Geetha (actress)

Geetha (Kannada: ಗೀತಾ; born 13 April 1962) is an Indian actress who has performed in Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. She debuted in the Tamil language film Bairavi (as Rajinikanth's sister) directed by the veteran Director M Baskar of Oscar Movies. Since then she has acted in over 200 films in all major South Indian languages, and in a few Hindi films.^[1][2]

Career

Geetha made her cinematic debut with the 1978 Tamil film Bairavi as the title character in which she played Rajinikanth's sister. She was a student of class seven when she was cast for the film.^[3] When she got handful of movies she discontinued her studies at eighth class to concentrate on movie career.^[4] Her performance as Indira in the 1986 Malayalam film Panchagni^[5] based on the true life story of a Naxalite revolutionary Ajitha was well acclaimed and described by The Hindu as "one of Malayalam cinema's landmark heroines".^[3] The same year she had more Malayalam releases such as Sukhamo Devi, Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku, Aavanazhi and Geetham, which made her a popular actress in Malayalam cinema.^[3] She won the State award for the second best actress in 1989 for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha.^[3]

Her notable Kannada movies are with Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambarish. Some of her notable movies include Dhruvataare, Devatha Manushya, Shruthi Seridaaga, and Aakasmika with Rajkumar. Other films are Eradu Rekhegalu, Mareyada Manikya and Aruna Raaga.

Geetha also acted in Tamil Serials like Kai Alavu Manasu and Engirindho Vanthaal, both directed by K. Balachander. She also starred in the Tamil Serials such as Katha Kathayaam Karanamaam and recently in Rajakumari, where she played Ramya Krishnan's mother which aired on Sun TV.

During 80s and early 90s Geetha was considered by many as one of the most beautiful heroines at that time in South India. Her sensuous physique and the ease with which she used to portray glamourous and non-glamourous roles earned her a huge fan following.

In 1997 she married Vasan, an American CPA and Indian Chartered Accountant. The couple live in New Jersey where Vasan is a business promoter and advisor to corporations.^[6]

After her marriage, she quit acting for a brief period. She returned to the industry and has acted, usually as the hero's mother, in movies like Unakkum Enakkum, Santhosh Subramaniam, Azhagiya Tamil Magan and Masters.

Controversy

Geetha landed in controversy following humiliating treatment meted out bye her to an LGBTQ couple on the Telugu television show, “Bathuku Jataka Bandi”, on Zee Telugu aired on 31st October 2016. Geetha asked questions like “Do you have no shame?”. She even threatened the girl several times, saying “I will thrash you” and “I will hit you with slippers”. To the parents of the woman, Geetha said things like “tie her up”, “get her married and send her somewhere… ” to “solve the problem”. Such so-called ‘corrective’ measures that parents have inflicted on their children, have traumatised many queer people. Geetha also asked the couple whether they “have no shame to be in love”.^[7]

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

• 1989 - Second Best Actress - Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam - Aadhaaram
• Nominated - 61st Filmfare Awards South for Best Supporting Actress - Zachariayude Garbhinikal

Filmography

In order of languages in which she acted the most to least number of films.

Malayalam

Kannada

Tamil

Telugu

Hindi

Television

Malayalam

• American Dreams (Asianet)
• Sthreethvam (Surya TV)

Tamil

• Kaialavu Manasu (Rajshri)
• Engirindho Vanthaal
• Katha Kathayaam Karanamaam
• Rajakumari (TV series)(Suntv)

Telugu

• Bathuku_jataka_bandi (Zee Telugu)

References

External links

• Geetha at the Internet Movie Database