| Meena Durairaj | |
|---|---|
 Meena in the film Veera. |
|
| Born | Meena Durairaj 16 September, year unknown. Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1982 - present |
| Spouse(s) | Vidyasagar |
Meena Durairaj, mononymously known as Meena, (Tamil: மீனா) (born 16 September [1] in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a South Indian film and television actress. Meena debuted as a child artist in 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 model, singer, TV host and occasional dubbing artiste.
Contents |
Career
Appearance
On a recent survey taken in the year 2009 for top 100 most beautiful Indian women. Meena has been ranked as 35th most beautiful Indian woman. All southern stars including Simran, Jyothika, Nayanthara,Trisha,Sneha Sridevi and Kiran trail way behind her.
Child artiste
Meena started her career in 1982 as a child artist in the film Nenjangal, featuring 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, she has appeared in over 45 films as a child artiste.
Lead female roles
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 Tamil and Telagu 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 Muta Mestri in Telugu opposite Chiranjeevi. In the Kannada remake of Autograph, she reprised Sneha's role of Divya.
She has acted with Vishnuvardan,Rajinikanth,Balakrishna,Ravichandran, Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Vijayakanth, Ajith Kumar, Prabhu Deva, Sarathkumar, Mammootty, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi, Prashanth, Sudeep, Chiranjivi, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Raviteja, eventually herself becoming a star. She had hits with films like Muthu, Ejaman, Veera , Avvai Shanmughi and Mutamestri. She also acted opposite Vijay in Shajahan 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.
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.[3] She has gained two substantial roles in Malayalam opposite Mammootty and Mohanlal. Her acting in Mariyadhai alongside Vijayakanth has been well received.
Meena has said that her own favorite roles were in Bharathi Kannamma and Shock in Tamil, Seetha Ramayya Gaari Manavaralu in Telugu, Santhwanam in Malayalam and Swathi Muthu in Kannada, "though every film of mine is close to my heart."[2]
Recent and upcoming roles
Meena's releases in 2009 are Mariyadhai with Vijayakanth[4] and Katha, Samvidhanam: Kunchako with Sreenivasan.[5] She was reported to be taking the lead actress role in the Malayalam film Sagar alias jackie, but she was replaced by Shobhana.In Malayalam, Meena paired with Mohanlal the most and almost all their movies were successful.They are considered as "lucky pair" in Mollywood.
She is now acting in a Malayalam movie titled Pattunool unjal opposite Manoj.K.Jayan, and is due to play the Telugu Saint Vengamamba in Tarigonda Vengamamba, directed by Uday Bhaskar.[6]
After marriage she is going to pair with Ramesh Aravind. They both are the lead hero & heroine in this film. The film is a remake of Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana which was acted by Nassar, Radhika, Goundamani, Senthil, Vadivelu and Kovai Sarala which was 12 years ago and a super hit film directed by V Sekar. It is also told that She is taking an elder sister role of Narain in the movie named Thambikottai , in this movie Poonam Bajwa is the pair for Narain. Others acting in this movie is Prabhu and Vadivelu and this movie is directed by Ammu Ramesh.[7][8][9] Meena is also doing as the lead heroine in the film Vidathey Pidi in which she pairs with Prabhu
There is a news told that Meena and Prasanna had dubbed for Cheran movie Pokkisham. Prasanna has dubbed for Aryan Rajesh, who has played Cheran’s son in the film, while Meena has rendered voice for Padmapriya.[10]
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.[11][12]
- 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.[13]
- 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.[14]
- She has appeared in adverts for such products as cosmetics, jewellery, and silks.[citation needed]
- Recently She has appeared as one of the judges for the second season of the dancing competition Boys VS Girls 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.[15] Meena has recorded two pop albums, 16 Vayathinile, and Kadhalism, which she began recording in 2001 with actor Vikram.[16][17]
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 well: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and English.
Her mother has played a pivotal role in shaping her career and acted as her guide and 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. She has acted as Roja's younger sister in several Telugu films. Other Best friends are actress Sanghavi,Sridevi Vijaykumar,Maheswari and Devayani.
