Meena (actress)

Early life

Meena was born on 16 September 1976 and was brought up in Chennai (then Madras), Tamil Nadu. Her mother Rajamallika is from Kannur district of Kerala.

Career

Child artist

Meena started her career in 1982 as a child artist in the film Nenjangal, featuring Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role after he saw her at a birthday party. She has acted in several films along with Ganesan as a child artist. She has acted with Rajinikanth in two movies namely Enkeyo Ketta Kural and Anbulla Rajinikanth as a child artist. She appeared in over 45 films as a child.

Lead roles

Meena has been one of the top star pairs with every big star in South Indian movies. She made her debut in Telugu besides Rajendra Prasad in Navayugam in 1990. Her Tamil debut as a heroine was in Oru Pudhiya Kadhai in the same year. Meena's first break came with the Tamil film En Rasavin Manasile (1991) opposite Rajkiran, which was directed by Kasthuri Raja. Meena's portrayal as Solaiyamma won her fans' hearts. Later, the movie was remade in Telugu as Moratodu Naa Mogudu (1992) with Meena reprising her role.

Meena entered the Malayalam industry with the movie Santhwanam (1991) where she played Suresh Gopi's character's daughter in the film released in 1991. Its success attracted more roles with senior Malayalam heroes. Meena has expressed a wish to do more films in Malayalam.

The Telugu film Chanti (1992), opposite Venkatesh was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the movie was a big hit at the box office. She made her Hindi cinema debut opposite Chunky Pandey in the film Parda Hai Parda (1992). This was followed by Allari Pilla (1992), directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. Allari Mogudu (1992) and Sundarakanda (1992), both directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, President Gari Pellam (1992) with Nagarjuna, directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy were her other films.

Though Meena was famous for her homely girl roles in all south Indian languages, she acted in glamour roles and created a niche for herself. She acted in heroine-oriented movies like Pellam Chepithe Vinali (1992), Allari Pilla (1993), Bhale Pellam (1993) in Telugu.

In 1993, another film was Rajeswari Kalyanam, directed by Kranthi Kumar. She won Nandi Award for Best Actress for her performance. She followed it up with films like Muta Mesthri and Yejaman. This performance won her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. She plays Sudha, a smart and intelligent young wife in Abbaigaru. She also appeared in the comedy film Allari Alludu.

Venkatesh and Meena, in particular, were a popular pair in Telugu cinema.

She has acted in P. Vasu's Sethupathi IPS (1994) co-starring Vijayakanth. In her follow-up movie again with Rajinikanth in Veera (1994) and Muthu (1995). Followed by movies as Maaman Magal (1995), Sengottai (1996), Avvai Shanmugi (1996) and Bharathi Kannamma (1997).

She debuted in Malayalam as a lead actress with the 1997 release Varnapakittu, where in she is in a romance with Mohanlal on screen. Later the duo was paired in Olympian Anthony Adam (1999), Mr. Brahmachari (2003), Natturajavu (2004), Udayananu Tharam (2005) and Chandrolsavam (2005) among others.

In 2000, her role in Rhythm won her the Best Actress award at the Cinema Express Awards.

A few of her notable works in Kannada films are Sri Manjunatha (2001), Simhadriya Simha (2002), Game for Love (2003) and Mahasadhvi Mallamma (2005). Her notable works were with Kichcha Sudeep which are, Swathi Muthu (2003) and My Autograph (2006).

In 2010, Meena returns to the big screen with the Kannada film Hendtheer Darbar. This was her first film after her marriage.

Meena returned to Malayalam cinema, playing wife to Mohanlal's character in Drishyam (2013) and Balyakalasakhi alongside Mammootty. She reprised her role in the 2014 Telugu remake, Drushyam. Meena returned to Tamil cinema in Annaatthe (2021) with Rajinikanth.

Other work

Playback singer

Meena has been a playback singer in two pop albums, called Pathinaru Vayathinile with actor Manoj and Kadhalism with actor Vikram, which she began recording in 2001. The latter album remains unreleased after Vikram was unable to make time for the project.

Dubbing

Meena dubbed for Padmapriya Janakiraman in Cheran's movie Pokkisham.

Personal life

Meena married Vidyasagar, a Bangalore-based software engineer, on 12 July 2009 at Arya Vysya Samaj Kalyana Mandapam. The couple has a daughter, Nainika, who made her acting debut at the age of 5 in the film Theri (2016). Vidyasagar died on 28 June 2022 due to lung-related ailments.

