Nilambur Ayisha
Nilambur Ayisha is an Indian actress who works in the Malayalam film industry and Malayalam Drama industry. She started her career as a theater artist. Later she became a supporting actress in the Malayalam movies in late 1960s and 1970s. She has acted in more than 50 movies. She was the first woman to act in Malayalam movies and dramas from the Muslim community.
Manju Warrier portrayed Nilambur Ayisha in Ayisha, a 2023 Malayalam language biographical film about her life. The movie is directed by Aamir Pallikkal and produced by Zakariya Mohammed.
Early life
Ayisha was born in Nilambur in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Born into a rich family, she was interested in arts. At the age of 13, she was made to marry a 47-year-old man. But her marriage was called off in the fifth day. She was a single mother since then.Acting career
Ayisha began acting in dramas 1950s. She made her debut in 1953 at the age of 16 with playwright E. K. Ayamu’s Ijju Nalloru Mansanakan Nokku. The show was performed at over 2,500 stages in various parts of the country. Later she went on to work in theatre with popular artists such as K. T. Muhammed, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Khan Kavil and P. J. Antony. She played the lead in plays such as Ithu Bhoomiyanu, Theekkanal, Srishti and Kafir, written and directed by K. T. Muhammed.She has made her big screen entry with 1961 Hindi film Elephant Queen, directed by Rajendra. Other cast included Helen and Azad. She played the role of a woman in a hunting family. She got an entry to the film as it was shot at her hometown. Later in the year she also did her debut film in Malayalam, Kandam Becha Kottu. It was followed by films like Subaida, Kuttikkuppayam, Olavum Theeravum and Kuppivala.
Awards and honours
In 2002, Ayisha received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Drama. She has received the S.L. Puram State Prize for her overall contribution to theatre. She won the Kerala State Film Award for the Second Best Actress for her role in Oomakkuyil Padumbol in 2011. She was also awarded Premji Award in the year 2011.Partial filmography
- Elephant as Woman in hunting family
- Kandam Becha Kottu as Bethatha
- Laila Majnu
- Kutti Kuppayam
- Subaidha as Subaidha's mother
- Kuppivala as Pathiri Aminumma
- Kaathirunna Nikkah as Amina
- Kattupookkal
- Thommante Makkal
- Kavyamela as Bhavaniyamma
- Thankakkudam as Payasakkaran's wife
- Chemmeen
- Olavum Theeravum as Ayisha
- Pathiraavum Pakalvelichavum
- Kaathirunna Nimisham as Ramu's mother
- Chuvanna Vithukal
- Thenthulli
- Nalumanipookkal
- Anyarude Bhoomi
- Thraasam
- Mylanji Vaalkkannadi
- Ammakkilkoodu as Inmate of old age home
- Nizhalattam
- Chandrolsavam as Indu's mother
- Makalkku as Mental patient
- Daivanamathil as Ammayi
- Paradesi as Sainu
- Kaiyoppu as Beeyathu
- Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam as Mentally challenged man's mother
- Shalabham as Villager
- Vilapangalkkappuram as Valyumma
- Passenger as Nabisa Umma
- Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha
- Keralolsavam 2009 as Basheer's umma
- Entumma as Umma
- Khilafath
- Oru Manjukalam as Lakshmikuttiyamma
- Njangalude Veedu
- Nilavinte Muthu
- Oomakkuyil Padumbol as Mansoor's umma
- Kuthanthra Siromani
- Bioscope
- Ms. Lekha Tharoor Kanunnathu as Deceased patient in hospital
- Balyakalasakhi as Jinnumma
- Koothara as Thufail's mother
- Pedithondan as Umma
- Alif as Ummakunju/Fathima's grandmother
- Compartment as Devi
- Nikkah as Aasiyumma
- Pakal Mayum Mumoe
- Pravasalokam as Najeeb's Ammayi
- Ka Bodyscapes as Kadeesumma
- Ayishakkalam
- Hello Dubaikkaran as Prakashan's grandmother
- Mattanchery
- Khalifa
- Koode as Grandmother
- Poochedi Poovinte Mottu
- Panthu as Amina's grandmother
- Virus as Staff of OP Counter, Hospital
- OP Kakshi Amminipilla as Quarrelling lady at court
- Mamangam as old woman in Chandroth family
- Udalazham as Housemaid
- Halal Love Story as actress in telefilm
- Baton Award
- Tharapori as Valyumma
- Mazhayathoru Veedu as Muthassi
- Niyathi
- Gift of Ummachi as Khadeesumma
- Khubboos
- Swami Saranam
- Olappurakkendhinoru Irumbuvaathil as
- Sparsham as Ammamma
- Vishnuvinte Umma as Vishnu's umma
- Rorschach as Shafi's mother
- Wonder Women as Mini's grandmother
- Aakasham Kadannu
- Nilambooritne Viplava Nakshathram
- Ennu Swantham Sreedharan
- Naattilellam Pattayi
- PerumkaliyaattamKuruvipaappa Randam Naal
- Choppu
Television serials
- Rudraveena
Dramas
KarinkuranguIthu BhoomiyanuUllathu ParanjalEe Dhuniyavil Njan OttakkanuIjju Nalloru Mansanakan NokkuKafirTheekkanal- ''Srishti''