Meena (actress)


Meena Durairaj, known professionally as Meena, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in South Indian films as well as Hindi cinema. She is a classical dancer. Meena has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films. She became one of the most sought after actresses in the South Indian film industry in the '90s. Meena is also a playback singer, TV show judge, and occasional dubbing artist. She has received [|numerous accolades], including two Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Nandi Awards and two Cinema Express Awards. In 1998, she was honoured with the Kalaimamani Award by Government of Tamil Nadu.

Early life

Meena was born on 16 September 1976 and was brought up in Chennai, 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 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 with Meena reprising her role.
Meena entered the Malayalam industry with the movie Santhwanam 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, 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. This was followed by Allari Pilla, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. Allari Mogudu and Sundarakanda, both directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, President Gari Pellam 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, Allari Pilla, Bhale Pellam 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 co-starring Vijayakanth. In her follow-up movie again with Rajinikanth in Veera and Muthu. Followed by movies as Maaman Magal, Sengottai, Avvai Shanmugi and Bharathi Kannamma.
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, Mr. Brahmachari, Natturajavu, Udayananu Tharam and Chandrolsavam 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, Simhadriya Simha, Game for Love and Mahasadhvi Mallamma. Her notable works were with Kichcha Sudeep which are, Swathi Muthu and My Autograph.
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 and Balyakalasakhi alongside Mammootty. She reprised her role in the 2014 Telugu remake, Drushyam. Meena returned to Tamil cinema in Annaatthe 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. Vidyasagar died on 28 June 2022 due to lung-related ailments.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
1982NenjangalKidnapped childTamilChild artist
1982Enkeyo Ketta KuralMeenaTamilChild artist
1982Parvaiyin MarupakkamGeethaTamilChild artist
1982Theerpugal ThiruththapadalamPriyaTamilChild artist
1983Thandikkapatta NiyayangalPlayful childTamilChild artist
1983SumangaliDoll-selling girlTamilChild artist
1983Siripuram MonagaduTeluguChild artist
1984ThiruppamTamilChild artist
1984Illalu PriyuraluTeluguChild artist
1984YaadgarHindiChild artist
1984Bava MaradalluTeluguChild artist
1984Kode TrachuRojaTeluguChild artist
1984Anbulla RajinikanthRosyTamilChild artist
1984Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha KathaRajaniMalayalamChild artist
1984ManasariyatheMinimolMalayalamChild artist
1985Panneer NadhigalTamilChild artist
1985Uyire UnakkagaYoung Vijayanirmala DeviTamilChild artist
1985Rendu Rella Aaruyoung VighneswariTeluguChild artist
1985KhooniArunaTeluguChild artist
1986Penn SimhamMalayalamChild artist
1986SirivennelaTeluguChild artist
1986Lakshmi VanthachuPlayful childTamilChild artist
1990KartavyamKarunaTelugu
1990NavayugamSumathiTeluguDebut as heroine
1990Prajala ManishiRoopaTelugu
1990Oru Pudhiya KadhaiMahaTamil
1991Seetharamayya Gari ManavaraluSeethaTelugu
1991En Rasavin ManasileCholaiammaTamil
1991Indra BhavanamTelugu
1991Idhaya OonjalChithraTamil
1991Idhaya VaasalVaaniTamil
1991JagannatakamJhansiTelugu
1991SandhwanamRajalakshmiMalayalam
1991Chengalva PudandaTelugu
1992ChantiNandiniTelugu
1992Parda Hai PardaMayaHindi
1992Allari PillaNandiniTelugu
1992Allari MoguduNeelambariTelugu
1992SundarakandaNanchariTelugu
1992President Gari PellamSwapnaTelugu
1992Pellam Chepte VinaliGeethaTelugu
1992Bangaru MaamaKasthuriTelugu
1992Moratodu Naa MoguduTelugu
1992AswamedhamDr. BharatiTelugu
1993Rajeswari KalyanamRajeshwariTelugu
1993Konguchatu KrishnaduSacchaTelugu
1993Muta MesthriBuchammaTelugu
