Suma Kanakala

Suma Kanakala (née Pallassana Paachuveettil Suma; born on 22 March 1975) is an Indian actress, television presenter and producer who predominantly works in Telugu films and television. She is best known for hosting ETV's Star Mahila – a Telugu TV game show, which is the longest-running TV game show in India and ran for exactly 12 years.

Early and personal life
Suma was born on 22 March 1975 in her native hometown of Palakkad, Kerala, India. She was born to a Malayali orthodox Nair family and her parents are Pranavi Narayanan Kutty Nair and Pallassana Paachuveettil Vimala who were associated in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India for a very long time because of the father's job transfer near Lalaguda & Mettuguda railways in Secunderabad. She studied at St. Ann’s high school near Tarnaka colony and completed her Degree from Railway Degree College in Lalaguda. Suma was born 10 years later after her parents’ marriage as the only child for them. After six months of her mother’s delivery, she along with her parents flew to Secunderabad where she was brought up near Lalaguda & Mettuguda railways.

She married Tollywood actor, Rajeev Kanakala on 10 February 1999 in Hyderabad. They have two children, Roshan Karthik Kanakala and Manaswini Kanakala. In addition to her mother tongue of Malayalam, she is fluent in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and English.

Career
A presenter aged 16, she has hosted many Telugu film audio launches, film awards and functions. She is a Malayali from Kerala, but speaks Telugu fluently. She has acted in various serial and telefilms since 1995, her breakthrough came with the boom in satellite channels. Swayamvaram, Anveshitha, Geethanjali, and Ravoyi Chandamama were her major dramas. She didn't have any interest in working in films.

Kanakala's flagship show is Star Mahila on ETV, which attracted many female audiences. She created a record by this show becoming one of the longest running women game show in India. Kanakala started her own production house named K. Suma Rajeev Creations on 26 December 2012 and has produced a show named Lakku Kikku which was telecasted on Zee Telugu. She also worked in a show named Genes on ETV. Her Kevvu Keka on MAA TV with co-star Mano and produced by K. Suma Rajeev Creations. Kanakala also sang "Suya Suya" song from the 2017 Telugu film Winner. She is well known for her spontaneous and humorous remarks during her shows.

Playback singer

 * Winner (2017) - "Suyaa Suyaa"

Awards

 * Nandi Award for Best TV Anchor 2010 – Panchavataram
 * Limca Fresh Face Award 2009
 * Local TV Media Awards Best Anchor – Star Mahila (2010)
 * Cinegoer Award Best Anchor – Star Mahila (2010)
 * Got placed in Limca Book of World Records for successful completion of Star Mahila's 2000 episodes.
 * Apsara Awards 2018: Entertainer of the year