Saritha is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 150 films and provided voice for many actress for more than 200 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: She was one of the popular and critically acclaimed lead actresses during the 1980s.
She also appeared in a television serial, Selvi. She is also credited as a dubbing artist. She has dubbed her voice for Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu movies for actresses like Nagma, Vijaya Shanthi, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya in 1990s.
She is a recipient of several state awards from Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, six Filmfare Awards and six Nandi Awards including a Special Jury Award for the film Arjun. Saritha received Tamil Nadu State Film Awards four times, and Karnataka State Film Awards once.
Career Saritha made her acting debut through Manchiki Sthanam Ledu a movie produced by producer based in Warangal named Akula Sanjeev Kumar in 1978 with a different screen name followed by Maro Charitra, a Telugu film directed by K. Balachander. The movie dealt with cross-cultural romance, where she acted opposite Kamal Haasan as a Telugu-speaking girl. She received more offers in Tamil films and Tamil Audience accepted herself as her own, she mostly acted films directed by Balachander. Some of her films are Thappu Thalangal, Idhi Katha Kadhu, Vandichakkaram, Netrikan, Agni Sakshi, Puthukavithai, Kalyana Agathigal and Achamillai Achamillai. Her performance in Vandichakkaram (1980) and Achamillai Achamillai (1984) won her the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress awards. She also played guest roles as herself in 47 Natkal and its Telugu remake, directed by Balachander.. Hinduonnet.com (27 April 2005). Retrieved 24 August 2013.
She acted in many popular Kannada movies with famous Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar like Hosa Belaku, Keralida Simha, Bhakta Prahlada, Chalisuva Modagalu and Kaamana Billu. She gained critical acclaim for her performance in heroine-oriented movies like Eradu Rekhegalu and Sankranthi and the musical Malaya Marutha opposite Dr. Vishnuvardhan.
She had her head tonsured for the cancer-affected role in Sujatha in 1980 and later gained several pounds to play the psychotic role in the 2005 film Julie Ganapathi. Neither of these films were successful but won Critical acclaim. She also won a Nandi Special Jury Award for her performance as Aandaalu in the movie Arjun in 2004.
Saritha also worked as a voice actor in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films. She has lent her voice to other actresses, including Madhavi, Soundarya, Ramya Krishnan, Nagma, Vijayashanti, Simran, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Roja, Suhasini, Radha, Radhika and Aarthi Agarwal. She won four times the Nandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist for her voice to Soundarya in Ammoru, Maa Ayana Bangaram (1997) and Anthapuram (1999).
After a long break, she made her comeback as an actress through the Sivakarthikeyan-starrer film Maaveeran (2023).
Personal life
Saritha was born and brought up as Abhilasha in Munipalle, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
She married Malayalam actor Mukesh on 2 September 1988 and they have two sons, Shravan and Tejas. The couple separated in 2011. Saritha now resides with Shravan (made his acting debut in the 2018 film Kalyanam) in UAE.
Awards
Filmfare Awards South 1980 – Best Actress – Tamil - Vandichakkaram 1982 – Best Actress – Kannada - Hosa Belaku 1984 – Best Actress – Tamil - Achamillai Achamillai 1985 – Best Actress – Kannada - Mugila Mallige 1986 – Best Actress – Kannada - Mouna Geethe 1989 – Best Actress – Kannada - Sankranthi Nandi Awards 1982 – Special Jury – Best Actress - Kokilamma 1995 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Ammoru 1996 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Maavichiguru 1997 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Maa Ayana Bangaram 1998 – Best Female Dubbing Artist - Anthapuram 2004 – Special Jury - Arjun
