- Meena Durairaj
-
Meena Durairaj Born Meena Durairaj
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaOccupation Actress Years active 1982 - present Spouse Vidyasagar
(2009–present)Children Nainika Parents Durairaj
Raj MallikaMeena Durairaj, mononymously known as Meena, (Tamil: மீனா) [1] born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is a South Indian film and television actress. Meena debuted as a child artist in Telugu and Tamil films and has later starred in films produced by various regional industries. She is one of the most established actresses in the southern Indian film industry. In addition to acting, Meena is also a top model, singer,dancer, TV host and occasional dubbing artiste.At one time,she was considered as the biggest south indian actress by acting opposite Superstars of south India.Her pair along with Superstar Rajinikanth is considered as the most successful pair with Rajini
Contents
Personal life
Meena was born in Chennai as the daughter to a Tamil father Durairaj and a Malayali mother Raj Mallika. She was enrolled in Vidyodhya schools in Chennai. Because of her busy acting schedule she had to discontinue schooling in the 8th standard, later taking up private coaching and completing the 10th standard. She went on to get her MA in History from the University of Madras through the open university system in 2006.[2] Meena is a trained Bharathanatyam dancer and speaks six languages: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and English.
Her mother has played a pivotal role in shaping her career and acted as her guide advisor. Meena has always credited her mother for standing behind her as pillar of strength. When Meena's make-up artist failed to turn up at a remote village in Kakinada during the shooting of Bobbili Simham in 1994, her co-star Roja Selvamani did her hairstyling, beginning their friendship. Other best friends are actress Sanghavi, Sridevi Vijaykumar,Maheswari and Devayani.[citation needed]
Meena married Vidyasager on July 12, 2009 at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh. Vidyasagar is a Bangalore-based Software Engineer.[3] Meena gave birth to a daughter Nainika on 1 January 2011 at 11.30am in Chennai.[4]
Career
Child artiste
Meena started her career in 1982 as a child artist in the film Nenjangal, starring Dr. Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role, after Ganesan saw her at a birthday party.[2] She says of Ganesan that "I feel extremely proud to have been discovered by the legend".[2] Since then, she has appeared in over 45 films as a child artiste.
Lead female roles
She made her debut in Telugu beside the legend Akkineni Nageswara Rao in Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu.She made her debut in Tamil in Oru Pudiya Kadhai, and also stars in Telugu and Kannada films. Her first role in Malayalam that gained attention was in Santhwanam. Meena has expressed a wish to do more films in Malayalam.[2] She says of her transition from being a child star to being a heroine that "Memories as a child are really fabulous and I still cherish them. And it is still more special as that phase is over. Now, I am enjoying my stint as a heroine."[2]
She has played the role of leading heroines in Telugu and Tamil films since the early 90s, often playing characters without negativity or grey shades. She has generally avoided glamorous roles though she has acted in a few like Maaman Magal in Tamil opposite Sathyaraj and some movies with Ravichandran in Kannada. In the Kannada remake of Autograph, she reprised Sneha's role of Divya.
