Roja Ramani
Roja Ramani is an Indian actress and dubbing artist who predominantly worked in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil films. She was a child actor and her debut movie was Bhakta Prahlada for which she received National Film Award for Best Child Artist. She was popular during the 1970s and early 1980s and has acted in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Odia movies. She worked in over 400 Telugu films as a dubbing artist for various heroines. She is an active member of BlueCross and is involved in several social service activities.
Early life
She was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India in as the only child to her parents. Her father was a journalist with Picture Post. The family relocated to Madras when she was 6 months old.Career
She had started her career at the age of 7 in 1966 in the title role of Bhaktha Prahaladha in Telugu. It is the first full-length Eastman color feature film which was produced by AVM Productions. It was a blockbuster hit film. She acted in more than 40 films as a child artist and at the age of 13 she acted as a lead in the Malayalam movie Chemparathy which went on to be a record breaking hit and was a trendsetter at the time. The movie was remade with Roja Ramani in Telugu as Kanne Vayasu and in Tamil as Paruva Kaalam which also went on to be huge hits.She has acted in more than 130 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Odia. She also lent her voice for over 400 films in Telugu and Tamil for the leading heroines at the time like Suhasini, Meena, Roja, Radhika, Soundarya, Ramba, Ramya Krishna, Vijaya Shanthi, Shilpa Shetty, Divya Bharathi, Nagma, and Khushbu.
She won the AP State Television Award, International Children's Film Festival Award, Filmfare Award, International Film Festival - Indian Panorama Award, and Zee Kutumbam Award.
Personal life
She married Chakrapani, a Telugu actor in Odia and Telugu films, in 1981 at the age of 22, after meeting him on set. He later became a producer, director, and the head of ETV Oriya. They have a son, Tarun, an actor in Telugu cinema, and a daughter, Amulya, who holds a degree in psychology and works as an interior designer.Awards
for portraying Prahlada in Bhakta Prahlada – 1967- 1972: Filmfare Best Actress Malayalam — Chembarathy
She was felicitated in 75 years of Indian Cinema Celebration and also in 100 years Cinema Celebration.
She has been honored in America, by Telugu Fine Arts Community in New Jersey and by Telugu Association in Tampa, Florida for her lifetime achievement and contribution to film industry. She was honored with Santosham Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Tollywood, at 15th Santosham Film Awards
In 2019, she received Santosham Excellence Award at 16th Santosham Film Awards.
Filmography
Malayalam: credited as Shobana
- 1971 – Poompaatta – Sumathy
- 1971 – Inquilab Sindabad
- 1972 – Chembarathy – Santha
- 1973 – Chaayam
- 1973 – Mazhakkaru – Shantha
- 1973 – Darshanam
- 1973 – Gayathry
- 1973 – Panitheeratha Veedu – Leela
- 1974 – Kaamini
- 1974 – Bhoogolam Thiriyunnu
- 1975 – Mattoru Seetha
- 1976 – Amma
- 1977 – Sangamam
- 1977 – Anantham Paramanantham
- 1978 – Puthariyankam
- 1979 – Venalil Oru Mazha
- 1979 – Maalika Paniyunnavar
- 1979 – Yakshipparu