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu State 1979 – Best Actress - Oru Vellaadu Vengaiyagiradhu 1982 – Best Actress - Agni Sakshi 1988 – Best Actress - Poo Pootha Nandavanam 1995 – Best Female Dubbing Artist – Amman (1995)
Karnataka State Film Awards 1989 – Best Actress - Sankranthi
South Indian International Movie Awards 2024 – SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Tamil for Maaveeran
Filmography
Tamil films
Year Title Role Notes 1978 Thappu Thalangal Sarasu Aval Appadithan Arun's Wife 1979 Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu Rukmani Chakkalathi Nool Veli Baby 1980 Vandichakkaram Vadivu Sujatha Sujatha Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu Kalpana Rusi Kanda Poonai Savithri Kuruvikoodu Valli Panam Penn Paasam Thai Pongal 1981 Mouna Geethangal Suguna Aani Ver Arukkaani Anjatha Nenjangal 47 Natkal Herself Oruthi Mattum KaraiyinileRadha Netrikkann Radha Enga Ooru Kannagi Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum Manju Kalam Oru Naal Maarum Koyil Puraa Thanneer Thanneer Sevanthi 1982 Amma Seetha Pannaipurathu Pandavargal Nenjil Oru RagamGeetha Thai MookambigaiVellayamma Nambinal Nambungal Kanmani PoongaUma, Rama Pudukavithai Kalyani Thunai Vidya Agni Sakshi Kannamma 1983 Imaigal Kasthuri Thangaikkor Geetham Yamirukka Bayamen Karpagam Oru Pullangulal Adupu Othugirathu Uyirullavarai Usha Malaiyoor Mambattiyan Sivappu Sooriyan Selvi Saattai Illatha Pambaram Jaya 1984 Komberi Mookan Achamillai Achamillai Thenmozhi Kuzhandhai Yesu Iru Medhaigal Devaki Shankari Shankari Uravai Kaatha Kili Valli Nalam Nalamariya Aaval Thulasi Simma Soppanam Sudha 1985 Kalyana Agathigal Ammulu VeliGowri Saavi Latha Sugamana Raagangal Renuka AnniSeetha KolusuPonnuthayi Mel Maruvathoor Athiparasakthi Erimalai Ammavum Neeye Appavum NeeyeAruna 1986 DharmamBhanu Oomai Vizhigal Sumathi Kodai Mazhai Eye Specialist Kungumapottu 1987 Etikku Potti Mangai Oru Gangai Vaazhga Valarga Poo Poova Poothirukku Ellaikodu Vedham Pudhithu 1988 Raasave Unnai Nambi Poo Pootha Nandavanam 2001Friends 2002 Album 2003Julie Ganapathi Julie Ganapathi2006June R2013Inam2023MaaveeranEshwari
Telugu films Year Title Role Note 1978 Maro Charitra Swapna 1979 Manchiki Sthanam Ledu Idi Katha Kaadu Gayathri Guppedu Manasu Baby Vijaya Vijaya 1980 Gutilo Ramachilaka 1981 Srirasthu Subhamasthu Devi Athagari Pethanam Tholi Kodi Koosindi 47 Rojulu Rama Dandu Aadavallu Meeku Joharlu Papayamma 1982 Chandamama Kalahala Kapuram Krishnaveni 1983 Kokilamma Kokilamma Thodu Needa Sharada 1984 Kanchana Ganga Kanchana Bhagyalakshmi 1985 Kala Rudrudu Anuraga Bandham 1986 Kaliyuga Pandavulu Krishnaveni 1987 Satyagraham Ida Prapancham 1988 Shivude Shankarudu Dr. Kavitha 2004 Arjun Andal
Malayalam films Year Title Role Note 1984 Oru Kochu Kadha Aarum Parayatha Kadha Janu Sandarbham Dr. Indhu Minimol Vathikkaanil Susie 1985 Kathodu Kathoram Marykutty Muhoortham 11:30 Indu Kaattuthee Oru Kochu Kaaryam 1987 Kanikaanumneram Savithri Yaagaagni Bhairavi P.C. 369 Elsa Mathew Manasa Maine Varu Lakshmi Thaniyavarthanam Indu Balan Vilambaram Sunanda 1988 Sangham Ammini Onnum Onnum Pathinonnu Sumi 1989 Anuragi Rosamma Lal Americayil Sindhu 1990 Kuttettan Seetha Lakshmi 1991 Souhrudam Annie 2000 Life Is Beautiful Vice Principal 2003 Ammakilikkoodu Janaki 2026 Aarambham Avantika's mother Filming
Kannada films Year Title Role Notes1978 Thappida Thala Sarasu1981 Keralida Simha Lawyer1981Jeevakke Jeeva Geeta/GayatriDouble role1982Hosa Belaku Vatsala Chalisuva Modagalu Lawyer Leela1983 Kaamana Billu Girija Bhakta Prahlada Queen Kayadu1984 Eradu Rekhegalu Collector Janaki1985Mugila Mallige Kamala Bramha Gantu Muniyamma1986Malaya Marutha SharadaHennina Koogu Mounageethe Mangala/LakkiDouble role1987 Manasa Veene KurukshethraCollector Saraswati1988 Baalondu BhavageetheSuma Sri Venkateshwara Mahime Padma 1989 Sankranthi 2012 Dashamukha Savitha
Television Year Title Role Language Network(s) Ref 2005-2006 Selvi Thamarai Tamil Sun TV 2024-2025 Mahanadigai Judge Zee Tamil
As dubbing artist Films