She has acted with Vishnuvardhan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Ravichandran, Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, Vijayakanth, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh.Ajith Kumar, Prabhu Deva, Sarathkumar, Mohanlal, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi, Prashanth, Sudeep, Balakrishna, Raviteja, eventually herself becoming a star. She had great hits with films like Muthu, Mutamestri,Ejaman, Veera, Avvai Shanmughi . She also made a special appearance in Shahjahan and played a role along with Surya in Periyanna. She acted opposite Vikram in Kadhaleesham. Meena has acted both as a child and as an adult opposite Rajnikanth. She has acted with almost all leading actors in South India. Following the release of Muthu in Japan and its commercial success, Meena's popularity rose in Japan.[citation needed] A role in Kadha Parayumbol and in its Tamil and Telugu remakes, Kuselan and Kathanayakudu respectively, were well received by audiences. Meena has expressed regret about Kuselan, after her part was overshadowed.[5]
Meena has said that her own favorite roles were in Bharathi Kannamma and Shock in Tamil, Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu in Telugu, Santhwanam in Malayalam and Swathi Muthu in Kannada, "though every film of mine is close to my heart."[2]
Meena had acted with almost all the actresses like Padmini, K.R.Vijaya, Sowcar Janaki, Bhanumathi, Vjayakumari, Manorama, Jayapradha, Jayanthi, Sridevi,Sripriya, Suhasini, Revathy, Radhika, Ambika, Radha, Bhanupriya, Nadhiya, Soundarya, Roja, Rambha, Nagma, Aamani, Ramya Krishnan, Sujatha, Lakshmi, Kushboo, Meera jasmine, Bhavana, Nayanthara, Sneha, Jyothika, Simran, Sanghavi,Vindhya, Madhavi, Gowthami, Devayani, Raasi, Malavika, Mamta Mohandas, Karthika, Poonam Bajwa, Sangeetha, Amala.
Recent roles
Meena's releases in 2009 were Mariyadhai with Vijayakanth[6] and Katha, Samvidhanam: Kunchacko with Sreenivasan.[7]
She played the Telugu Saint Vengamamba in Tarigonda Vengamamba, directed by Uday Bhaskar.[8]
In 2011, She played the role of Narain's sister in the movie named Thambikottai, in this movie Poonam Bajwa is the pair for Narain. Other actors in this movie include Prabhu and Vadivelu. Which is now running well in cinema's. Her role in this movie was very good and well accepted.[9][10][11]
After marriage she paired with Ramesh Aravind in the film Hendtheera Darbar. The film was a remake of Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana that starred Nassar, Radhika, Goundamani, Senthil, Vadivelu and Kovai Sarala.
Television
Meena has appeared in several television shows and soap operas:
- She acted as a married woman in a 1990 TV serial Anbulla Amma co-starring with Tamil actress Manorama.
- She hosted a game show on Jaya TV in 2005 called Houseful.[12][13]
- She appeared as one of the judges for the first season of the dancing competition Masthana Masthana aired on Sun TV.
- She appeared on Sun TV's serial Lakshmi in 2006.[14]
- She acted in the TV serial Mudda Mandaram on Gemini TV.
- She appeared in a serial on Sun TV in 2009 called Kalyanam, written by Pattukottai Prabhakar.[15]
- She has appeared as one of the main judge for the second season of the dancing competition Boys VS Girls Season 2 aired on Star Vijay.
- Recently after giving birth to her daugher her first debut to television is Jodi Number One Season 5. She was a judge for one of the rounds aired on Star Vijay.
Other work
Music composing
Meena has been a playback singer for some albums with Manoj Bharathi. She sang a song for the Tamil film Kadhal Sadugudu.[16] Meena has recorded two pop albums, 16 Vayathinile, and Kadhalism, which she began recording in 2001 with actor Vikram.[17][18] Meena has been a playback singer in the music of D.IMAN in the movie sena and the song is "indru intha kalayil en nenjil echo aachu".
Dubbing
Meena and Prasanna had dubbed for Cheran's movie Pokkisham. Prasanna has dubbed for Aryan Rajesh, who has played Cheran's son in the film, while Meena has rendered voice for Padmapriya.[19] Meena dubbed her voice for soundarya in ponnumani movie.
- And also there are resources saying that Meena has also dubbed for other films for their heroines.
