Shalini Ajith Kumar | |
---|---|
Born | Shalini Babu [1] 20 November 1979 Thiruvalla, Kerala, India |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1983–2001 |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Shamlee (sister) Richard Rishi (brother) |
Shalini Ajith Kumar (formerly known as Baby Shalini; born 20 November 1979), known mononymously as Shalini is a former Indian actress and child artist who worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. During the 80s, Shalini was the most successful child artist in Malayalam and Tamil films. [2]
After a brief hiatus from acting, Shalini made a come back in 1997 through Malayalam and Tamil language films as a lead heroine. She married popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar before officially retiring from films. [3]
Shalini was born in a Protestant Malayali Christian family to Babu and Alice on 20 November 1979. [4] [5] [6] [7] Her father is from Kollam. [8] Her father migrated to Madras with an ambition of becoming an actor and the family settled there. Later, he fulfilled his ambition through his children. [9] She is the middle child. Her younger sister Shamili and her elder brother Richard are also actors in the film industry. Shalini attended Fatima Matriculation Higher Secondary School (K.G to 8th), Adarsh Vidyalaya, Chennai (9th to 10th) and Church Park, Chennai (11th and 12th). She completed college at Annamalai University. [2] Shalini has stated that she enjoys badminton and has played in a few state-level tournaments. [10] [11]
Shalini started her career as a child artist in Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku under the direction of Fazil. [12] She also played the lead character in the TV serial Amloo telecast in the late 1980s on Doordarshan. [13] Her iconic hairstyle, a short bob with a front fringe, was popularly known as the “Baby Shalini hair cut”. [14]
Three of the siblings Shalini, Shamili and Richard Rishi acted as child artists in the 1990 Telugu language blockbuster film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari .
Shalini soon went to study, and she returned to acting with Aniyathipravu , which was a blockbuster. In her next film Kaliyoonjal (1997), she co-starred with Mammootty and Dileep and it released to mixed reviews. After the success of the Malayalam Aniyathipravu , Fazil remade it in Tamil as Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997) with Vijay. Initially, Fazil was keen on casting a débutante in the lead female role, but Shalini insisted that she should also star in the Tamil version. [15] Like the Malayalam version, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai was also a blockbuster, and Shalini’s performance was also praised with Indolink.com recommending the film and citing that "Shalini returns in this film with a good performance". [16]
For the movie Amarkalam (1999) with Ajith Kumar, Saran initially approached Shalini, who was studying at the time and she refused, however, after a three-month pursuit, he finally got her to sign on as well. [17] She was offered a role in Padayappa , [18] which she rejected. The success of the film Kadhalukku Mariyadhai prompted Fazil to make another film with the lead pair, Vijay and Shalini, in Kannukkul Nilavu (2000). [19] She acted with R. Madhavan in the romantic drama Alai Payuthey (2000) directed by Mani Ratnam. She was last seen in the romantic comedy film Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) with Prashanth. [20]
In 1999, during the shoot of Saran's Amarkalam , Shalini began to date her co-star Ajith Kumar. He proposed to Shalini. [21] They got married on 24 April 2000 at Chennai. After their marriage, Shalini retired as an actress following the completion of two unfinished projects. The couple have two children. [22] [23]
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku | Mamattukuttiyama/Tintu | Malayalam | Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist |
Aadyathe Anuraagam | Rajumon | |||
Bezawada Bebbuli | Telugu | Telugu Movie Debut | ||
Oomakkuyil | Malayalam | |||
Aanandha Kummi | Tamil | Tamil Movie Debut | ||
1984 | Muthodu Muthu | Achimol | Malayalam | |
Amme Narayana | ||||
Onnum Mindatha Bharya | Achuthan Nair's daughter | |||
Sandarbham | Ravi's daughter | |||
NH 47 | Mini | |||
Onnanu Nammal | Sonykutty | |||
Krishna Guruvayoorappa | Unnikrishnan | |||
Oru Sumangaliyude Katha | Raji | |||
Minimol Vathicanil | Minimol | |||
Chakkarayumma | Shalu Mol | |||
Koottinilamkili | Nandini/Rajimol | Dual Role | ||
Mangalam Nerunnu | Usha | |||
Osai | Baby Shalini | Tamil | ||
1985 | Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki | Shalu | Malayalam | |
Bandham | Asha | Telugu | ||
Bandham | Asha | Tamil | ||
