Kovai Sarala

Last updated

Kovai Sarala
Kovai Sarala.jpg
Sarala in 2016
Born
Sarala

Occupations
  • Comedian
  • Actress
  • Television presenter
  • Politician
Years active1979-present
Political party Makkal Needhi Maiam

Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress and comedian, who plays supporting roles in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Poovellam Un Vasam (2001) and Uliyin Osai (2008). [1] She has also won two Nandi Awards for Best Female Comedian [2] and the Vijay Award for Best Comedian for her performance in Kanchana (2011). She is now part of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam Party. [3]

Contents

She has acted with all the top comedians including Brahmanandam, Goundamani, Senthil, Vadivelu and Vivek. Her comedy tracks with Vadivelu and Brahmanandam have been especially popular.

Early and present life

Kovai Sarala was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (then in Madras State) in a Malayali family. [4] She developed interest in acting after watching MGR's films. She completed her studies and entered the film industry with the support of her sister and father. [4]

She got her first film offer when she was in the 9th standard and acted with Vijayakumar and K. R. Vijaya in the film Velli Ratham. [5] She was in Class 10, when she played a 32-year-old pregnant woman Mundhanai Mudichu, her second film. [6] Two years later she acted in Chinna Veedu, where she played the 65-year-old mother of Bhagyaraj's character. [6] She has appeared in more than 300+ films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. [6] She has mentioned the films Sathi Leelavathi , Viralukketha Veekkam , Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana , Karakattakkaran and Viswanathan Ramamoorthy as her personal favourites. [5]

She has also worked in television series and television shows. She worked as a regular guest judge on Asatha Povathu Yaaru? [ citation needed ] and has hosted the reality show Paasa Paravaigal. [6] In 2013, she was the judge on the Tamil comedy show "Comedyil Kalakkuvathu Eppadi" that airs on Vijay TV.[ citation needed ] Now she is regular judge on the Tamil comedy show "Varuthapadatha valibar sangam" that airs on Zee Tamil. [7] Also hosting kids game show "Chellame chellam" on Sun TV.

Personal life

Sarala is not married. She looks after the children of her relatives, as she considers them to be her own.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Tamil