Filmography
Year Title Role Language Notes 1982 Nenjangal Kidnapped child Tamil Child artiste Enkeyo Ketta Kural Daughter to Rajinikanth Tamil Child artiste Theerpugal Thiruthapadalam Daughter to SivaKumar Tamil Child artiste 1983 Thandikkapatta Niyayangal Playful child Tamil Child artiste Sumangali Doll-selling girl Tamil Child artiste 1984 Thiruppam Baby Meena Tamil Child artiste Anbulla Rajinikanth Rosy Tamil Child artiste 1985 Paneer Nadhigal Tamil Child artiste Uyire Unakkaga Nadhiya as a child Tamil Child artiste Lakshmi Vanthachu Playful child Tamil Child artiste Kettimelam Baby Meena Tamil Child artiste Rendu Rella Aaru Baby Meena Telugu Child artiste 1986 Sirivennela Baby Meena Telugu Child artiste 1988 Vasanthi Baby Meena Tamil Child artiste 1989 Prajala Manishi Telugu Child artiste Paape Naa Pranam Telugu Child artiste 1990 Oru Pudhiya Kadhai Lover to a writer Tamil Navodayam Telugu Karthavyam Karuna Telugu Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu Seetha Telugu Nandi Award for Best Actress Dharama Telugu Indra Bhavanam Telugu 1991 En Rasavin Manasile Cholaiamma Tamil Idhaya Oonjal Wife of a widower Tamil Idhaya Vaasal Vani Tamil Santhwanam Malayalam Jagannatakam Telugu Chengalva Pudanda Telugu Allari Mogudu Neelambari Telugu 1992 Parda Hai Parda Hindi Allari Pilla Funny girl Telugu Sundarakanda Nanchari Telugu Chanti Nandini Telugu President Gari Pellam Wife Telugu Pellam Chepte Vinali Geetha Telugu Bangaru Maama Telugu Moratodu Naa Mogudu Telugu 1993 Sethupathi IPS Chandramathi Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress(also for Yejaman) Yejaman Vaitheeswari Vaanavaraayan Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress (also for Sethupathi IPS) Muta Mestri Telugu Rajeshwari Kalyanam Rajeshwari Telugu Nandi Award for Best Actress Abbaigaaru Wife Telugu Ashwamedham Lover Telugu Muta Mesthri Buchamma Telugu Allari Alludu Telugu Konguchatu Krishnadu Telugu 1994 Veera Devayanai Tamil Thai Maman Meena Tamil Rajakumaran Bubbly girl Tamil Nattamai Meena Tamil Putnanja Kannada Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam Swathi Telugu Anga Rakshakudu Telugu Bhale Pellam Telugu Bobbili Simham Telugu 1995 Maman Magal Priya Tamil Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari Tamil Marumagan Tamil Nadodi Mannan Meenakshi,
PriyaTamil Muthu Ranganayaki Tamil Cheluve3 Kannada Alu Magalu Telugu Chilakapacha Kapuram Telugu 1996 Senkottai Tamil Avvai Shanmugi Janaki Tamil 1997 Vallal Annam Tamil Porkkaalam Maragatham Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress Pasamulla Pandiyare Tamil Bharathi Kannamma Kannamma Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil Varnapakittu Sandra,
AlinaMalayalam Muddula Moghudu Telugu Panjaram Telugu 1998 Ulavu Thurai Tamil Coolie Tamil Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar Indu Tamil Kusruthi Kuruppu Malayalam Gilli Kajjalu Satya bhama Telugu Surya Vamsham Telugu 1999 Unnaruge Naan Irundhal Mahalakshimi (Maha) Tamil Periyanna Shenbagam Tamil Iraniyan Tamil Manam Virumbude Unnai Tamil Harichandra Nandhini Tamil Anandha Poongatre Meenakshi Tamil Olympiyan Anthony Adam Angel Malayalam Friends Padmini Malayalam Krishna Babu Rama Telugu Bobbili Vamsham Telugu Sneham Kosam Prabhavati 'Prabha' 'Guddiya' Telugu Velugu Needalu Telugu 2000 Vanathai Pola Gowri Muthu Tamil Anbudan Tamil Guest appearance Thenali Meena (Herself) Tamil Special Appearance Palayathu Amman Palayathu Amman Tamil Vetri Kodi Kattu Valli Muthuraman Tamil Doubles Tamil Rhythm Chitra Tamil Dreams Malayalam Maa Annayya Wife Telugu 2001 Shahjahan Tamil Special appearance Citizen Sevali Tamil Maayi Bhuvaneswari Tamil Rishi Indu Tamil Sivagami Tamil Ayyan Tamil Censor Hindi Guest appearance Rakshasa Rajav Malayalam Sri Manjunatha Goddess Parvathi Telugu Ammayi Kosam Telugu Dasu Telugu 2002 Devan Uma Tamil Namma Veettu Kalyaanam Tamil Ivan Meena Kumari Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – TamilPadai Veetu Amman Padai Veetu Amman,
