Rekha

Sumathi Josephine, better known by her stage name Rekha, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Tamil and Malayalam films. She also starred in a few Telugu and Kannada films.She was one of the contestants of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4.

Career She was introduced to the Tamil cinema with the film, Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986) directed by Bharathiraja.

Her notable works include Punnagai Mannan (1986), Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987), En Bommukutty Ammavukku (1988), Puriyaadha Pudhir (1990) and Gunaa (1991). In Malayalam, Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), Aey Auto (1990) and In Harihar Nagar (1990) were also successful.

She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for the film Dasharatham (1989).

After a few roles as a heroine, she started to act in character roles, such as sister-in-law and mother.

In 2020, she is entering as a contestant in the reality show Bigg Boss 4.

Personal life Sumathi Josephine was born and brought up in Eramalloor, Alappuzha Kerala. She married Harris Kottadath, a Malayali seafood exporter, in 1996. They have a daughter.

Filmography Tamil Year Film Role Notes 1986 Kadalora Kavithaigal Jennifer Debut filmPunnagai Mannan Ranjani Namma Ooru Nalla Ooru Seetha 1987 Solvathellam Unmai Rekha Megam Karuththirukku Chithra Idhu Oru Thodar Kathai Radha Enga Ooru Pattukaran Kaveri Kavalan Avan Kovalan Uma Chakravarthy Ini Oru Sudhanthiram Kannamma Aankalai Nambathey Soorya Veeran Veluthambi Meghala Ninaive Oru Sangeetham Sandhya Krishnan Vandhaan Sumathi Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan Geetha Meendum Mahaan Julie Arul Tharum Ayyappan Lakshmi Chinnamanikkuyile Unknown Unreleased 1988 Shenbagamae Shenbagamae Shenbagam Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye Shanthi Makkal Aanaiyittal Kamala Katha Nayagan RadhaRaasave Unnai Nambi Ranjitham En Bommukutty Ammavukku Mercy Naan Sonnathey Sattam Aasha Kazhugumalai Kallan - Thambi Thanga Kambi Uma Mappillai Sir Uma Dhayam Onnu Shanthi 1989 En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan Vatsala Pillaikkaga Kannamma Moodu Manthiram Kalpana Thangamana Purushan SumalathaThaya Tharama Uma Kutravali Radha Kakka Kadi Thalaivanukkor Thalaivi Thenmozhi Idhaya Geetham Divya 1990 Paattukku Naan Adimai Sandhya Varavu Nalla Uravu Uma Sigappu Nirathil Chinnappoo Kasturi Vedikkai En Vadikkai Neelaveni Puriyaadha Pudhir Geetha Chakravarthi Thiyagu Vidhya Nangal Puthiyavargal Bharathi 1991 Sigaram Sukanya Irumbu Pookkal Pavunnu Guest AppearanceNallathai Naadu Kekum Radha Vaidehi Kalyanam Vasanthi Paattondru Ketten UshaGunaa Rosie Sirai Kadhavugal Durga 1992 Enga Veetu Velan KalyaniIdhuthanda Sattam Lakshmi Annaamalai Shanthi David Uncle Malathi Annan Ennada Thambi Ennada PriyankaThirumathi Palanisamy Jyothi Guest AppearanceVasantha Malargal Daisy Palaivana Raagangal Harihara Puthiran 1994 Rasa Magan Chellachamy's wife Vaa Magale Vaa Kalyani 1996 Kaalam Maari Pochu Lakshmi Krishna Anandhi Gnanapazham Professor Nirmala Priyam Aunty 2002 Roja Kootam Bhumika's mom, inspector Comeback film after her marriage 2003 Anbu Veena's mother Kadhal Sadugudu Kausalya's mother Villain Rajalakshmi Vikatan Ramu's mother 2004 Kovil Angel's mother Arul Ganapathy's wife 2005 Aadum KoothuManimekhala's mother Anbe Vaa Karthik's mother Priyasakhi Judge 2006 Madhu Jennifer Amirtham Pasupathi Pillai's wife Thodamaley Narmada 2007 PokkiriMrs. Mohammed Maideen Khan MalaikottaiMalar's mother 2008 Dasavathaaram Meenakshi Inba Priya's sister in law Pazhani Poovathal (Pazhanivel's mother) 2009 MadhaviLakshmi Adada Enna Azhagu Vasan's mother 2010 Thairiyam Kumaran's motherThambi Arjuna Radhika's mother Uthama Puthiran Meenakshi Indrasena - Ilamai Itho Itho 2011 Marudhavelu Vidhya Venugopalan's mother 2013 Thalaivaa Ganga Ramadurai Guest Appearance Ya Ya Ramarajan's mother Sibi Lakshmi 2014 Vazhum DheivamDurga 2015 Rombha Nallavan Da Nee A. SowmiyaKannan - IPS Achaaram Suriya's mother Sakalakala Vallavan Meenakshi Maanga Samyuktha 2016 Bangalore Naatkal Sarah's mother Sowkarpettai Shakthi's / Vetri's mother Vellikizhamai 13am Thethi Saravanan's mother 2017 Muthuramalingam Ashok Pandian's mother En Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom Sandhya's mother 2018 Keni Judge Diya Thulasi' mother Goli Soda 2 Seetha Kumari Pyaar Prema Kaadhal Sree's mother Antony Antony's mother 2019 Dharmaprabhu Ayyo 100% Kadhal Aruna 2020 Dagaalty Malli's mother 2021 Chidambaram Railwaygate Thillaiamma Pei Mama Jothi Raajavamsam Rani Plan Panni Pannanum Ambal's mother 2023 Miriam Maa Miriam 2026 Sandakkari Unreleased film

