Saritha


Saritha is a South Indian actress who has acted in more than 250 films in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu languages. She was one of the popular and critically acclaimed lead actresses during the 1980s. She also appeared in a television serial, Selvi. She is also credited as a dubbing artist. She has dubbed her voice for Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu movies for actresses like Nagma, Vijayashanti, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya in 1990s.
She is a recipient of several state awards from Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, six Filmfare Awards and six Nandi Awards including a Special Jury Award for the film Arjun. Saritha received Tamil Nadu State Film Awards four times, Karnataka State Film Awards once and many Film fans association awards.

Career

Saritha made her acting debut through Maro Charitra, a Telugu film directed by K. Balachander. The movie dealt with cross-cultural romance, where she acted opposite Kamal Haasan as a Telugu-speaking girl. She received more offers in Tamil films, mostly directed by Balachander. Some of her films are Thappu Thalangal, Idi Katha Kaadu, Vandichakkaram, Netrikan, Agni Sakshi, Puthukavithai, Kalyana Agathigal and Achamillai Achamillai. Her performance in Vandichakkaram and Achamillai Achamillai won her the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress awards. She also played guest roles as herself in 47 Natkal and its Telugu remake, directed by Balachander.
She acted in many popular Kannada movies with famous Kannada actor Dr.Rajkumar like Hosa Belaku, Keralida Simha, Bhakta Prahlada, Chalisuva Modagalu and Kaamana Billu. Her other popular Kannada movies include Eradu Rekhegalu, Sankranthi and Malaya Marutha.
She had her head tonsured for the cancer-affected role in Sujatha in 1980 and gained several pounds to play the psychotic role in the 2005 film Julie Ganapathi. Neither of these films were successful but won Critical acclaim. She also won a Nandi Special Jury Award for her performance as "Aandaalu" in the movie Arjun in 2004.
Saritha also worked as a voice actor in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films. She has lent her voice to other actresses, including Madhavi, Soundarya, Ramya Krishnan, Nagma, Vijayashanti, Simran, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Roja, Suhasini, Radha, Radhika and Aarthi Agarwal. She won four times the Nandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist for her voice to Soundarya in Ammoru, Maa Ayana Bangaram and Anthapuram.

Personal life

Saritha was born as Abhilasha in, Guntur district, India on June 7, 1960. She married twice. Her first marriage was with Telugu actor Venkata Subbaih in 1975 and they divorced in 1976. Her second marriage was with Malayalam actor Mukesh on 2 September 1988 and has two sons Shravan and Tejas. The couple divorced in 2011. Saritha now stays with her son Shravan in Dubai, UAE. Her sister Viji Chandrasekhar is also an actress.

Awards

;Filmfare Awards South
;Nandi Awards
;Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
;Karnataka State Film Awards

Tamil films

YearFilmRoleNotes
1978Thappu ThalangalSarasuDebut Tamil Film
1978Aval AppadithanArun's WifeGuest Appearance
1979Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu
1979ChakkalathiGuest Appearance
1979Nool VeliBaby
1980VandichakkaramVadivu
1980Sujatha
1980Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu
1980Thai PongalSwarna
1980Rusi Kanda PoonaiSavithri
1980KuruvikooduValli
1980Panam Penn Paasam
1981Thanneer ThanneerSevanthi
1981Anjatha Nenjangal
1981Mouna GeethangalSuguna
198147 Natkal
1981Oruthi Mattum KaraiyinileRadha
1981NetrikkannRadha
1981Enga Ooru Kannagi
1981Keezh Vaanam SivakkumManju
1981Kalam Oru Naal Maarum
1981Koyil Puraa
1982AmmaSeetha
1982Pannaipurathu Pandavargal
1982Nenjil Oru RagamGeetha
1982Thai Mookambigai
1982Kanmani PoongaUma
1982PuthukavithaiKalyani
1982ThunaiVidya
1982Saattai Illatha PambaramJaya
1982Agni SakshiKannamma
1983Malaiyoor MambattiyanKannaathaa
1983Imaigal
1983Thangaikkor Geetham
1983Yamirukka Bayamen
1983Oru Pullangulal Adupu Othugirathu
1983Uyirullavarai Usha
1983Sivappu SooriyanSelvi
1984Komberi Mookan
1984Achamillai AchamillaiThenmozhi
1984Kuzhandhai Yesu
1984Iru Medhaigal
1984Shankari
1984Uravai Kaatha Kili
1984Nalam Nalamariya Aaval
1984Simma Soppanam
1985Veli
1985Melmaruvathur Athiparasakthi
1985Kalyana AgathigalAmmulu
1985SaaviLatha
1985Sugamana Raagangal
1985Anni
1985Kolusu
1985Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye
1986Dharmam
1986Kungamapottu
1986Oomai VizhigalSumathi
1986Kodai Mazhai
1987Poo Poova PoothirukkuJanaki
1987Mangai Oru GangaiRadha Ranganathan
1987Etikku Potti
1987Vaazhga Valarga
1987Vedham PudhithuPetchi
1987Ellaikodu
1988Raasave Unnai Nambi
1988Poo Pootha Nandhavanam
1988Kai Koduppal Karpagambal
2001FriendsAravindan's mother
2002AlbumShantha
2003Julie GanapathiJulie Ganapathy
2006June RRaniammal
2013CeylonTsunami Akka

Malayalam films

Television