Menaka Suresh, (born Padmavathi Iyengar) known mononymously as Menaka, is an Indian actress and film producer. She made her debut in the 1980 Tamil film Ramayi Vayasukku Vanthutta. In an acting career spanning from 1980 to 1987, Menaka appeared in over 125 films as a heroine, mostly in Malayalam. She also appeared in few Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films. She married Malayalam film producer G. Suresh Kumar. After 19 years, she made a comeback through the television serial Kaliveedu.Kerala News – Menaka . Kerals.com (26 September 2005). Retrieved 26 January 2014. At 8th SIIMA, she received SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life Menaka, whose real name is Padmavathy Iyengar,Shevlin Sebastian (13 May 2013) Menaka was treated like a queen . The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 January 2014. was born into a Tamil Iyengar Brahmin family in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, Travancore, India.Shevlin Sebastian (13 May 2013) Menaka was treated like a queen . The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 January 2014. She was the only daughter among the four children of Rajagopal and Saroja. Both her parents were school teachers. Her mother Saroja taught at the Lourdes Girls' Higher Secondary School in Perambur, Madras.സിനിമ എങ്ങനെ ഞാന്‍ മറക്കും – articles, infocus_interview – Mathrubhumi Eves . Mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 26 January 2014.A Complete Online Malayalam Cinema News Portal . Cinidiary. Retrieved 11 October 2016.

Career Menaka had become one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema when she decided to retire from acting post-marriage. After 24 years, she made a comeback as a film actress in 2011 with Fazil-directed Living Together, in a character role.Menaka is back in front of the camera . Sify.com (29 October 2010). Retrieved 26 January 2014.

Personal life Menaka married film producer G. Suresh Kumar at Guruvayur Temple on 27 October 1987. They have two daughters — Revathy and Keerthy Suresh. Initially they settled in Chennai and later moved to Thiruvananthapuram. Keerthy is a film actress and Revathy is an assistant director.ഞാന്‍ കീര്‍ത്തി; മേനകയുടെ മകള്‍ . mangalam.com (16 August 2013). Retrieved 11 October 2016.ഞാന്‍ കീര്‍ത്തി; മേനകയുടെ മകള്‍ . mangalam.com (16 August 2013). Retrieved 26 January 2014.

Filmography

As an actress

Malayalam Year Title Role Notes2021 Bhramam Uday's yesteryear co-star2021 8½ Intercuts: Life and Films of K.G. George HerselfDocumentary2017 Ima Raadhu Short film 2015 Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum Shobha 2013 Abhiyum Njanum Devika Kutteem Kolum Subadra Pakaram Parvathi 2012 Orkut Oru Ormakoot Veni 2012 Vaadhyar Subhadra 2011 Living Together Valsala 1994 Chanakya Soothrangal Leela 1987 Kottum Kuravayum Kilippattu Neeyethra DhanyaShobha Onnaam Maanam Poomaanam Rema Amme Bhagavathi Parvathy Kottum Kuravayum Vimala Poovittu Poovittu (Thammil Kandappol) 1986 Varshangal Poyathariyathe Lakshmi Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam Sujatha Snehamulla Simham Vilasini Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi Kaveri Naale Njangalude Vivahum Indu Ponnum Kudthinu Pottu Sethubhai Revathikkoru Pavakkutty Indu Yuvajanotsavam Nirmala Aalorungi Arangorungi Marykutty Viswasichalum Illenkilum Oppam Oppathinoppam Rajamma Bharya Oru Manthri Jayadevi Malarum Kiliyum Maya Bhagavaan Hello My Dear Wrong Number Shobha Kulambadikal Susan 1985 Akkare Ninnoru Maran Nandini Boeing Boeing Sreekutty Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya Shalini Mounanombaram Indu Vellam Ambika Mukhyamantri Anu Ormikkan Omanikkan Sammelanam Shalini Oru Nokku Kanan Sandhya Archana Aaradhana Aradhana Edanilangal Bhanu Anakkorumma Devi Soundarya Pinakkam Malini Principal Olivil Malathi Ambada Njaane! Devayani Ee Thalamura Ingane Ozhivukalam Oro Poovilum Kandu Kandarinju Ammini 1984 Muthodumuthu Achimol (Aswathy) Engane Undasane Sunanda Mainakam Jaya Manase Ninakku Mangalam Sobha Piriyilla Naam Sherly Poochakkoru Mookkuthi Revathi Appunni Ammu Swanthamevide Bandhamevide Indulekha Thirakil Alppam Samayam Saphiya Ethirppukal Lakshmi Amme Narayana Sooryane Mohicha Penkutty Oru Thettinte Katha Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram Prameela Velichamillatha Veedhi Lekha Onnum Mindatha Bharya Asha Thampi Aagraham Krishna Guruvayoorappa Unni's wife Paavam Poornima Poornima Vepralam Beena Aayiram Abhilashangal Odaruthammava Aalariyam Shobha Govind Karimbu Princy Vellam Ambika Koottinilamkili Radhika Adiyozhukkukal Madhavi Thirakal Rekha 1983 Prem Nazirine KanmanillaHerself Rathilayam Makutty Engane Nee Marakkum Sobha Pourusham Janu Justice Raja Thulasi Thalam Thettiya Tharattu Sindhu Thavalam Ramani Arabikadal Astapahi Radha Nadi Muthal Nadi Vare Thulasi Shesham Kazhchayil Lathika Eettillam Abitha Rugma Elizabeth Kolakomban Dr.Leela Kathi Oru Mottu Virinjappol Arunayude Prabhatham 1982 Ponnum Poovum Subhadra Ente Mohangal Poovaninju Sridevi Drohi Kanmanikkorumma/Ushnabhoomi Usha Kaalam Jaya Rakthasakshi Geetha Aayudham Usha Adarsham Malathy 1981 Veshangal Kolangal Kunjamma AhimsaSafiya Munnettam Indu Guha Suvarna Visham Shobha Veliyettam Jaanu Oppol Malu

