Suhasini Maniratnam is an Indian actress who predominantly works in South Indian films. She is known for films like Bandhana (Kannada), Suprabhatha (Kannada), and Vanaprastham (Malayalam). Her debut Tamil film "Nenjathai Killathe" made her bag the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Suhasini has also bagged the National Film Award for Best Actress for Sindhu Bhairavi.
Early Life of Suhasini Maniratnam
She was born on 15 August 1961 in Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Her father Charuhasan is an Indian film actor who mainly works in South Indian movies. She studied cinematography in Madras Film Institute.
Career of Suhasini Maniratnam
Suhasini began her career as a camera assistant to Ashok Kumar but later focused on acting. Before stepping into films, she has also worked as a make-up artist for several leading actors at that time. She has acted in a number of Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. She made her acting debut in 1980 with the Tamil film Nenjathai Killathe. In the following year, she appeared in one Telugu film titled Kotha Jeevithalu and three Tamil films including Palaivana Solai, Madhumalar and Kudumbam Oru Kadambam. In a short period of time, she became a well-known face in the South Indian film industry. Her Kannada films Bandhana (1984) and Suprabhatha (1988) ware blockbusters, and thus became one of the most bankable stars of Kannada cinema of the time. Her other runaway hits were Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu (1983) and Muttina Haara (1990).
She made her Malayalam debut in 1983 with the film Koodevide, which also featured Mammootty. In the same year, she appeared in another film titled Adaminte Vaariyellu. Her 1999 Malayalam project Vanaprastham which starred Mohanlal, was particularly well received. This achievement opened many doors for her in the Malayalam film industry.
Till date, her combination with Dr. Vishnuvardhan is considered as one of the best pairs of South Indian Cinema. Both of them have acted together in many blockbuster films some of which are Bandhana, Suprabhatha, Muthina Haara, Hendthig Helthini, Himapatha, etc.
Her career took a turn in 1996 when she stepped into direction with Indira. The project was produced by G. V. Films. Suhasini and her husband Mani Ratnam run their production company Madras Talkies, with G. Srinivasan.
Filmography of Suhasini Maniratnam
Suhasini has worked in innumerable South Indian films. Some of her Telugu films are Kotha Jeevithalu (1981), Manchu Pallaki (1982), Mangammagari Manavadu (1984), Illalu Priyuralu (1984), Tene Manasulu (1985), Chantabbai (1986), President Gari Abbai (1987),Varasudochhadu (1988), Bala Gopaludu (1989), Akka Mogudu (1992), Ratha Sarathi (1993), Ramudochadu (1996), Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001), Abhimanyu (2003), Gabbar Singh (2012), Minugurulu (2013) etc.
Her Tamil films are Nenjathai Killathe (1980), Palaivana Solai (1981), Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982), Poikkal Kudhirai (1983), Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Dhoorathu Pachai (1987), En Bommukutty Ammavukku (1988), Vaseegara (2003), Balam (2009), Ullamellam Thalladudhe (2011), Varuvan Thalaivan (2012), Ramanujan (2014), Kanchana 2 (2015) etc.
Her works in Malayalam film industry include Koodevide? (1983), Thathamme Poocha Poocha (1984), Ezhuthapurangal (1987), Oohakachavadam (1988), Vanaprastham (1999), Nammal (2002), Vilapangalkkappuram (2009), Kalimannu (2013), and Love 24x7 (2015) etc.
She is equally active in Kannada film industry and some of her projects include Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu (1983), Bandhana (1984), Suprabhatha (1988), Himapatha (1995), Ganga Yamuna (1997), Annavru (2003), Eradane Maduve (2010), Mathond Madhuvena (2011), Sachin! Tendulkar Alla (2014), and Rebel (2015) to name a few.
Achievements of Suhasini Maniratnam
Some of her awards are as follows:
•National Film Awards in Best Actress category for Sindhu Bhairavi (Tamil) (1986)
•Filmfare Awards South in Best Actress category for films like Bandhana (1984), Swati (1984), Suprabhatha (1988), and Muthina Haara (1990).
•Kerala State Film Award in Best Actress category for Ezhuthappurangal (1987) and Theerthadanam (2001).
•Nandi Award in Best Actress category for Swati (1984).
Personal Life of Suhasini Maniratnam
She tied the knot with film director Mani Ratnam in the year 1988. The couple is blessed with a son named Nandan.
