SARITHA

She has acted in 140 feature films, and also in a television serial, "Selvi." (2005).

After acting in films from 1979 to 1989, she took a long break to get married and raise two sons, but she still worked in films by dubbing voices.

Director K. Balachander so liked her performance in "Marocharithra" (1979) that he cast her in 22 more films, including "Agni Satchi," "Kalyana Agathigal," and "Achamillai Achamillai."

She was the 162nd girl who auditioned for the heroine role in "Marocharithra" (1979), when director K. Balachander decided she was the right actress for him.

Saritha was discovered by the famous director K. Balachander who cast her in the heroine role for the Telugu film "Marocharithra" (1979) opposite Kamal Hassan, which became a huge, memorable hit.

"Julie Ganapathy" is the Tamil remake of the Hollywood hit film, Misery (1990), and Saritha put on a lot of weight to play the role that was originated by the Oscar winner, Kathy Bates. But when the film bombed and she didn't win any awards, she decided to lose the weight in order to get acting work.

Of the 141 films she has done till 2006, she claims that her three best films are: `Marocharithra," "Thanneer Thanneer" and "Agnisakshi."

She claimed that she almost got fired on her first day on the set of "Marocharithra," as nobody was happy with her performance. Later, she was briefed on her role, and director K. Balachander was so happy with her performance that he rewarded her with chocolates.

She has acted in all four South Indian languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

She won Tamil Nadu Government's Best Actress Award three times- 1979-80, 1982-83 and 1988. She is also the recipient of Kalaimamani Award in 1982-83 for the film "Agnisakshi."

Personal Quotes

On director K.Balachander who discovered her: "I've worked in 23 films of his - each was a milestone. KB is like a godfather. I grew up under his banner. I didn't know anything about acting, it was he who taught me the nuances."

Explaining why her dark complexion and full figure worked in her favor: "Looking back, I'm very happy and thankful to the directors to have come up with scripts that were performance-oriented. Nowadays, heroes dominate films. Perhaps, if I looked glamorous, directors would have concentrated on my looks than on my performance."

Filmography

Actress:

1. June R (2005)
2. Ammakilikkoodu (2003) .... Janaki
3. Julie Ganapathy (2003)
4. Life Is Beautiful (2000) .... Vice Principal
5. Souhrudam (1991) .... Annie
6. Kuttettan (1990) .... Seetha
7. Thaniyavartanam (1987)
8. P.C. 369 (1987) .... Elsamma Mathew
9. Vilambaram (1987) .... Sunanda
10. Malaya Marutha (1986) .... Sharada
11. Kathodu Kathoram (1985) .... Marykutty
12. Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu (1985) .... Indu
13. Achamillai Achamillai (1984) .... Thenmozhi
14. Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha Katha (1984) .... Janu
15. Sivappu Sooriyan (1983)
16. Agni Sakshi (1982)
17. Thai Mookambhikai (1982)
18. Aadavallu Meeku Joharulu (1981)
19. Thaneer Thaneer (1981)
20. Guppedu Manasu (1979)
21. Maro Charithra (1978) .... Swapna
22. Thappitha Thala (1978)

Miscellaneous Crew:

1. Alluda Mazaaka...! (1995) (voice double: Ramya Krishna)
2. Karthavyam (1991) (voice double: Vijayshanti)

Director:

1. Aathma Mela (1999)