Tamil Year Title Role Notes1980 Ramayi Vayasukku Vanthutta RamayiDebut movieSavithri SavithriOli PirandhathuKalyani 1981 Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum Gayathri Kaalam Jaya Netrikkan Menaka 1982 Om Shakti Kanniamma / Amman Thooku Medai Bhavani Nijangal Menaka Iniyavale Vaa Shakunthala Nirantharam Rani Nalanthana Raji Panchavarnam 1983 NeethibathiGeetha Urangatha Ninaivugal Uma 1985 Maappillai Singam Gouri Engirunthalum Vazhga Kadivalam Revathi 1986 Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren Shakunthala 2012 Mattuthavani

Telugu Year Title Role Notes 1980 Punnami Naagu Poornima 1982 Subbarao Ki Kopam Vacchindhi 1988Indradhanussu

Kannada

Year Title Role Notes 1984 Samayada Gombe Lakshmi

As producer Year Title Director Notes 1991 Vishnulokam Kamal 1992 Australia Rajiv Anchal Unreleased film 1993 Butterflies 1994 Kashmeeram 1995 Thakshashila Sreekuttan 1997 Aaram Thamburan Shaji Kailas 2000 Cover Story G. S. Vijayan Pilots Rajiv Anchal 2001 Achaneyanenikkishtam Suresh Krishna2002 Kuberan Sundar Das Shivam Shaji Kailas2009Seetha Kalyanam T. K. Rajeev Kumar2022VaashiVishnu G. Raghav

Television All shows are in Malayalam unless noted otherwise

Serials Year Title Role Channel Notes 1993Scooter DD Malayalam2005Kaliveedu Surya TV 2006Ammathottil 2007Chitrasalabham Amrita TV 2007-2008 Ammakkayi Surya TV 2009 Monoottante Onam Telefilm 2013RajakumariDurga Sivalingam Sun TVTamil serial 2016SundariSethu Lakshmi Mazhavil Manorama

TV shows Year Title Channel Role Notes Samagamam Amrita TV Herself2010Thillana Thillana Surya TV Judge 2011Vivel Big break Surya TV 2011Hairomax Mrs.Kerala Asianet 2012Lunars Comedy Express Asianet Plus2013Veruthe Alla Bharya 2Mazhavil Manorama2013Travel to KanchipuramManorama News Host 2013VarthaprabhathamAsianet News Herself 2013Jeevitham IthuvareJaihind TV2013Manassiloru MazhavilluKairali TV2014JB JunctionKairali TV2017Komady CircusMazhavil Manorama Jury 2017Onnum Onnum MoonuMazhavil Manorama Herself 2018-2020Comedy stars season 2AsianetJudge 2018Comedy stars PlusAsianet Plus2021Red CarpetAmrita TVMentor2022MY G Flowers Oru KodiFlowers TVParticipant

References

External links Menaka at MSI