Shakeela

Last updated

Shakeela
Shakeela.jpg
Shakeela in 2018
Born
Shakeela Begum

Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesShakila
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Politician
  • Softcore pornographic actress
Years active1994–present
Political party Indian National Congress
Children1

C. Shakeela, known mononymously as Shakeela, is an Indian actress and politician who has predominantly acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu language films. She is a member of Indian National Congress. [1]

Contents

Shakeela debuted in the softcore pornographic film Playgirls (1995) at the age of 18. [2] [3] She became a popular figure in Kerala with the release of Malayalam softcore film Kinnara Thumbikal in 2000. This film would go on to pioneer a new wave of low-budget softcore porn films in the state, with Shakeela starring in many of them. In Kerala's hero-centric mainstream industry of her time, Shakeela's emergence as a liberated woman, who displays her sexuality in defiance of social norms led to what became known as Malayalam cinema's Shakeela tharangam (Shakeela wave). [4]

Early life

Shakeela was born in Chennai into Urdu and Telugu speaking Muslim family. Her mother was from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. [5] She could not complete her school leaving certificate examination, eventually making her foray into films. [5]

Career

From the beginning of her career, she acted in B movies and softcore pornography. [6] One of her big hits was the 2001 Malayalam film Kinnarathumbikal , which brought her into limelight. Kinnarathumbikal was dubbed in more than six Indian languages and was a major commercial success, grossing ₹4 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹12 lakhs. She did a few controversial topless scenes in her initial movies until she got noticed. [2] [3] Her B movies were dubbed and released in almost all Indian languages. Her films were dubbed into foreign languages like Nepalese, Chinese, and Sinhala. After she acted in several movies, the soft-porn movies in India were colloquially called as "shakeela films". [7] Shakeela hired a body double Surayya Banu to do her topless scenes. [8]

Shakeela started appearing in family character roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language movies since 2003. She wrote her autobiography in Malayalam, [9] which covered her family, her background, as well as her acquaintance with notable film personalities, politicians and childhood friends. [10] [11]

In January 2018, she announced her 250th film as an actor, Sheelavathi, would begin production. [12] [13]

Personal life

In 2002, Shakeela announced that she will no longer act in B grade movies. [5] Shakeela released her autobiography Shakeela: Aatmakatha in 2013. [8]

Politics

Shakeela joined the Indian National Congress in March 2021. [14] [15]

Filmography

As an actress

Shakeela has featured in over 250 in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Odia and Telugu Language films in various roles.

