Ambika

Ambika is an Indian actress known for her work predominantly across the entire southern film industry and in several tele serials. She has also acted in an English film (Indian-American), to date. She was one of the top South Indian heroines for more than a decade from 1976 to 1989. Her younger sister Radha was also an actress. They acted together in a number of South Indian films during the peak of their career. The sisters runs a movie studio called 'ARS Studios', which they converted into a hotel complex in 2013.

Personal life Ambika was born to Kallara Kunjan Nair and Sarasamma at Kallara, Thiruvananthapuram. Her mother Kallara Sarasamma was Mahila Congress leader during 2014. She has two younger sisters, Radha and Mallika, and two younger brothers, Arjun and Suresh.

Ambika married an NRI, named Premkumar Menon in 1988. The couple has two sons and was settled in the United States. However, they divorced in 1996. She is currently settled in Chennai with her sons.

Career Ambika started her career as a child artist in Malayalam cinema in 1976 with the film Chottanikkara Amma and later starred as a heroine in more than 200 South Indian films. Her career as a heroine started with the Malayalam movie Seetha, which was released very late in her career. But with films such as Neelathaamara and Lejjavathi, she became a busy actress within a few years not only in Malayalam,

Ambika made her debut in Tamil in 1979 with the film Chakkalathi. Ambika's role as a young girl in K Bhagyaraj's Tamil film Andha 7 Naatkal grabbed the eyeballs of movie buffs. In 1984 she acted in Naan Paadum Paadal directed by Sundarrajan which had Sivakumar, Mohan and Pandiyan in lead roles. Ambika shot to fame with Kaakki Sattai (1985). At the zenith of her career she costarred with her sister Radha in Kadhal Parisu (1987), where both actresses demonstrated their acting prowess in the roles of two sisters, both with strong but conflicting personalities.

In 1986, she acted in the commercially successful Malayalam movie Rajavinte Makan, which starred Mohanlal. It was Ambika who got paid more than Mohanlal in the movie Rajavinte Makan. Ambika was a busier and more popular than Mohanlal at that time. She also acted with him the following year in another box office hit Irupatham Noottandu.

The 1980s were the golden era for Ambika, as she acted in over she acted in over 200 movies in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada, and most of the films were box office hits. Ambika did many films with the leading actors of her time such as Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj,Karthik, Prabhu, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Shankar, N. T. Rama Rao, Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Dr. Rajkumar, Ambareesh and Chiranjeevi.

After getting divorced, she returned to India from the U.S. Later in the year 1997, she started acting again in the films Periya Manushan, Simhada Mari, and Maa Nannaku Pelli. She acted in Vikraman's project Mariyadhai (2009), in which Vijayakanth played the double roles of father and son.

She has acted in many advertisements. She is a designer too. She has also judged many reality shows. She has been playing the lead role in the serial Mrs. Hitler aired on Zee Tamil TV, and also made a special appearance in the role of a senior government officer named Vanitha in the serial Anbe Vaa which aired on Sun TV. She made a cameo in the television serial Mangalyam. She also took on the role of judge in the reality show Drama Juniors.