Filmography

Films

Web series

Television

Awards and nominations

Television

References

References

1. (5 July 2020). "Diva in the drawing room - CHEN - The Hindu".
2. (13 July 2022). "Did you know Meena has roots back in Kerala?".
3. (2021-05-26). "Meena celebrates four decades in cinema". The Times of India.
4. Athira M.. (29 May 2013). "A different scene". The Hindu.
5. (13 March 2010). "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)". [[Andhra Pradesh (magazine).
6. "Vengamamba bags 4 TV Nandi awards".
7. (9 March 2010). "SVBC channel serials win 11 Nandi awards".
8. "Tamilnadu Government Cinema Awards". [[Dinakaran]].
9. (16 September 2020). "Happy Birthday Meena: 5 Best Movies of the Great Performer".
10. K., Janani. (16 September 2020). "Mohanlal welcomes Meena to Drishyam 2 set on her 44th birthday".
11. (16 September 2020). "Best of Meena in Telugu cinema: 5 memorable roles played by the actor".
12. "Meena celebrates her birthday with BFFs".
13. (29 November 2020). "5 non-Malayali actresses who made it big in Malayalam Cinema".
14. "Did you know Meena has roots back in Kerala?".
15. George, Vijay. (19 March 2005). "Leading lady". [[The Hindu]].
16. (7 February 2017). "Evergreen heroine: Meena". Deccan Chronicle.
17. (3 January 2007). "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A veteran star at a young age". The Hindu.
18. (28 April 2021). "Meena Sagar on 30 years of 'En Rasavin Manasile'".
19. (28 April 2021). "Meena Sagar remembers her evergreen character as En Rasavin Manasile completes 30 years".
20. (16 September 2020). "Chanti".
21. "Archived".
22. (3 February 1999). "dinakaran".
23. (28 October 2014). "ஆர்.வி.உதயகுமார் டைரக்ஷனில் ஏவி.எம். தயாரித்த 'எஜமான்' வெள்ளி விழா கொண்டாடியது {{!}}{{!}} RV Udayakumar activator directions M.Produced by the ejaman Jubilee celebrations".
24. (16 September 2020). "Best of Meena in Telugu cinema: 5 memorable roles played by the actor".
25. (16 September 2020). "Best of Meena in Telugu cinema: 5 memorable roles played by the actor".
26. "மறக்க முடியுமா? - சேதுபதி ஐ.பி.எஸ்.".
27. (31 May 2021). "When Rajinikanth told Meena on Annaatthe sets that he was disappointed in her".
28. (13 July 2022). "Did you know Meena has roots back in Kerala?".
29. "rediff.com, Movies: Meena wins award for best actress". Rediff.com.
30. "On Her 48th Birthday, A Look At Actress Meena's Legacy In South And Bollywood".
31. "Meena first movie after marriage".
32. (15 December 2019). "Meena: I want to defy stereotype and take up negative roles".
33. "Actress Meena came out of the house after 40 days.. ?".
34. Waheed, Sajahan. (27 September 2001). "Meena's album delayed". New Straits Times.
35. (27 June 2001). "I will make the public know there is a good actor in Vikram". Tamil Guardian.
36. (19 June 2023). "Did you know Meena shared the screen space with Chiyaan Vikram for an unreleased song 'Kadhalism'?".
37. "On Her 48th Birthday, A Look At Actress Meena's Legacy In South And Bollywood".
38. "Good news for Meena’s fans!".
39. Subhakeerthana, S.. (14 April 2016). "South actress Meena's daughter Nainika taking baby steps in films".
40. (29 June 2022). "South star Meena's husband Vidyasagar dies of lung ailment; Khushbu, Venkatesh & Sarath Kumar express grief". The Economic Times.
41. (5 July 2018). "‘Saakshyam’ audio launch release date revealed".
42. (21 September 2020). "In Pics: Mohanlal's Drishyam 2 Goes on the Floors".
43. (8 September 2022). "Meena, Shamna Kasim and others join Drishyam 2 Telugu remake".
44. (29 December 2021). "Bro Daddy first look out, Prithviraj-Mohanlal film to directly premiere on this OTT platform".
45. (18 September 2023). "Meena returns to Malayalam in Jaya Jose Raj's next".
46. Desk, Cinema Express. (2025-09-27). "Meena shares excitement for Drishyam 3, lauds Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Mohanlal".
47. (6 January 2022). "'Annnaatthe' actress Meena and her family tests Covid positive; the actress confirms in a fun way". The Hindu.
48. (6 August 2019). "Meena makes web series debut with Zee5's action-comedy, Karoline Kamakshi". [[Cinema Express]].
49. (2024-03-12). "Jeethu Joseph's Secret Stories Roslin to release on this platform". Deccan Chronicle.
50. (2012-05-16). "'Kalyanam' new Tamil serial". The New Indian Express.
51. (2013-05-31). "Meena to debut on Malayalam television". Times Of India.
52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaniLIULdM
53. (2015-11-12). "Meena to do Thillana Thillana on Simply Khushboo". Times Of India.
54. (2017-04-04). "'Ningalkkum Aakam Kodeeswaran’ will have celebs on hot seat for this Vishu!". Times Of India.
55. (2017-02-11). "Meena to judge a reality show". Times Of India.
56. (2021-05-08). "Roja Selvamani is back to Jabardasth and Extra Jabardasth". Times Of India.
57. (2020-02-10). "‘Kodeeswari’: Actress Meena to grace the show". Times Of India.
58. (2022-07-19). "From talking about 'camera shy' husband to commenting on her chemistry with Mohanlal; Meena pours her heart out in 'Panam Tharum Padam'". The Times Of India.
59. (2023-04-13). "New reality show 'Super Ammayum Makalum' to find the best daughter and mother".
60. (2013-05-31). "Meena on 'Super Jodi': Though they aren't professional dance".
61. (2023-04-18). "Ente Amma Supera to Anuraga Ganam Pole: New shows to watch on Malayalam TV". The Times Of India.
62. (2024-01-25). "Super Jodi to dazzle Telugu TV with grand launch on THIS date".
63. (25 February 1992). "'Chinnathambhi' bags Cinema Express award". [[The Indian Express]].
64. (5 January 2009). "dinakaran". Dinakaran.
65. "Filmfare Awards Tamil Winners 1998: Best Tamil Movies, Best Actors, Actress, Singer and more". The Times of India.
66. (22 June 2008). "dinakaran". Dinakaran.
67. "rediff.com, Movies: Meena wins award for best actress". Rediff.com.
68. (4 June 2004). "51st Annual Manikchand Filmfare South Award winners". The Times of India.
69. (16 March 2010). "Ugadi Puraskar awards for women". [[The Hindu]].
70. "61st Idea Filmfare Awards (South) Nomination list". Filmfare.
71. "Vayalar Samskarika Vedi Awards". The New Indian Express.