Muthu MaariammanTamil Villain Thangam Tamil Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil Angala Parameswari Angala Parameswari Amman Tamil Dhaya Thulasi Tamil 2003 Paarai Mallika Tamil Swathi Muthu Kannada Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada[20] Mr. Brahmachari Ganga Malayalam Simhachalam Simhachalam's wife Telugu 2004 Shock[21] Malini Vasanth Tamil Anbulla Latchumiye Tamil Aalukkoru Aasai Eshwari Tamil Mallamma Mallamma Kannada Natturajavu[22] Maya Malayalam 2005 Kannamma Kannamma Tamil My Autograph Divya Kannada Chandrolsavam Indulekha Malayalam Udayananu Tharam[2] Madhumathi Udayabhanu Malayalam Puttintiki Raa Chelli Wife Telugu Prayatnam Telugu 2006 Karuthapakshigal[23] Suvarnna Malayalam 2007 Kadha Parayumbol Sridevi Balan Malayalam Black Cat[23] Meenakshi Malayalam 2008 Kuselan Sridevi Balakrishnan Tamil Simultaneously made in Telugu as Kathanayakudu Kathanayaudu Sreedevi Telugu Magic Lamp Anupama Malayalam 2009 Mariyadhai Radha Tamil Katha, Samvidhanam: Kunchacko Ann Mary Malayalam kathaparayumbol Malayalam Vengamamba Saint Vengamamba Telugu Pattunool Unjal Malayalam 2010 Thambikottai Shanmugapriya Tamil 2011 Vidathey Pidi Tamil Pre-Filming Hendtheera Darbar Kannada Pre-Filming Awards & Honours
- Kalaimamani (1998)
- Kalai Selvam Award (South Indian Artiste Association)
- TSR TV9 awards 2010
- Special jury award - Tarikonda Venkamamba(2011)[24]
- Ugadi Puraskar awards
- Best Telugu Actress - Tarikonda Venkamamba (2009)[25]
- Best Tamil Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
- Best Tamil Actress - Ejamaan(1991)
- Best Kannada Actress - Swathi Muthu (2003)[26]
- Best Actress - Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
- Best Actress - Rajeshwari Kalyanam
- Best Actress - Yejaman and Sethupathi IPS (1993)
- Best Actress - Porkaalam (1997)
- Best Actress - Ivan (2002)
- Cinema Express Awards
- Best Actress - Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu (Telugu)
- Best Actress - Naattamai (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Muthu (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Avvai Shanmugi (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Puthnanja (Kannada)
- Best Janaranja nadigai award -Vanathai pola{tamil}'
- Dinakaran Award
- Best Actress - Avvai Shanmugi (1996)
- Film Fans Associations 45th Annual Award
- Best Actress - Putnanja (1995)
- Kala Sagar Award
- Best Actress - 'Chanti (1992)
- Thumbs Up Awards
- Best Actress - Muthu (1995)
- Best Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
- Lalitha Kalanjali Award
- Best Actress - Chanti (1992)
- Screen Videocon South Awards
- Best Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
References
- ^ Interview with Dinakaran Question: "What is your age?" Answer: "May one ask the age of actress?"
- ^ a b c d e f g George, Vijay (19 March 2005). "Leading lady". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/19/stories/2005031903760300.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ [1].
