Radha

Udaya Chandrika (3 June 1965), better known by her stage name Radha (born 3 June 1965), is a former Indian actress, who predominantly appeared in Telugu and Tamil films in addition to a few Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She was one of the top heroines in the film industry for about a decade, from 1981 to 1991, dominating the 1980s era.

Her elder sister Ambika, was an actress. Ambika and Radha acted together in a number of films, during the peak of their careers. They also co-owned a movie studio called "ARS Studios" in 1986. She appeared on television as one of the judges in the STAR Vijay Jodi Number One Season 7 and Season 8 Reality Dance programs.

Personal life Radha hails from Kallara Village near Kilimanoor in Thiruvananthapuram District in Kerala but directly radha said in star maa pariwar awards, she born in Khammam district, Palwancha town in present Telangana State. She was born as Udaya Chandrika on 3 June 1965 and is the third daughter of Kallara Kunjan Nair and Sarassama. Her siblings are Ambika, Mallika, Suresh and Arjun. Her elder sister Ambika is also a popular actor.

Radha married hotelier Rajasekaran Nair (owner of Udaya Samudra group) on 10 September 1991. The couple has two daughters Karthika Nair, and Thulasi Nair and one son Vignesh Nair. After her marriage in 1991, Radha chose to completely step away from the limelight.

In 2021, Radha and her husband Rajasekaran Nair joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Rajasekaran Nair was the party's candidate from the Neyyatinkara constituency for the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election.

Career Tamil cinema Radha started her career in 1981 starring as a Christian girl in director Bharathiraja's Tamil film Alaigal Oivathillai alongside debutant Karthik. The film was a runaway hit and is regarded as a cult classic. The on-screen chemistry that she shared with Karthik was highly successful and led to many films such as Ilanjodigal, Pakkathu Veetu Roja, Valibamey Vaa Vaa and Nalla Thambi. Radha played a small role in the film Tik Tik Tik, alongside Kamal Haasan. Later, she starred alongside Haasan in many movies such as Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey (1983), Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985), Japanil Kalyanaraman (1985) and Kadhal Parisu (1987).

She received a Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for Muthal Mariyathai in 1985. The film was screened at the Indian Panorama section of the 1985 International Film Festival of India.

Ambika and Radha shared screen space in films such as Enkeyo Ketta Kural (1982), Vellai Roja (1983), Idaya Kovil (1985), Manakanakku (1986), Kadhal Parisu (1987) and Annanagar Mudhal Theru (1988).

She had commercial successes such as Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986), Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986), Ninaive Oru Sangeetham (1987), Jallikattu (1987), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987), Uzhavan Magan (1987) and Rajadhi Raja (1989). In Kollywood, she has performed alongside actors such as Sivaji Ganeshan, Sivakumar, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, K. Bhagyaraj, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Mohan, Prabhu, Karthik, T. Rajendar and Arjun.

Telugu cinema Her notable films in Telugu include Shakthi (1983), Iddaru Dongalu (1984), Agni Parvatam (1985), Palnati Simham (1985), Ravana Brahma (1986), Simhasanam (1986), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988), Ramudu Bheemudu (1988) and State Rowdy (1989). She acted in 19 films alongside superstar Krishna, 16 films with Chiranjeevi, 6 films with Balakrishna and worked with all major Telugu heroes such as NTR, ANR, Krishnam Raju, Sobhan Babu and many more. Currently working Telugu television shows as judge.

Kannada cinema She has acted in a few films in Kannada. She costarred with Vishnuvardhan and Lakshmi in Sowbhagya Lakshmi, a remake of Maang Bharo Sajana. She played Ravichandran's heroine in Savira Sullu. She played a cop in the action movie Ranachandi with Sarath Babu as her husband.

Malayalam cinema Her most notable role was in K. G. George's state award-winning film Irakal in 1985; her portrayal of the character Nirmala is widely regarded as the best in her career. Her other significant role was in Sathyan Anthikad's Revathikkoru Pavakkutty (1986), where her costars were Bharat Gopy, Mohanlal and Menaka. She also produced the film Ayitham (1987), in which she played one of the lead characters, alongside Ambika, Sukumaran and Mohanlal. Innathe Program (1991) was her last movie in Malayalam.