Pillai Nila | Shalini / Shalu | Dual Role | ||
Amudha Gaanam | Meena | |||
Jeevante Jeevan | Biju | Malayalam | ||
Akkacheyude Kunjuvava | Chakkimol | |||
Oru Nokku Kanan | Chinnukkutty/Unnimol | Dual Role | ||
Kongumudi [24] | Padma | |||
Katha Ithuvare | Ramyamol | |||
Oru Kudakeezhil | Baby Sridevi | |||
Aazhi | ||||
Aanakkorumma | Bindu | |||
Iniyum Kadha Thudarum | Ravindran's daughter | |||
Ormikkaan Omanikkaan | ||||
Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu | Raji or Rajee | |||
1986 | Prathyyekom Shradikkuka | Minimol | ||
Bharya Oru Manthri | Anithamol | |||
Viduthalai | Shalini | Tamil | ||
Ente Entethu Mathrem | Sreemol, Bindu | Malayalam | Dual role | |
Ee Jeeva Ninagagi | Latha | Kannada | Also playback singer and only Kannada film till date | |
Nilave Malare | Priya | Tamil | ||
Aayiram Kannudayaal | ||||
Jailu Pakshi | Telugu | |||
1987 | Amme Bhagavathi | Durga | Malayalam | |
Sirai Paravai | Tamil | |||
Shankar Guru | Devi | |||
Chinnari Devatha | Devi | Telugu | ||
Saradhamba | ||||
Michael Raj | Tamil | |||
Rowdy Babai | ||||
1988 | Brahma Puthrudu | Sridevi | Telugu | |
Chutti Poonai | Shalini | Tamil | ||
August 15 Rathri | Telugu | |||
1989 | Raja Chinna Roja | Chitra | Tamil | |
Rakhwala | Mini | Hindi | Only Bollywood film till date | |
Varusham 16 | Tamil | |||
Bhagavan | Baby | Telugu | ||
1990 | Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari | Pandu | ||
1991 | Keechu Raallu |
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Aniyathipraavu | Mini | Malayalam | |
Kaliyoonjal | Ammu | |||
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | Mini | Tamil | Remake of Aniyathipraavu | |
1998 | Nakshatratharattu | Hema | Malayalam | |
Kaikudunna Nilavu | Veni | |||
Sundarakilladi | Devayani | |||
1999 | Prem Poojari | Hema | ||
Amarkalam | Mohana | Tamil | Also playback singer | |
Niram | Sona | Malayalam | ||
2000 | Kannukkul Nilavu | Hema | Tamil | |
Alai Payuthey | Shakti | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actress Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil | ||
2001 | Piriyadha Varam Vendum | Nithi | Remake of Niram |
S. Ajith Kumar is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. To date, he has starred in over 61 films, and won four Vijay Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, three Filmfare Awards South and three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. In addition to his acting career, Ajith is also an occasional racing driver and participated in the MRF Racing series (2010) and having competed in circuits around India in places such as Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. He is one among very few Indians to race in the international arena and in Formula championships. Based on the annual earnings of Indian celebrities, he was included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list three times.
Alai Payuthey, also spelled as Alaipayuthey, is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language romantic musical film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Mani Ratnam, starring R. Madhavan and Shalini. The film explores the tensions of married life between two young people who elope and the maturing of love among urban Indians who are conflicted between tradition and modernity. The score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman.
Amarkalam is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language romantic action film written and directed by Saran. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Shalini in the lead roles, with Raghuvaran, Radhika and Nassar in supporting roles.
Abdul Hameed Muhammed Fazil, known mononymously as Fazil, is an Indian film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor who works in Malayalam cinema, in addition to directing a handful of Tamil films. He made his directorial debut with the 1980 film Manjil Virinja Pookkal.
K. V. Saravanan, better known as Saran, is an Indian film director and screenwriter who active mainly in Tamil cinema. He was once an assistant to K. Balachander. He owns production house called Gemini Productions.
Piriyadha Varam Vendum is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Kamal. A remake of his own Malayalam film Niram (1999), the film stars Prashanth, Shalini, Jomol, and Krishna with an ensemble cast including Manivannan, Janagaraj, Ambika, Manorama, and Kovai Sarala. Shalini, Jomol, and Sarala reprise their roles from the original film. The music was composed by S. A. Rajkumar with cinematography by P. Sukumar and editing by K. Rajagopal. The film released on 16 February 2001 and had an average box office run. This was Shalini's final film role before her retirement from the film industry.
