Latha (actress)

Last updated

Latha
Born
Nalini

(1953-08-18) 18 August 1953 (age 70)
Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesLatha Sethupathi
OccupationActress
Years active1973–1984
1992–2012
2016–Present
SpouseSabapathy (Married in 1983)
ChildrenKarthik, Srinivas
Parent
Relatives Rajkumar Sethupathi (brother)

Latha, also known as Latha Sethupathi, is an Indian actress who starred in leading roles in South Indian films from 1973 to 1983. [1] She is also known for her roles in various serials in the Tamil language.

Contents

Early life

Latha Sethupathi was born into the Sethupathi clan, the royal family of Ramnad, in Tamil Nadu, India. Her father was Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi, and her mother was Leelarani. As her mother was not Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi's official wife, Latha's status within the family was illegitimate. She has a brother, actor Rajkumar Sethupathy and half-brothers Dasarathan Sethupathi and Ramanatha Sethupathi. Latha's fluency in both Tamil and Telugu stemmed from her mother's origins in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. [2]

She started her career at age fifteen with encouragement from her aunt, actress Kamala Kotnis. [3] Her first film was Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973), starring and produced by M. G. Ramachandran. [4] [5]

Career

Latha has acted in more than one hundred films, spanning the Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages. Her first film was Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973), in which she starred alongside M. G. Ramachandran. It was shot exclusively in foreign locations such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. She remained M. G. Ramachandran's leading lady for several years in Tamil films. He recommended her to star with Akkineni Nageswara Rao for Andala Ramudu (1973), thus making her debut in Telugu films. [6] She specialized in playing glamorous roles in Tamil and Telugu films. She played Zeenat Aman's role in the two remakes in the Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973): the Telugu film, Annadammula Anubandham (1975) and the Tamil film Naalai Namadhe (1975). She played Jaya Bhaduri's role from Zanjeer (1973) in the Telugu remake Nippulanti Manishi (1974), and the Tamil remake, Sirithu Vazha Vendum (1974). She won a Filmfare Award for her performance in Vattathukkul Sadhuram. The Kalaimamani award was bestowed upon her by the State Government of Tamil Nadu for her achievements in the film industry. She has also received awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Andhra Pradesh for her acting ability. She was also briefly involved in politics, as her father, Shanmugha Rajeswara Sethupathi, the Raja of Ramnad, was a politician. [7] [3] She played a role in Rajinikanth's movie Shankar Salim Simon (1978). This role made her one of the only two actresses, along with Lakshmi, to be paired with MGR and Rajinikanth in the 1970s Tamil movies. [8]

After a hiatus of 14 years, she began acting again in leading roles in many mega-serials in Tamil and Telugu. In 2002, the actress played a mother-in-law in the Telugu television serials, Eenati Ramayanam, [9] Pavithrabandham, and Matti Manishi. [10] Most recently, she has gained notoriety alongside Radhika in the Tamil television serials Chitthi, Kasthuri , Selvi, and most famously in Arasi. Her role is best known for her catchphrases "Pada Pada Padannu Irukkiradhu" and "Idhu Rombo Too Much" and the humorous portrayal of the character. Currently,[ when? ] she is acting in the serials Roja as Canada Kamakshi and Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum as Vijayalakshmi.[ citation needed ]