YearFilmRoleLanguage
1994PlaygirlsTamil
1994 Jallikattu Kaalai Tamil
1997 Sobhanam Malayalam
1998 Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi Tamil
1998 Udhavikku Varalaamaa Tamil
1998 Marumalarchi Tamil
1998 Kulirkaattu Malayalam
1999 Captain Malayalam
2000 Raakkilikal Malayalam
2000ThankathoniMalayalam
2000 Nishasurabhikal Malayalam
2000 Kaathara Malayalam
2000ManjukaalappakshiMalayalam
2000Neela Thadakathile Nizhal PakshikalMalayalam
2000 Kinnara Thumbikal Malayalam
2001KoumaramMalayalam
2001AgrahaaramMalayalam
2001YaaminiMalayalam
2001VezhambalMalayalam
2001PranayaaksharangalMalayalam
2001Naalam SimhamMalayalam
2001Laya ThalangalMalayalam
2001KaadambariMalayalam
2001AgnipushpamMalayalam
2001Naalaam SimhamMalayalam
2001Driving SchoolMalayalam
2001Ee RaavilMalayalam
2001Kinnaaram ChollicholliMalayalam
2001NimishangalMalayalam
2001MaamiMalayalam
2001RomanceMalayalam
2001Kalluvaathukkal KathreenaMalayalam
2001PremaagniMalayalam
2001ChaarasundariMalayalam
2001MohanayanangalMalayalam
2001LaasyamMalayalam
2001SwargavaathilMalayalam
2001AalilathoniMalayalam
2001Nayeem And ShakeelaTelugu
2001SnehaTamil
2001SagaraKannada
2001AgniputhriTelugu
2002SoundharyalahariTelugu
2002 Thotti Gang Telugu
2002SnehaMalayalam
2002Soundarya LahariMalayalam
2002PushpasharamMalayalam
2002Randu PenkuttikalMalayalam
2002Niramulla SwapnangalMalayalam
2002Eden ThottamMalayalam
2002AalinganamMalayalam
2002Uff Yeh JawaniMalayalam
2002SisiramMalayalam
2002MohaswapnamMalayalam
2002Pranaya ShalabhangalMalayalam
2002Miss SuvarnaMalayalam
2002Namukkoru KoodaramMalayalam
2002Thirunelliyile PenkuttyMalayalam
2002PenmanassuTelugu
2003Duppatlo Dhada DhadaTelugu
2003 Jayam Telugu
2003Ananthapuram RaajakumaariMalayalam
2003Veendum ThulabharamMalayalam
2003 Jayam Tamil
2003 Nijam Telugu
2003 Dongodu Telugu
2003 Dhool Tamil
2004 Puttintiki Ra Chelli Telugu
2004SandraMalayalam
2004 Singara Chennai Tamil
2004 Loves Tamil
2005 786 Khaidi Premakatha Telugu [16]
2005 Keelu Gurram Telugu
2005 Thaka Thimi Tha Tamil
2006 Bangaram Telugu
2006ThodamaleyTamil
2006 Vathiyar Tamil
2006 Vaseegara Tamil
2007 Chotta Mumbai Malayalam
2007 Viyabari Tamil
2007 Azhagiya Tamil Magan Tamil
2007 Pazhaniappa Kalloori Tamil
2008 Vambu Sandai Tamil
2008Lakshmi PutruduTelugu
2008Paape O ParupuTelugu
2008 Nadigai HerselfTamil
2008 Dongala Bandi Telugu
2009 Current Telugu
2009 Siva Manasula Sakthi Tamil
2009 Malai Malai Tamil
2010 Boss Engira Bhaskaran Tamil
2010 Maanja Velu Tamil
2010 Vallakottai Tamil
2011 Guru Sishyan Tamil
2011 Teja Bhai & Family Malayalam
2011NinetyKannada
2012Iniyum Oru JanmamMalayalam
2012 Kai Tamil
2013 Neelakurinji Poothu Malayalam
2013RagalaipuramTamil
2013Ade BaajaTelugu
2014 Adhu Vera Idhu Vera Tamil
2015SixMalayalam
2015Romantic TargetTelugu
2015 Patharagitthi Kannada
2015 Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga Tamil
2015 Luv U Alia Kannada
2015 Sakalakala Vallavan Tamil
2017SeviliTamil
2019 Pottu Tamil
2019 Kobbari Matta Telugu
2020 Kanni Raasi Tamil
2021 Engada Iruthinga Ivvalavu Naala Tamil
2023 Kick Tamil
2025 Empuraan Malayalam

Television

YearTitleChannelLanguageRoleNotes
2014 Bigg Boss Kannada (season 2) Star Suvarna KannadaContestantEvicted Day 27
2016Health Education YouTube TamilHostTelecasted on Interactive TV Channel
2016Comedy Super Nights 2Flowers TVMalayalamHerself as GuestEpisode 5
2018Adhu Idhu YedhuStar VijayTamilParticipant
2019Comedy StarsAsianetMalayalamHerself as Guest
2019Janakeeya Kodathi24 NewsMalayalamGuest speaker
2020 Funny Nights with Pearle Maaney Zee KeralamMalayalamHerself as guest
2020-2021 Cooku With Comali (Season 2) Star Vijay TamilContestant1st Runner-Up
2021 Alitho Saradaga [17] ETV TeluguHerself as GuestEpisode 211
2021Start Music (Season 2) Star Vijay TamilContestantWinner
2021Kanni Theevu Ullasa Ulagam 2.0 Colours Tamil TamilRaja Mata
2021Singapenney Star Vijay TamilParticipant
2021Cash E TV TeluguParticipant
2023–present Surabhiyum Suhasiniyum Flowers TV Malayalam UrmilaTV serial
2023Flowers Oru Kodi Flowers TV Malayalam ParticipantGameshow[ citation needed ]
2023Star magic Flowers TV Malayalam MentorGameshow
2023 Bigg Boss (Telugu season 7) Star Maa Telugu ContestantEvicted Day 14

Popularity and reception

Shakeela, who rose to fame quickly, served as her movies' main character and the centre of its story. According to film industry analyst Sreedhar Pillai, Shakeela's stardom extended beyond state boundaries as well, with these films getting their own dubbed versions across the country. As a result, for thousands of that generation, their only access to Malayalam cinema was the kind that would star Shakeela. According to critic and film historian C. S. Venkiteswaran, Shakeela became known as the promiscuous Malayali woman in nearby areas like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where words like "chechi" or "aunty" were sarcastically used to refer to them. The prejudice that these films appealed to in other states was furthered by the fact that Kerala had a distinctive sartorial culture where ladies wore a lungi and a blouse. And it added yet another depth to their fantasies about these ladies when they included yet another widely held stereotype of the missing Malayali males employed in the Gulf. [18]

