Unni Mary (born 12 March 1962) 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 (1971). 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 (1977) and Thacholi Ambu (1978), 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 (1979). 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 (1983).
In Telugu cinema, she acted in K. Viswanath's masterpiece Swathi Muthyam (1986), which was India's official entry to the Academy Awards. In Kannada, she starred opposite Dr. Rajkumar in Dhruva Thare (1985).
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 (1988) 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.
Personal life She married Rejoy, a professor at St. Albert's College, Ernakulam on 12 March 1982. Their only child, a son named Nirmal, is married to Ranjini, and they have a son, Rihan.
Identity confusion Due to her screen name "Deepa" and her withdrawal from public life, she is frequently confused in digital archives with other actresses. She is unrelated to the Tamil actress Mohini (who later became an evangelist), the Kannada actress Deepa Sannidhi, or the supporting actress Deepa Shankar. Unni Mary has remained a private citizen in Ernakulam since her retirement in 1992.
Filmography Malayalam Year Film Role Notes 1971 Navavadhu Child Artist Gangasangamam MaryChild Artist 1972 Sree Guruvayoorappan 1974 Devi Kanyakumari1975 Picnic Radha Swami Ayappan Thomasleeha Ashtami Rohini 1976 Chottanikkarayamma Madhuram ThirumadhuramMalini Dheere Sameere Yamuna Theere Roshini Mallanum Mathenum Manasaveena Chennay Valarthiya Kutti Amba Ambika AmbalikaAmbalika 1977 Acharam Ammini Osharam OmanaUrmila Kannapanunni Thulasi Poojakedukkatha PookkalIndira Madura Swapnam Pattalam Janaki Dheerasameere Yamunaatheere Aanandam Paramaanandam Raji YatheemShakkeela MinimolNirmala Penpuli 1978 Thacholi Ambu Kanni Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham Ambili Aval Vishosthyayirunnu Seema Pavadakkari Soothrakkari Shatrusamharam Black Belt Chakrayudham Anakalari Ashokavanam Puthariyankam Kudumbam Namukku SreekovilGeetha Beena PadmatheerthamLathika Nivedyam Rajani Kadathanattu Makkam 1979 Jeevitham Oru GaanamPrameela Ponnil Kulicha Rathri MochanamMeera Hridayathinte Nirangal Valeduthavan Valal 1980 Palattu Kunjikannan Ponni PappuHerself 1981 SanchariSumuki 1982 Nagamadathu Thamburatti Naga Queen Sree Ayappanum VavarumPandhalam Maharani Bheeman Jambulingam Nun Innalenkil NaleSusheela 1983 Belt MathaiRani Ente KadhaAparna EenamOru Mukham Pala MukhamSarada Mahabali Nandini Kattaruvi Maala Vaashi Guru Dakshina 1984 UnarooSarah Sandhya Mayangum Neram Rohini Oru Kochu Swapnam Sofia April-18Rajamma Thacholi ThankappanSubaida KanamarayathuAnnie Ente Upasana Lekha Thathamme Poocha PoochaShyama Poomadathe PennuNalini Makale Mappu TharuDevaki JeevithamSudha Koottinilam KiliNalini ManithaliSajna Krishna Guruvayoorappa Savithri Aalkkoottathil ThaniyeNalini 1985 Pattham Udayam Sarada Thinkalazhcha Nalla DivasamBindu Nerariyum NerathuThankamani Aa Neram Alpam Dooram Rani Katturani Also Producer Puli Varunne PuliSuhasini Manakkale ThathaJolly Arodum ParayaruthuAmbika ShatruCicily Oru Sandesham KoodiRajani 1986 Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil Devaki Pappan Priyappetta PappanDevdas's Wife Niramulla RaavukalCall girl Snehamulla SimhamSudha Kariyilakattu PoleBhaginisevamayi / Parvathi Sakhavu Onnu Randu MoonnuMini RareeramPathmavathi 1987 Dheeran NombarathipoovuJoycee 1988 ChithramBhaskaran's sister Ambalakara PanjayathOohakachavadamMeera 1989 Ammavanu Pattiya Amali Bhargavi Varum Varathikkilla Kaliyuga Seetha 1990 Shubhayathra Ammayude Swantham Kunju Mary/KunjikuruviDaisy ArhathaAmmini Urvashi 1991 Georgootty C/O Georgootty Maria GodfatherOmana Keli Mrs. Menon Kizhakkunarum PakshiGirija KalariLaila Kadijool KalyanamRajammaNagarathil Samsara VishayamSubhashiniAakasha Kottayile SultanPappy's sisterKalamorukkamBird 1992 GrihaprevesamPadmavati Aparatha Nalini UlsavamelamSreedevi Ennodishtam KoodamoArathi's aunt
Tamil Year Film Role Notes 1975 AndharangamDeepaSwami AyyappanMaalikapurathamma 1978 Mudi Sooda Mannan Pratima 1979 Neeya? Deepa Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari Nandini Nallathoru Kudumbam Manthoppu Kiliye Sarada 1980 Ullasa Paravaigal JohnnyBhama Vedanai Thediya Maan Theru Vilakku Valli Mayil Veli Thandiya Velladu Ilayarajavin Rasikai Kavitha 1981 Meendum Kokila Kamini Kannadi Vaa Intha Pakkam Kadhal Kadhal Kadhal Vaani 1983 Mundhanai Mudichu Pattu Teacher 1984 Anni Kuzhandhai Yesu Neram Nalla Neram VazhkaiSumathi 1985 Marma Manithan Raja Yuvaraja Anitha Santhosha Kanavukal Gowri 1986 Sippikkul MuthuSubbu Murattu Karangal Naanum Oru Thozhilali 1987 Neram Nalla Irikku Vaazhga Valarga Nandini Koottu Puzhukkal 1988 Kalyana Paravaigal 1990 Amman Kovil Thiruvizha 1992 Pattathu Raani
Telugu Year Film Role Notes 1976 America AmmayiSudha1977Prema LekhaluAndame AnandamKhaidi Kalidasu SujathaDana Veera Soora KarnaUttaraPanthulamma1978Chal Mohana RangaDudu BasavannaMalliNindu ManishiSanja1979 Akbar Saleem AnarkaliAnarkali Rangoon RowdyDeepaDasa ThirigindiAndame Andam1980 Sri Vinayaka Vijayam Nagamalli Podarillu O Inti Bhagotham Thathayya Premaleelalu Savitha Triloka Sundari Kaliyuga Ravanasurudu O Inti Bhagotham Pilla Zamindar 1981 Deepaaradhana 1982 Kothaneeru Ramayanamlo Pidakala Veta 1983 Raju Rani JackieGeetha 1984 Kutumba Gauravam 1985 AatmabalamPankajavalli / Pinky Ladies TailorNurse Daya KongumudiGeethaDarja DongaShyamala Surya ChandraDeepthi 1986 Swathi Muthyam Subbulu Chaitanyam Aakrandana Devudamma 1987 Dabbevariki Chedu Jayasila Thandri Kodukula Challenge JanakiAndarikante GhanuduSpecial appearance Ramu Girja 1990 Kaliyuga Viswamithra
Kannada Year Film Role Notes 1979Vijay Vikram LataNaniruvude Ninagagi Shobha 1983Ibbani Karagithu Swetha 1985 Kadina raaja Usha Dhruva Thare Sarala Thaayi kanasu Sathi SakkubaiGuru Jagatguru Hema
Hindi Year Film Role Notes 1979Amar Deep Lata 1984Zindagi Jeene Ke Liye
References
External links
Unnimary at MSI