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language musical romantic drama film directed by Fazil. It is the Tamil remake of his own Malayalam film Aniyathipraavu (1997). The film stars Vijay and Shalini, while Sivakumar, Srividya, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Manivannan, Dhamu, Charle, Thalaivaasal Vijay, and Radha Ravi play supporting roles. It tells the story of a couple of differing backgrounds and beliefs and how they unite amidst the opposition of their families. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with cinematography by Anandakuttan.
Kannukkul Nilavu is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller film written and directed by Fazil. The film stars Vijay, Shalini, and Kaveri in the lead roles, while Raghuvaran, Srividya, and Ponvannan play other supporting roles. It was Vijay's 25th film and his first film of the new 2000s millennium. It's also Kaveri's first Tamil film and marked the second collaboration of Vijay and Shalini after Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997).
Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K. P. A. C. Lalitha, was an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in the Malayalam film industry. She started her acting career with Kerala People's Arts Club, a theatre collective in Kayamkulam, Kerala. In a career spanning five decades, she starred in over 550 films.
Ajay Kumar, better known as Guinness Pakru, is an Indian actor and television personality, who primarily works in Malayalam cinema, and some Tamil films. He has also served as a judge on several Malayalam television comedy shows. Standing at 2 ft 6 in (76 cm) tall, Pakru holds the Guinness World Records (2008) as the "shortest actor in a leading adult role" for his role in Athbhutha Dweepu (2005). In 2013, Pakru made his directorial debut with Kutteem Kolum.
Aniyathipraavu is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language romance film directed by Fazil and produced by Swargachitra Appachan. It stars Shalini and Kunchacko Boban. The music was composed by Ouseppachan with the lyrics by S. Ramesan Nair.
Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku is a 1983 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film produced by Navodaya Appachan under Navodaya Studio. It was written and directed by Fazil and stars Bharat Gopy, Mohanlal, Shalini, Poornima Jayaram, and Sangeeta Naik. The film was reported to be heavily inspired by the 1982 film Annie.
Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Fazil. The film stars Mammootty and Suresh Gopi. It features Sujitha, Nadiya Moidu, Babu Antony, Thilakan, Lalu Alex, Maniyanpilla Raju, Sukumari and Siddique in supporting roles. The film was produced by Swargachitra Appachan under the banner of Swargachitra. It revolves around a drunkard widower who helps a deaf and mute boy find his parents' killers. The film features original songs composed by Kannur Rajan, cinematography was done by Anandakuttan.
Bhagyalakshmi is an Indian actress, activist, and dubbing artist. She works predominantly in the Malayalam film industry, working with over 800 actresses and in 4,700 films. She has collaborated with several actresses from Malayalam industries as well as other south Indian languages including Shobana, Revathi, Urvashi, Soundarya, Tabu and Jyothika. Bhagyalakshmi's autobiography, Swarabhedangal, was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography.
T. P. Madhavan was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam films. He began acting at age 40 and appeared in over 600 films. Initially known for playing antagonistic roles, he transitioned to comedic roles and to character roles in his later career.
Sonia is an Indian actress, who works in Tamil and Malayalam films and serials. She debuted, at the age of three, as a child artist in the Malayalam film Ival Oru Naadodi. She continued to appear in many films as a child actor, credited as Baby Sonia. During her childhood she lent her voice for many child artists mainly for Baby Shalini. She got Kerala State Film Award for Best Child artist for the movie Nombarathi Poovu in 1987. She also got National Award for best child artist for the movie "My Dear Kuttichathan'.She acts in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu movies as well. Her brother Tinku is an actor in Tamil movies and shows.
Karpagavalli better known by her stage name Priya is an Indian actress who worked on South Indian movies. She was a prominent lead actress during the 1980s and 1990s in Malayalam films. She now works in Tamil television serials in antagonist roles.
Shobha Mohan is an Indian actress known for her works, predominantly in Malayalam cinema.
Gokula Krishnan was an Indian film director who has directed Tamil films. He was primarily active in the 1980s and early 1990s and is most noted for his work on films featuring actor Karthik. He also extensively worked with Malayalam director Fazil and other Malayalam directors when they made Tamil films, helping write dialogues.
Rangammal K. R. also known fondly among social circles as Rangammal Paati was an Indian actress who appeared in comedy roles as well as supporting roles in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada-language films during her illustrious career. She had acted in over 1000 films in her career spanning over six decades. She shared screen space with prominent actors including M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Vishal during her illustrious career.