Meena married Vidyasagar, a software engineer from Bengaluru, at Tirupathi on 12 July 2009. Their reception was held on 14 July 2009. Meena says she will continue with her acting career.[18][19]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Nenjangal | Kidnapped child | Tamil | Child artiste |
| Enkeyo Ketta Kural | Daughter to Rajinikanth | 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 | Winner, 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 | Wife | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Parda Hai Parda | Hindi | ||
| Allari Pilla | Funny girl | Telugu | ||
| Sundarakanda | Wife | Telugu | ||
| Chanti | Wife | Telugu | ||
| President Gari Pellam | Wife | Telugu | ||
| Pellam Chepte Vinali | Telugu | |||
| Bangaru Maama | Telugu | |||
| Moratodu Naa Mogudu | Telugu | |||
| 1993 | Sethupathi IPS | Chandramathi | Tamil | Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress also for Yejaman |
| Yejaman | Vaitheeswari Vaanavaraayan | Tamil | Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress also for Sethupathi IPS | |
| Muta Mestri | Telugu | |||
| Rajeshwari Kalyanam | Rajeshwari | Telugu | Winner, 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 | Wife | 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, Priya |
Tamil | ||
| Muthu | Ranganayaki | Tamil | ||
| Cheluve3 | Kannada | |||
| Alu Magalu | Telugu | |||
| Chilakapacha Kapuram | Telugu | |||
| 1996 | Senkottai | Tamil | ||
| Avvai Shanmugi | Janaki | Tamil | ||
| 1997 | Vallal | Annam | Tamil | |
| Porkkaalam | Tamil | Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress | ||
| Pasamulla Pandiyare | Tamil | |||
| Bharathi Kannamma | Kannamma | Tamil | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress | |
| Varnapakittu | Sandra, Alina |
Malayalam | ||
| Muddula Moghudu | Telugu | |||
| Panjaram | Telugu | |||
| 1998 | Ulavu Thurai | Tamil | ||
| Coolie | Tamil | |||
| Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar | Indu | Tamil | ||
| Kusruthi Kuruppu | Malayalam | |||
| Gilli Kajjalu | Telugu | |||
| Surya Vamsham | Telugu | |||
| 1999 | Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | Tamil | ||
| Periyanna | Shenbagam | Tamil | ||
| Iraniyan | Tamil | |||
| Manam Virumbude Unnai | Tamil | |||
| Harichandra | Nandhini | Tamil | ||
| Anandha Poongatre | Meenakshi | Tamil | ||
| Olympian 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 | Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress | |
| Padai Veetu Amman | Padai Veetu Amman, Muthu Maariamman |
Tamil | ||
| Villain | Thangam | Tamil | ||
| Angala Parameswari | Angala Parameswari Amman | Tamil | ||
| Dhaya | Thulasi | Tamil | ||
| 2003 | Paarai | Mallika | Tamil | |
| Swathi Muthu | Kannada | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress[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 Uhayabhanu | 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 |
| Magic Lamp | Anupama | Malayalam | ||
| 2009 | Mariyadhai | Radha | Tamil | |
| Katha Samvidhanam Kunchacko | Ann Mary | Malayalam | ||
| Vengamamba | Saint Vengamamba | Telugu | ||
| Pattunool Unjal | Malayalam | Filming | ||
| 2009 | Thambikottai | Tamil | ||
| Vidathey Pidi | Tamil | |||
| Hendthira Darbar | Kannada |
Awards
- Best Tamil Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
- Best Kannada Actress - Swathi Muthu (2003)[24]
- Best Actress - Seetha Ramayyagarri 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 - Seetha Ramayya Gaari Manavaralu (Telugu)
- Best Actress - Naattamai (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Muthu (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Avvai Shanmugi (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (Tamil)
- Best Actress - Puthnanja (Kannada)
- Dinakaran Best Actress Award for Avvai Shanmugi (1996)
- Film Fans Associations 45th Annual Best Actress Award for Putnanja (1995)
- Lalitha Kalanjali Award for Chanti (1992)
- Kala Sagar Best Actress Award for Chanti (1992)
- Screen Videocon Best Actress South Awards for Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
- Thumbs Up Awards
- Best Actress - Muthu (1995)
- Best Actress - Bharathi Kannamma (1997)
- Kalaimamani (1998)
- Kalai Selvam Award (South Indian Artiste Association)
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. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/03/19/stories/2005031903760300.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ 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
- ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49122.html
- ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (24 September 2005). "Meena's small screen debut". The Hindu. 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. 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. 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.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ "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. 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://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.
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