Menaka (actress)

Last updated

Menaka
Menaka actress.jpg
Born
Padmavathi Iyengar

Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, India
Occupations
Years active1980–1987
2005–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2 (incl. Keerthy Suresh)

Menaka Suresh, (born Padmavathi Iyengar) known mononymously as Menaka, is an Indian actress and film producer. [1] She made her debut in the 1980 Tamil film Ramayi Vayasukku Vanthutta. In an acting career spanning from 1980 to 1987, Menaka appeared in over 125 films as a heroine, mostly in Malayalam. She also appeared in few Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. She married Malayalam film producer G. Suresh Kumar.[ citation needed ] After 19 years, she made a comeback through the television serial Kaliveedu. [2] At 8th SIIMA, she received SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award. [3]

Contents

Early life

Menaka, whose real name is Padmavathy Iyengar, [4] was born into a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, Travancore, India. [5] She was the only daughter among the four children of Rajagopal and Saroja. Both her parents were school teachers. Her mother Saroja taught at the Lourdes Girls' Higher Secondary School in Perambur, Madras. [6] [7]

Career

Menaka had become one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema when she decided to retire from acting post-marriage. [6] After 24 years, she made a comeback as a film actress in 2011 with Fazil-directed Living Together , in a character role. [8]

Personal life

Menaka married film producer G. Suresh Kumar at Guruvayur Temple on 27 October 1987. They have two daughters — Revathy and Keerthy Suresh. [5] Initially they settled in Chennai and later moved to Thiruvananthapuram. Keerthy is a film actress and Revathy is an assistant director. [9] [10]

Filmography

As an actress

Malayalam

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 Bhramam Uday's yesteryear co-star
2021 8½ Intercuts: Life and Films of K.G. George HerselfDocumentary
2017ImaRaadhuShort film
2015 Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum Shobha
2013 Abhiyum Njanum Devika
Kutteem Kolum Subadra
PakaramParvathi
2012Orkut Oru OrmakootVeni
2012 Vaadhyar Subhadra
2011 Living Together Valsala
1994Chanakya SoothrangalLeela
1987 Kottum Kuravayum
Kilippattu
Neeyethra Dhanya Shobha
Onnaam Maanam PoomaanamRema
Amme Bhagavathi Parvathy
Kottum Kuravayum Vimala
Poovittu Poovittu (Thammil Kandappol)
1986 Varshangal Poyathariyathe Lakshmi
Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam Sujatha
Snehamulla Simham Vilasini
Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi Kaveri
Naale Njangalude Vivahum Indu
Ponnum Kudthinu Pottu Sethubhai
Revathikkoru Pavakkutty Indu
Yuvajanotsavam Nirmala
Aalorungi Arangorungi Marykutty
Viswasichalum Illenkilum
Oppam Oppathinoppam Rajamma
Bharya Oru Manthri Jayadevi
Malarum Kiliyum Maya
Bhagavaan
Hello My Dear Wrong Number Shobha
Kulambadikal Susan
1985 Akkare Ninnoru Maran Nandini
Boeing Boeing Sreekutty
Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya Shalini
MounanombaramIndu
Vellam Ambika
MukhyamantriAnu
Ormikkan Omanikkan
Sammelanam Shalini
Oru Nokku Kanan Sandhya
Archana Aaradhana Aradhana
Edanilangal Bhanu
Anakkorumma Devi
Soundarya PinakkamMalini
Principal Olivil Malathi
Ambada Njaane! Devayani
Ee Thalamura Ingane
Ozhivukalam
Oro Poovilum
Kandu Kandarinju Ammini
1984MuthodumuthuAchimol (Aswathy)
Engane Undasane Sunanda
MainakamJaya
Manase Ninakku Mangalam Sobha
Piriyilla Naam Sherly
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi Revathi
Appunni Ammu
Swanthamevide Bandhamevide Indulekha
Thirakil Alppam Samayam Saphiya
Ethirppukal Lakshmi
Amme Narayana
Sooryane Mohicha Penkutty
Oru Thettinte Katha
Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram Prameela
Velichamillatha Veedhi Lekha
Onnum Mindatha Bharya Asha Thampi
Aagraham
Krishna Guruvayoorappa Unni's wife
Paavam Poornima Poornima
Vepralam Beena
Aayiram Abhilashangal
Odaruthammava Aalariyam Shobha Govind
KarimbuPrincy
Vellam Ambika
Koottinilamkili Radhika
Adiyozhukkukal Madhavi
Thirakal Rekha
1983 Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla Herself
Rathilayam Makutty
Engane Nee Marakkum Sobha
Pourusham Janu
Justice Raja Thulasi
Thalam Thettiya Tharattu Sindhu
ThavalamRamani
Arabikadal
Astapahi Radha
Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare Thulasi
Shesham KazhchayilLathika
Eettillam Abitha
Rugma Elizabeth
Kolakomban Dr.Leela
Kathi
Oru Mottu Virinjappol
Arunayude Prabhatham
1982 Ponnum Poovum Subhadra
Ente Mohangal Poovaninju Sridevi
Drohi
Kanmanikkorumma/UshnabhoomiUsha
Kaalam Jaya
Rakthasakshi Geetha
Aayudham Usha
Adarsham Malathy
1981Veshangal
Kolangal Kunjamma
Ahimsa Safiya
Munnettam Indu
Guha Suvarna
Visham Shobha
Veliyettam Jaanu
Oppol Malu

