Fathima Babu (née Fathima) is an Indian actress, former newsreader and socialite based in Chennai who hails from Puducherry. She began her public career as a newsreader with DD Podhigai, the Tamil version of Doordarshan news, and later worked for Jaya TV. She subsequently moved on to work in television serials, films and theatre performances, operating in the Tamil and Malayalam languages.
Personal life Fathima was born in a Malayali family based in Puducherry. She has a degree in commerce. Initially a Muslim, Fathima converted to Hinduism after marrying Babu, who she had met while working at Indian Oil Corporation. The couple, married since 1989, has two sons.
Career Fathima became a newsreader with DD Podhigai, the Tamil version of Doordarshan, in the late 1980s. In 1989, she briefly went missing causing much speculation as to her disappearance. Several years later, Fathima clarified that during the period she was missing, she was filming for a television serial known as Chithirapaavai and did not want to breach Doordarshan's rule of news anchors not being able to work in serials.
Fathima made her film debut through K. Balachander's feminist film Kalki (1996), where she starred alongside an ensemble cast of Shruti, Rahman, Prakash Raj, Geetha, and Renuka. The film garnered positive reviews, with a film critic noting that Fathima "has an impressive debut, performing with confidence". Fathima moved on to play supporting roles in films, often portraying the mother of the lead characters.
Fathima started her own drama production group, Fab's Theatre, which performs shows in Chennai. She was initially introduced to theatre by K. Balachander, who often helped her work on and develop scripts. The group has made shows such as Sethu Vandirikkaen and Thaarama Tallyaa directed by Fathima, which opened in February 2016. She was also briefly involved in politics, and campaigned for the AIADMK on behalf of Jayalalithaa, and eventually took up a role as a spokesperson of the party. After Jayalalithaa's death, Fathima joined O. Paneerselvam's team, before ultimately distancing herself from politics. In 2019, she appeared in the reality television show Bigg Boss Tamil 3 on Star Vijay, and was the first contestant to be evicted.
Films Tamil Year Film Role Notes 1996 Kalki Kokila 1997 Pasamulla Pandiyare V. I. P. Priya's mother Nerukku Ner Alamu 1998 Ulavuthurai Sangeetha's mother Swarnamukhi Vanaja Thulli Thirintha Kaalam Visalam Sollamale Vikram's mother Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen Vasanthi, Radha's stepmother's younger sister Simmarasi Maragatham's wife Kannathal Kannatha's mother Kalyana Galatta Commissioner's wife 1999 Ninaivirukkum Varai Sandhya's mother Nee Varuvai Ena Subramani's mother Mugam Mudhalvan Aranganathar's wife Unnaruge Naan Irundhal Jamindar's wife Ponnu Veetukkaran Gangadaran's wife 2000 Mugavaree Viji's mother Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Indu's mother Simmasanam Annapoorani's sister-in-law Parthen Rasithen Pinky Raja Ilaiyavan Anbudan Sathya's mother Ninaivellam Nee Nurse 2001 Minnale Shanti, Reena's mother Paarvai Ondre Podhume Visalakshi Little John Nirmala Manadhai Thirudivittai Shruti's mother Aalavandhan Tejaswini's mother Love MarriageShreekanth's mother 2002Alli Arjuna Usha Youth Sandhya's mother 2003Manasellam Bala's mother Lesa Lesa Varalakshmi Aahaa Ethanai Azhagu Thithikudhe Venu's adopted mother Thathi Thavadhu Manasu Indru Gauthaman's mother 2004 Kavithai 2005 Thirupaachi Raj's wife Kannadi Pookal Devathaiyai Kanden Uma's