Tara

Career

Anuradha was first noticed by director Venagal Jagannath Rao during her ballad performance in school, and offered her a role in his 1985 film, Thulasidala, which she appeared in. Following this, she was signed in the Tamil film, Manivannan's Ingeyum Oru Gangai (1984) opposite Murali, where she was first credited as Tara. It became her first theatrical release. Tara got her break in Dr. Rajkumar starrer Guri (1986) and thereafter acted in several movies as a leading lady and supporting actress.

Tara has worked with almost all leading Kannada heroes of the 1980s and 1990s including Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Ananth Nag, Ravichandran, Shashikumar, Tiger Prabhakar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Murali, Karthik, Sunil and Devaraj.

Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition. She received her first award as best actress for the Kannada movie Krama (1991), directed by debutant director Asrar Abid. In the late 1980s, she appeared as a supporting actress in Mani Ratnam's Tamil films, Nayakan and Agni Natchathiram. Her performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi brought her widespread recognition for which she also received her second "best actress" state award. She received the "best supporting actress" award for Munjaneya Manju. She received wide critical acclaim for the female centric Munnudi which received multiple National Film Awards, including Best Film on Other Social Issues.

In 2005, she was cast by Girish Kasaravalli in Hasina, for which she won the National Award. Subsequently, her role in Deadly Soma was appreciated. Then came another breakthrough performance in Cyanide (2006), for which she received her third Best Actress award at the Karnataka State Film Awards. She portrayed a "traumatic" Mridula, the wife of Rangayana Raghu's Raghunath, who provide shelter to the plotters of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

Beside acting, Tara produced Hasina, and announced her intention to direct films as well. In the social drama Hebbet Ramakka (2018), Tara played an illiterate yet forthright villager whose world revolved around tending to her farmland, caring for her livestock, and raising her two school-going children. Her performance won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for the fourth time.

Personal life Tara married cinematographer H. C. Venugopal in 2005. They have a son (b. 2013).

Filmography Kannada films Year Film Role Notes 1985 Thulasidala Anitha 1986 Anand AshaGuri Brahmastra Mala Maneye Manthralaya Samsarada Guttu Sundara Swapnagalu Ella Hengasarinda Satkaara Hennina Koogu Madhura Bandhavya Mathondu Charithre Thavaru Mane Bete Guest appearance 1987 Ravana Rajya Shubha Milana Mr. Raja Anthima Ghatta Bala Nouke Karunamayi Kurukshetra Mukhavada Thayi Guest appearance Bhadrakali Lorry Driver 1988 Ranaranga Bhavana Avale Nanna Hendthi Gayathri Kampana Mathrudevobhava Sangliyana Mutthaide Thayigobba Karna Kote Meenakshi Mane Meshtru Dharmapathni Thayi Karulu 1989 Hendthighelbedi Avathara Purusha Bidisada Bandha Aruna En Swamy Aliyandre Deva Sujatha Anthintha Gandu Nanalla Kamala Doctor Krishna Chanchala Poli Huduga Raja Yuvaraja Padmavyuha C.B.I. Shankar Actress Guest appearance Premagni Sura Sundaranga 1990 Nigooda Rahasya Agni Divya Amrutha Bindu Khiladi Thatha Maheshwara Neene Nanna Jeeva Policena Hendthi Chakra Muraligana Amruthapana Challenge Ivalentha Hendthi Kaliyuga Krishna Raja Kempu Roja Sididedda Gandu Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja Phala 1991 C. B. I. Shiva Ranjini Ide Police Belt Krama Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress Nagu Nagutha Nali Anatha Rakshaka Kadana Khiladi Gandu Aranyadalli Abhimanyu Maneli Ili Beedeeli Huli Ibbaru Hendira Muddina Police Rukmini "Rukku" Karnana Sampathu Nagini Nanagu Hendthi Beku Rollcall Ramakrishna Shwethagni Golmaal Part 2 Meera Sundara Kanda 1992 Undu Hoda Kondu Hoda Rukmini Halli Meshtru Teacher's wife Cameo roleBelli Kalungura Tunga Nagaradalli Nayakaru Vajrayudha Malashree Mamashree Tara Prema Sangama Banni Ondsala Nodi Gili Bete Roshagara Police File 1993 Munjaneya Manju Hema Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Apoorva Jodi Karimaleya Kaggathalu Muddina Maava Khaidi No.407 Manikantana Mahime Mojina Maduve Prana Snehitha Bhagavan Sri Saibaba Lakshmi Sidukabeda Singari Bhavya Bharatha Jwala Love Training Mahendra Varma Sarkarakke Savaal Server Somanna Guest appearance Shrungara Raja 1994 Alexander Sammilana Gandhada Gudi Part 2 Marappa's wife Hettha Karulu Praja Shakti Yarigu Helbedi Apoorva Samsara Bhuvaneshwari Poorna Sathya 1995 Operation Antha Thumbida Mane Geetha Mana Midiyithu Nilukada Nakshatra Mister Abhishek Revathi Bhavani Hello Sister Guest appearance Killer Diary Ravitheja Chinnada Raja Eshwar Professor Shubha Lagna 1996 Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata Sipayi Dhani Guest appearanceAadithya Inspector Jeevanadhi Nannaseya Nandini Nirnaya Saakida Gini Mouna Raga Muddina Sose Surya Puthra Veerabhadra Karadipura 1997 Amrutha Varshini Vimala Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda Central Jail Jackie Chan Vimochane Kandalli Gundu 1998 Yaare Neenu Cheluve Mary Anthargami Gadibidi Krishna Hendithghelthini High Command O Gandasare Neeveshtu Olleyavaru Sri Siddharooda Mahime 1999 Kanooru Heggadithi Subbamma Karnataka State Film Award for Best ActressFilmfare Award for Best Actress – KannadaSuprabhata Award for Best Actress Premotsava Shanti Chandrodaya Divya's sister-in-law Durga Shakti Tharikere Erimele Guest appearance Final Judgement 2000 Galate Aliyandru Devara Maga Sundari Hagalu Vesha Kadlimatti Station Master Deveeri Guest appearanceMunnudi RukhiyaSwalpa Adjust Madkolli Tiger Padmini 2001 Diggajaru Gowri Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu Actress Amma Namma Samsara Ananda Sagara Neelambari 2002 Mathadana Lakshmi Ninagagi Rukkamma Karmugilu Gowri Balarama Daddy No.1 Galate Maduve Sri Krishna Sandhana 2003 Hey Nan Bheeshma Kano Lakshmi Paris Pranaya Seetha Ondagona Baa Shravana Sambhrama 2004 Nalla Dr. Sarala Desai Aagodella Olledakke Saradara Jyeshta Nalla Devasura Naari Munidare Gandu Paraari Roshagni 2005 Deadly Soma Parvathi Karnana Sampathu Siddhu Sowmya Namma Basava Hasina Hasina National Film Award for Best ActressDr. B. R. Ambedkar Ramabai Ambedkar Pandu Ranga Vittala Sarala Samarasimha Nayaka Auto Shankar 2006 Mata Chandra's lover Cyanide Mridula Karnataka State Film Award for Best ActressPandavaru Care of Footpath Saraswati Eesha 2007 Shri Kshetra Kaivara Thathaiah Suvarna Film Award for Best Supporting ActressMaathaad Maathaadu Mallige Jummi Ee Bandhana Sukanya Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada Right Adre Deepa Vidyarthi 2008 Aramane Savitri Jnanajyothi Sri Siddaganga Ganga Kaveri Ganga's mother Guest appearance 2009 Birugaali Nirudyogi Abhimani Lakshmi Brahmacharigalu Saar Brahmacharigalu Prashne 2010 Modalasala Paaru School Master Eradane Maduve Jotheyagi Hithavagi Kunidu Kunidu Baare Niranthara 2011 Mathond Madhuvena Kirataka Nandisha's mother Jolly Boy Lakshmi Panchamrutha Shanthi segment: "Ondu Kanasu: a dream" Kempegowda Kavya's mother Sogasugara 2012 Bhageerathi Udaya Award for Best Supporting ActressSamsaaradalli Golmaal Golmal Gayathri 2013 Galaate Shravani Subramanya Anuradha Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada 2014 Ulidavaru Kandanthe Ratna 2015 Octopus 2016 CBI Sathya Madamakki Ratna Golisoda 2017 Bharjari Nimmi Gapallondu Cinema 2018 Hebbet Ramakka Ramakka Karnataka State Film Award for Best ActressNominated—Filmibeat Award for Best Actress – Kannada Atharva Savitribai Phule 2019 Sinnga Janakamma Aadi Lakshmi Puraana Shanthamma Ellidde Illi Tanaka Lakshmi Bharaate Jagan's mother 2020 Shivarjuna Shiva's mother 2021 Tom And Jerry Mugilpete Raja's motherBadava Rascal Shankar's mother 2022 Dandi 2023Tagaru Palya Shantha Bad MannersLakshmamma 2024 Kotee Kotee's mother 2025 Vaamana Marutha Eeshwar's mother 2026 Elra Kaaleliyatte Kaala Uttara Judge

