Raasi

Raasi (born Vijaya) is an Indian actress known for her work in Telugu and Tamil cinema, with appearances in a few Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is credited as Manthra in Tamil and Malayalam films. Raasi gained recognition for her performances in notable films such as Subhakankshalu, Gokulamlo Seeta (1997), and Pelli Pandiri (1998). She transitioned to television with Telugu soap operas, debuting in Girija Kalyanam (2020) and later appearing in Janaki Kalaganaledu (2021).

Personal life Raasi was born as Vijaya on 1982 in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. She married film director Sri Muni.

Film career

She started her career as a child artiste has grown to a level of heroine.

She also worked in the Hindi movies Angaara (1996), Rangbaaz (1996), Jodidar (1997) and Suraj (1997) with Mithun Chakraborty.

In Telugu, Raasi rose to fame with Subhakankshalu (1997). She was labelled "traditional" after Gokulamlo Seeta (1997). Later, hits like Snehithulu (1998), Pandaga (1998), Gilli Kajjalu (1998), Devullu (2000) and proved her mettle as an actress. When Raasi's career started taking a nosedive, she took to doing item numbers in Telugu films like Samudram (1999). In her prime, Raasi was one of the most sought-after actresses in the Telugu film industry.

She debuted her first Tamil film Priyam. Following a prolific year 1996, she received offers including the Vijay-starrer Love Today (1997) and the Ajith Kumar-starrer Rettai Jadai Vayasu (1997). Some of her other movies in Tamil are Periya Idathu Mappillai (1997), Ganga Gowri (1997), Thedinen Vanthathu (1997), Kondattam (1998), Kalyana Galatta (1998), Pudhu Kudithanam (1999), Kannan Varuvaan (2000), Kuberan (2000) and Simmasanam (2000). She played a negative character in Telugu movie Nijam (2003), which was directed by Teja.

After her marriage, the actress did only one film titled Suyetchai MLA before taking a long break from the cinema industry in 2006. She made a comeback with the film Onbadhule Guru after 7 years.

She is with a Telegu thriller film Lanka (2017) where she plays the central character.

She made her television debut in the Telugu soap operas Girija Kalyanam and Janaki Kalaganaledu.

In 2025, Raasi plays a pivotal role in the Tamil film Usurae.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Language Notes 1988 Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal Young Lakshmi Malayalam Child Actress Rao Gari Illu Chitti Telugu 1989 Chettu Kinda Pleader Nani Mamatala Kovela Hero's daughter Bala Gopaludu Lakshmi Agni Baby 1991 Aditya 369 Kishore's friend 1993 Ankuram Sindhura's sister 1994 Palnati Pourusham Raja Rao's daughter, Vijaya Puttinilla Mettinilla Lakshmi 1996 Oho Naa Pellanta in a song Priyam Preetha Tamil Debut in a lead role Angaara Chutki Hindi credited as Vijaya Rangbaaz credited as Vijaya 1997 Evandi Pelli Chesukondi Geetha Telugu Subhakankshalu Nandini Debut in Telugu as a lead Suraj Hindi credited as Vijaya Jodidar Landlord's daughter credited as Manthra Love Today Preethi Tamil Gokulamlo Seetha Sirisha Telugu Periya Idathu Mappillai Priya Tamil Ganga Gowri Ganga Thedinen Vanthathu Janaki Rettai Jadai Vayasu Anjali Pelli Pandiri Kasthuri Telugu 1998 Kondattam Vidhya Tamil Pandaga Prameela Telugu Vasantha Vasantha Suprabhatam Vasundhara Kalyana Galatta Pooja Tamil Gilli Kajjalu Sruthi Telugu Snehithulu Mahalakshmi Manasichi Choodu Yamuna Kalavari Chellelu Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Roopa Daddy Daddy Subadhra 1999 Neti Gandhi Bharthi Swapnalokam Swapna Harischandraa Nandini Veedu Samanyudu Kadhu Mythili/Pooja Seenu Herself Krishna Babu Shilpa Samudram Herself Item number Pudhu Kudithanam Nila Tamil Preyasi Rave Mahalakshmi Telugu Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu Pallavur Devanarayanan Seethalakshmi Malayalam credited as Mantra AK-47 Telugu Sneha Mahalakshmi Kannada Debut film 2000 Postman Sirisha Telugu Manasu Paddanu Kaani Swati Balaram Kannan Varuvaan Rajeshwari Tamil Oke Maata Telugu Shivaji Kuberan Chandra Tamil Simmasanam Manju Moodu Mukkalata Aliveni Telugu Ammo! Okato Tareekhu Gayatri Devullu Nirmala 2001 Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi Subhadra Deevinchandi Lakshmi Cheppalani Vundi Vani / Rani Akka Bavekkada? Sowmya 2002 Naga Pratista Naga Lakshmi Raja Herself Tamil Item number Police Sisters Ramya Telugu 2 Much Geeta Trinetram Vijaya Jamindaru Kannada Sandade Sandadi Vasundhara Telugu Coolie Ninne Preethisuve Meghamala Kannada 2003 Nijam Malli Telugu Aalukkoru Aasai Manthra Tamil Raja Narasimha Mahalakshmi Kannada Sriramachandrulu Sailaja Telugu 2004 Venky Herself Special appearance Oka Pellam Muddu Rendo Pellam Vaddu Satya 2005 Devi Abhayam Lakshmi 2006 Suyetchai MLA Tamil 2013 Onbadhule Guru Neelambari Man of the Match Telugu 2015 Vaalu Mrs. Stephen Tamil 2016 Kalyana Vaibhogame Parimala Devi Telugu Kavalai Vendam Divya's mother Tamil Padesave Swathi's mother Telugu 2017 Aakatayi Vikranth's mother Lanka Rebecca 2025 Usurae Anasuya Tamil 2026Papam PrathapTelugu

As dubbing artiste Keka (2008) for Ishani Mirchi (2013) for Nadhiya Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha (2013) for Madhoo Galipatam (2014)

Television Girija Kalyanam (2020–2021) on Gemini TV Janaki Kalaganaledu (2021–2023) on Star Maa