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

Malayalam Year Title Role Notes 1976 Chottanikkara Amma child artist 1977 Taxi Driver child artist Dheerasameere Yamunaatheere child artist Vidarunna Mottukal Sumam child artist 1978 Aval Viswasthayaayirunnu child artist Samayamaayilla Polum Latha Asthamayam Guest appearance 1979 Neelathamara Kunjimalu Ajnaatha Theerangal Geetha Lajjaavathi Radha Krishnapparunthu Veerabhadran Raajaveedhi Agniparvatham Vimala Thuramukham Rosi Enikku Njaan Swantham Geetha Neeyo Njaano Geetha Pratheeksha Prabhaathasandhya Mini Maamaankam Manipennu Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Shyamala 1980 Pappu Herself Theeram Thedunnavar Seetha Seetha Akalangalil Abhayam Yamuna Theekkadal Sumam Ishtamaanu Pakshe Nandinikutty Aniyaatha Valakal Sujatha Angaadi Ayisha Sathyam Seetha Ithile Vannavar Bindu Kaavalmaadam Malli Ammayum Makalum Radha Meen Roselin Anthappuram Usha Swantham Enna Padam Priya Vaiki Vanna Vasantham Sheeba Aagamanam Seetha Eden Thottam Usha Puzha - Dooram Arike Shirly 1981 Anyar Chamayam Veshangal Archana Teacher Bharathi Prema Geethangal Geetha Kumari Asthamikkatha Pakalukal Raji Guha Devu Maniyan Pillai Athava Maniyan Pillai Kamalam Sambhavam Radha Njan Ninne Marakkilla Thaaraavu Akka Swarangal Swapnagal Latha Enne Snehikkoo Enne Maathram 1982 Pooviriyum Pulari Renuka Mylanchi Shahitha Olangal Rita Kelkatha Shabdam Jayanthi Ethiraalikal Thulasi Sharam Sindhu Mukhangal Dheera Indhu Anuraagakkodathi Susheela 1983 Father Damien Kaathirunna Naal Eettappuli Padmavathi Theeram Thedunna Thira Jayalakshmi Marakkillorikkalum Suma Nizhal Moodiya Nirangal Molamma Asthi Priyamvada Adyathe Anuragam Shyamala Enikku Vishakunnu Shantha Sandhyakku Virija Poovu Priya 1984 Sabarimala Darsanam Ente Gramam Kalkki Oru Sumangaliyude Katha Yamuna 1985 Puzhayozhukum Vazhi Rema Oru Nokku Kaanan Maya Agniyasthram Iniyum Kadha Thudarum Mary Archana Aaradhana Archana 1986 Thidambu - Chekeranoru Chilla Lathika Menon (Lallu) Moonnu Masangalkku Munpu Nirmala Malarum Kiliyum Thulasi Rajavinte Makan Nancy 1987 Swathi Thirunal Narayani Pillai Kochamma Ezhuthapurangal Vimala Jacob Vazhiyorakkazhchakal Sridevi Nirabhedangal Maya Vilambaram Sheela Irupatham Noottandu Aswathy Varma 1988 Ayitham Bhama Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal Valsala Kudumbapuranam Geetha Manasaputhri Pattanapravesham Shobha 1989 Brahmasthram 1991 Manju Peyyunna Rathri Sayanthanam Sheershakam 1992 Sabarimalayil Thankasooryodayam 1997 Snehasindooram Uma 1999 Niram Baby Udayapuram Sulthan Malavika 2000 Varnakkazchchakal Bhagyalakshmi Swayamvara Panthal Latha Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Nandhini 2001 Dubai 2004 Koottu Savitha Vishwambharan 2005 Ben Johnson Pathrose's wife Kalyana Kurimanam Subhadra Pandippada Mallika Annorikkal Karthu 2006 Arunam 2007 Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan Hareendran's mother 2009 The Trigger Vairam: Fight for Justice Judge Kana Kanmani Doctor Angel John Mary 2010 Thanthonni Kathreena Sadgamaya Gauri Sudhakaran 2011 Naayika HerselfArchive footage/Uncredited cameo Ponnu Kondoru Aalroopam - Lavakumar 1984 - 2012 Yakshi – Faithfully Yours Vishnu's mother 2014 Polytechnic Pauly's mother To Noora with Love Khadeeja Aamayum Muyalum Kadambari 2015 Mili Mercey She Taxi Annamma 2019 Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha HerselfArchive footage/Uncredited cameo Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla Alima 2022 Sathyam Mathrame BodhippikkooJustice Mary Varghese UllasamMarykutty August 27 Anjil Oral Thaskaran Naja 2026

