:Revathi

{{Infobox person

| name = Revathi

| image = Revathi at the screening of Masaala at PVR Phoenix (1) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Revathi at the screening of Masaala at PVR

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|07|08}}

| birth_place = Kochi, Kerala, India{{Cite web |title=malayalamcinema.com, Official website of AMMA, Malayalam Film news, Malayalam Movie Actors & Actress, Upcoming Malayalam movies |url=https://www.malayalamcinema.com/meet-star/profile/revathy-asha-kelunni |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.malayalamcinema.com}}

| birth_name = Asha Kelunni {{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/revathi-birthday-love-to-mouna-ragam-popular-movies-of-the-evergreen-actress-8263531.html|title=Revathi Birthday: Love to Mouna Ragam, Popular Movies of the Evergreen Actress|website=News18}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|film director|social worker}}

| years_active = 1983–present

| works = Full list

| spouse = {{marriage|Suresh Chandra Menon|1986|2013|end=divorce}}{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Court-grants-divorce-to-actor-Revathi/articleshow/19687425.cms |title=Court grants divorce to actor Revathi |work=The Times of India |access-date=6 September 2015 |date=23 April 2013}}

| awards = Full list

| honours = Kalaimamani (1993)

| relatives = Geetha Vijayan (cousin)
Niranjana Anoop (niece)

{{cite web |title=Films, a family affair! |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/290417/films-a-family-affair.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429022505/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/290417/films-a-family-affair.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2017 |website=Deccan Chronicle |date=29 April 2017}}

| children = 1

}}

Asha Kelunni Nair (born 8 July 1966), better known by her stage name Revathi, is an Indian actress and director, known for her works predominantly in Tamil and Malayalam cinema - in addition to Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films.{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/happy-birthday-revathi-interesting-facts-about-the-actress/etphotostory/84225724.cms | title=Happy Birthday Revathi: Interesting facts about the actress | website=The Times of India | date=8 July 2021 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career-74371 |title=From demure to daring, actor Revathy's multi-faceted film career |date=8 January 2018}}

She was one of the most successful leading actresses of South Indian cinema and has won several accolades, including three National Film Awards, and seven Filmfare Awards South.{{cite web |title=40th National Film Awards – 1993 |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/40th_nff_1993.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals – 1993 |access-date=5 July 2013}} She also won the Kerala State Film Award for her performance in Bhoothakaalam (2022).{{Cite web |date=25 September 2022 |title=It took her 40 years to reach me, I want to dedicate the state award to myself: Revathi |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2022/09/25/revathi-best-actor-speech-kerala-state-film-awards.html |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=Onmanorama |language=en}}

Early life

Revathi was born as Asha Kelunni Nair to Kelunni, a major in the Indian Army, and Lalitha Kelunni in Kochi, Kerala.

When she was in school, she took part in a fashion show. Group photos were taken during the show and a photo was chosen to be the cover of a popular Tamil magazine. This happened to be her photo, which was seen by the director Bharathiraja, who at that time was on the lookout for a new heroine for his latest venture, Mann Vasanai.{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=9 January 2011 |title=Always in reckoning |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Always-in-reckoning/article15512011.ece |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406121941/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Always-in-reckoning/article15512011.ece |archive-date=6 April 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Shekar |first=Anjana |date=8 January 2018 |title=From demure to daring, actor Revathy's multi-faceted film career |work=The News Minute |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career-74371 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808104633/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career-74371 |archive-date=8 August 2018}}

