Unni Mary
Unni Mary is an Indian actress and producer who works mainly in Malayalam films. She has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada films, where she used the screen name Deepa. Her career spanned from 1969 to 1992, during which she established a dual cinematic identity: as "Unni Mary," the relatable girl-next-door in Malayalam cinema, and as "Deepa," a symbol of modern style and glamour in Tamil and Telugu cinema.
She is noted for her performances in films such as Picnic, Johnny, Meendum Kokila, and Godfather.
Early life
Unnimary was born 12 March 1962 to Augustine Fernandes and Victoria in Ernakulam. She comes from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts; her mother owned and managed a professional ballet troupe that performed on stages across India and abroad. Consequently, she began rigorous training in classical dance at the age of three.She had her primary education from St. Teresa's Convent School, Ernakulam. However, her professional acting career began while she was still a primary school student. She has a brother, Joseph Martin.
Career
1969–1978: Early years and Malayalam breakthrough
Unni Mary debuted as a child artist in 1969 in the film Navavadhu at the age of seven. She was credited simply as "Mary" in her early works like Gangasangamam. Her major transition from child artist to supporting actress occurred with the 1975 film Picnic, directed by J. Sasikumar, where she played the character Radha alongside Prem Nazir. The film's success established her visibility in mainstream Malayalam cinema.Throughout the late 1970s, she appeared in numerous Malayalam films, frequently sharing screen space with actors like Prem Nazir and Jayan. Notable films from this period include the period drama Kannappanunni and Thacholi Ambu, the first CinemaScope film in Malayalam, where she played the role of Kanni.
1979–1987: The "Deepa" Phenomenon
While maintaining her career in Kerala, she adopted the screen name Deepa for the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi industries. This rebranding accompanied a shift in her screen persona towards more modern, glamorous roles, coinciding with the "Tamil New Wave" of the late 1970s.Her breakthrough in Tamil came with Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari. She gained critical acclaim and cult status for her role as Bhama in J. Mahendran's Johnny, starring alongside Rajinikanth. In 1981, she replaced actress Rekha in the film Meendum Kokila, playing the role of a film star named Kamini opposite Kamal Haasan, a performance that proved her capability in comedy. She also played the iconic role of "Pattu Teacher" in K. Bhagyaraj's blockbuster Mundhanai Mudichu.
In Telugu cinema, she acted in K. Viswanath's masterpiece Swathi Muthyam, which was India's official entry to the Academy Awards. In Kannada, she starred opposite Dr. Rajkumar in Dhruva Thare.
1988–1992: Character roles and production
In the late 1980s, Unni Mary transitioned into strong supporting and character roles in Malayalam cinema. She is well remembered for her role as Omana in the comedy cult classic Godfather and for her appearance in the blockbuster Chithram as the protagonist's sister.In 1985, she ventured into film production, producing and starring in the Malayalam film Kattu Rani. She retired from the film industry in 1992 to focus on her family life.