Meena Durairaj (Tamil, telugu, Kannada, Malayalam)

Meena Durairaj (Tamil, telugu, Kannada, Malayalam)

Born

:Meena

September 16, 1978 (age 30)

Chennai, India

Other name(s) :Meenu Occupation :Actress Years active :1982 - present

Meena Durairaj (Tamil: மீனா) (born September 16, 1978 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a Tamil film and television actress. She debuted as a child artiste in Tamil films and later starred in lead roles in several regional film industries of India.

Early life

Meena is an only child. She was enrolled in Vidyodhya schools in Chennai until eighth standard. Because of her busyness with her acting schedule she had to discontinue schooling in the 8th grade, later taking up private coaching and completing the 10th grade. She went on to get her MA in History from the University of Madras through the open university system in 2006. Meena is a trained Bharathanatyam dancer and speaks six languages well: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and English. Meena has been a playback singer as well for some albums.

Acting career

Meena started her career as a child artist in the film Nenjangal in 1982 featuring Dr Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role. She later became a lead role actress in 1991 in the film Oru Pudhiya Kathai. Before that, she did a short role in the film Karthavyam which was dubbed as Vijayshanthi IPS in 1990. Meena was still very young at that time she was doing child roles. Her mother Rajamallika brought her to producer A. M. Ratnam for an offer. Despite her chubby appearance then, they accepted her as an actress.

She has acted with Mohanlal, Mammootty, Jayaram, Suresh Gopi, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi, eventually becoming a star. She had hits with films like Muthu, Ejaman, Veera , Avvai Shanmughi and Mutamestri.

Following the release of Muthu in Japan and its commercial success, Meena's popularity rose in Japan. She has acted in several Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films opposite almost all the leading actors.

She was in the film industry as the top heroine in Telugu and Tamil for almost one and a half decades successfully from the early 1990s. She often portrayed characters with unidimensional personality with no negativity or grey shades. She was known to restrict glamourous roles though she has acted in a few like Maaman Magal in Tamil opposite Sathyaraj and Muta Mestri in Telugu opposite Chiranjeevi. In the Kannada remake of Autograph, she essayed Sneha's role of Divya.

Lately she has appeared in Three big roles with south indian heroes . Her recent role in Kadha Parayumbol and the same role in its Tamil and Telugu remake films, Kuselan and Kathanayakudu respectively, were well received by the audiences.Her new releases are Sagar alias Jackie with Mohanlal ,Mariyadhai with Vijayakanth and Katha samvidhanam kunchako with Sreenivasan

Television

Apart from films, Meena has appeared in several television shows and soap operas. Meena acted as a married woman in a 1990 TV Serial Anbulla Amma co-starring with famous Tamil actress Manorama. Meena has hosted in the game show on Jaya TV called Houseful. She also appeared as one of the judges for the first season of the dancing competition Masthana Masthana aired Sun TV. Her recent soap opera show as the lead actress was on Sun TV's Lakshmi.

Personal life

When Meena's make-up artist failed to turn up at a remote village in Kakinada during the shooting of "Bobbili Simham" in 1994, actress Roja did Meena's hairstyles for two days for a song involving Meena. This was much appreciated by Meena; Roja and Meena are best friends. Other close friends are actress Maheswari and Devayani. Roja and Meena resembled each other greatly during their youth. In fact, Meena has acted as Roja's younger sister in at least 5 or 6 movies in Telugu.

Awards

Kalaimamani from the Govt. of Tamil Nadu

• 1997-1998

Nandi Awards from Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for

• 1992 - i) Seetha Ramayyagarri Manavaralu
• 1993 -ii) Rajeshwari Kalyanam

Cinema Express Best Actress Awards

i) Seetha Ramayya Gaari Manavaralu - Telugu

ii) Naattamai - Tamil

iii)Muthu - Tamil

iv) Putnanja - Kannada

v) Avvai Shanmugi - Tamil

vi) Bharathi Kannamma - Tamil

'Kala Sagar' Best Actress Award

• 1992 - i) Chanti

Best Actress State Award from Govt. of Tamilnadu

• 1993 - i) Yejaman

• 1993 - ii) Sethupathi IPS

• 1997 - iii)Bharathi Kannamma

• 1998 - iv)Porkaalam

Thumbs Up Best Actress Award

• 1995 - i) Muthu - Tamil
• 1997 - ii) Bharathi Kannamma - Tamil

Film Fans Associations 45th Annual Best Actress Award

• 1995 - i) Putnanja

Screen Videocon Best Actress South Awards

• 1997 - i) Bharathi Kannamma (Best Excellence in Cinema) - Tamil

Kalai Selvam Award ((South Indian Artiste Association) from Honorable former Chief Minister Sri M. KARUNANIDHI))

