Saritha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Munipalle,Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Viji Chandrasekhar (sister) |
| Awards | Filmfare Awards Nandi Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Karnataka State Film Awards |
Saritha is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 150 films and provided voice for many actress for more than 200 films inTamil,Telugu,Malayalam andKannada languages.[1] She was one of the popular and critically acclaimed lead actresses during the 1980s.
She also appeared in a television serial,Selvi. She is also credited as adubbing artist. She has dubbed her voice forTamil,Kannada,Malayalam andTelugu movies for actresses likeNagma,Vijayashanti,Tabu,Sushmita Sen,Ramya Krishnan andSoundarya in 1990s.
She is a recipient of several state awards from Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, sixFilmfare Awards and sixNandi Awards including aSpecial Jury Award for the filmArjun. Saritha receivedTamil Nadu State Film Awards four times, andKarnataka State Film Awards once.
Saritha made her acting debut throughManchiki Sthanam Ledu a movie produced by producer based in Warangal named Akula Sanjeev Kumar in 1978 with a different screen name followed byMaro Charitra, aTelugu film directed byK. Balachander. The movie dealt withcross-cultural romance, where she acted oppositeKamal Haasan as a Telugu-speaking girl. She received more offers in Tamil films and Tamil Audience accepted herself as her own, she mostly acted films directed by Balachander. Some of her films areThappu Thalangal,Idi Katha Kaadu,Vandichakkaram,Netrikan,Agni Sakshi,Puthukavithai,Kalyana Agathigal andAchamillai Achamillai. Her performance inVandichakkaram (1980) andAchamillai Achamillai (1984) won her theFilmfare Best Tamil Actress awards. She also played guest roles as herself in47 Natkal and its Telugu remake, directed by Balachander.[2]
She acted in many popularKannada movies with famous Kannada actorDr. Rajkumar likeHosa Belaku,Keralida Simha,Bhakta Prahlada,Chalisuva Modagalu andKaamana Billu. She gained critical acclaim for her performance in heroine-oriented movies likeEradu Rekhegalu andSankranthi and the musicalMalaya Marutha opposite Dr. Vishnuvardhan.
She had her headtonsured for the cancer-affected role inSujatha in 1980 and later gained several pounds to play the psychotic role in the 2005 filmJulie Ganapathi. Neither of these films were successful but won Critical acclaim. She also won aNandi Special Jury Award for her performance as Aandaalu in the movieArjun in 2004.
Saritha also worked as avoice actor in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films. She has lent her voice to other actresses, includingMadhavi,Soundarya,Ramya Krishnan,Nagma,Vijayashanti,Simran,Tabu,Sushmita Sen, Roja, Suhasini, Radha, Radhika and Aarthi Agarwal. She won four times theNandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist for her voice toSoundarya inAmmoru,Maa Ayana Bangaram (1997) andAnthapuram (1999).
After a long break, she made her comeback as an actress through theSivakarthikeyan-starrer filmMaaveeran (2023).[3]
Saritha was born and brought up as Abhilasha in Munipalle, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India.[citation needed]
Saritha married Venkata Subbiah in 1975 though they separated after a year, their case involving therestitution of conjugal rights has become important inHindu marriage law in India.[4] She then married Malayalam actorMukesh on 2 September 1988 and they have two sons, Shravan and Tejas. The couple separated in 2011. Saritha now resides with Shravan (made his acting debut in the 2018 filmKalyanam) in UAE.[5]
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Maro Charitra | Swapna | |
| 1979 | Manchiki Sthanam Ledu | ||
| Idi Katha Kaadu | Gayathri | ||
| Guppedu Manasu | Baby | ||
| Vijaya | Vijaya | ||
| 1980 | Gutilo Ramachilaka | ||
| 1981 | Srirasthu Subhamasthu | Devi | |
| Athagari Pethanam | |||
| Tholi Kodi Koosindi | |||
| 47 Rojulu | |||
| Rama Dandu | |||
| Aadavallu Meeku Joharlu | Papayamma | ||
| 1982 | Chandamama | ||
| Kalahala Kapuram | Krishnaveni | ||
| 1983 | Kokilamma | Kokilamma | |
| Thodu Needa | Sharada | ||
| 1984 | Kanchana Ganga | Kanchana | |
| Bhagyalakshmi | |||
| 1985 | Kala Rudrudu | ||
| Anuraga Bandham | |||
| 1986 | Kaliyuga Pandavulu | Krishnaveni | |
| 1987 | Satyagraham | ||
| Ida Prapancham | |||
| 1988 | Shivude Shankarudu | Dr. Kavitha | |
| 2004 | Arjun | Andal |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Oru Kochu Kadha Aarum Parayatha Kadha | Janu | |
| Sandarbham | Dr. Indhu | ||
| Minimol Vathikkaanil | Susie | ||
| 1985 | Kathodu Kathoram | Marykutty | |
| Muhoortham 11:30 | Indu | ||
| Kaattuthee | |||
| Oru Kochu Kaaryam | |||
| 1987 | Kanikaanumneram | Savithri | |
| Yaagaagni | Bhairavi | ||
| P.C. 369 | Elsa Mathew | ||
| Manasa Maine Varu | Lakshmi | ||
| Thaniyavarthanam | Indu Balan | ||
| Vilambaram | Sunanda | ||
| 1988 | Sangham | Ammini | |
| Onnum Onnum Pathinonnu | Sumi | ||
| 1989 | Anuragi | Rosamma | |
| Lal Americayil | Sindhu | ||
| 1990 | Kuttettan | Seetha Lakshmi | |
| 1991 | Souhrudam | Annie | |
| 2000 | Life Is Beautiful | Vice Principal | |
| 2003 | Ammakilikkoodu | Janaki |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Thappida Thala | Sarasu | |
| 1981 | Keralida Simha | Lawyer | |
| 1981 | Jeevakke Jeeva | Geeta/Gayatri | Double role |
| 1982 | Hosa Belaku | Vatsala | |
| Chalisuva Modagalu | Lawyer Leela | ||
| 1983 | Kaamana Billu | Girija | |
| Bhakta Prahlada | Queen Kayadu | ||
| 1984 | Eradu Rekhegalu | Collector Janaki | |
| 1985 | Mugila Mallige | Kamala | |
| Bramha Gantu | Muniyamma | ||
| 1986 | Malaya Marutha | Sharada | |
| Hennina Koogu | |||
| Mounageethe | Mangala/Lakki | Double role | |
| 1987 | Manasa Veene | ||
| Kurukshethra | Collector Saraswati | ||
| 1988 | Baalondu Bhavageethe | Suma | |
| Sri Venkateshwara Mahime | Padma | ||
| 1989 | Sankranthi | ||
| 2012 | Dashamukha | Savitha |
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Network(s) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | Selvi | Thamarai | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2024-present | Mahanadigai | Judge | Zee Tamil | [6] |
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | KB Micro Thodargal- Kaadhal Vaangi Vanthen | Voice Artist for Thamarai (actress) | Tamil |