on ‘Celebrity Kitchen’ along with actress Shri Durga.