Radha (actress)
| Radha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Radha at 60th South Filmfare Awards 2013 | |
| Born |
3 June 1965 Trivandrum, Kerala, India |
| Years active | 1981–1991 |
| Spouse(s) |
Rajasekaran Nair (m. 1991–present) |
| Children |
Karthika Nair (b. 1992) Vignesh Nair (b. 1995) Thulasi Nair (b. 1997) |
| Parent(s) | Azhakathu E Rama Kurup, Mouttathu K Janaki |
| Family |
Ambika (sister) Mallika Arjun Suresh |
| Awards | Kalaimaamani, Cinema express, film critics |
Udaya Chandrika, known by her stage name Radha, is an Indian film actress known for her works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu films. She was also starred in few Malayalam and Kannada films. She was one of the mainstream top heroine over for an decade of years from 1981 to 1991. She has acted in 100 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Her elder sister Ambika was also an actress. Both of them acted in a number of south Indian films in 1980s together and during their peak career, they have owned a movie studio called "ARS Studios". Now they have converted ARS Studios in to a new Hotel Complex in 2013. She ventured into Television as a Judge in STAR Vijay's Jodi Number One Season 6 & 7 Reality Dance program.
Personal life
Radha was born on 3 June 1965 at Kallara village located in Trivandrum district. She has two elder sisters Ambika and Mallika; two younger brothers Arjun and Suresh Nair. Her Sister Ambika is also a leading actress in 1980's.
Radha is married to business man, Rajasekaran Nair on 1991 and have settled in Mumbai. She has three children: Son Vignesh Nair, Daughters Karthika Nair and Thulasi Nair. For the past 24 years they have owned a chain of restaurants in Mumbai and two hotels called UDS in Kovalam at Kerala, which have won the best coastal beach resort award. They also own a restaurant in the UK named "Rock and Role Kitchen" (RRK).
Her daughter Karthika Nair started her career as an actress in her age of 17 with the Telugu film Josh in 2009. Her another daughter Thulasi Nair started her acting career in her age of 14 as an actress with the Maniratnam film Kadal in 2012.
Career
Radha started her acting career at the age of 15. She was spotted by director Bharathiraja and was cast as a teenager in Alaigal Oivathillai in 1981 opposite newcomer Karthik. Her name Udaya Chandrika was changed to a screen name Radha by director Bharathiraja. She was peak in her film career in both Tamil and Telugu films and become as one of the Top heroines from 1981 to 1991.
Tamil cinema
Radha started her career in the age of 15 starring as the protagonist in director Bharathiraja's Alaigal Oivathillai alongside debutant Karthik in 1981. The movie was a runaway hit and is regarded as a cult classic by many. The on-screen chemistry that she shared with Karthik was highly successful and led to many movies like Pakkathu Veetu Roja, Valibamey Vaa Vaa and Ilanjodigal. In the same year Radha played a small role in the movie Tik Tik Tik which also starred Kamal Haasan. Tik Tik Tik played a significant role in her career. Later she starred alongside Kamal Hassan in movies like Oru Kaithiyin Diary, Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey, Kadhal Parisu and Jappanil Kalyanaraman.
Her sister Ambika is also a very popular actress. Both of them acted together in films like Enkeyo Ketta Kural, Vellai Roja, Idhaya Kovil, Kadhal Parisu and Anna Nagar Mudhal Theru. The two sisters were at the zenith of their fame when they acted in Kadhal Parisu in which they played the roles of very glamorous, highly desirable women. Ambika and Radha managed their careers very carefully and after attaining success they were very selective about taking up roles in Tamil movies and only performed with top actors and directors. It was very rare to see both the sisters in the same movie after their early years in the Tamil film industry.
Her last film in Tamil was Marupakkam with Sivakumar and Jayabharathi, where she played a small role called "Avayam" released in October 1991.
Telugu cinema
She acted in her first Telugu film with Sobhan Babu in Mr. Vijay in 1983. Her notable films in Telugu include Yamudiki Mogudu, State Rowdy, Lankeswarudu, Raamudu Bheemudu, and Agni Parvatam. She has acted in around 16 films with Chiranjeevi, three films with Balakrishna and worked with all major heroes like NTR, ANR, Krishna, Shoban Babu and many more. Her glamour roles were brought out by K. Raghavendra Rao and A. Kodandarami Reddy. Radha brought about a major departure in terms of limits heroines with erotic roles that reveal their bodies on screen.[1]
Her last Telugu film was Kodama Simham starring with Chiranjeevi, Sonam, Mohan babu released in 1990.
Kannada cinema
She has done only 4 Kannada films. She acted with veteran Vishnuvardhan and actress Lakshmi in Soubhagya Lakshmi, a remake of the Hindi film Maang Bharo Sajana. It in turn is a remake of a Telugu movie. She acted in Saavira Sullu with Ravichandran. In 1991, she did the movie Ranachandi with co-actors Sharat Babu, Ramesh Bhat, Mukhyamantri Chandru and Sudhir. In the film, she played a cop with Sharat Babu as her husband and Mukhyamantri Chandru as the villain. She had many stunts and fight sequences. It was a big hit in Kannada and is still remembered by Kannada movie-goers.
Malayalam cinema
She acted only in 6 Malayalam films, the most notable being K. G. George's state award-winning film Irakal (1986). Her performance as Nirmala is widely regarded as one of the best in her career. She produced the Malayalam film Ayitham (1987) in which she played the lead role. She has acted with eighties Superstar Shankar Pannikar and Bharat Gopi the maximum, in two movies each with both actors. She played significant roles in Sathyan Anthikad's Revathikkoru Pavakkutty (1986).
Her last Malayalam film by P. G. Viswambaran's Innathe Programme released in 1991.
Selected filmography
Tamil films
This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Malayalam films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Innathe Program | Indumathi | |
| 1988 | Ayitham | Chinna | |
| 1986 | Revathikkoru Pavakkutty | Susanna | |
| 1985 | Irakal | Nirmala | |
| 1984 | Umaanilayam | Uma | |
| 1983 | Mortuary | Radhadevi |
Telugu films
- This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Kodama Simham | ||
| Kondaveeti Donga | |||
| Qaidi Dada | |||
| 1989 | Lankeshwarudu | ||
| Rudranetra | |||
| State Rowdy | |||
| Ramudu Bhimudu | |||
| Manchi Kutumbam | |||
| Two Town Rowdy | |||
| 1988 | Marana Mrudangam | ||
| Yamudiki Mogudu | |||
| Donga Ramudu | |||
| Jamadagni | |||
| 1987 | Jebu Donga | ||
| 1986 | Raakshasudu | ||
| Kondaveeti Raja | |||
| Muddula Krishnaiah | |||
| Ravana Brahma | |||
| 1985 | Adavi Donga | ||
| Raktha Sindhuram | |||
| Puli | |||
| Vinitha Mogudu | |||
| Agni Parvatam | |||
| 1984 | Naagu | ||
| Goonda | |||
| 1983 | Chanda Sasanudu |
Kannada films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Ranachandi | Durgadevi | |
| 1987 | Sowbhagya Lakshmi | ||
| 1987 | Digvijaya | Cameo appearance | |
| 1985 | Savira Sullu | Usha |
References
External links
- Radha at the Internet Movie Database
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