Other language films Year Film Role Language Notes 1984 Ingeyum Oru Gangai Maruthayi Tamil January 1 Tamil 1985 BulletTelugu 1987 Nayakan Shakila Tamil Sankeertana Telugu Thulasi Ponni Tamil 1988 Agni Natchathiram Mallika Tamil Pelli Chesi Choodu Seeta Telugu 1989 SarvabhoumuduUshaTelugu1990 Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar Muthappa's wife Tamil Kaliyuga AbhimanyuduPadmaTeluguNeti Siddhartha Rekha TeluguMaa Inti Katha Telugu Nandi Award for Best Supporting ActressSathiyavakkuTamil 1991 Brahmarshi Viswamitra Sakunthala's friend Telugu 2008 Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu Tamil 2012 Maattrraan Sudha Tamil 2017 Sathriyan Niranjana's mother Tamil

Television Year Serial Role Language Notes Ref. 1993 Mikhaelinte Santhathikal Malayalam –2002 Sarojini Kannada 2002 Parva Kannada 2007 Mega Bangarada Bete Host Kannada Kannada version of Mega Thangavettai which is the revamped version of Tamil gameshow Thanga Vettai 2021 Raja Rani Judge Kannada 2021–2022 Nannamma Super Star Judge Kannada 2025–present Naavu Nammavaru Judge Kannada

Awards and nominations +List of film awards and nominations received by TaraYearFilmAwardCategoryResultRef. 1991 Krama Karnataka State Film Awards Best Actress 1994 Munjaneya Manju Karnataka State Film Awards Best Supporting Actress 1999 Kanooru Heggadithi Filmfare Awards Best Actress Karnataka State Film Awards Best Actress 2000 Munnudi Film Fans' Association Award Best Actress 2004 Hasina National Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role 2006 Cyanide Karnataka State Film Awards Best Actress 2007 Ee Bandhana Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress 2008 Sri Kshethra Kaivara Thathayya Suvarna Film Awards Best Supporting Actress 2010 Modalasala Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress 2012 Bhagirathi Udaya Film Awards Best Supporting Actress 2013 Shravani Subramanya Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress 2017 Hebbet Ramakka Karnataka State Film Awards Best Actress 2023 Tagaru Palya Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress IIFA Utsavam Awards Performance in a Supporting role - Female