- 1979 – Jeevitham Oru Gaanam – Omana
- 1979 – Raathrikal Ninakku Vendi
- 1980 – Idimuzhakkam – Panchali
- 1980 – Agnikshethram – Radha
- 1980 – Palattu Kunjikannan
- 1980 – Moorkhan – Rajani
- 1980 – Rajaneegandhi – Usha
- 1980 – Ambala Vilakku – Savithri
- 1980 – Pappu – Herself
- 1981 – Raktham
- 1981 – Oothikachiya Ponnu – Shalini
- 1981 – Sanchari – Sumam
- 1981 – Kadathu – Maalu
- 1985 – ''Jeevante Jeevan''
Tamil
- 1967 – Iru Malargal – Geetha
- 1967 – Bhakta Prahalada
- 1968 – En Thambi – Uma
- 1969 – Thulabharam
- 1969 – Shanti Nilayam
- 1969 – Kuzhandhai Ullam
- 1970 – Ethiroli – Raji
- 1970 – Vilayattu Pillai
- 1970 – Enga Mama as Sarojini
- 1970 – Janaki Sabatham
- 1970 – Namma Kuzhanthaigal
- 1971 – Babu - Young Ammu
- 1973 – Anbu Sagodharargal
- 1974 – Paruva Kaalam
- 1974 – En Magan – Kamala
- 1976 – Needhikku Thalaivanangu
- 1976 – Janaki Sabatham
- 1978 – Vayasu Ponnu – Radhika
- 1978 – Vandikkaran Magan – Kokila
- 1979 – Sigappukkal Mookkuthi - Vaidhegi
- 1979 - Aadu Pambe
- 1979 – Iru Nilavugal – Chellam
- 1980 – Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam – Vijaya
- 1982 – Murai Ponnu
- 1982 – Sangili - Santha
Telugu
- 1967 – Bhakta Prahalada
- 1969 – Sattekalapu Satteya
- 1971 – Ramalayam
- 1973 – Kanne Vayasu
- 1974 – O Seeta Katha
- 1975 – Moguda Pellama
- 1975 – Bali Peetam as Sarada's sister
- 1976 – Muthyala Pallaki
- 1976 – Raaja as Lakshmi
- 1976 – Monagadu as Padma
- 1977 – Alu Magalu
- 1978 – Lambadolla Ramadasu
- 1979 – Driver Ramudu as Meena
- 1979 – Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi
- 1979 – Punadhirallu as Shanthi
- 1980 – Rakta Bandham
- 1981 – Sri Vemana Charithra
- 1985 – Kongumudi
- 1986 – Magadheerudu
- 1986 – Kashmora
- 1991 – Assembly Rowdy as News Reader
Kannada
- 1968 – Bedi Bandavalu
- 1968 – Thande Makkalu
- 1977 – Kokila
- 1978 – Muyyige Muyyi
- 1978 – Havina Hejje
- 1981 – Bangarada Mane
- 1981 – ''Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha''
Odia
- 1977 -Punarmilan
- 1978 -Sati Anasuya
- 1978 – Patipatni
- 1981- Sita Lavakush
- 1982- ''Samaya Bada Balaban''
Hindi
- 1972 Apna Desh as Rajesh Khanna's niece Sharda
- 1973 Jaise Ko Taisa as Jeetendra's sister Munni
Voice artist
| Dubbed for | Films |
| Suhasini | Nirdoshi Intiguttu Manishiko Charitra Challenge Justice Chakravarthy Illalu Priyuralu Kongumudi Magaraju Sravana Sandhya Aradhana Chuttalabbayi Bala Gopaludu |
| Archana | Nireekshana Parama Sivudu |
| Radha | Kaliyuga Krishnudu Adavi Raja Yamudiki Mogudu Bharya Bhartalu Ramudu Bheemudu Lankeshwarudu Dorikithe Dongalu Soggadi Kaapuram Kodama Simham Aayudham |
| Rajani | Rendu Rella Aaru Pratidwani Majnu Collector Gari Abbayi Agni Putrudu Bhale Mogudu Aha Naa Pellanta! Muddu Bidda Brahma Putrudu Jeevana Ganga Murali Krishnudu Chikkadu Dorakadu Gaduggai Chalaki Mogudu Chadastapu Pellam Bandhuvulostunnaru Jagratha Dhruva Nakshatram Neram Nadi Kadu Prananiki Pranam |
| Shobana | Vikram Muddula Manavudu Manavadostunnaadu Ajeyudu Muvva Gopaludu Abhinandana Rudra Veena Paapa Kosam Alludugaru Appula Appa Rao Minor Raja Rowdy Gaari Pellam Ahankari Champion Gang War Rakshana Rendilla Poojari |
| Khushbu | Kaliyuga Pandavulu Captain Nagarjun Chinnodu Peddodu Prema Kireetam Chinni Krishnudu |
| Bhanupriya | Kashmora Aayanaki Mugguru |
