Popular Malayalam Actresses In Kannada Films

By Ramchander

Updated: Wednesday, July 24, 2013, 17:53 [IST]

Artists does not have any barrier. They can go anywhere and everywhere to show their talents and get recognition. In film industry, we see actors from a particular industry working in different industries.

For an example, our own Kiccha Sudeep went to Telugu film industry and won the hearts of Tollywood audience with his performance in Eega. Versatile actor Prakash Raj has also not restricted his talent to any particular industry as he has worked in all the major film industries of India. But we have to note that more than actors, it is actresses, who move to different industries too often.

Well, it is because filmmaker loves to cast fresh faces from different industries. If we take examples of yesteryear actresses Ramya Krishnan and Khushboo, we realise that they were most sought after actresses in their times in every other South film industry.

In Sandalwood, filmmakers have often preferred to cast tried and tested face from other industries than introducing a fresh face. As a result, many from other industries, came here and ruled our Sandalwood.

Especially, Malayalam actresses created a niche for themselves and earned stardom here. Now, let us look for some of the popular Mallu girls, who have worked here.

Nayantara

Nayantara was born in Bangalore to Malayali Syrian Christian parents. The actress made her debut in Malayalam movie Manassinakkare in 2003. She is one of the most sought after actresses in South films.

Nayan has acted with big names like Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Surya, Ajith, Ravi Teja, etc. She has worked in over 40 films. The actress entered Kannada films with Blockbuster Kannada movie Super directed by Upendra.

Bhavana

Bhavana started her career with Nammal in 2002. She has acted in all the South Indian film industries. However, apart from Malayalam movie, she earned popularity in Sandalwood.

Bhavana made her Sandalwood debut in hit movie Jackie in 2010. Since then, she went on to work with Upendra (Topiwala), Sudeep (Only Vishnuvardhana & Bachchan) and Ganesh (Romeo).

Priyamani

Malayali girl Priyamani was born in Palakkad and was brought up in Bangalore. She started her acting career in Telugu films with Evare Atagaadu.

However, she was supposed to make her debut in one of the Puneet Rajkumar's movies, but she was rejected. She has acted in over 40 films in different industries. She entered Sandalwood with Raam. The actress has worked with Sandalwood biggies like Shivaraj Kumar, Puneet, Ganesh and Sudeep.

Meera Jasmine

Meera Jasmine made her debut in the Malayalam film Soothradharan in 2001. She has worked with many big names in Malayalam film industry.

She entered Kannada films with Maurya starring Puneet Rajkumar. She teamed up with him again in Arasu. She has also worked with Shivaraj Kumar in Devaru Kotta Thangi.

Bhama

Young Malayali actress Bhama, who made her debut in Nivedyam, is one of the fast-growing actresses in Kannada films. She entered Kannada films with Modalasala. She also worked with Ganesh in Shyloo.

Her forthcoming Kannada movies are: Appayya, Ambara and Barfi.

Parvathi Menon

Parvathi Menon started her career in Malayalam films in Out of Syllabus in the year 2006. She entered Kannada movies with Blockbuster Milana starring Puneet Rajkumar.

So far, Parvathi has acted with some of the popular names in Malayalam film industry. Male Barali Manju Irali, Prithvi and Andhar Bahar are her Kannada movies.

Navya Nair

Navya Nair made her debut with Ishtam in the year 2001. The actress has worked in over 45 movies in different industries.

She entered Kannada movies with Darshan starrer Gaja. She also worked with legendary actor Dr Vishnuvardhan in Nam Yajamanru and Bhagyadha Balegaara with Shivaraj Kumar.

Shilpa

Shilpa aka Chippi in Malayalam films was one of the likeable Malayalam actresses in mid 90s. The actress, who worked mainly in Mollywood, had several big hits to her credit in Sandalwood.

She became a household name with Janumada Jodi, where she had paired up with Shivaraj Kumar. Mungaarina Minchu and Suvvi Suvvalali are some of her popular movies.

Nithya Menon

Nithya Menon was born in Bangalore to a Malayali family and did her education in Karnataka itself. She started her career as a child artist when she was ten in the movie Hanuman in 1998.

However, she started her acting career as a heroine in Kannada movie Seven O' Clock. Josh, Idondla Aidu and her recent movie Mynaa are her other movies.

Mamta Mohandas

Mamta Mohandas made her debut in Mayookham in 2005. The actress had worked in over 30 films.

The only movie that she acted in Kannada is Gooli starring Sudeep. She won good reviews for the movie.

Shobana

Shobana was a popular name in South films in the 80s and 90s. The actress, who is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, made her debut in the movie titled April 18 at the age of fourteen.

She had worked in Kannada films like Giribaale starring Ambareesh and Shiva Shankar starring late Vishnuvardhan.

Sindhu Menon

Sindhu Menon is yet another actress, who is born to a Malayali family, but brought up in Karnataka. She debuted as a child artist in the 1994 Kannada film Rashmi.

She started her career as a heroine in Sudeep starrer Nandhi. Khushi, Dharma, Jyeshta and Yaare Nee Hudugi are her other Kannada movies.

Ambika

Ambika, who acted in over 200 films, started her career as a heroine in Malayalam movie Seetha. The actress has worked in over 18 films as a heroine in Sandalwood alone.

She worked with Sandalwood biggies of her times like Dr Rajkumar, Srinath, Ambareesh, Ananth Nag, Ravichandran, Shankar Nag, Vishnuvardhan and Tiger Prabhakar. It has to be noted that she learnt Kannada and used to dub her own voice in Sandalwood.

Radha

Radha is the younger sister of Ambika. She has acted in numerous movies with top actors of the South Indian cinema such as Dr Vishnuvardhan, Ravichandran, Chiranjeevi, Kamal Hassan, Sivaji Ganesan, Balakrishna, Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Venkatesh, Prabhu, Vijayakanth, Karthik Muthuraman, Karthik, Krishna and Sathyaraj.

Her notable films in Kannada are: Savira Sullu, Ranachandi and Soubhagya Lakshmi.

Urvashi

Urvashi started her acting career at young age in Tamil movie Munthanai Mudichchu. She worked in all Southern film industries and became a popular actress.

Her notable Kannada movies are: Shravana Banthu and Naanu Nanna Hendathi. Of late, she has acted in a few Sandalwood movies in the supporting roles.