Tamil

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Ramayi Vayasukku VanthuttaRamayiDebut movie
Savithri Savithri
Oli PirandhathuKalyani
1981 Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum Gayathri
KaalamJaya
Netrikkan Menaka
1982 Om Shakti Kanniamma / Amman
Thooku Medai Bhavani
NijangalMenaka
Iniyavale VaaShakunthala
NirantharamRani
NalanthanaRaji
Panchavarnam
1983 Neethibathi Geetha
Urangatha Ninaivugal Uma
1985Maappillai SingamGouri
Engirunthalum Vazhga
KadivalamRevathi
1986 Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren Shakunthala
2012 Mattuthavani

Telugu

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 Punnami Naagu Poornima
1982Subbarao Ki Kopam Vacchindhi
1988Indradhanussu

Kannada

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 Samayada Gombe Lakshmi

As producer

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1991 Vishnulokam Kamal
1992Australia Rajiv Anchal Unreleased film
1993 Butterflies
1994 Kashmeeram
1995 Thakshashila Sreekuttan
1997 Aaram Thamburan Shaji Kailas
2000 Cover Story G. S. Vijayan
Pilots Rajiv Anchal
2001 Achaneyanenikkishtam Suresh Krishna
2002 Kuberan Sundar Das
Shivam Shaji Kailas
2009 Seetha Kalyanam T. K. Rajeev Kumar [11] [12]
2022 Vaashi Vishnu G. Raghav

Television

Serials

YearTitleRoleChannelNotesRef.
1993Scooter DD Malayalam
2005Kaliveedu Surya TV
2006Ammathottil
2007Chitrasalabham Amrita TV
2007-2008Ammakkayi Surya TV
2009Monoottante OnamTelefilm
2013 Rajakumari Durga Sivalingam Sun TV Tamil serial
2016SundariSethu Lakshmi Mazhavil Manorama

TV shows

YearTitleChannelRoleNotes
Samagamam Amrita TV Herself
2010Thillana Thillana Surya TV Judge
2011Vivel Big break Surya TV
2011Hairomax Mrs.Kerala Asianet
2012 Lunars Comedy Express Asianet Plus
2013Veruthe Alla Bharya 2 Mazhavil Manorama
2013Travel to KanchipuramManorama NewsHost
2013VarthaprabhathamAsianet NewsHerself
2013Jeevitham IthuvareJaihind TV
2013Manassiloru MazhavilluKairali TV
2014JB JunctionKairali TV
2017Komady CircusMazhavil ManoramaJury
2017 Onnum Onnum Moonu Mazhavil ManoramaHerself
2018-2020Comedy stars season 2 Asianet Judge
2018Comedy stars Plus Asianet Plus
2021Red Carpet Amrita TV Mentor
2022MY G Flowers Oru KodiFlowers TVParticipant

References

  1. ↑ "Movies Nostalgia". Manorama Online. 23 December 2013. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Kerala News – Menaka Archived 18 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine . Kerals.com (26 September 2005). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "SIIMA 2019 winners full list: Dhanush, Trisha, Prithviraj win big". The Indian Express. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Shevlin Sebastian (13 May 2013) Menaka was treated like a queen Archived 3 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine . The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 Shevlin Sebastian (13 May 2013) Menaka was treated like a queen Archived 3 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine . The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 സിനിമ എങ്ങനെ ഞാന്‍ മറക്കും – articles, infocus_interview – Mathrubhumi Eves Archived 26 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ↑ A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal Archived 5 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Cinidiary. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Menaka is back in front of the camera Archived 7 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Sify.com (29 October 2010). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  9. ↑ ഞാന്‍ കീര്‍ത്തി; മേനകയുടെ മകള്‍ Archived 6 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine . mangalam.com (16 August 2013). Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  10. ↑ ഞാന്‍ കീര്‍ത്തി; മേനകയുടെ മകള്‍ Archived 6 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine . mangalam.com (16 August 2013). Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Palicha, Paresh C. "Seetha Kalyanam disappoints". rediff.com. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Sita Kalyanam: Don't attend this". bangaloremirror.com. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
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