mother Amudhey Nancy's mother 2005 Thirudiya Idhayathai 2006 Thirupathi Minister's wife2007Adavadi En Uyirinum Melana Kamakshi 18 Vayasu Puyale Seetha 2008Kuselan Sister Maria Simultaneously shot in Telugu as Kathanayakudu Saroja Car passenger Special appearance Vasool Angayarkanni Thithikkum Ilamai Defense lawyer 2011 Sabash Sariyana Potti "Sabash Sariyana Potti" judge Kasethan Kadavulada Kaila Kaasu Vaaila Thosa 2012 Thiruthani Andiyappan's wife 2013 Puthagam Veni Naanum En Jamunavum Thirumathi Thamizh Chithirayil Nilachoru Church mother Maayai 2014 Azhagiya Pandipuram Madhavan's mother Nee Naan Nizhal Rohit's mother Namma Gramam Karthyayani 2015 Muthukumar Wanted Anandhi's mother 2016 Jennifer Karuppaiya Court Judge 2020 Vidhipadi Jennifer's mother Short film2025 Mrs & Mr Ranganayaki
Malayalam Year Film Role Notes 2001 Raavanaprabhu Mundakkal Sekharan's wife 2002 Onnaman Deepa 2007 Ali Bhai Ambu Bhai's wife Hallo Shivaraman's mother 2008 Madampi Shyamala's mother 2009 My Big Father Alby's mother Bhramaram Sivankutty's sister 2010 Oru Naal Varum School Principal Alexander the Great Sumithra Shikkar Manu's mother 2011 Kottarathil Kutty Bhootham Traffic Raihan's mother 2012 The King & the Commissioner Justice Eliyamma Pettikaran Josettante Hero Sajan's mother Grandmaster Alice Gramam Karthyayani Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Namma Gramam Matinee Fathima 2014 @Andheri Appu's mother 1 by Two Ammukkuty Amma Asha Black Rohit's mother Simultaneously shot in Tamil as Nee Naan Nizhal
Telugu Year Film Role Notes 2005Gowtam SSC Chaya Rani (Gowtam's Mother) 2008Kadhanayakudu Sister Maria
Dramas Year Film Role Actor Director Written By Ref. 2013 Ponniyin Selvan Nandhini Kalki Krishnamurthy 2014 Koodi Vaazhnthal (Short Play) Aashiq Babu 2014 Seethai Mark Seeyakaithool (Short Play) Subbamma Sundara Ramasamy 2014 Aan Dharmam (Short Play) Paanjali Jayanthan 2014 Thappattam (Short Play) Vaseekaran 2014 Naan Avan Illai (Short Play) Chelli Sreenivasan 2015 Sethu Vandhirukken Vanaja K. Balachander 2016 Thaarama Tallyaa Radha Chitralaya Sriram 2019 Valayil Sikkiya Meen
Television Year Program Role Channel Language Notes 1989 Chithirappaavai Saradha DD Podhigai Tamil 1997 Nila Pookkal Possessive wife Star Vijay Tamil Telefilm 1999 Chinna Chinna Aassai : Suyamvaram Varnam TV Tamil 2001 Kaaveri Sun TV Tamil 2003–2005 Priyanka Indrani ETV Telugu 2005 Kadamattathu Kathanar Nicolas's Mother Asianet Malayalam 2006–2008 Lakshmi Chandra Sun TV Tamil 2006–2007 Raja Rajeshwari Lakshmi Amma Sun TV Tamil 2007 Swami Ayyappan Unnikrishnan's mother Asianet Malayalam 2008 Alaipayuthey Jaya TV Tamil 2008 Simran Thirai Jaya TV Tamil Story : Anuvum Naanum 2008–2009 Thangamana Purushan Lion Janaki Kalaignar TV Tamil 2009 Sollathan Ninaikiren Zee Tamil Tamil 2017–2021 Yaaradi Nee Mohini Neelambari Zee Tamil Tamil Died in serial2017–2018Uyyala JampalaShantammaStar MaaTelugu2017Muddha Mandaram Zee TeluguTelugu 2018 Makkal Saraswathi Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam Replaced by Shobha MohanAranmanai Kili Judge Kaveri Star Vijay Tamil Genes Guest Zee Tamil Tamil One episode2019 Bigg Boss Tamil 3 Contestant Star Vijay Tamil Evicted on Day 142019 Bigg Boss 3 Kondattam Herself Star Vijay Tamil Special show2021 BB Jodigal Contestant Star Vijay Tamil 2022 Sippikul MuthuSuseela Star Vijay Tamil 2023 Uppena Visalakshi Gemini TV Telugu 2024 Janaki Ramayya Gari Manavaralu Janakamma Zee Telugu Telugu 2025 Karthigai Deepam Kaaliamma Zee Tamil Tamil
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