She shot to fame with K. Balachander’s 1974 directorial Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. The film was a raging hit and narrated the story of women sacrificing their happiness for their families. She acted opposite the late Sivaji Ganesan, and in the mid 1970s played heroine to both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who were just starting their career at that time.
Sujatha also won Filmfare Awards South for films like Uravu Solla Oruvan (1975), Annakili (1976), Avargal (1977) and Guppedu Manasu (1979). She garnered critical acclaim for doing maximum heroine-centric films. She went on to win Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for films like Thunaivi (1982) and Paritchaikku Neramaachu (1982).
In Gorintaku (1979), she paired with Sobhan Babu and sacrifices her love in a love story that gets a twist. Thus began an affair with Telugu audiences who got to see her in many more appropriate roles. Sujatha acted in some impressive films like Yedanthasthula Meda (1980) Circus Ramudu (1980), Prema Tarangalu (1980), Sitadevi (1982) M. L. A. Yedukondalu (1983), Anubandham (1984), Agni Gundam (1984), Justice Chakravarthy (1984), Sutradharulu (1984), Chanti (1992), Surigadu (1992), Pelli (1997), Sneham Kosam (1999) and Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu (2003).
During the 1980s, she started playing character roles, often portraying mothers. She played the mother of Rajinikanth in the films Maaveeran (1986) Kodi Parakuthu (1989), Uzhaippali (1993) and Baba (2002). She played mother roles in Ajith Kumar films Aval Varuvala (1998), Villain (2002), Attahasam (2004) and Varalaru (2006).
Awards and honours
Filmfare Awards South
1975 – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for Uravu Solla Oruvan
1976 – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for Annakili
1977 – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for Avargal
1979 – Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for Guppedu Manasu
Nandi Awards
1997– Nandi Award for Best Character Actress for Pelli
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
1982 – Special Best Actress for Thunaivi
1982 – Special Best Actress for Paritchaikku Neramaachu
Government of Tamil Nadu
Kalaimamani