Filmography

Tamil films Year Film Role Notes 1981 Alaigal Oivathillai Mary Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Debut Tik Tik Tik Radha 1982 Adhisayappiravigal Shanthi Kadhalithu Paar Ayiram Muthangal Shakthi Anandha Ragam Thunai Radha Neram Vandhachu Radha Pakkathu Veetu Roja Roja Valibamey Vaa Vaa Kanne Radha Radha Katrukenna Veli Rekha Ilanjodigal Seetha Gopurangal Saivathillai Julie Kaadhal Oviyam Ponni Enkeyo Ketta Kural Kamatchi 1983 Oru Kai Pappom Nenjamellam Neeye Vellai Roja Merry Savari Muthu Muthu Engal Sothu Sandhippu Chitra Apoorva Sahodarigal Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey Padmini Thudikkum Karangal Radha Dhampathyam Sivappu Sooriyan Chithra Paayum Puli Revathy 1984 Naan Mahaan Alla Geetha Ambigai Neril Vanthaal Vengaiyin Mainthan Radha Ninaivugal Kairasikkaran Rekha Iru Medhaigal Radha Sarithira Nayagan Simma Soppanam Ganga Dhavani Kanavugal Special Appearance 1985 Nalla Thambi Chitra Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Rosy Needhiyin Nizhal Swapna Muthal Mariyathai Kuyil Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil Idaya Kovil Suriya Japanil Kalyanaraman Radha 1986 Amman Kovil Kizhakale Kanmani Manakanakku Lakshmi Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Tulasi Manithanin Marupakkam Kala 1987 Kadhal Parisu Chitra Enga Chinna Rasa Rukmini Ninaive Oru Sangeetham Pandimeena Vairakkiyam Jallikattu Radha Sattam Oru Vilayaattu Veni Uzhavan Magan Nirmala Anand Latha Thambathyam Latha 1988 Annanagar Mudhal Theru Latha En Uyir Kannamma Kannamma Ullathil Nalla Ullam Sheela 1989 Rajadhi Raja Senkamalam Pick Pocket Rajalakshmi Nyaya Tharasu Bharathi Chinnappadass Radha / Dr. Kavitha Oru Ponnu Nenacha Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal Goddess Meenakshi 1990 Seetha Geetha Seetha Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Manaivi Vantha Neram Manaivi Oru Manickam Gayathri Jagathalaprathapan Guest appearance 1991 Sigaram Priya Marupakkam Avayam Santhi Enathu Santhi Santhi Guest appearance

Telugu films Year Film Role Notes1982 Iddaru Kodukulu Rani Mr. Vijay Gopala Krishnudu Radha Prema Moortulu 1983 Chanda Sasanudu Rani Sakthi 1984 Rowdy Rekha Naagu Rajani Goonda Jayanti aka Jaya Adarsavanthudu Lakshmi Vasantha Geetam Madhavi / Mary Dongalu Baboi Dongalu Satya Raktha Sambandham Iddaru Dongalu 1985 Adavi Donga Saroja Rakta Sindhuram Rekha Puli Radha Maa Inti Mahalakshmi Nagalakshmi Maha Manishi Vintha Mogudu Donga Manjulatha Agni Parvatam Radha / Lulli Palnati Simham Bhavani 1986 Rakshasudu Shailaja / Shailu Kondaveeti Raja Padma Simhasanam Jaswanthi Krishna Paramatma Adavi Raja Muddula Krishnayya Radha Driver Babu Gowri Kaliyuga Krishnudu Anuradha Nippulanti Manishi Radha / Aasha Ravana Brahma Radha 1987 Jebu Donga Thandri Kodukula Challenge Gowri TrimurthuluCameo Dongodochadu Radha Muddayi 1988 Marana Mrudangam Anusha Ramudu Bheemudu Ganga Yamudiki Mogudu Radha Donga Ramudu Ganga Raktabhishekam Aparna Jamadagni Doragarintlo Dongudu Bharya Bhartalu Shanti Rowdy No.1 Mugguru Kodukulu Roja Chuttalabbayi Prana Snehithulu 1989 Lankeswarudu Soggadi Kaapuram Rekha Parthudu Dorikithe Dongalu Radha Rudranetra Hamsalekha State Rowdy Radha Manchi Kutumbam Tara Ajatha Satruvu Rickshawala Sarvabhoumudu Rani Two Town Rowdy Padmini / Puppy Vicky Daada Revathi 1990 Kodama Simham Bijili Kondaveeti Donga Sri Kanya Qaidi Dada Yama Dharmaraju Aayudham 1991 Pandirimancham Madhuravani Samasara Veena Parama Sivudu Gowri Ramudu Kadhu Rakshasudu Renuka

Malayalam films Year Film Role Notes 1983 Mortuary Radhadevi 1984 Umaanilayam Uma 1986 Irakal Nirmala Revathikkoru Pavakkutty Susanna 1987 Ayitham Chinnaponnu 1991 Innathe Programme Indumathi

Kannada films Year Film Role Notes 1985 Savira Sullu Radha 1987 Digvijaya Cameo Sowbhagya Lakshmi Lakshmi 1991 Ranachandi Susanna Prema Rajya Nirmala

Hindi films Year Film Role Notes 1984 Kaamyab Radha 1986 Singhasan Jaswanti Made simultaneously alongside Simhasanam

Television