DINAKARAN Tamil News Paper's Best Actress Award

• 1996 - i)Avvai Shanmugi

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress

1994- ii) Sethupathi IPS

Lalitha Kalanjali Award

• 1992 - i) Chanti

And several other AWARDS from different Organizations

Filmography

Year	Title	Role(s)	Language	Notes
2009	Mariyadhai		Tamil	Filming
2008	Kuselan	Sridevi	Tamil
2005	Kannamma	Kannamma	Tamil	Film scripted by DMK president M. Karunanidhi
2004	Shock	Malini	Tamil
2004	Anbulla Latchumiye		Tamil
2004	Aalukkoru Aasai		Tamil
2003	Paarai		Tamil
2002	Devan		Tamil
2002	Namma Veettu Kalyaanam		Tamil
2002	Ivan	Meena Kumari	Tamil
2002	Padai Veetu Amman	Padai Veetu Amman & Muthu Maariamman	Tamil	DUAL AMMAN ROLE
2002	Villain	Thangam	Tamil
2002	Angala parameswari	Angala Parameswari Amman	Tamil
2002	Dhaya		Tamil
2001	Shahjahan	Guest Role	Tamil	Item number
2001	Citizen	Sevali	Tamil
2001	Maayi	Bhuvaneswari	Tamil
	Nadodi Mannan	Dual Role	Tamil
2001	Rishi	Indu	Tamil
2001	Sivagami		Tamil
	Ayyan		Tamil
2000	Vanathai Pola	Gowri	Tamil
2000	Anbudan	Guest Role	Tamil
2000	Thenali	Guest Role	Tamil
2000	Palayathu Amman	Palayathu Amman	Tamil
2000	Vetri Kodi Kattu	Valli	Tamil
2000	Bharathi Kannamma	Kannamma	Tamil	Winner: Cinema Express Best Actress Award Winner: THUMS UP Best Actress Award Winner:Screen Videocon South Best Actress Award
2000	Doubles		Tamil
2000	Rhythm	Chitra	Tamil
1999	Unnaruge Naan Irundhal		Tamil
1999	Periyanna		Tamil
1999	Iraniyan		Tamil
1999	Manam Virumbude Unnai		Tamil
1999	Hari chandra		Tamil
1999	Anandha Poongatre	Meenakshi	Tamil
1998	Ulavu Thurai		Tamil
1998	Nattamai		Tamil	Winner: Cinema Express Best Actress Award.
1998	Coolie		Tamil
1998	Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar	Indu	Tamil
1997	Vallal		Tamil
1997	Porkaalam		Tamil	Winner: Best Actress State Award from Govt. of Tamilnadu
1997	Pasamulla Pandiyare		Tamil
1996	Senkottai		Tamil
1996	Avvai Shanmugi	Janaki	Tamil	Winner: Cinema Express Best Actress Award Winner: Dinakaran Best Actress Award
1995	Maman Magal	Priya	Tamil
1995	Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari		Tamil
1995	Marumagan		Tamil
1995	Muthu	Ranganayaki	Tamil	Winner: Cinema Express Best Actress Award Winner: THUMS UP Best Actress Award.
1994	Rajakumaaran		Tamil
1994	Thai Maman		Tamil
1994	Veera	Devayanai	Tamil
1993	Sethupathi IPS		Tamil	Winner: Best Actress State Award from Govt. of Tamilnadu
1993	Yejaman	Vaitheeswari	Tamil	Winner: Best Actress State Award from Govt. of Tamilnadu
1991	En Rasavin Manisile	Cholaiamma	Tamil
1991	Idhaya Oonjal		Tamil
1991	Idhaya Vaasal		Tamil
1990	Oru Pudiya Kadhai		Tamil
1988	Vasanthi	Baby Meena	Tamil