1993YejamanVaitheeswari VaanavaraayanTamil
1993AbbaigaruSudhaTelugu
1993Allari AlluduSandhyaTelugu
1994Sethupathi IPSChandramathiTamil
1994RajakumaranSelviTamil
1994Anga RakshakuduMeenuTelugu
1994Bhale PellamBharathiTelugu
1994VeeraDevayanaiTamil
1994Punya Bhoomi Naa DesamSwathiTelugu
1994Bobbili SimhamVenkatalakshmiTelugu
1994Thai MaamanMeenaTamil
1994NattamaiMeenaTamil
1995PutnanjaRoseKannada
1995Oru Oorla Oru RajakumariLakshmi PrabhaTamil
1995Chilakapachcha KaapuramRadhaTelugu
1995CoolieVimalaTamil
1995MarumaganManjulaTamil
1995Nadodi MannanMeenakshi,
Priya		Tamil
1995MuthuRanganayakiTamil
1995Aalu MagaluMallikaTelugu
1995Maaman MagalPriyaTamil
1996SengottaiMeenaTamil
1996Avvai ShanmugiJanakiTamil
1997Bharathi KannammaKannammaTamil
1997VarnapakittuSandra,
Alina		Malayalam
1997VallalAnnamTamil
1997Muddula MoguduSirishaTelugu
1997CheluvaMeenaKannada
1997Pasamulla PandiyareVellayammaTamil
1997PanjaramTelugu
1997MommagaGowriKannada
1997PorkkaalamMaragathamTamil
1998UlavuthuraiMeenaTamil
1998Naam Iruvar Nammaku IruvarInduTamil
1998SuryavamsamSwapnaTelugu
1998Kusruthi KuruppuMeeraMalayalam
1998HarichandraNandhiniTamil
1998GillikajjaluSatyabhamaTelugu
1998Pape Naa PranamPriyaTelugu
1999Sneham KosamPrabhavathiTelugu
1999Velugu NeedaluRadhaTelugu
1999FriendsPadminiMalayalam
1999PeriyannaShenbagamTamil
1999Anandha PoongatreMeenakshiTamil
1999Krishna BabuRamaTelugu
1999Bobbili VamshamRajyalakshmiTelugu
1999Olympiyan Anthony AdamAngelMalayalam
1999IraniyanPonniTamil
1999Unnaruge Naan IrundhalMahalakshmiTamil
1999Manam Virumbuthe UnnaiPriyaTamil
2000Vanathai PolaGowri MuthuTamil
2000Palayathu AmmanPalayathu AmmanTamil
2000Vetri Kodi KattuValli MuthuramanTamil
2000DoublesMeenaTamil
2000RhythmChitraTamil
2000MaayiBhuvaneswariTamil
2000DreamsNirmala MathanMalayalam
2000Maa AnnayyaGowriTelugu
2000ThenaliMeena TamilSpecial appearance
2000AnbudanShanthiTamilGuest appearance
2001RishiInduTamil
2001Railway CoolieTelugu
2001CitizenSevaliTamil
2001Sri ManjunathaGoddess ParvathiKannada
2001Rakshasa RajavMeeraMalayalam
2001Ammayi KosamAnjaliTelugu
2001ShahjahanMeenaTamilSpecial appearance
2001Grama DevatheAngala ParameswariKannada
2002Angala ParameswariAngala Parameswari AmmanTamil
2002DhayaThulasiTamil
2002Simhadriya SimhaDeepaKannada
2002DevanUmaTamil
2002IvanMeena KumariTamil
2002Namma Veetu KalyanamMeenaTamil
2002Padai Veetu AmmanPadai Veetu Amman,
Muthu Maariamman		Tamil
2002VillainThangamTamil
2003Mr. BrahmachariGangaMalayalam
2003PaaraiMallikaTamil
2003SimhachalamSimhachalam's wifeTelugu
2003Game for LoveAmruthaKannada
2003Aalukkoru AasaiEshwariTamil
2003Swathi MuthuLalithaKannada
2004ShockMaliniTamil
2004Puttintiki Ra ChelliWifeTelugu
2004Bharatasimha ReddyDevudayya's wifeTelugu
2004SwamySwamy's wifeTelugu
2004GowdruParvatiKannadaGuest appearance
2004NatturajavuMayaMalayalam
2005Mahasadhvi MallammaMallammaKannada
2005KannammaKannammaTamil
2005Udayananu TharamMadhumathi UdayabhanuMalayalam
2005Chandrolsavam IndulekhaMalayalam
2006My AutographDivyaKannada
2006Karutha PakshikalSuvarnnaMalayalam
2007Kadha ParayumbolSridevi BalanMalayalam
2007Black CatMeenakshiMalayalam
2008KuselanSridevi BalakrishnanTamilBilingual film
Remake of Kadha Parayumbol
2008KathanayakuduSreedeviTeluguBilingual film
Remake of Kadha Parayumbol
2008Magic LampAnupamaMalayalam
2009MariyadhaiRadhaTamil
2009Katha, Samvidhanam: KunchackoAnn MaryMalayalam
2009VengamambaTarigonda VengamambaTelugu
2010DasannaMalliTelugu
Hendtheer DarbarRadhaKannada-
2011ThambikottaiShanmugapriyaTamil
2012Sri Vasavi VaibhavamGoddess ParvatiTelugu
2013Sri Jagadguru Aadi SankaraGangadeviTelugu
2013DrishyamRani GeorgeMalayalam
2014BalyakalasakhiMajeed's motherMalayalam
2014DrushyamJyothiTelugu
2015Mama Manchu Alludu KanchuSuryakanthamTelugu
2017Munthirivallikal ThalirkkumbolAnnyammaMalayalam
2018SaakshyamRaju Garu's wifeTeluguCameo Appearance
2020ShylockLakshmi AyyanarMalayalam
2021Drishyam 2Rani GeorgeMalayalam
2021AnnaattheMangayarkarasiTamilExtended Cameo Appearance
2021Drushyam 2JyothiTelugu
2022Bro DaddyAnnammaMalayalamOTT release Disney+ Hotstar
2024Aanandhapuram DiariesNandhiniMalayalam
2026RaniMalayalamFilming
TBATamilFilming