Saritha

Saritha is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 150 films and provided voice for many actress for more than 200 films in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu languages.^[1] 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 award.

Saritha made her acting debut through Manchiki Sthanam Ledu a movie produced by producer based in Warangal named Akula Sanjeev Kumar in 1978 with a different screen name followed by 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 and Tamil Audience accepted herself as her own, she mostly acted films 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 (1980) and Achamillai Achamillai (1984) 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.^[2]

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. She gained critical acclaim for her performance in heroine-oriented movies like Eradu Rekhegalu and Sankranthi and the musical Malaya Marutha opposite Dr. Vishnuvardhan.

She had her head tonsured for the cancer-affected role in Sujatha in 1980 and later 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 (1997) and Anthapuram (1999).

After a long break, she made her comeback as an actress through the Sivakarthikeyan-starrer film Maaveeran (2023).^[3]

Saritha was born and brought up as Abhilasha in Munipalle, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Saritha married Venkata Subbiah in 1975 though they separated after a year, their case involving the restitution of conjugal rights has become important in Hindu marriage law in India.^[4] She then married Malayalam actor Mukesh on 2 September 1988 and they have two sons, Shravan and Tejas. The couple separated in 2011. Saritha now resides with Shravan (made his acting debut in the 2018 film Kalyanam) in UAE.^[5]

Filmfare Awards South

• 1980 – Best Actress – Tamil - Vandichakkaram
• 1982 – Best Actress – Kannada - Hosa Belaku
• 1984 – Best Actress – Tamil - Achamillai Achamillai
• 1985 – Best Actress – Kannada - Mugila Mallige
• 1986 – Best Actress – Kannada - Mouna Geethe
• 1989 – Best Actress – Kannada - Sankranthi

Nandi Awards

• 1982 – Special Jury – Best Actress - Kokilamma
• 1995 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Ammoru
• 1996 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Maavichiguru
• 1997 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Maa Ayana Bangaram
• 1998 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Anthapuram
• 2004 – Special Jury - Arjun

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu State
• 1979 – Best Actress - Oru Vellaadu Vengaiyagiradhu
• 1982 – Best Actress - Agni Sakshi
• 1988 – Best Actress - Poo Pootha Nandavanam
• 1995 – Best Female Dubbing Artist – Amman (1995)

Karnataka State Film Awards

• 1989 – Best Actress - Sankranthi

South Indian International Movie Awards

• 2024 – SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Tamil for Maaveeran

• Oru Kochu Kadha Aarum Parayatha Kadha (1984) as Janu
• Sandarbham (1984) as Dr.Indhu
• Minimol Vathikkaanil (1984) as Susie
• Kaathodu Kaathoram (1985) as Marykutty
• Muhoortham 11:30 (1985) as Indu
• Kaattuthee (1985)
• Oru Kochu Kaaryam (1985)
• Kanikaanumneram (1987) as Savithri
• Yaagaagni (1987) as Bhairavi
• P.C. 369 (1987) as Elsa Mathew
• Manasa Maine Varu (1987) as Lakshmi
• Thaniyavarthanam (1987) as Indu Balan
• Vilambaram (1987) as Sunanda
• Sangham (1988) ... Ammini
• Onnum Onnum Pathinonnu (1988) as Sumi
• Anuragi (1989) as Rosamma
• Lal Americayil (1989) as Sindhu
• Kuttettan (1990) as Seetha Lakshmi
• Souhrudam (1991) as Annie
• Life Is Beautiful (2000) as Vice Principal
• Ammakilikkoodu (2003) as Janaki
• Chakravaalam

• Maro Charitra (1978) as Swapna
• Manchiki Sthanam Ledu (1979)
• Idi Katha Kaadu (1979) as Gayathri
• Guppedu Manasu (1979) as Baby
• Vijaya (1979) as Vijaya
• Gutilo Ramachilaka (1980)
• Srirasthu Subhamasthu (1981) as Devi
• Athagari Pethanam (1981)
• Tholi Kodi Koosindi (1981)
• 47 Rojulu (1981)
• Rama Dandu (1981)
• Aadavallu Meeku Joharlu (1981) as Papayamma
• Chandamama (1982)
• Kalahala Kapuram (1982) as Krishnaveni
• Kokilamma (1983) as Kokilamma
• Thodu Needa (1983) as Sharada
• Kanchana Ganga (1984) as Kanchana
• Bhagyalakshmi (1984)
• Kala Rudrudu (1985)
• Anuraga Bandham (1985)
• Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986) as Krishnaveni
• Satyagraham (1987)
• Ida Prapancham (1987)
• Shivude Shankarudu (1988) as Dr. Kavitha
• Arjun (2004) as Andal

Films

Television

• Saritha at IMDb