Vennira Aadai Nirmala (born as A. B. Shanthi in Kumbakonam) is an Indian actress who has appeared in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She was a prominent lead actress from 1960s and 70s. She is credited as Ushakumari in Malayalam film industry.
Personal life She was born as Shanthi to Aranmanai L. Balakrishnan and Radharukmani at Kumbakonam in a Sowrashtra family. She had four siblings. She remains unmarried.
Acting career
Debuting through C. V. Sridhar's Vennira Aadai in 1965, she has acted as lead roles in over 400+ films encompassing four languages - Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu & Kannada. Her screen name in Malayalam films was 'Usha Kumari' In addition to her acting career, Nirmala is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She acted in the TV series - Deivamagal.
Political career
MGR had nominated her to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council. Her swearing in ceremony was scheduled for 23 April 1986. Nirmala had earlier declared insolvency and according to Article 102-(1)(c) of the Indian Constitution, an insolvent person cannot serve as a member of parliament or state legislature.Court imposes Rs. 4.65-lakh fine on Vennira Adai Nirmala
This annulment made Nirmala's nomination valid and the writ petition against it was dismissed. However, Nirmala withdrew her nomination to the council.TN to get back Upper House
In 1989 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, She unsuccessfully contested on behalf of Janaki Faction of AIADMK against then rival faction Leader Jayalalithaa in Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency.
Partial filmography This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Tamil Year Title Role Notes1965Vennira AadaiGeethaDebut FilmEnnathan Mudivu1967Kadhalithal Mattum PodhumaBhakta Prahlada1968Lakshmi KalyanamChakkaramRagasiya Police 115Muthu ChippiKuzhanthaikkaga1969Poova ThalaiyaMannippuAnnaiyum PithavumKanni PennThanga SurangamThunaivan1970Enga Mama NeelaVeettuku VeeduKannan VaruvanNoorandu Kalam VazhgaSangamamYaen?VairakiyamNamma Kuzhandaigal1971Babu Adult AmmuThangaikkaagaDeivam PesumaAathi ParasakthiSoodhattamAnbukkor AnnanNeedhi DhevanSudarum SooravaliyumThanga GopuramVeguli Penn1972AvalBathilukku BathilThaikku Oru Pillai1973Anbu SagodharargalEngal ThaaiPookaariPrarthanaiVakkuruthiNyayam KetkiromVeettukku Vandha MarumagalNalla Mudivu1974Avalukku Nigar AvaleAlso ProducerPathu Madha BandhamSamayalkaranSisubalan1975Ingeyum ManidhargalNaalai NamadheEduppar Kai PillaiIdhayakkaniMaanishaada1976Oorukku UzhaippavanUnakkaga NaanJanaki Sabadham1977Ellam AvaleIndru Pol Endrum VaazhgaMaamiyar VeeduMeenava Nanban1978Kaviraja KalamegamKarunamoorthi1979Gnana KuzhandhaiNadagame UlagamVelli Ratham1980KaaliKallukkul EeramGuru1981Deiva ThirumanangalBala Nagamma1982Nadodi Raja1997ArunachalamVaimaye Vellum2001Thaalikaatha Kaaliamman2002Kamarasu 2007PeriyarRameswaram
Malayalam Year Title Role Notes1965KaattuthulasiThulasiChettathiSusheela1966KallippennuKallippennuStation MasterGeetha & OmanaKayamkulam KochunniNabeesha1967Jeevikkaan AnuvadikkooRamananKarthiIruttinte AthmavuPremaSheelavathiSaraswatiNGOShanthaThalirukalMaadatharuviSahadharmini1968YakshiVijayalakshmiPunnapura VayalarChinnama1969Vilakkappetta BandhangalKoottukudumbam RadhikaJanmabhoomiMadhavi1970VivaahithaLeelaCross BeltLeela/Mrs.RobertBheekara NimishangalIndiraDathuputhran Omana1971PanchavankaaduDevammaLora Nee EvideLora1972Maravil Thirivu SookshikkukaMaalu1973JesusMagdalnaThenaruviThulasiThaniniramShaasthram Jayichu Manushyan ThottuSuvarnaAashaachakramPaavangal Pennungal1974DurgaSuprabhaatham1975Njaan Ninne PremikkunnuGracyThomasleeha1976Amba Ambika AmbaalikaSathyavathi1977SreemurukanGuruvayoor Keshavan1978Thacholi AmbuHemantharaathriVelluviliSavithriChakraayudhamRandil Onnu1979VeerabhadranIniyum KaanaamNirmala1980AshwaradhamLakshmiBhaktha HanumanKaanthavalayam1981Kilungaatha Changalakal1997Poomarathanalil2001Sharja To Sharja
Telugu Year Title Role Notes1966Gudachari 1161967Bhakta PrahladaAve Kallu1968Papa Kosam1969Mooga Nomu1971Andariki MonagaduBangaru TalliBomma BorusaSati Anasuya1972Kathula RathaiahBhale MosagaduDatta PutruduMaa Inti VeluguSomaripothu1973Dhanama? Daivama?Varasuralu1974Sthree GowravamMangalya Bhagyam1976Devude GelichaduLawyer Indira Devi1977Chakradhari1978Karunamayudu1980Chukkalo ChandruduKaaliGuruSri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Mahatmyam1981Sri Anjaneya CharitraAntham Kaadhidi Aarambham1998Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi2000Kalisundam RaaJayam ManaderaNinne Premistha2001 Chinna Chinna's motherAdhipathi2002Seema Simham2003Okariki Okaru2004ArjunShankar Dada M.B.B.S2007Shankar Dada Zindabad2010Ragada
Kannada Year Title Role Notes1975Sri Renukadevi Mahathme1985Kari Naga
Television serials Year Title Role Channel Notes2000 Micro Thodargal- Mounam Oru Bashai Raj TV2001Meendum Meendum SirippuSun TV 2004–2006Kalki Jaya TV2006-2007 Raja Rajeswari Sun TV2008ManikoonduParvathi Devi2013–2018DeivamagalJanaki Chidambaram2004Aaradhana DoordarshanProducer, Screenplay writer and Actor; A series on Indian Music Composers2007Be'zubaanA Tele series in Hindi 2009Sri AandalDance Drama2009-2010PushpanjaliA Tele series2012-2017Konjum Salangai & Dheem TharikitaDD PodhigaiTele series based on Classical dance competition among children telecasted for over five years.2021Saadhana Bharatam YouTubeYouTube Channel which explores Bharatanatyam
Awards and honours 2009; Kaviarasu Kannadasan Tamizh Sangam Award
References