1986	Uyire Unakkaga	Baby Meena	Tamil
1985	Lakshmi Vanthachu	Baby Meena	Tamil
1984	Anbulla Rajinikanth	Rosy(Baby Meena)	Tamil
1982	Nenjangal	Baby Meena	Tamil
2008	Kathanayakudu	Sreedevi	Telugu
2005	Puttintiki Raa Chelli		Telugu
2005	Prayatnam		Telugu
2003	Simhachalam		Telugu
	Dharama		Telugu
	Indiya Bhavanam		Telugu
	Jagannatakam		Telugu
	Sengalva Poodanda		Telugu
	Morattodu Naa Mogudu		Telugu
	Pellam Cheppindi		Telugu
	Bangaru Maama		Telugu
	Mootaa Mestri		Telugu
	Kongu Chhatu		Telugu
	Allari Alludu		Telugu
	Anga Raktchakudu		Telugu
	Bale Pellam		Telugu
	Chilaka Pachcha Kaapuram		Telugu
	Bobbali Shimam Railway Coolie		Telugu
	Aaly Magalu		Telugu
	Panjaram		Telugu
	Muddula Mogudu		Telugu
	Surya Vamsham		Telugu
	Gillikajjalu		Telugu
	Paape Naa Pranam		Telugu
	Velugu Needalu		Telugu
	Bobbali Vamsham		Telugu
	Ammayikosam		Telugu
	Daasu		Telugu
2001	Abbai Garu · Abhay		Telugu
2001	Sri Manjunatha	Goddess Parvathi	Telugu
2000	Maa Annayya		Telugu
1999	Krishna Babu		Telugu
1999	Sneham Kosam		Telugu
1997	Navayugam		Telugu
1994	Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam		Telugu
1993	Muta Mestri		Telugu
1993	Rajeshwari Kalyanam		Telugu	Winner: Nandi Award for Best Actress
1993	Abbaigaaru		Telugu
1993	Ashwamedham		Telugu
1992	Allari Pilla		Telugu
1992	Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu		Telugu	Winner: Nandi Award for Best Actress Winner: Cinema Express Best Actress Awards
1992	Allari Mogudu		Telugu
1992	Sundara Kanda		Telugu
1992	Chanti		Telugu	Winner: KALA SAGAR Winner: Lalitha Kalanjali Award
1992	President Gari Pellam		Telugu
1991	Chengalva Poodanda		Telugu
1990	Navodayam		Telugu
1990	Karthavyam		Telugu
1989	Prajala Manishi		Telugu
1988	Vasanthi	Baby Meena	Telugu
1986	Sirivennela	Baby Meena	Telugu
1985	Rendu Rella Aaru	Baby Meena	Telugu
2009	Sagar alias Jackie		Malayalam	Filming
2009	Katha Samvidhanam Kunchacko		Malayalam	Filming
2007	Kadha Parayumbol	Sridevi	Malayalam
2007	Black Cat		Malayalam
	Santhu Vanam		Malayalam
	Varnappa Katttu		Malayalam
	Dreams		Malayalam
	Magic Lamp		Malayalam
	Saanthwanam		Malayalam
2005	Neela Padam		Malayalam
2005	Udayananu Tharam	Madhumati	Malayalam
2004	Chandrotsavam	Indulekha	Malayalam
2004	Natturajavu	Maya	Malayalam
2003	Mr. Brahmachari	Ganga	Malayalam
2001	Rakshasa Rajav		Malayalam
1999	Olympian Anthony Adam		Malayalam
1999	Friends	Padmini	Malayalam
1998	Kusruthi Kuruppu		Malayalam
1997	Varnapakittu		Malayalam
	Putnanja		Kannada	Winner: Film Fans Award for Best Actress
	Cheluve3		Kannada
	Mummaga		Kannada
2005	My Autograph		Kannada
2001	Censor		Hindi
1996	Miya Biwi Aur Saali		Hindi
1992	Parda Hai Parda		Hindi