Notable filmography

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1973 Ulagam Sutrum Valiban LillyTamil
1973 Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Tamil
1973 Andala Ramudu SitaTelugu
1973Gandhi Puttina DeshamTelugu
1974 Netru Indru Naalai Tamil
1974 Sirithu Vazha Vendum MalaTamil
1974 Urimai Kural Tamil
1974Chamundeshwari MahimeKannada
1974Sorgathil ThirumanamTamil
1974 Sivakamiyin Selvan TamilKavitha
1974 Nippulanti Manishi Telugu
1974Intinti KathaTelugu
1974Ammayi PelliTelugu
1975 Pallandu Vazhga SarojaTamil
1975 Naalai Namadhe RaniTamil
1975 Ninaithadhai Mudippavan MohanaTamil
1975 Niramaala Malayalam
1975Anbu RojaTamil
1975Rakta SambandhaluTelugu
1975Annadammula AnubandhamTelugu
1976 Padi Pantalu [11] LeelaTelugu
1976 Needhikku Thalaivanangu Tamil
1976 Uzhaikkum Karangal MuthammaTamil
1976Manamaara VazhthungalTamil
1976 Magaadu Telugu
1977 Meenava Nanban Tamil
1977 Navarathinam ManikkumTamil
1977 Kurukshetram Satyabhama Telugu
1978 Devadasi ManjariKannada
1978 Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan Tamil
1978 Shankar Salim Simon VasanthiTamil
1978 Vayasu Ponnu Tamil
1978Prathyaksha DaivamMalayalam
1978Prema PagaTelugu
1978 Kumara Raja Telugu
1978Simha GarjanaTelugu
1978 Aayiram Jenmangal SavithriTamil
1978 Ahalya Malayalam
1978 Varuvan Vadivelan Tamil
1978 Vayanadan Thamban Malayalam
1978 Vattathukkul Chaduram Tamil
1978KannamoochiTamil
1979 Andadu Aagadu LathaTelugu
1979Sankhu Teertham Telugu
1979Pancha Bhootalu Telugu
1979 Neeya? Tamil
1979 Gnana Kuzhandhai PonniTamil
1979SuprabadhamTamil
1979Urvashi Neene Nanna PreyasiKannada
1979Urvasi Neeve Naa Preyasi Telugu
1979Malligai MohiniTamil
1979Needhikku Mun Neeya NaanaTamil
1979 Srungara Ramudu Telugu
1979RamabanamTelugu
1979 Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren VaniTamil
1979AgniparvathamMalayalam
1979 Pancha Bhoothalu Telugu
1980 Love in Singapore SudhaMalayalam
1980Ramudu Parasuramudu Telugu
1980 Love in Singapore SudhaTelugu
1980PappuHerselfMalayalam
1980 Raman Parasuraman Tamil
1980Anna ParavaiTamil
1980Oru Iravu Oru ParavaiTamil
1980 Rusi Kanda Poonai Tamil
1981Pinneyum Pookkunna KaduMalayalam
1981Deiva ThirumanangalParvathy,MeenatchiTamil
1981 Devi Dharisanam Tamil
1981ParvathyParvathi BhaiMalayalam
1981 Antha Kannada
1981SamskaramMalayalam
1982 Erattai Manithan Tamil
1982Ilaya MaganTamil
1992 Amaran Tamil
1994 Raja Pandi Tamil
1997 Vasuki ParvathamTamil
1997 Rettai Jadai Vayasu Anjali's motherTamil
1998 Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi Tamil
1999 Pudhu Kudithanam SeethalakshmiTamil
1999 Thachiledathu Chundan Malayalam
2000 Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Parvathi ammaTamil
2004 Jana Jana's auntTamil
2006 Kusthi Tamil
2010 Vallakottai Tamil
2018 Nagesh Thiraiyarangam Dr. SakuntalaTamil
2022 The Legend Saravanan's motherTamil

Television

Serials
YearTitleRoleLanguageChannel
1999–2000Idhi Katha Kadu Telugu ETV
2000 Chithi Rajeshwari Tamil Sun TV
2000–2001Matti Manishi Telugu Doordarshan
2001-2002Kelunga Mamiyare Neengalum Marumagal ThanRajeshwari Tamil Sun TV
2001–2003PavithrabandhamSasirekha Telugu Gemini TV
2002–2003Eenati Ramayanam
2005–2006SelviThangam Tamil Sun TV
2006–2012 Kasthuri Radha Sun TV
2007–2009ArasiThangam
2010–2012No: 23 Mahalakshmi NivasamRajeshwari Telugu Gemini TV
2016–2019 Valli Tamil Sun TV
2019 Chandrakumari Sun TV
2019–2020 Siva Manasula Sakthi Rajalakshmi Star Vijay
Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum Vijayalakshmi
2019–2020; 2021 Roja Canada Kamakshi Sun TV
2020–2023 Abhiyum Naanum Rajeshwari
2021–2022 Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal Amuthanayaki Star Vijay
2023–Present Mr. Manaivi Maragatham Sun TV
Shows
YearTitleRoleLanguageChannel
2020 Vanakkam Tamizha Guest Tamil Sun TV
2020
2020Yarappa Inda PonuHerself
2021Mathappu Sondhangal
2022Puthandu Saval

Personal life

She is married to Sabapathy, a Singapore businessman whom she has married in 1983. She has two sons, Karthik and Sreenivas. [4] [12]

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References

  1. "Latha Sethupathi". veethi.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. "நடிப்பு, நடனம் லதா பயிற்சி பெற எம்.ஜி.ஆர். ஏற்பாடு" [MGR helped Latha for practising acting and dance]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Rediff On The NeT: An interview with Latha, former MGR heroine-turned- politician". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  5. "உலகம் சுற்றும் வாலிபனில் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அறிமுகம் செய்த லதா" [Latha was introduced by MGR through Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban]. Cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  6. "Andala Ramudu (1973)". Telugu Cinema. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  7. "Sonia act fails to help Cong men retain even their deposit in TN". Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  8. Madhavan, P. (10 February 1978), Shankar Saleem Simon (Action, Comedy, Drama), Vijayakumar, Rajinikanth, Jai Ganesh, retrieved 25 March 2024
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  10. "Telly beckons top stars". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 31 August 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  11. "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  12. "சிங்கப்பூர் தொழில் அதிபரை மணந்தார் லதா" [Latha was married to Singapore businessman]. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.