Tamil Year Title Role Notes 1979 Chakkalathi Azhagammal 1980 Tharayil Pootha Malar Enga Ooru Rasathi 1981 Tharayil Vaazhum Meenkal Andha 7 Naatkal Vasanthi Kadal Meengal Uma 1982 Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam Radha Sagalakala Vallavan Geetha Enkeyo Ketta Kural Ponni (first wife) Vazhvey Maayam Sandhiya Deviyin Thiruvilayadal Dakshayini Idhayam Pesugirathu 1983 Jothi Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru Devi Garuda Saukiyama Thalaimagan Thambathyam Soorapuli Raagangal Maaruvathillai Vellai Roja Lakshmi 1984 Thiruppam Vengaiyin Maindhan Tharaasu Latha Thangamadi Thangam Naan Paadum Paadal Neethikku Oru Penn Anbulla Rajinikanth Mother of Rosy Kanmaniye Pesu Thaalithanam Ambigai Neril Vanthaal Pei Veedu Pournami Alaigal Irumbu Kaigal Vaazhkai Nerupukkul Eeram 1985 Naagam Janaki Kaakki Sattai Uma Naan Sigappu Manithan Uma Puthiya Sagaptham Uma Uyarndha Ullam Geetha Engal Kural Guest appearance Aval Potta Kolam Sri Raghavendrar Aparajita Idaya Kovil Gauri Arthamulla Aasaigal Karuppu Chattaikaran Erimalai Thandanai Puthiya Theerppu Radha Unakkaga Oru Roja Meera Thoongatha Kannondru Ondru Padikathavan Mary 1986 Mr. Bharath Uma Nermai Vikram Vikram's wife Oruvar Vazhum Alayam Naanum Oru Thozhilali Kanmaniye Pesu Karpoora Deepam Isai Paadum Thendral Manakanakku Thazhuvatha Kaigal Rajeshwari Raja Nee Vaazhga Rasigan Oru Rasigai Maaveeran Rekha 1987 Velundu Vinaiyillai Muthukkal Moondru Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu Geetha Naanum Oru Thozhilali Makkal En Pakkam Radha Kadhal Parisu Malini Mupperum Deviyar Veeran Veluthambi Thambathyam Nalla Pambu Aalappirandhavan Seetha IPS Ivargal Varungala Thoongal 1988 Annanagar Mudhal Theru Geetha Rendum Rendum Aindhu Ganam Courtar Avargaley Kan Simittum Neram Lakshmi Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam Sivakami 1997 Periya Manushan Sivagami Arunachalam Meenakshi 1998 Sandhippoma Poonthottam Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen En Uyir Nee Thaane Kaadhal Kavidhai Vishwa's mother 1999 Uyirodu Uyiraga Anjali's mother Kodiesvaran Iraniyan Poovellam Kettuppar Krishna Bharathi's mother Anantha Poongathe Jodi Sneha Varadharajan Pooparika Varugirom Time Srinivasa Murthy's mother Amarkkalam Mohana's mother Suyamvaram wedding guest 2000 Simmasanam Sathyamurthy's wife Magalirkkaga Head Constable Panchavarnam Vallarasu Anjali's mother 2001 Piriyadha Varam Vendum Nithi's mother 2002 Jaya Alli Arjuna Savithri's mother 2003 Ottran Sudha's mother 2004 Image Kavya Super Da 2005 Jadhi Mazhai Shailaja's mother 2007 Vel Vel's adoptive mother 2009 Mariyadhai Alamelu Annamalai 2010 Uthama Puthiran Sivakaami 2011 Avan Ivan Maryamma 2012 Ullam 2014 Jigarthanda Kayalvizhi's mother Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe 2015 Idhu Enna Maayam Arun's mother 2016 Ennama Katha Vudranunga 2018 Traffic Ramasamy Judge 2022 Super Senior Heroes Mrs. S. / Lady Justice 2025 Mrs & Mr Annalakshmi

Kannada Year Title Role Notes 1981 Sri Yediyuru Siddalingeshwara 1982 Garuda Rekhe Chalisuva Modagalu Sheela 1983 Avala Neralu Lakshmi Chakravyuha Asha Gayathri Maduve Gayathri Eradu Nakshatragalu Bhakta Prahlada Hasida Hebbuli 1984 Naane Raja Asha Mooru Janma Chitti Pralayanthaka Special appearance Onde Raktha Indina Bharatha Bharathi Apoorva Sangama Tara 1985 Chaduranga Asha 1986 Asambhava Digvijaya Asha / Radha Dual roles Shubha Milana Ganga Bete Sathkara 1987 Bazar Bheema Jeevana Jyothi Radha Athiratha Maharatha Radha Poorna Chandra Kumuda Nyayakke Shikshe Aapadbandhava 1988 Dharmathma Kirathaka Vijaya Khadga Asha 1989 Hongkongnalli Agent Amar 1997 Simhada Mari Vishwa's mother 1999 Janumadatha Ahalya 2000 Kanasugara Sangeeta's mother Sulthan 2002 Nagarahavu Nandhi Nandhi's mother Manasella Neene Madhavi 2003 Vijaysimha 2004 Om Ganesh 2017 Kaffi Thota Judge 2019 Kalidasa Kannada Meshtru Principal

Telugu Year Title Role Notes 1981 Addala Meda Lakshmi Viswaroopam Mallika Prema Mandiram Hema Nayudu Gari Abbai Madhavi Bobbili Puli Jayanthi 1983 Rajkumar Devi 1984 Dongalu Baboi Dongalu Seetha Kurukshetramlo Sita Janaki Mukhyamantri 1988 Yamudiki Mogudu Dancer 1997 Maa Nannaki Pelli Shravani 1998 Kodukulu Raayudu Tulasi 1999 Neti Gandhi 2002 Kondaveeti Simhasanam Police Sisters Jaya 2005 Slokam 2006 Manasu Palike Mouna Raagam

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