Ranjini (actress)

Ranjini
Born Sasha Selvaraj
1970 (age 43)
Singapore
Nationality Indian
Occupation Film actress
Lawyer
Business

Sasha Selvaraj, better known as Ranjini, is a Singapore-born Indian actress known for her roles in the Malayalam and Tamil films of the mid-1980s and early 1990s.

Selvaraj made her debut in the 1985 Tamil film Muthal Mariyathai directed by P Bharathiraja.[1] In 1987, she acted in Lenin Rajendran's Swathi Thirunal, a biopic on the Travancore ruler of the same name. Her second Malayalam film Chithram (1988), written and directed by Priyadarshan, went on to became a huge box office success.

Mohanlal-Ranjini was considered a golden duo in Malaylam cinema as all their films were commercial successes.[2] Koothara directed by Srinath Rajendran,will mark her comeback to acting after a hiatus of two decades.

Career

Ranjini was born in Singapore as Sasha Selvaraj to Selvaraj and Lilly Selvaraj, originally from Tirunelveli.[3] She was introduced to films by famous director P Bharathiraja, a friend of her father. Bharathiraja gave her the screen name of "Ranjini" for his 1985 film Muthal Mariyathai. Ranjini whose family was in Singapore then had flown down to Chennai taking a break from studies with the hope that the shooting would get over within two weeks.[4]

Her first Malayalam film was Swathi Thirunal in 1987, directed by Lenin Rajendran. The film was a critical success. She went on to act Malayalam films like Chithram, Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) and Kottayam Kunjachan (1990).

Ranjini quit acting in films at the peak of her career to continue her studies and spent more time with her family in Singapore.[5] Her last film was Customs Diary (1993), directed by TS Suresh Babu. She travelled to London to do degree in credit management and later also acquired a law degree. She also worked for BBC for a short time.[6]

She is a graduate lawyer and is currently working as a joint director in an overseas education institution in Kochi, Kerala. She is married to Malayali businessman Pierre Kombara.[7]

Filmography

Tamil films

No: Film Year Character Director
1 Mudhal Mariyathai 1985 sevuli P. Bharathiraja
2 Avalai Cholli Kutramillai 1986 A.A.soman
3 Mannukkul Vairam 1986 Chitte Manoj kumar
4 Kadalora Kavithaigal 1986 Bharathiraja
5 Ayiram Pookkal Malarattum 1986 E.ramdas
6 Paru Paru Pattanam Paru 1986 Manobala
7 Needhana Andha Kuyil 1986 R.selvaraj
8 Nalellam Pournami 1986 S.S.Chandaran
9 Ayisu Nooru 1987 Ponmani rajan
10 Paasam Oru Vesham 1987 Jayadevi
11 Parisam Pottachu 1987 K.chozharajan
12 Urimai Geetham 1987 Ganga R. V. Udayakumar
13 Velicham 1987 Sunthar k,Jayan
14 Arul Tharum Ayyappan 1987 Dasarathan
15 Muthukkal Moondru 1987 [A.jagannathan]
16 Kudumbam Oru Koil 1987 [A.C.thirulokachander]
17 Thaimel Aanai 1988 [Raja]
18 Puthu Mappillai 1989 B.S.Subramaniyan
19 Poruthadhu Podhum 1989 [P.kalaimani]
20 Neruppunila 1988 T.janardhana
21 Sariyana Jodi 1989 V.prabhakar
22 Samsarame Saranam 1989 Jeevabalan
23 Sagalakala Sammandhi 1989 Visu
24 'dilli Babu 1989 pandiyarajan
25 Ellame En Thangachi 1989 Visu
26 Kalyana Rasi 1990 K.Sivaprasad
27 Sir I Love You 1991 [G.M.rangarajan]

Malayalam films

No: Film Year Character Director Notes
1 Swathi Thirunal 1987 Sugandhavalli Lenin Rajendran Her debut film in Malayalam
2 Chithram 1988 Kalyani Priyadarshan
3 Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu 1988 Sumitra Priyadarshan
4 Adholokam 1988 Thevalakkara Chellapan
5 Varnam 1989 Ammu Ashokan
6 News 1989 Megha Shaji Kailas
7 Kaalal Pada 1989 Viji Thampi
8 Kauthuka Varthakal 1990 Rose Mary Thulasidas
9 Rajavazhcha 1990 Mini Sasikumar
10 Anantha Vruthantham 1990 Lateesha P Anil
11 Prosecution 1990 Thulasidas
12 Orukkam 1990 Radha K Madhu
13 Mukham 1990 Usha Mohan
14 Nanma Niranjavan Srinivasan 1990 Mary Viji Thampi
15 Pavakkooth 1990 K. Sreekuttan
16 Thooval Sparsam 1990 Sujatha Kamal
17 Khandakavyam 1990
18 Sandram 1990
19 Sunday 7 PM 1990
20 Kottayam Kunjachan 1990 Mollykkutty T S Suresh Babu
21 Agni Nilavu 1991 Rekha
22 Kingini 1992
23 Customs Diary 1993 Thara
24 Ring Master 2014Elizabeth Come back film
25 Koothara 2014

Notes

  1. ↑ "Interview with Ranjini". Vanitha (in Malayalam).
  2. ↑ People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini (Navamy Sudhish) 24th September 2013
  3. ↑ http://www.mangalam.com/mangalam-varika/136868
  4. ↑ Will she? Won’t she? (TS Sreenivasa Raghavan) January 9, 2012
  5. ↑ People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini (Navamy Sudhish) 24th September 2013
  6. ↑ Will she? Won’t she? (TS Sreenivasa Raghavan) January 9, 2012
  7. ↑ Will she? Won’t she? (TS Sreenivasa Raghavan) January 9, 2012

External links