Career

She made her acting debut with the Tamil film Mann Vasanai in 1983.{{Cite web |last=Ramesh |first=Neeraja |date=16 August 2019 |title=Make way for women of substance on screen |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/make-way-for-women-of-substance-on-screen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191019190055/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/make-way-for-women-of-substance-on-screen/ |archive-date=19 October 2019 |access-date=19 October 2019 |website=The Times of India |language=en-US}} The film was a silver jubilee hit and she was rewarded with a Filmfare Special Award – South.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career-74371 |title=Demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career |website=The News minute |date=8 January 2018}} She then made her Malayalam film debut with the movie titled Kattathe Kilikkoodu in 1983. This film too hit the gold at the box office and was among her biggest hits of the 1980s. .{{cite news |last=Aravind |first=C. V. |title=Nedumudi Venu: Malayalam cinema's man for all seasons |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/nedumudi-venu-malayalam-cinemas-man-all-seasons-57525 |access-date=19 November 2019 |work=The News Minute |date=20 February 2017}}{{cite news |last=Kurup |first=Aradhya |title='Kattathe Kilikkoode': Bharathan's film is a commentary on the yin and yang of marriage |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kattathe-kilikkoodu-bharathan-s-film-commentary-yin-and-yang-marriage-112467 |access-date=19 November 2019 |work=The News Minute |date=17 November 2019}} She was introduced to Telugu film industry with 1984 films, Seethamma Pelli by director Bapu and Manasa Veena. Revathy went on to play a blind, rape-survivor Seetha in Tamil in Mahendran’s Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984) opposite Rajinikanth.{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/tribute-j-mahendran-who-began-his-directing-career-with-the-rajinikanth-starring-mullum-malarum/ |title=Tribute: J Mahendran, Who Began His Directing Career With The Rajinikanth-starring 'Mullum Malarum' |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=2 April 2019 |website=Film Companion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611191756/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/tribute-j-mahendran-who-began-his-directing-career-with-the-rajinikanth-starring-mullum-malarum/ |archive-date=11 June 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2019}}{{Cite news |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/11/29234855/actor-rajini--act-in-kai-koduk.html |title=கன்னடத்தில் இருந்து தமிழுக்கு வந்த கை கொடுக்கும் கை |date=29 November 2007 |work=Maalai Malar |access-date=4 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030123954/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/11/29234855/actor-rajini--act-in-kai-koduk.html |archive-date=30 October 2014 |language=ta}} Revathy went on to play Seetha in Pudhumai Penn (1984) directed by Bharathiraja. The same year she also did Vaidehi Kathirunthal, directed by R. Sundarrajan.

File:Revathi menon.jpg

She was versatile in her choice of roles and often played strong, relatable women characters. Her big break, the one that put her name high on the charts, was her portrayal of Divya, a very spirited and headstrong girl who transforms into a woman through the course of the movie, in Mani Ratnam’s Mouna Ragam (1986).{{cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/demure-daring-actor-revathy-s-multi-faceted-film-career-74371 |title=From demure to daring, actor Revathy's multi-faceted film career |date=8 January 2018}}

She was cast opposite Kamal Haasan in Punnagai Mannan in 1986. Revathi won several accolades for her role in the film.{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/entertainment/2018/nov/01/32-years-of-punnagai-mannan-why-the-kamal-haasan-film-is-still-in-our-hearts-101890.html |title=32 years of 'Punnagai Mannan': Why the Kamal Haasan film is still in our hearts|date=November 2018 }} The film too was a huge hit and established her as one of the most sought after actress of Tamil film industry. She finally won her first Best Actress Award for her splendid performance in the Malayalam film Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal in 1988. She won her Best Actress Award for Tamil film industry with the film titled Kizhakku Vaasal in 1990. She gave hits after hits and gave one of her finest performance in Priyadarshan’s Malayalam film Kilukkam (1991). She made her debut in Hindi with Suresh Krissna’s Love (1991), co-starring Salman Khan. She then won a National Film Award under the category of Best Supporting Actress for her Tamil film Thevar Magan in 1992. She was at the peak of her career in the early 1990s. She also gave occasional appearance in Telugu and Kannada films as well. Revathy again won the Filmfare Award in Balu Mahendra’s Marupadiyum (1993). The golden run lasted until the end of the 1990s, after appearing in some of her most well-regarded films in that decade Anjali (1990), Thevar Magan (1992), Magalir Mattum (1994) were already behind her. She has also won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Thalaimurai in 1998.{{Cite web |url=http://rrtd.nic.in/Film%20Bulletin-July.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 October 2009 |archive-date=30 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430210643/http://rrtd.nic.in/Film%20Bulletin-July.html |url-status=dead }}