Malayalam Year Title Role Notes 1989 Ramji Rao Speaking Rani 1990 Dasharatham Annie Winner: Filmfare Award for Best Actress – MalayalamOliyambukal Usha Arhatha Anju Aey Auto Meenakshi Randam Varavu Indu Jayakumar In Harihar Nagar Annie Philip/Sr Josephine Lal Salam Stella Pavam Pavam Rajakumaran Radhika 1991 Sundarikakka Princy John Swanthwanam Gayathri Pookkalam Varavayi Nirmala Kizhakkunarum Pakshi Meera Adayalam Latha Nettipattom Indu 1992 Vasudha Vasudha Grihapravsam Radhika 1993 Janam Gomathiyamma Sarovaram Devu Yaadhavam JayanthiPamaram Kudumbasneham 1994 Bheeshmacharya Shanthi Manathe Vellitheru Julie Harichandanam 1995 Kidilol Kidilam Raji Thakshashila LakshmiMumpe Parakkunna Pakshi 1997 Sankeerthanam Pole Joyamma Poonilamazha Leena 2005 Naran Sunanda 2006 Chinthamani Kolacase Lal Krishna's sister Pachakuthira Akash's foster mother Prajapathi Narayanan's mother Jayam Bhanumathi 2007 Veeralipattu Gayathri Avan Chandiyude Makan Ealikutty Nagaram Mayor Sreelatha Varma 2008 Chandranilekkoru Vazhi Sulochana Kumaran 2009 Vairam: Fight for Justice Dr. Susan Ivar Vivahitharayal Adv. Nandini 2 Harihar Nagar Annie Philip/Sr. Josephine 2010 Kadaksham Rosamma 2012 My Boss Priya's mother Asuravithu Sara Shaikh MuhammedNo. 66 Madhura Bus Subhadra 2013 Annum Innum Ennum Indu 3G Third Generation Manu's mother 2014 Bangalore Days Sarah's mother 2015 My God -Jo and the Boy Catherine 2016 PachakKallam Viswanathan's wife 2017 Vedham Nirmala Devi 2019 Edakkad Battalion 06 Surayya 2021 Kunjeldho Kunjeldho's mother 2022 Dear Friend Vijayakumari Viswanathan 2024 Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Raji 2025Randam YaamamSavithri

Telugu Year Film Role Notes 1989 Rudranetra Swarnarekha Bala Gopaludu Khantham 1991 Minor Raja Seeta Sarpayagam Santhi Teneteega Aparna 1993 Kondapalli Raja Shanthi 1995 Muddayi Muddugumma Shobha 2008 Veedu Mamoolodu Kadu Lakshmi 2012 Money Money, More Money Geetha Maadhuri 2018 Kanam Thulasi's mother

Kannada Year Film Role Notes 1987 Poornachandra Kumuda 1992 Nanna Shathru Asha

Television Serials

Shows

Awards

Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam - Dasharatham Kalaimamani Award by Tamil Nadu Government