| Farah | Vijetha Vikram |
| Mandakini | Bhargava Ramudu |
| Ranjini | Brahma Rudrulu |
| Gautami | Srinivasa Kalyanam Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata Chaitanya |
| Amala | Chinababu Raktha Tilakam |
| Vijayashanti | Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu Indrudu Chandrudu Muddula Mavayya Muddula Menalludu |
| Juhi Chawla | Vicky Daada |
| Urvashi | Michael Madana Kama Rajan Chakram |
| Aishwarya | Adavilo Abhimanyudu Pellante Noorella Panta Subba Rayudi Pelli Brahma |
| Yamuna | Mouna Poratam Puttinti Pattu Cheera Ghatana Udayamam Yerra Mandaram Mamagaru Premaku Padu Sutralu Surigadu Rajadhani Brahmachari Mogudu |
| Divya Bharti | Bobbili Raja Rowdy Alludu Naa Ille Naa Swargam Assembly Rowdy Chittemma Mogudu Dharma Kshetram Tholi Muddhu |
| Meena | Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu Indra Bhavanam Aswamedham Moratudu Naa Mogudu Chanti Allari Mogudu Allari Pilla President Gari Pellam Sundarakanda Bangaru Maama Mutha Mestri Allari Alludu Abbaigaru Rajeswari Kalyanam Konguchatu Krishnadu Bhale Pellam Bobbili Simham Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam Aalu Magalu Chilakapachcha Kaapuram Muddula Mogudu Suryavamsam Bobbili Vamsham Velugu Needalu |
| Malashri | Prema Khaidi Urmila Allari Police Thodi kodallu |
| Naresh | Chitram Bhalare Vichitram |
| Nirosha | Kobbari Bondam |
| Meenakshi Seshadri | Brahmarshi Vishwamitra |
| Tabu | Coolie No. 1 Chennakesava Reddy |
| Sithara | Niyantha Srivari Chindulu Prema Shikaram |
| Roja | Seetharatnam Gari Abbayi Bhairava Dweepam Mugguru Monagallu Subhalagnam Ghatotkachudu Big Boss Pokkiri Raja Vajram Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam Peddannayya Adavilo Anna Annamayya Sultan |
| Mamta Kulkarni | Donga Police |
| Rambha | Tholi Muddhu Vetagadu Maatho Pettukoku Bombay Priyudu Hitler Ganesh Bavagaru Bagunnara? Mechanic Mavayya Moodu Mukkalaata |
| Nagma | Major Chandrakanth Kondapalli Raja Mugguru Monagallu Gangmaster Super Police Bharatha Simham Saradha Bullodu |
| Madhu Bala | Allari Priyudu |
| Revathi | Ankuram |
| Ramya Krishnan | Major Chandrakanth Mugguru Monagallu Allari Premikudu Muddula Priyudu Raja Simham Muddai Muddugumma Gharana Bullodu Amma Ammani Chudalani Undhi Dharma Chakram Soggadi Pellam Devudu Annamaya Kante Koothurne Kanu Love Story 1999 Iddaru Mitrulu English Pellam East Godavari Mogudu Vamsoddarakudu Kshemamga Velli Labamgarandi Manasu Paddanu Kaani |
| Aamani | Preme Naa Pranam Maro Quit India Aalumagalu Seethakka |
| Ooha | Aame Adalla Majaka Aayanaki Iddaru Patha Basti Sahanam Family Ooha Amma Nanna Kavali Amma Leni Puttillu Koothuru Amma Durgamma Nayanamma Aayanagaru |
| Sukanya | Captain Bharayteeyudu |
| Surabhi | Allarodu |
| Monica Bedi | Tajmahal Sivayya |
| Priya Raman | Srivari Priyuralu Maa Voori Maraju |
| Shilpa Shetty | Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya |
| Ranjitha | Maavichiguru Tata Manavadu |
| Prema | Maa Avida Collector Korukunna Priyudu Omkaram |
| Madhurima | Gunshot |
| Ruchita Prasad | Chelikudu |
| Rachna Banerjee | Pedda Manushulu Antha Mana Manchike |
| Anjala Zaveri | Samarasimha Reddy |
| Soundarya | Raja Postman |
| Twinkle Khanna | Seenu |
| Geetha | Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana |
| Leena Siddu | Lanka |