- ^ "Meena delivers a baby girl". Oneindia. 3 January 2011. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2011/meena-delivers-baby-girl-030111.html. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (10 August 2008). "'I am the heroine'". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/I_am_the_heroine/articleshow/3346258.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Vijaykanth's 'Mariyadai' for a summer release". msn entertainment. 19 February 2009. http://entertainment.in.msn.com/southcinema/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1825823. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ "Sreenivasan and Meena together once again!". FilmySouth. 3 October 2008. http://www.filmysouth.com/Malayalam_Movie_News/Sreenivasanand/October-03-2008/Sreenivasan_and_Meena_together_once_again.html. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
- ^ "Meena to play Saint Vengamamba". Filmsouth. 2 April 2009. http://www.filmysouth.com/telugu_movie_news/meenavengamamba/april-02-2009/meena_to_play_saint_vengamamba.html. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/50393.html
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/51188.html
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/51455.html
- ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (24 September 2005). "Meena's small screen debut". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/09/24/stories/2005092400250200.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Meena makes a TV debut". Screen India. 14 October 2005. http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=11333. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Lakshmi". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 21 July 2006. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/07/21/stories/2006072100040400.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Friday Review Chennai and Tamil Nadu". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 27 February 2009. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/02/27/stories/2009022750360400.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (11 April 2003). "Few in the race this time". The Hindu. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/04/11/stories/2003041100980200.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "I will make the public know there is a good actor in Vikram". Tamil Guardian. 27 June 2001. http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg115/p7.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ Waheed, Sajahan (27 September 2001). "Meena's album delayed". New Straits Times. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82615511.html. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49122.html
- ^ "51st Annual Manikchand Filmfare South Award winners". Times of India. 4 June 2004. http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/719104.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Shock stars Prasanth, Meena". Screen India. 4 June 2004. http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=8259. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Meena's Malayalam comeback". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 26 April 2004. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/04/26/stories/2004042601390300.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ a b Sreekumaran, P. (26 December 2006). "Meena's magic still fascinates Malayali film fans". apunkachoice. http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/downsouth/malayalam/20061223-0.html. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ ((http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/65646.html.}}
- ^ "Ugadi Puraskar awards for women". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 16 March 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/16/stories/2010031651840200.htm.
- ^ The Times Of India. http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/719104.cms.
External links
- Meena at the Internet Movie Database
- "Meena: I prefer to do roles which is not similar to my earlier films". Indiaglitz. 29 April 2005. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/interview/6319.html. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award 1972–1979 Jayalalithaa (1972) · Jayalalithaa (1973) · Lakshmi (1974) · Sujatha (1975) · Sujatha (1976) · Sujatha (1977) · Latha (1978) · Sobha (1979)
1980–1989 1990–1999 Radhika (1990) · Gauthami (1991) · Revathi (1992) · Revathi (1993) · Revathi and Nagma (1994) · Manisha Koirala (1995) · Shruti (1996) · Meena (1997) · Kausalya (1998) · Ramya Krishnan (1999)
2000–2009 2010–2019 Anjali (2010)1967-1980 K. R. Vijaya (1967) · Padmini (1968) · Sowcar Janaki (1969) · K. R. Vijaya (1970) · no award (1971) · no award (1972) · no award (1973) · no award (1974) · no award (1975) · no award (1976) · Latha (1977) · Lakshmi (1978) · Saritha (1979) · Suhasini (1980)
1981-2000 Sridevi (1981) · Saritha (1982) · no award (1983) · no award (1984) · no award (1985) · no award (1986) · no award (1987) · Saritha (1988) · Raadhika (1989) · Revathy (1990) · Kushboo (1991) · Sukanya (1992) · Meena (1993) · Raj Shri (1994) · Kushboo (1995) · Shruti (1996) · Meena & Devayani (1997) · Roja (1998) · Simran (1999) · Devayani (2000)
2001-present Categories:- Living people
- Tamil people
- Tamil actors
- Telugu film actors
- Kannada film actors
- Indian actors
- People from Tamil Nadu
- Non Malayali actors acted in Malayalam-language films
- Year of birth uncertain
- Malayalam film actors
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
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