P. K. Rosy

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'''Poulose Kunji Rosy''' (10 February 1903 – 1988), known as '''P. K. Rosy''', was an Indian actress and the first woman to act in a [[Malayalam film]]. She starred in [[J. C. Daniel]]'s silent film ''[[Vigathakumaran]]'' (''The Lost Child''), for which she was targeted at the 1928{{efn|name=fn1}} premiere by an angry mob because of her lower-caste status.

'''Poulose Kunji Rosy''' (10 February 1903 – 1988), known as '''P. K. Rosy''', was an Indian actress and the first woman to act in a [[Malayalam film]]. She starred in [[J. C. Daniel]]'s silent film ''[[Vigathakumaran]]'' (''The Lost Child''), for which she was targeted at the 1928{{efn|name=fn1}} premiere by an angry mob because of her lower-caste status. ''Celluloid'' shows Rosy being invited to see the film. “But Daniel had not invited her to see the film,” says Kunnukuzhi. “He himself said that to me. There would have been problems, because she was a Dalit woman, and so she had not been invited.” According to Madhu, despite not being invited, Rosy went to the screening with a friend. An eminent lawyer of the time, Malloor Govinda Pillai, had come to inaugurate the film. “He said that I will not inaugurate this film until she is removed from here,” says Madhu. “So Daniel asked her to watch the next show of the film instead.”{{Cite web |title=The Name of the Rose {{!}} The Big Indian Picture |url=https://thebigindianpicture.com/2013/06/the-name-of-the-rose/,%20https://thebigindianpicture.com/2013/06/the-name-of-the-rose/ |access-date=2026-04-20 |language=en-US}}

Born and raised as Rajamma in a [[Pulayar|Pulaya]] family, she developed an early interest in acting and began performing in local plays with the support of her uncle. In 1928, she was selected for the lead role in J. C. Daniel's debut film ''Vigathakumaran'', in which she portrayed ''Sarojini'', an upper-caste [[Nair]] woman. When the film premiered at the Capitol Theatre in Trivendrum, the upper-caste members of the audience expressed strong opposition to a Dalit portraying a Nair and a scene where the hero kisses a flower from her hair. The incident turned into violence, resulting in damage to the theatre and the arson of Rosy's house by a mob. Rosy was forced to leave the town. She never acted in another film, after marrying a [[Nair]] ([[upper-caste]]) man and moving to [[Nagercoil]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], where she changed her name to ''Rajammal''. Her real name was probably ''Rajamma'', but she has also been referred to by the name ''Rosamma''.

Neither Rosy nor Daniel were recognised for the part they played in the development of Malayalam cinema for many decades, until the Kerala government instituted the [[J. C. Daniel Award]] in 1992. Official recognition for Rosy only came in 2015, with the establishment of the P.K. Rosy Smaraka Samithi (P.K. Rosy Memorial Committee). At least one book and several films have been dedicated to honouring her legacy. On 10 February 2023, Rosy was honoured with a [[Google Doodle]], on the occasion of her 120th birthday.

Neither Rosy nor Daniel were recognised for the part they played in the development of Malayalam cinema for many decades, until the Kerala government instituted the [[J. C. Daniel Award]] in 1992. Official recognition for Rosy only came in 2015, with the establishment of the P.K. Rosy Smaraka Samithi (P.K. Rosy Memorial Committee). At least one book and several films have been dedicated to honouring her legacy. On 10 February 2023, Rosy was honoured with a [[Google Doodle]], on the occasion of her 120th birthday.