Sudha Chandran

Sudha Chandran was born in 1964 in Chennai, South India. She completed her Masters in Economics from Mumbai. On one of her return trips from Mumbai to Chennai she met with an accident resulting in the amputation of her right leg in 1982.

With an artificial leg, she became one of the most accomplished and acclaimed dancers in India. Sudha Chandran receives invitations to perform all over the world. Having received numerous awards for her worldwide performances, she also appears on Hindi television and films.

Orthopedically Handicapped Actor and Dancer

The Telugu movie Mayuri was released in 1984 documenting her ability to overcome her disability. Sudha Chandran performed in the movie, and it won the Special Jury Award at the National Film Award ceremony. In 1986 the film was remade, retaining her in the lead, and was released as Naache Mayuri.

Sudha Chandran has worked in television, often with Ekta Kapoor. She played the vicious mother-in-law in Kaahin Kissii Roz as Ramola Sikand. She also played in movies like Anjaam (1994), Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hai (1999) and Malamaal Weekly (2006).

Family Backround

Her father, K.D. Chandran, was an employee of the American Centre in Mumbai. Mrs. Thangam and Sudha's father were lovers of art. Since childhood Sudha was exposed to a rich cultural heritage. At the age of three, she started dancing on her own, which prompted her family to provide her a formal dance education.

Practicing with much zeal and dedication, she gave her first dance performance on stage at the age of eight. She attended St. Joseph's Convent School, and was awarded the first prize for her first dance appearance. By the age of 17 she had performed 75 times on stage.

After her accident and amputation, Sudha remained in a state of shock for some time. Her confidence began to return gradually. She started to walk with a wooden leg and crutches. While continuing her studies in Mumbai, her father was a major source of motivation for her.

The Will To Overcome And Succeed

Obviously her lifestyle was gravely affected. Unable to sleep for several nights, she drew strength from the pain and was determined to become even stronger. Her father bought her a wheelchair, but she refused to use it. Although dealing with severe pain, she continued to walk on a consistent basis.

About six months after her amputation, Sudha read a magazine article about Dr. Sethi of Jaipur manufacturing artificial legs. The high quality of these legs allowed a man wearing the leg to work on an agricultural farm and even climb a tree. Sudha wrote to him. Her family then visited a company in Mumbai and saw the artificial leg (Jaipur foot) on display. This revived her confidence and desire for dance.

When Sudha asked Dr. Sethi whether she would be able to dance with the Jaipur foot, the doctor replied, “Yes, why not? When using this, a farmer can work in wet soil and climb a tree, then why can't you dance?” Dr. Sethi got a foot manufactured, which was of aluminum and very light, and this allowed the leg to rotate easily. Sudha returned to Mumbai with renewed confidence.

Athough she met success walking with her artificial leg, dancing was not easy. Her leg would often bleed, and the pain increased. She began to lose hope. However, her determination allowed her to control her disappointment.

Dr. Sethi was highly impressed with Sudha's will power. After observing and assessing the requirements of the dance, he developed a new leg. Resuming dance practice, the bleeding started again. She withstood the pain, and did not allow her face to reflect her suffering. After mastering all dance positions, she awaited an opportunity to perform on stage again.

A Renewed Career

On January 28, 1984 , Sudha Chandran performed a dance program with another dancer, Preeti, at the “South India Welfare Society” of Mumbai. Having received two important awards- Nritya Mayuri from the Dance Academy and Bharatnatyam and Nav Jyoti from the Telugu Academy-in the field of dance prior to her accident, she desperately wanted to maintain her reputation.

However, when she went on stage, she forgot that her leg was artificial and danced swiftly. There was much applause at the end of the show. The program was successful. Dance reviewers were greatly impressed by the performance. This led to her subsequent achievements in television and films. The movie about her life conveyed a strong message that hardship and disaster can be dealt with and overcome.

Sudha Chabdrab also continued her studies and received a post-graduate degree. Sudha married in 1995. Her husband, Ravi, is in the film line. At this point, she spent more time on acting than dance. After acting in films, she found that working in TV Soap Operas enabled her to reach more people with her message of hope and perseverance.

Sudha Chandran is a model of strong family values and the critical role of mentors. The support of key people in her life reinforced her own talent and determination to succeed no matter what the challenge or difficulty. She continues to do well and progress, and her disability is no longer a major issue. She has proven that success is reachable and attainable regardless of the circumstances.