List of Kovai Sarala Tamil film credits
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1979Velli Ratham
1983 Mundhanai Mudichu Arukkani
1984 Vaidehi Kathirunthal
Thambikku Entha Ooru
Mannukketha Ponnu
Nooravathu Naal Manju
1985 Naan Sigappu Manithan Guest appearance
Anbin Mugavari
Uyarndha Ullam
Engal Kural
Chinna Veedu Madanagopal's Mother
Japanil Kalyanaraman Muppatha
Udaya Geetham Police officer's daughter
1986Marakka Matten
Yaaro Ezhuthiya Kavithai
Vasantha Raagam
Lakshmi Vandhachu Valli
Mannukkul Vairam
1987 Kadhal Parisu Kanmani
Kizhakku Africavil Sheela Chikki Mukki
Velicham
Solvathellam Unmai Geetha
Ananda Aradhanai
Ini Oru Sudhanthiram
Per Sollum Pillai
Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu Cameo appearance
Uzhavan Magan Kannakku Pillai's daughter
1988Melam Kottu Thali Kattu
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Soora Samhaaram
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
Valaikaapu
Poovukkul Boogambam
1989Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu
Raja Chinna Roja Maid
Moodu Manthiram
Thangamana Purushan
Valathu Kalai Vaithu Vaa
Thaaya Thaarama
Yogam Raja Yogam
Solaikuyil Punitha
Paandi Nattu Thangam Venkatasubbama
Karagattakaran Female dancer
Enga Ooru Mappillai Chandra
Thangamani Rangamani Sivagangai Gopalakrishnan's wife
Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu
Raaja Raajathan
Dharmam Vellum Jimmy
Ponnu Pakka Poren
1990Jagathalaprathapan
Maruthu Pandi
Adhisaya Manithan Urmila
En Kadhal Kanmani
My Dear Marthandan Maharani
Sathan Sollai Thattathe Chitra's mother
Erikkarai Poonkatrey
Valiba Vizhayattu
Thai Maasam Poovaasam
1991 Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum Thangam
Pondatti Pondattithan Janaki
Pudhiya Raagam Bulbul
Chithirai Pookkal Bharathi's mother
Mahamayi
1992 Chinnavar Sevattamma
Therku Theru Machan
Ponnuketha Purushan
Pondatti Rajyam
Thirumathi Palanisamy School Teacher
Thilagam
1993 Dhuruva Natchathiram
1994 Sethupathi IPS
Vaanga Partner Vaanga Pawn
Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana Elisabeth
Pathavi Pramanam
Pavithra Thenmozhi
Nammavar Julie
1995 Sathi Leelavathi Palaniammal Sakthivel Gounder [8]
Rani Maharani
1996 Vasantha Vaasal Velu's wife
Vasantham
Kaalam Maari Pochu Sundari
1997 Gopura Deepam
Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Elizabeth
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Nattupura Nayagan Pavalakkodi
Nalla Manasukkaran
1998 Udhavikku Varalaamaa Mythili's mother
Kaathala Kaathala Junior Vikadanantha's wife
Aval Varuvala Savithri
Unnudan Thayamma
1999 Kanave Kalaiyadhe Kayal Vizhi
Anantha Poongathe Saradha
Kannodu Kanbathellam Akhila's mother
Nesam Pudhusu
Poovellam Kettuppar Dr. Bala Thirupurasundari
Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa Lalitha
Viralukketha Veekkam Ranjitham
Minsara Kanna Flower seller
Paattali Sarala
Pudhu Kudithanam Sarasu
Manaivikku Mariyadhai
2000 Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Ragini
Magalirkkaga Rosa
Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai Kanagavalli
Doubles Meena's mother
Maayi Rakayi
Unnai Kann Theduthey
Budget Padmanabhan Padmanabhan's cousin
Uyirile Kalanthathu
2001 Nageswari
Krishna Krishna Kaveri
Mitta Miraasu Bhagyam
Poovellam Un Vasam Kanniga [8]
Piriyadha Varam Vendum Kannatha
Shakalaka Baby Aaravalli
Viswanathan Ramamoorthy Andal
Veettoda Mappillai Rani
Vadagupatti Maapillai Anjala
Shahjahan Jingili
2002 Ennamma Kannu Simran
Thenkasi Pattanam Kamala
En Mana Vaanil Parvathi
Panchathantiram Bharathi's wife
2004 Vaanam Vasappadum
Vishwa Thulasi
2005 Priyasakhi Kausalya Raman
Mumbai Xpress Avinasi's sister
2006 Kovai Brothers Tenthara, Foursha and Bisin
2007 Muni Kannamma
2008 Uliyin Osai Sokki [8]
2011 Muni 2: Kanchana Sarala [8]
2012 Oru Nadigaiyin Vaakkumoolam Papi
Paagan Amutha
2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Sowmiya's aunt
Thillu Mullu Senthamarai
Arya Surya Chandralekha
Ragalaipuram Head Constable Ekavalli
Chithirayil Nilachoru
2014 Malini 22 Palayamkottai Sarala
Pani Vizhum Nilavu [9]
Vanavarayan Vallavarayan Vanavarayan & Vallavarayan's mother
Sigaram Thodu Aishwarya
Aranmanai Eshwari
Rettai Vaalu
Pagadai Pagadai Anbukkarasi
2015 Komban Kottaiamma
Muni 3: Ganga Raghava's mother
Adhibar Kumari
Vedalam Maalu
2016 Aranmanai 2 Komalam
Nayaki Saradha
Uchathula Shiva Shiva's motherVoice role
Thiraikku Varadha Kathai Komalam
Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru Shanti
Balle Vellaiyathevaa Kathai
2017 Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva Vaijayanthi
Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae E. B. Rajeshwari
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan Sarala
Sathura Adi 3500
Bayama Irukku Devi
Mersal Sarala
2018 Semma Mandhaarai
Itly Twinkle
Kasu Mela Kasu Myna's mother
Lakshmi A. Saraswathi
Utharavu Maharaja
2019 Viswasam Philomeena
Kanchana 3 Raghava's mother
Devi 2 Lalitha
2021 Michaelpatty Raja Raja's mother
Pei Mama Serupadi Sitharamma
2022 One Way
Sembi Veerathayi
2023Ithu Kadhaiyalla Nijam
Kick
2024 Double Tuckerr Shanmugavalli
Aranmanai 4 Saravanan's AuntAlso shot in Telugu [8]
Kanguva TBA [10]