File:Abhishekh Bachchan Revathi and Amithabh Bhachchan still3.jpg and Abhishek Bachchan at an event]]

Hindi audiences have savoured Revathi in Margarita with a Straw (2014) and 2 States (2014). She has appeared in the Tamil films Pa Paandi (2017), Jackpot (2019), and in the Malayalam Virus (2019).

She was seen in the bilingual Telugu and Hindi film Major (2022), where she portrayed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's mother, Dhanalakshmi.{{cite web |date=2 June 2022 |title=Major movie review: Adivi Sesh's homage to the 26/11 hero is flawed but effective |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/major-movie-review-sandeep-unnikrishnan-7949642/ |access-date=2 June 2022 |website=The Indian Express}}

In addition to acting, Revathi has directed two features (Mitr, My Friend and Phir Milenge) and contributed an episode each to the anthology films Kerala Cafe and the unreleased Mumbai Cutting.{{cite web |title=Revathi's in the movie. Enough said |date=23 September 2021 |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1005992/revathis-in-the-movie-enough-said}}

She won Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Malayalam in Bhoothakaalam (2022).{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/heres-why-revathy-said-yes-to-bhoothakaalam-which-won-her-the-kerala-state-film-award-for-best-actress/articleshow/92745766.cms|title = Here's why Revathy said yes to 'Bhoothakaalam', which won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress| newspaper=The Times of India | date=8 July 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/winners-of-the-68th-filmfare-awards-south-malayalam-2023_-67192.html|title = Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) 2023}}

Personal life

Revathi married cinematographer and director Suresh Chandra Menon in 1986. The couple did not have any children. However, following differences between them, they started living separately from 2002 and were granted divorce on 23 April 2013{{Cite web|url=https://poco-solar.de|title=Poco Solar|date=11 October 2022|website=Poco Solar}} by Chennai Additional Family Court.Deccan Chronicle http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130423/entertainment-mollywood/article/revathi-suresh-granted-divorce {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527200823/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130423/entertainment-mollywood/article/revathi-suresh-granted-divorce |date=27 May 2013 }}

In 2018, she revealed that she has a five-year old biological daughter through in vitro fertilisation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/news/cinema/51259-actress-revathi-open-talks-about-her-daughter.html |title=சோதனை குழாய் மூலம் குழந்தை பெற்றேன்.. மனம் திறந்த நடிகை ரேவதி..! |website=Puthiya Thalaimurai|date=2 November 2023 }}

In the media

File:Mohd. Hamid Ansari presenting the Rajat Kamal Award to Ms Revathy for BEST FILM ON FAMILY VALUES Red Building where the Sun Sets (English), at the 59th National Film Awards function.jpg

Revathi is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, having studied since the age of seven and performed her arangetram in Chennai in 1979.{{cite web |author=Harsha Koda (www.jalakara.com) |url=http://revathy.com/loves.htm |title=revathy.com |publisher=revathy.com |access-date=12 July 2012}} She has been considered one of the all-time top actresses of Tamil cinema and South Indian cinema. She was one of the most successful leading actresses of South Indian cinema. Revathi was the only South Indian actress of 80s and 90s to win the Filmfare best actress award in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, including three consecutive wins in Tamil. Apart from films, Revathi has been involved in a variety of social organisations, the most notable being the Banyan, Ability foundation, Tanker foundation and Vidyasagar, and has also served as a member of several film festivals including the Chennai International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of India.{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=80734 |title=59th National Film Awards for the Year 2011 Announced |publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India |access-date=7 March 2012}}