Ambika (actress)

Ambika was born in 1962 to Kunjan Nair and Sarasamma at Kallara village, located in Thiruvananthapuram district.[1] Her mother Kallara Sarasamma was Mahila Congress leader during 2014.[2] She has two younger sisters, Radha and Mallika, and two younger brothers, Arjun and Suresh. Ambika married NRI Premkumar Menon in 1988. They have two sons and settled in America. After they divorced in 1996, she then married actor Ravikanth in 2000, but they divorced in 2002. She is currently settled in Chennai along with her sons.[3]

Ambika started her career as a child artist and later as main heroine and acted in more than 200 South Indian films. Her career as a heroine started with the Malayalam movie Seetha, which only released very late in her career. But with films such as Neelathaamara (which was made again in 2009) and Lejjavathi, she became a busy actress within a few years not only in Malayalam,[4] but also in Tamil and Kannada.[5]

K. Bhagyaraj introduced Ambika in his movie Antha Ezhu Naatkal. She has been cast alongside Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in many movies. Most of her films have been with the best actors such as Mohanlal, Mammootty, Rajanikanth, Ambarish, Rajkumar, and Vijayakanth.[6]

She had a very successful career in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam movies throughout the 1980s. In Tamil and Malayalam, she took on a few bold roles that showcased her versatility and talent. In Kannada, she appeared in glamarous roles. Her rain songs with Ambarish are shown frequently on TV and considered groundbreaking in an otherwise conservative industry.[7] In 1986, she acted in the superhit Malayalam movie Rajavinte Makan, which starred Mohanlal. She also acted with him the following year in another massive hit movie Irupatham Nootandu.

In Tamil, Ambika shot to fame with Kakki Chattai. At the zenith of her career she costarred with her sister Radha in Kadhal Parisu, where both actresses demonstrated their acting prowess in the roles of two sisters, both with strong but conflicting personalities.

After getting divorced, she returned to India from U.S. Later in 1997 she started acting again in films - Periyamanushan, opposite Sathyaraj in Maa Naanaki Pelli Telugu and opposite Krishnam Raju in Simhada mari Kannada. She acted as heroine in Vikaraman's project Mariyathai, in which Vijayakanth played a double role of father and son. She acted in Malayalam films such as Angel John with Mohanlal, Thanthonni and Sadgamaya and is currently more active doing TV serials.[8]

She has acted in many advertisements. She is a designer too. She has judged many reality shows also. In a film called Medulla Oblangatta (2014) she has done lyrics work too.

• 1984 Kalaimaamani Award - Film field (art)
• Film critics Award Enkeyo Ketta Kural
• Mirchi Music Awards - Female Icon Award (Malayalam)
• Edison Awards for Best Character Role Female 2010 - Mariyadhai
• Realistic Awards 2020 - Lifetime Achievement Award
• Galatta Wonder Woman Awards - Fan Favourite of 80's

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

• Antha Naal Nyabagam
• Alitho Saradaga
• Star Jam
• Comedy Super Nite
• Vartha Prabhatham
• Talk With the Stars (IIFA Utsavam 2017)
• Lal Salam
• Cinema Vikatan
• Vanitha Film Awards
• Galatta Nakshatra Awards
• MGR-SIVAJI Cinema Awards
• Vanakkam Tamizha
• Suvarna Thaarangal
• Thakarppan Comedy

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ambika (actress).

• Ambika at IMDb
• Ambika at MSN