Telugu

List of Kovai Sarala Telugu film credits
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1987Veera Prathap
1991Amma Kadupu Challanga
1992Pellam Chepithe Vinnali
1993Pellama Majaka
1994Kunti Putrudu
Bhairava Dweepam Allari Deyyam
Hello Alludu
1995Aasthi Mooredu Aasa Baaredu
God Father
Lingababu Love Story Bank Manager Ambhujam
1996 Family Kasthuri
Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi Julie
1997 Pelli Meena
Mama Bagunnava Sundarambal Iyer
1998 Suprabhatam Chukkamma
NavvulataNurse
1999Vaare Vah Moguda
2000 Kshemamga Velli Labamgarandi Subbalakshmi
Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary Venkamma
Nuvve Kavali Rukku
Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa Lalitha
2001 Mrugaraju
Akka BavaekadaMangamma [11]
Simharasi
Ramma Chilakamma Simran, Simhu DarlingDual roles
Athanu
Hanuman Junction Sangeetha's Aunt
2002Entha Bagundo
Malli Malli Chudali
Maa Alludu Very Good A. V. Rao's mother
Sandade Sandadi Fitting Parvathi
O Chinadana Veena Tantula Meera Bai
2003 Fools Manga
Ottesi Cheputunna
Ela Cheppanu Sarala
Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kaanu
Sriramachandrulu Savitri
Tiger Harischandra Prasad
2004 Andaru Dongale Dorikite Chi. La. Sow. Suryakantham
Monalisa Nursepartially reshot version [12]
Vidyardhi
2005 Mahanandi Chilakamma
Evadi Gola Vaadidhi Leela Rani
Veerabhadra Colony resident
2006Naidu LLB
Pellaina Kothalo
Iddaru Attala Muddula Alludu Sarala
Style Ganesh's neighbour
Raam
Rajababu
Aadivaram Aadavallaku Selavu
Bhagyalakshmi Bumper Draw Mary Gotham
2007 Pagale Vennela Sarala
Desamuduru Shivani
Maharathi Saralamma
Seema Sastri
2008 Nee Sukhame Ne Koruthunna
Sawaal
Bommana Brothers Chandana Sisters Bommana brothers' mother
Michael Madana Kamaraju Michael's fake mother
Mallepuvvu Construction site worker
Hero Sarala
Dongala Bandi Aishwarya's sister
Neninthe Urmila
2009 Bumper Offer Ramanamma
Evaraina Epudaina Nurse
A Aa E Ee
2010 Puli Inspector Madhumati
2011 Katha Screenplay Darsakatvam Appalaraju
Badrinath Badrinath's mother
2012 Devasthanam Sridevi
Nuvva Nena Pushpa
Rebel Nandini's aunt
Devudu Chesina Manashulu Lakshmi
Sudigadu Kamesh's Mother / Don D
2013 Masala Anjali Devi / Chintamani
Greeku Veerudu
2015 Temper Shanvi's mother
Kick 2 Darling
2016 Nayaki Saradha
2018 Lakshmi A. Saraswathipartially reshot version
2019 Abhinetri 2 Lalitha
2024 Baak Shiva Shankar's auntpartially reshot version

Malayalam

List of Kovai Sarala Malayalam film credits
YearTitleRoleRef.
1980 Thaliritta Kinakkal
1997Poomarathanalil
1999 Niram Rukku
2004 Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku Parvathi Ammal
2005Hai
2012 Maad Dad Dawini D'Zosa [13]
2016 Girls Komalam

Kannada

List of Kovai Sarala Kannada film credits
YearTitleRoleRef.
1986 Africadalli Sheela Chikki Mukki
1993 Hendthi Helidare Kelabeku Sarala
Alimayya Anantha's mother
2002 Naanu Naane
2008 Arjun Surya's wife

Singer

Television

  1. Sundari Soundari (Sun TV)
  2. Ellame Siripputhan (Kalaignar TV)
  3. Vanthaana Thanthaana (Kalaignar TV)
  4. Sabhash Meera (Jaya TV)
  5. Sagalakala Sarala (Vijay TV)
  6. Comedyil Kalakkuvathu Eppadi (Vijay TV)
  7. Vantintlo Wonders (Gemini TV)
  8. Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (Zee Tamil)
  9. Chellame Chellam (Sun TV)
  10. Arundhathi (Sun TV)
  11. Kutty Chutties (Sun TV)
  12. Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? – (Seasons 1–5,8–9 (Star Vijay) – Judge

Awards

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Vijay Awards
Nandi Awards [14]

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References

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