According to film director Venkiteswaran, Shakeela eventually became highest paid employee on the set, and the production of the movie was planned around her comfort. She has said in many interviews that how these production teams would trick her into acting as many as three films at once without her knowledge, flooding the market with her films. The fly-by-night studios made more money during this time, more so than the actors who played the leads in these films. According to film scholar Darshana Sreedhar Mini, during the Malayalam cinema industry's crisis in the early 2000s, Shakeela films' success became essential to the industry's existence because her presence guaranteed profit and, thus, the survival of these personnel. [19] In 2001, more than 70% of Malayalam films were of the soft porn genre, and she appeared in many of them. Popular Malayalam films at the period focused on showing heroic masculinity and completely muted the agential role of women. Shakeela's films, in contrast, stood out because they emphasised her presence to the point where the male roles served as functional filler. In actuality, the majority of Shakeela's male co-stars were little more than "extras," with unimpressive careers. Shakeela's presence during a period of economic crisis temporarily destabilised Kerala's hero-centric mainstream business, giving rise to the Shakeela tharangam (wave of Shakeela). [20]

Indrajit Lankesh directed her biopic Shakeela (2020) based on her life in which Richa Chadda portrays the title character. [21] [22] On 22 September 2023, a 5 minute sketch featuring Shakeela was released by Netflix on YouTube to promote the concluding season of their series Sex Education , among the Malayali audience. The sketch titled "'Shakeela's driving school" was also a reminiscent of her successful film Driving School. [23]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Methil Renuka (29 December 2020). "From the archives: Who is Shakeela Khan?". India Today.
  2. 1 2 "Outlook". Outlook Publishing. 22 December 2008 – via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 "The soft porn queen of India Shakeela decides to tell her life story – many bombshells worried what she may reveal!". India Daily. 8 June 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  4. ↑ Mini, Darshana Sreedhar (1 April 2019). "The Rise of Soft Porn in Malayalam Cinema and the Precarious Stardom of Shakeela". Feminist Media Histories. 5 (2): 49–82. doi:10.1525/fmh.2019.5.2.49.
  5. 1 2 3 "സിനിമാ അഭിനയവും വിവാദങ്ങൾ നിറഞ്ഞ ജീവിതവും". 24 News Live . YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Nathan, Archana (14 March 2018). "After turning softcore films into hits, Southern actress Shakeela gets a biopic of her own". Scroll.in.
  7. ↑ "Smut glut". The Hindu . 8 August 2002. Archived from the original on 1 October 2004.
  8. 1 2 "Shakeela, the woman who inspired genres without ever doing porn". 9 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "A Soft Porn Star's Life". 11 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Providing a political platform". The Hindu . 13 January 2003. Archived from the original on 19 January 2005.
  11. ↑ "Promises and lies". The Hindu . 26 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 August 2003.
  12. ↑ "Why can't a Shakeela film be called 'Sheelavathi' ?". The Times of India . 14 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Actress Shakeela's 250th movie titled Seelavathi – Virgin Archived 14 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine AP News Corner. 28 January 2018
  14. ↑ "Shakeela Joins Congress in Kerala". thehansindia.com. 28 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Yesteryear actress Shakeela joins Congress". OnManorama.
  16. ↑ Jeevi (4 February 2005). "Movie review - 786 (Khaidi Premakatha)". Idlebrain.com . Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  17. ↑ "Alitho Saradaga: సావిత్రి అన్నీ పుణ్యాలే చేస్తే అలా ఎందుకు పోయింది.. ఆత్మకథలో అబద్ధాలు చెప్పాలా? షకీలా సంచలన కామెంట్స్". Samayam Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Menon, Vishal (16 May 2020). "Shakeela, Superstardom And A Softporn Wave That Threatened The Survival Of Malayalam Cinema". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  19. ↑ Shilpa (31 July 2019). "Malayalam Cinema's Other: Soft-porn and the Stardom of Shakeela". Ala / അല. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  20. ↑ Mini, Darshana Sreedhar (2016). "The Spectral Duration of Malayalam Soft-porn: Disappearance, Desire, and Haunting". BioScope: South Asian Screen Studies. 7 (2): 127–150. doi:10.1177/0974927616667971. ISSN   0974-9276.
  21. ↑ "Shakeela lauds her biopic that stars Richa Chadha". The Times of India . 31 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Richa Chadha's 'Shakeela' to release theatrically on Christmas". The Hindu. 30 November 2020.
  23. ↑ Staff, T. N. M. (5 September 2023). "Shakeela offers sex ed tips while promoting Netflix's popular show Sex Education". The News Minute. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
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